Monthly Archives: August 2016

Multiple Streams of Online Income

Multiple Streams of IncomeMultiple Streams of Income

If you are not familiar with me, my name is Connie Ragen Green and I’ve been working exclusively on the Internet since 2006 as an online entrepreneur. During this time I’ve seen so many business models come and go. For example, article marketing was huge when I was first working on the Internet. Within a few years its relevance began to dwindle, and today no one considers this strategy to be a viable one. So even though I wrote, published, and distributed more than two thousand articles during my first few years online, this writing no longer serves to build my business.

The difference between me and many other entrepreneurs is that I did not allow this shift in the industry to faze me. Instead, I never skipped a beat as I transitioned into authorship, a model that has brought me much greater success than writing short articles ever could have done. You see, it’s all about how you approach a situation and deal with it that can determine the level of success you will be able to achieve. Instead of choosing to bury my head in the sand as article marketing plummeted, or giving up altogether because things were changing so rapidly, I chose to evaluate my writing and write the first of now more than a dozen books that have opened doors and dramatically shifted other people’s perception of me. Whenever one door closes, many new doors open up.

And lest you think that I am in possession of some super powers or have talents and abilities not available to the average person, you should know that is not the case. I am of average intelligence, do not have a background in business, and continue to type with my two index fingers! For twenty years prior to coming online I worked as a classroom teacher, while working simultaneously as a residential real estate appraiser and listing broker. If I can do this, you can do it as well.

Also, I am a multiple time cancer survivor, suffered a serious injury while teaching, and continue to have a variety of aches and pains related to my health issues. I’ve allowed none of these issues to affect my online business and I travel regularly for business and pleasure. During the summer of 2016 I took a six thousand mile road trip across the United States to spend time with a dozen of my clients and mentees in various cities. Even though the driving was a challenge at times, I have already committed to making a similar journey during the summer of 2017.

At the present time I enjoy eight separate and multiple streams of income online. I’d like to introduce you to each one of these individually so that you may decide for yourself which ones appeal most to you. Also, I recommend only choosing one or two to begin with, and to monetize them before moving on to yet another business model. The gold is in the perseverance, consistency, and effort you put into your business. In no particular order, here are the eight streams of online income that you may wish to consider for your own internet business…

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing was actually the first model that earned me income online ad this continues to be my favorite, especially of you are just starting out as an online entrepreneur. It was the spring of 2006 and I had been writing articles and blogging every single day for several months at that point in time. Although I had yet to earn any money, I still had faith that what I was doing was bringing me closer to my goal of online entrepreneurship.

Then one day I logged into my account at a site called ClickBank. I had been promoting several digital products from there, including one on dog training. On that day I saw that I had earned twenty-one dollars and sixty cents! I was ecstatic and knew that if even one person had made a purchase based on my recommendation, then others would as well over time if I kept up my efforts and learned more. Many more sales of this and other products followed and I was on my way.

Within a couple of years I had reached “Super Affiliate” status, meaning that product and course creators reached out to me when they wanted to launch new products. People who had been online for many years already, such as Marlon Sanders, Armand Morin, and Jim Edwards sought me out to find out what I thought about what they were doing. My simple approach proved valuable in determining what beginning online entrepreneurs most needed to be successful.

This model continues to account for about forty percent of my annual income. I teach an ongoing course called Really Simple Affiliate Marketing that may be of interest to you.

Small Business Marketing

Small business marketing kind of fell into my lap during my first year online. I had a family member who had lost his job and started a handyman service in his community. He was spending almost five hundred dollars a month on classified advertising in his local newspaper, as well as two magazine ads.

When I told him I’d like to set up a site for him and do some marketing with his keywords (his city plus the type of work he offered) he told me to go ahead. Within a month and a half he was able to cancel the paid advertising and instead paid me to continue with what I was doing. One huge difference was that a newspaper or magazine ad is only good until the next issue appears; online marketing lasts forever.

