When I was struggling to pay the bills years ago, I did not have the money to throw at every “golden” online opportunity that presented itself. It always amazed me how the “experts” made it seem like I would have to spend a ton of cash before I could ever made a dime on the Internet. This did not make sense, so I made it my mission to find the easiest and cheapest way to earn an online income. Discovering affiliate marketing literally changed my life, and I was able to generate immediate cash flow with a very small monetary investment. I have compiled a list of the cost considerations involved in starting up an Internet marketing business to help those new to affiliate marketing.

Start with a modest advertising budget
Pay-per-click advertising makes it possible to drive targeted traffic to an affiliate Web site right away, and this type of marketing is the bread and butter of almost all Affiliate Marketers. Through a program like Google Adwords, affiliates can create an income stream that flows automatically. It is a good idea to be prudent while learning the ins and outs of pay-per-click advertising, so $40-$60 a month would be a sensible initial investment. Once a little bit of success is realized, it is time to reinvest aggressively in the campaigns that have been working.

The cost of doing business
Although most people already own almost everything needed to run a successful Internet marketing business, it is still a good idea to make sure that you are properly equipped. A reliable Internet connection is mandatory, and it never hurts to have somewhat up-to-date computer hardware and software. I invested in creating a comfortable work environment, and this enabled me to spend more time being productive.

What is your time worth?
The biggest investment that is needed to start a profitable online marketing business is time. There are many effective promotional methods that are free – except for the time it takes to implement the strategies. Be sure to treat your time as a valuable asset by figuring out the most efficient ways to reach your goals.

Make More, Work Less!

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

If you had asked me what a blog was five years ago, I would have laughed because the word sounds funny. I had no idea that blogging was taking the Internet by storm, and I was oblivious to the fact that there was plenty of money to be made through creating a blog. The World Wide Web makes it possible for potential customers to connect with businesses on many different levels, and those entities that do not take advantage of maintaining a blog are leaving money on the table. In an effort to help my readers understand the power of blogging as a marketing tool, I have put together this guide to assist you.

What exactly is a blog?
A blog is basically a journal or a running commentary that is posted on the Internet. There are blogs that cover virtually every topic under the sun, and if the blog’s content is compelling, people will continually check back for updates. From a marketing perspective, a blog gives an affiliate the opportunity to explain their product and their endeavors on a personal level. A blog is not a place to perform a hard sell. Rather, an effective blog gives potential customers a chance to gain a deeper understanding of a product or service.

Turning a blog into money
Creating an income stream through a blog will take time and effort, but the end result should be a steadily increasing influx of traffic towards your affiliate Web page. Because a blog attracts individuals who have already expressed an interest in you and your program, those who continue on to your site through links on your blog are very likely to make a purchase.

Setting up a quality blog
There are many types of blogging Web sites on the Internet. Most are free, but a few cost a little bit of money to get started. Search for popular blog sites so that your writings are likely to be found. Try and create an interesting theme, and take care when developing your content – these words will shape people’s first impressions of you and your business.

Make More, Work Less!

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

Setting up a Google Adwords account is easy. Things get tricky when the time comes to create a keyword list. If making money on the Internet was easy, everyone would be doing it, so those who prosper set themselves apart from the status quo. Developing profitable pay-per-click strategies is what separates those who succeed from those who fail in the early stages of an online marketing career. The effectiveness of a pay-per-click campaign is directly tied into the quality of the keywords and phrases that are utilized, as these words are how potential customers quickly evaluate the product or service being offered. Below is a collection of tips that will help affiliates with improving their keyword list, which will in turn, increase their pay-per-click profits.

Take advantage of the tools
There are many free resources available to marketers who want to study the traffic generated by each keyword or phrase, along with keeping track of how their campaigns are performing. Google Analytics is a free program that will help with gauging keyword effectiveness and overall campaign productivity. Because low click-through rates can wreak havoc on pay-per-click efforts, tracking software is a valuable tool for evaluating every aspect of your campaigns. During the process of choosing keywords and phrases, be sure to utilize the Google AdWords Keyword Tool that shows how certain keywords perform, and this application also suggests alternative keywords that are also generating traffic.

