Book Hotels Cheaper

Internet Marketing, Part 2

First the grim news: VERY few people make money right away. For those thinking they can throw out an e-book or two and rake in the dough within months - don't even bother to read further because you won't like what I have to say. But I speak the truth - as it has applied to me and how I see it applying to many others.

I hired a mentor for 2 basic reasons: 1) because I don't believe in re-inventing the wheel and knew that someone else who had been there and done that would keep me focused on what brings the best results. 2) I knew they would know the best products to use or avoid to put together your empire. Not all shopping carts are equal - I examined at least 15 before I realized the one that my mentor recommended was still the best for the dollars spent. Having someone to tell you how to do something is far easier than trying to go it alone. Yes, it costs money - big money to some people. But the amount I saved by not choosing the wrong products as well as shrinking the learning curve will allow me to start making money probably one year earlier than I would have otherwise. So eventually I will get that up front cost back sooner - and probably more exponentially to boot.

What you should look for in a mentor is obviously someone you get along with and while there are many on Twitter, FB and everywhere else on the net to choose from, a personal recommendation from someone is far more valuable than choosing one at random. My particular mentor, Connie Ragen Green, is no longer accepting mentees (she limits the number she will work with) but slots will open up from time to time as people drop out of the program for a variety of reasons. What is perhaps better however is that Connie offers individual classes and on-going training, which you will absolutely need when setting up sales pages, copy wrting, shopping carts, web sites, etc.

You can begin by simply listening to valuable information off her free weekly calls and perhaps graduating to a paid 6 week course. Eventually you may choose her very cost effective home course, which covers everything she teaches and has taught. Eventually you may choose to become a mentee if space allows.

How to Begin or Grow an Online Business

 Today I will deviate from the travel information I normally dispense and branch off to discuss something more relevant: your future. I write this because I have become convinced as I study the economy and world outlook today that jobs will continue to shrink in the years ahead and those who do not seek to find another source of income soon may be left behind in 5 years.

Years ago, I was laid off from Charles Schwab (twice) and the outplacement employment service they used gave us strange news: You should update your resume every 18 months, search for jobs every 2 years because you will switch jobs every 3 years (on average). Now of course they were addressing the corporate world and yet the sign of the times is upon us and those signs tell us that government jobs and seemingly secure jobs like engineering or finance are no longer safe havens, the high tech area has busted for the 2nd time in 8 years and even teachers and service workers are at risk in this economy.

Think about it - since 1987, the U.S. has endured a stock market crash and a severe market downturn, 3 recessions, 9/11, $4 gal. gas and a totally collapsing economy. Numerous severe events - "100 year" events have happened 5 times. Unemployment in California is approaching 10%, 401k's have been halved, home equity has dropped 50% in many places and the stock market is down 40%. Social security is slated to run out of money by 2016 to put the icing on the cake for those relying on the government to help you out.

It is no coincidence that many people have taken to starting an online business since 2001 but the fact that we didn't get in on this market till later is irrelevant. The money will still be there (even more as the Web grows around the world) and there is no reason why millions of people can't make money, either with active or passive income, for years to come. Think about it - if I made 100k per year, I would have about 3 times more money to buy YOUR THINGS. And people who already made millions are exactly the ones who buy OUR things right now.

So you need to position yourself for your future or I guarantee you will be trampled by the thousands applying for a simple entry level job in the years to come. Many people start online as a fling too. All you have to have is a passion for something that can help others. Even if it is just your expertise and experience, they have value to people who haven't 'been there-done that' yet. I started just that way - a passion to help others save money and enjoy travel more and in less than a year, MSNBC used one of my tips in their 2009 Travel Strategies piece and I was interviewed on live radio. How did I develop enough of a reputation in less than a year for this to happen?

I grinded. But more important - I hired a mentor to keep me out of the quicksand. Hiring a mentor for many fast tracks your success because you aren't wasting time chasing down rabbit holes and having to constantly start over.

Tomorrow I outline where I've been and where I am headed and how having a mentor has been responsible for any success I've had.