Soon I was marketing for a local dentist and an insurance agent and that’s when I realized I could get to six figures a year with this business model, all while honing the marketing and writing skills I needed in order to build my core business of online marketing for myself. I currently teach an online course on how to market for small business with my colleague Ron Tester.

Information Products

Digital, downloadable information products have been around for about twenty years now, yet it took me one full year before I created one of my own. It was confusing for me in that I wasn’t sure what I could offer to others that would be of value to them. I ended up putting together a four part training course on article marketing and blogging that I sold for ninety-seven dollars. Keep in mind that this course consisted of four one hour teleseminars and a study guide. So it was definitely low tech and simple to create.

Information products are now a billion dollar business and encompass trainings and information on almost any topic you can think of that people need information about for personal or business purposes. Think of eBooks, online courses, short reports, audio recordings, videos, webinars, and so much more as being the core of the digital information product world. More people than ever before are taking to the Internet to find the answers to their questions and the solutions to their problems. I teach a popular course called Really Simple Info Products that you may want to consider if this is a model you resonate with at this time.

Authorship/Publishing

It is said that more than eighty percent of the population wants to write and publish a book at any given time, yet fewer than five percent actually see it through to completion. When I wrote and published my first book – Huge Profits with a Tiny List – back in 2010 I was immediately catapulted to a new level in my business. Other people now perceived me to be an expert and an authority in my field and I was offered speaking engagements and other opportunities. It was so impactful that I almost immediately began my second book, and I have recently published my fourteenth book through my own publishing company, Hunter’s Moon.

Some people consider their books to be lead generators and marketing pieces, but I do not stop there with the value of being a published author. The people who find me through my books tend to be ones who are ready to take action and do the work necessary to achieve their dreams and goals, and that is exciting for me. Also, helping you to share your knowledge and expertise is quite rewarding. I teach an entire course on how to write your full length book and then create a business based on your topic at Write. Publish. Prosper. if this is attractive to you as a business model.

E-Commerce/Amazon

I added this as an income stream in the fall of 2013. Once again I faced a steep learning curve, but it has definitely been worth it. There are several different models available when you sell physical products online, including the private label model, retail arbitrage, and my favorite, wholesaling products to sell on the Internet.

During the 1999-2000 holiday season I had sold toys on eBay, and even though that model did not suit me at that time, it gave me an idea of what it was like to sell physical products to others. This business has come a long way since then, and now it is one that can be extremely rewarding and lucrative. Also, if you have a family member who is interested in helping you, this can be a way to start a family business. At this point in time two of my family members are involved, and two more will be coming aboard before the end of this year. Here are a couple of resources for you that I continue to use to learn more strategies and techniques:

Jessica Larrew runs her Amazon business from home with the help of her husband and young son – http://ConnieLoves.me/SellingFamily

Jim Cockrum has been selling physical products and teaching others how to do it for over ten years now, longer than anyone else teaching this business model – http://ConnieLoves.me/PAC

Online Courses/Trainings

My background is that of a classroom teacher, so when I discovered that I could teach people all over the world using teleseminars and webinars I was thrilled at the possibilities. Earlier I told you how I created my first information product as a four part teleseminar course with a Study Guide, and this was actually my first foray into the world of teaching an online course.

Anything you have knowledge about can be turned into an online training course, and as long as there are people who are interested in learning more about the topic you will be in an excellent position to help them. I use webinars to teach, record them, and then add them to a member’s area so that participants may watch and listen to them later on. I also like to include handouts, Study Guides, and other resources to make the training more complete.

Blogging/Niche Sites/Membership Sites

I’ve lumped three different types of online business models into one here, but with good reason. About two years after coming online the bright light finally came on in my mind; I could turn all of the blogs I had started during my first year on the Internet into niche sites that would continue to earn some income. When I started my first free membership site, that gave me the time to practice, enhance, and develop future programs that I could monetize.

When you have an idea for something that you want to pursue online, set up a simple WordPress site, add some content, and add a free membership site to see if it is viable as a paid business model. This is also an excellent way to bring your family members into the fold and allow them to explore the Internet for themselves. There are tens of thousands of niche sites to be found online, and yours can be one more that serves the people who are interested in that specific topic and searching for more information.