Perform diligent testing
It is important to play around with different keywords and phrases in an effort to find the ones with the highest click-through rates. Removing poorly-producing keywords will optimize your list, and this will help ensure that your advertising budget is being put to good use.

Search for cheap clicks
A good keyword list should contain a mix of popular words and phrases, along with keywords that exhibit exceptional value. To locate such keywords and phrases, use the Google AdWords Keyword Tool to search for terms that receive decent traffic but garner very little interest amongst most pay-per-click advertisers. It pays to get creative in your efforts, and inexpensive traffic will still produce remarkable results – at a fraction of the cost of purely relying on highly sought-after keywords and phrases.

Make More, Work Less!

Joel ” Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

I have made a name for myself by simplifying the inherently complex undertaking of making money on the Internet. There is a glut of useless information being peddled, so for years, one of my primary goals was to cut through the garbage, by creating clear-cut directions for Marketers to follow. Even though my efforts have helped many people realize their dream of earning an online income, there are still some individuals who struggle with the core concepts of Internet marketing. I have comprised a list of four terms that should be fully understood before delving into more complex business practices.

Affiliate marketing and networks
It always amazes me when I talk to an affiliate who really does not know what and affiliate marketing and the associated networks stand for. The affiliate program business model makes it possible for virtually anyone to start a viable enterprise with very little in the way of start-up costs. Affiliates play a vital role in finding prospective customers, and this is why good programs will bend over backwards to help their sales partners succeed – it’s a win-win proposition. Affiliate networks are resources that should be utilized by marketers when searching out the most lucrative opportunities.

Pay-per-click
One of the reasons that affiliate marketing is the most effective way of earning money on the Internet is because it is possible to start generating cash flow right away. Pay-per-click advertising makes this possible because after signing up, a steady stream of targeted traffic will immediately flood an affiliate Web site. Early positive results are critical in motivating affiliates to take their business efforts to the next level.

Organic search results
Serious Affiliate Marketers will also want to explore ways in which they can have their site perform well in the organic search results. “Organics” refer to search results that are not paid for, so any traffic generated through search engine optimization is free. Affiliates who do well in organic search results are on their way to making boatloads of cash.

Diversification
There are literally thousands of effective ways to promote an affiliate program. In the beginning, try many different strategies until the right ones emerge. What works for one person may not work for another, so it is important to develop a personal marketing style. Creating a diversified promotional approach provides stability, and every profitable marketing campaign can be considered its own independent income stream.

Make More, Work Less

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

Affiliate marketing is a very popular method of making money on the Internet because the concept is simple and it is possible to start earning an income immediately after setting up your online business. The process of how money gets into your bank account can be explained in three steps, and most people who understand the basic principles will likely succeed. Once the cash starts rolling in, the fun really starts, and there are very few things in life more gratifying than creating a profitable business from scratch.

Choosing the best program
Be sure to study all of the information available regarding the profitability of each affiliate program you are considering promoting. When starting out, it is a good idea to go with an established company that boasts high conversion rates for their affiliates. Take your time when making this decision, as you do not want to get into a situation where you waste time and resources trying to market a product that very few people want.

Learn the tricks of the trade
The job of a marketer boils down to efficiently driving targeted traffic to their affiliate Web site. Profits will increase as more potential customers visit your site, and through studying techniques for improving conversion rates, it is possible to develop a money-making formula that will allow you to run your business on auto-pilot. If you can figure out how to consistently make a return on your advertising investment, you are well on your way to raking in a lot of money on the Internet.

Getting paid
After completing all of the necessary work involved with driving targeted traffic to your affiliate Web site, now it is time to enjoy the rewards. There are many ways to actually get compensated, including through PayPal, direct deposit and a check in the mail. Each affiliate program will offer different methods of receiving funds. Once you get to this level, you will have a great time watching your bank account grow by the hour.

