Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Is it Really Possible to Make Money Online?

It was back in June when I decided that I was fed up with all the information on how to make money online. I was tired of being bamboozled, tricked, and lied to about how to make money using my computer and working from home. So when I landed on the Wealthy Affiliate website, I was skeptical. I had been burned before.

The first thing that struck me was that there had to be a catch to it. How could the website owners be giving away personal mentoring, an 8 week tutorial, web-hosting, website building tools, and keyword research tools all for just $30 a month? There just had to be a catch. In addition, the email that had led me to this page had promised an active forum where more experienced members could help me out any time I had questions.

For years I had been dreaming of being my own boss, free from daily commutes, corporate rules, and long hours for low pay. I had also spent 2 years online searching to create my own profitable website business -- only to be disappointed time and time again.

Now, here I was faced with a website that claimed to be a complete internet marketing university, where I could learn how to be a prosperous affiliate. Could I really get rich and live the internet lifestyle simply by using some radical new marketing methods to make a commission from other people's products?

Comforting myself with the thought that I could unsubscribe and get my money back if I didn't like the Wealthy Affiliate membership site, I pulled out my credit card...and took the risk.

What made me sign up? The copy on the website spoke about how it was not easy to make money online and how it took hard work. They also did not promise instant riches. This absence of hype, this uncensored realism, made me inclined to believe that maybe, just maybe, they had the answers I was looking for in my quest to break free from the rat race.

Since I'm still here at Wealthy Affiliate, you've probably correctly guessed that the owners, Kyle & Carson, did not disappoint me. The first month, I was slightly overwhelmed by how much information they offered on the website. Besides the 8 week training, there were additional beginner, intermediate, and advanced level tutorials, ebooks, case histories, and videos. When I did have questions, either Kyle or Carson answered them.

The forum turned out to be a really lively place, too, and I found myself spending a lot of time reading the "stickies." These were forum posts that were so informative about marketing techniques that the members had voted that they be permanently kept to educate new members. These "stickies" were often case histories of those who were guided to make profitable marketing campaigns. People starting from scratch were shown how to create campaigns that made money, sometimes a lot of money.

Besides the "stickies," there was also a sub-forum where people reported their sales and what they did to achieve them. In addition, there were forums on different aspects of marketing, from how to write articles to how to set up a Google AdWords campaign.

Should you choose to follow my lead, you'll notice something rather startling and amazing when you join. It's called the Wealth Counter. This is where those who have made affiliate sales add the amount they've earned. Right now, as of today, it stands at a staggering $2,325,612.06!

If that doesn't make your blood rush, I'm not sure what will get you enthused about your potential to make money online.

I know, in a review like this one, I should mention something negative about Wealthy Affiliate, but, to be honest, I can't think of anything bad to say.

The only way to really find out if this is the right thing for you, too, is to check it out.

Edit: You can receive "Inside the List" ($67 value) for free if join WA today. I will tell you exactly how you can claim your copy for free, just follow this link: Inside the List Bonus! *****Limited Time Offer*****

About the AuthorJoin my newsletter and I will tell you how to get Inside the List ($67 value) totally free when you join WA today! Click Here!
Fedor is a satisfied Wealthy Affiliate Member

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

The Best Things in Life Are Rarely Things

By Greg Reid

Have you ever noticed this to be true?

The best things in life for me are those things are not things at all. People and experiences make the biggest mark: a wonderful relationship, time with family, or a fantastic vacation that stays in my mind for years.

It seems funny to me that we spend so much time on this planet chasing “things” that we lose focus on what matters most. I mean, what’s the point of having that fantastic new home if you sleep in it all alone? Or drive the nicest of cars but are too ill to take it out for a spin?

Last week I was fortunate enough to meet an incredible guy named David. He’s one of the wealthiest people I’ve ever met, and one of the richest guys I’ve come across.

What’s the difference you ask? Well, I’ve known many wealthy people (the type with all the material resources you could imagine), and then I’ve met truly rich people who have one thing in common: they have balance.

David has all the monetary success you could ever imagine, yet what made him special in my eye is that he wasn’t driven by money; it was more about his relationships. His wife and children mean the most to him inside. He works out every day, watches his diet, and here’s the real kicker, he doesn’t care what other people think of him. Even though he has all the money anyone could want, need, or desire, he drives a modest car and lives in a modest home, for that’s all he says he really needs.

David told me stories of how “keeping up with the Joneses” made him live up to other people’s expectations, and how he now chooses to simply live up to his own expectations instead. What a great thought, huh? It got it got me to thinking as well, and to ask this question that I share with you now:

How would I live my life differently, if I lived it only for me? I mean, do I have to wait until I’m wealthy before I begin to enjoy the simple pleasures that surround me each day?

Imagine the freedom we’d have, not attempting to impress anyone other than ourselves. Imagine the free time we’d have in our minds, dreaming of what inspires us…rather than wasting time attempting to please everyone else.

I suppose the lesson to be learned here is that this freedom can be ours . . . and already exists before us. We simply need to accept its challenge.

The challenge is this: For one month, make a conscious effort to do what pleases you. Be proud of your success (but don’t brag), wear the clothes that make you comfortable and happy, eliminate the fear to dance, take that risk you’ve been holding back, and whatever you do . . . Keep smilin’

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated - send to: GregReid@AlwaysGood.com

About The Author

Gregory Scott Reid GregReid@AlwaysGood.com Speaker and two-time #1 best-selling author, The Millionaire Mentor and Wake Up: Live the Life You Love www.AlwaysGood.com