With some of these niche sites you will want to collect the names and email addresses of the people who are interested in your topic by adding an optin box to your blog and following up with them by email. Other times you will not do this and simply offer affiliate products within your blog posts and in the sidebar. The addition of a membership site makes it simple to contact the people who join at any time through the system’s internal email option. It’s completely up to you and you may always change your mind at a later time. The important thing here is to be consistent with your content creation and marketing.

Mentoring/Consulting

What I love most about mentoring entrepreneurs and consulting with corporations and non-profits is the ability to impact people outside of my sphere of influence and connection. Not everyone is cut out for this particular business model, so think long and hard about the implications of working so closely with others in this type of arrangement.

Within a couple of years I realized that I could only work successfully with twenty or fewer entrepreneurs at a time, so I made changes to my programs to account for that. I also can only work with about five corporate and non-profits at a time, so I implemented that strategy as well.

Typically you will have one or two calls each month with a client, as well as meeting with them face to face two or three times each year. I host my own live marketing events twice a year, as well as hosting intimate retreats several times a years, providing ample opportunities to connect with my people on a more regular basis. My group members have become part of my extended family, and I value their opinions when it comes to my business.

These are the eight streams of online income I wanted to share with you. Please stay connected with me, join my list if you aren’t on it already, and let me know how I may best serve you in your quest to become a successful online entrepreneur enjoying multiple streams of income.

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Personal Branding for Entrepreneurs

Personal BrandingPersonal Branding for Entrepreneurs

Are you incorporating the smart business strategy of personal branding into your online business? Think of your favorite brands. They all stand out for one reason or another. For example, Apple is known for its sleek product designs and cutting-edge technology. Coca-Cola is branded as a fun, enjoyable beverage. My branding includes sharing how to “make huge profits with a tiny list” as well as “really simple” online marketing training courses and programs.

Just like businesses can become known for their brand, so can entrepreneurs and small business owners. Developing your personal branding is the smart way to position yourself and stand out in the mind of your clients.

Branding Makes You Memorable

But first, you’ll need to set aside time and energy to reflect on who you want to be and what you want to be known for. Doing this will save you energy in the long run since you’ll be able to focus on your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.

Another benefit of developing your personal brand it that it become easier to present yourself consistently, no matter where you go. Imagine being able to intentionally place pictures in potential clients’ minds so that they will remember you.

Personal Branding Makes You An Authority

Not only will potential clients remember you better, it’ll also be easier for them to tell others about you. Then you’ll be viewed as an authority in your field, all because you took the time to work on your branding.

But this is only the beginning. As you become more well-known, your ideal clients will become more attracted to you. You won’t have to spend as much time marketing because your customers will naturally flock to you. When this began to happen in my business I was overjoyed and my confidence soared.

Branding Makes You More Money

As a result of increasing demand for your services, you’ll also be able to raise your rates. Think of doing the same work you’re already doing but being able to double your rates. With smart branding, this is a real possibility. When I tell my own clients to double their rates for coaching, products, and trainings it’s because I am able to see them as a personal brand.

Of course, higher rates aren’t the only reason to build your personal brand. You can also expect to get more attention from other entrepreneurs and business owners that want to offer you high value partnerships. Imagine getting to work on projects that you love with other business owners that you’ve admired for years. I have been able to do joint ventures with some of the biggest names on the internet because of the personal branding strategies I’ve implemented over the years.

All of these things and more can happen when you’re willing to stand up and own your brand. You were made to shine, so embrace your personal branding with gusto.

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List Building Marketing Tips for Entrepreneurs

List Building Marketing TipsThe Importance of List Building Marketing Tips

List building marketing tips are readily available, but the true value is in knowing exactly how to get started with this strategy. I learned early on that “the gold is in the list and in the follow up.” Remember that we all begin as online entrepreneurs with no one on our email list. These days people will gladly exchange their name and email address for your free giveaway, as long as this is something that is…

Irresistible – You must create a report, guide, white paper, series of audios or videos, or something else that your target audience will feel like they can’t live without. Observe your own behavior to see which sites you are willing to opt in to and which ones cause you to simply click away, most likely never to return.