Make More, Work Less!

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

A quote can really help someone gain perspective on their situation. Over the years, I have drawn much strength, wisdom, and insight from a wide range of famous and obscure quotes. Below I will share a few of my favorites and explain what they mean to me with respect to running a successful online business.

“Things may come to those who wait, but only things left by those who hustle.” – Abraham Lincoln

Although I may be lazy when it comes to my marketing techniques, that does not mean that I just sit back and wait for good fortune to drop into my lap. That seldom happens in life, and this quote has prompted me to take initiative on more than one occasion.

“There is something that is much more scarce, something rarer than ability. It is the ability to recognize ability.” – Robert Half

This bit of wisdom has taught me that I should never expect to be complimented because of the unique attributes that have led to my success. I also take pride in being able to recognize strengths in others that they did not even know that they possessed. Recognizing ability is powerful because it allows one to deeply impact the lives of others.

“Think of yourself as on the threshold of unparalleled success. A whole clear, glorious life lies before you. Achieve! Achieve!” – Andrew Carnegie

Considering who this quote came from, it really displays the power of staying positive. Imagine the challenges and doubt faced by those who built the business infrastructure of this country. We must always believe, no matter what failures we have endured, that success is imminent. Those who know they can achieve will achieve.

“Those who believe that they are exclusively in the right are generally those who achieve something.” – Aldous Huxley

Self-confidence is so important with respect to achieving success with any endeavor. I do not believe that Aldous Huxley meant that we should not listen to others. Rather, I believe that he meant that in order to get to where we want to be in life, we must firmly believe that we are headed in the right direction.

Make More, Work Less!

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

Over the last few years, I have encountered many issues when dealing with web hosting companies. The bottom line is that choosing the wrong service will end up costing a business money in the short term and in the long term. Not all web hosting companies are the same, and this is not a service where those managing a business website want to cut corners. Below are the criteria that I utilize when choosing the right web hosting company.

Check out the company’s reliability

It is this simple: every second that your website is offline due to web hosting issues potentially costs your business money and credibility. I look for companies that can prove that they can provide a minimum of 99% up-time. If your site is continually unavailable, the search engines will take notice, and your rankings will drop. Also, if your site does not function properly, your merchant accounts could be put in jeopardy.

Understand the level of service provided

Even the most computer-savvy of website operators will have times when they will need to get in touch with a live person at their website hosting company. I always check out the hours of operation available for reaching someone who can help me if something goes wrong, and if a web hosting company relies heavily on a ticket system, I will move on to the next one.

Ease of use of the control panel

I do not like to waste time trying to figure out difficult web hosting control panels. The simpler the control panel is, the more time I can devote to making money with my business.

Costs versus service

I like saving money as much as the next guy, but I am willing to pay more for reliability, service, and ease of use. The only time I will “cheap out” is if two web hosting services are identical – then, I go with the least expensive one.

Consider popularity

If a web hosting company is popular, it means that they are doing something right. Plus, the more people that use a particular company, the more resources that company will have to maintain a high level of service.

Affordable Web hosting plans: Lunarpages

Make More, Work Less!

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

Affordable business and personal web hosting plans

In a previous blog post, I touched on exactly what a niche is and how it relates to marketing. Now, I want to touch on the different marketing strategies I utilize when targeting a huge niche compared to what I find works for marketing to a small niche. There is a difference, and by gaining an understanding of what is best for each scenario, a marketer will become more efficient and effective.

For example’s sake, we will say that the huge niche I am marketing towards are business owners. There are many different types of businesses in the world, so I need to make it clear how my product or service will be of benefit to any type of business entity. I can accomplish this by how I word my marketing copy, and I should also pay close attention to where I advertise. When marketing to a huge niche, it is important to drive as much traffic towards my business as possible, but I still want to be sure to target business owners as a whole. For this reason, search engine optimization is an important tool, as pay-per-click is not cost-effective when trying to garner high volumes of traffic. It undoubtedly costs more money to market to a large niche than it does to market to a small one, and the competition will be more fierce. I need to be sure that I am on my “A” game when marketing to a huge niche.