Relevant – Make sure what you are creating as your free giveaway is relevant to your topic. If your niche is nutrition and health, your audience most likely will not be interested in a report on how to take a family vacation while on a budget. I regularly joke that many of my people need to lose a few pounds and love dogs, but that doesn’t mean they want to hear about weight loss or dog training from me. It’s not why they opted into my list to begin with and I must keep that in mind.

Substantial – Gone are the days of a three page document as the free giveaway. When I was first online the people who were already successful gave away the equivalent of a short eBook as their free giveaway. At some point all of us switched to something short and sweet, but I believe the trend now is back to something of great value and substance.

In my mind, list building includes both the process of encouraging and persuading someone to join your list, as well as the ongoing task of keeping them on your list and actively engaged. This can be a challenge, as you will hear differing ideas of how often to send emails, what to include in your messages, and how often to offer something for sale. This comes with the experience of running an online business, so you must jump in and see how your community responds to you.

I like to tell stories within my email messages, and many people tell me that this type of storytelling is what keeps them on my list and actively participating in my programs. Do not be afraid to share some things about yourself, but remember that once you do you will be unable to take it back. For example, in my family we seldom mention anyone’s name and never show pictures. This needs to be a serious discussion within your family, as people feel differently about this depending upon their prior experiences. The most important thing is to build your list and to communicate regularly with them.

What other questions do you have regarding list building marketing tips and growing your business as an online entrepreneur?

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How to Repurpose Your Content into Multiple Formats

Repurpose Your ContentHow to Effectively Repurpose Your Content

I’ve been a strong proponent of knowing how to repurpose your content for years now. When I first came online I was not a writer or even a content creator, so when I learned how powerful content creation and content marketing could be it just made sense that I would repurpose that content as well. The results have surprised everyone – including me- as my content continues to be found by people on six continents when they search for any of the many topics I am knowledgeable about in my online business.

I was just reading an article from Christine M Gallagher about 5 Easy Ways to Recycle Your Content (While Still Staying Sane) and she discusses how to take one piece of your content and repurpose it into five different formats. She states:

For busy entrepreneurs, it can often feel like a struggle to consistently come up with new and varied content that we’re told is so crucial to building our Internet empires.  However, let me offer you some relief by letting you know that you probably don’t need to be quite as prolific as you think.  The good news is, repurposing your content is perfectly acceptable—in fact, it’s vital to your online success.

One piece of content can live on in multiple formats, saving you time, energy and creative frustration.  For example, let’s say you begin with content you’ve prepared for an in-person talk or speaking gig or for a live teleseminar given over the phone.”

She goes on to share how that original content can be repurposed into a blog post (where I believe your very best writing should appear), an article (I like to syndicate these on LinkedIn Pulse and Medium), a free short report, a podcast (I’ve been podcasting regularly now since 2011 with two different shows, and with video (my YouTube channel serves as a “lifestyle” review of how I live based on having a global online business).

You can then go on to create newsletters, white papers (an industry term), slide presentations, audios, notes, study guides, checklists, and more. The list of possible types of content you can create, publish, and syndicate is almost endless and only limited by your imagination and desire to spread your knowledge and expertise far and wide. Never before in the history of the world has it been so simple and inexpensive to use these methods and strategies to build a business.

All of this serves to turn you into a content creation machine, and you will discover that your audience consumes this content in the way that is easiest and most comfortable for them. For example, my ideal method of learning is to read while listening, so if someone creates a recording of a short report I will read and listen simultaneously for best results.

Spend the time now to learn how to best repurpose your content, and then benefit from being able to say that people see you everywhere on the Internet. This single strategy has grown my business more than any other and helped me to get my message and information out to the world in a way that serves my business and the tens of thousands of people with whom I can then connect.

What questions do you have when it comes to knowing how to repurpose your content?

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