When marketing to a small niche, like business owners who run their own shoe store for example, I will try and focus my advertising efforts in a way that will appeal to this smaller group. It serves me well to take a more personalized tone with my advertising copy. Instead of trying to get my message across to a large audience, I will want to hone in on finding ways to appeal to this narrow group. I will utilize pay-per-click campaigns, as this type of advertising is perfect for seeking out a small niche. Plus, I will look for advertising opportunities with shoe industry websites and publications that are geared towards shoe store proprietors.

As you can see, marketing to a huge niche involves a different mindset and approach than what is involved when marketing to a small niche. By tweaking my strategies based on my target customer, I can be as efficient as possible. In general, I prefer to market to large niches with respect to my wealth creation businesses because there are far more potential customers than what is found in the smaller, sub niches. There are many people looking for a solution to their financial problems, so this large niche serves my marketing purposes and strategies well.

Make More, Work Less!

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

There are many ways in which I select the keywords for my Google Adwords campaigns. In fact, I utilize quite an extensive list of criteria for choosing my keywords based on how much I am willing to pay and what type of conversion rate I am looking for. Below is a list of some tips that will help you select effective keywords for your pay-per-click advertising campaigns.

1. Be willing to change keywords as needed: Take feedback from customers, website visitors, and your website logs into consideration. Never be afraid to use this information to select different keywords.

2. Take advantage of keywords tools: You will blow through your advertising budget if you bid on every keyword phrase that you can think of. Tools like Wordtracker and Google Ardwords: Keyword Tools will tell you the most popular of your keywords and those are the ones to use.

3. Always be as specific as possible: If you are selling men’s golf shoes, do not use the keywords “golf” or “golf shoes”. Instead use variations of “golf shoes for men”.

4. Learn from your competitors: Figure out who your toughest competition is and study what they do. Then do it better.

5. Ask plenty of questions: Be sure to talk to the customers you know and see what keywords they used to find your website. Also find out what those close to you use for keywords when they search for products similar you yours.

6. Think of your own keywords: Try and put yourself in a potential customer’s position and think of what they would search for.

7. Be sure to focus in on your niche: This relates to being specific, but do not hesitate to delve deeper.

8. Think creatively: All the best keywords have not been thought of. Think outside-the-box and you may find keywords that are heavily searched for but not heavily bid on.

9. Understand your market: Do research on your product’s market to think of additional keywords.

10: Find “bargain” keywords: change popular keywords around and check to see their search volume. You just may find some deals.

Make More, Work Less!

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula

I am really a big fan of earning a passive income. This is where money gets put in my pocket with no effort on my part. There are many ways to earn a passive income with the Google Adsense program being one of the easiest methods.

Google Adsense is a program set up by Google that pays website operators to allow advertisements to be placed on their website. If you have ever been on a site where you noticed a series of “sponsored link” ads off to one side or on the bottom of the page, this was an example where a website owner is participating in the Adsense program.

There are several ways to set up Google Adsense on a website. Operators can choose to be paid by how many clicks come through their Adsense ads or they can be paid per-impression. Impressions are when the ad is shown, whereas clicks are when someone actually clicks through the sponsored link. The choice on which way to set this up depends on the type of website a person has and how much traffic it generates.

There is no cost to participate in the Adsense program and it can result in a nice commission check every month. If you own a website, you may want to look into Adsense. The only negative aspect of this program is that it can take potential customers away from your site and it does change the look and feel of your pages. Most of the Google Adsense ads will be similar in nature to the website they are placed on.

I love earning a passive income, and Google Adsense is a great way to do just that. No, you will not get rich through Adsense alone, but every little bit helps when doing business on the internet.

Make More, Work Less!

Joel “Cash” Johnson

Lazy Cash Formula