I asked Steve MacLellan who designs websites for entrepreneurs to give me the inside scoop.
Can ordinary people transitioning from the workforce make money using the internet… the non-programmers,non-spammers, etc.? Here’s his answer.
There is a group that wants to make a cash grab using the Internet. These people are interested in splogging, automatic generated websites, filled with Adsense, affiliate programs and whatever tools and resources they can use so they don’t have to spend a lot of time on any particular project. For these people, their websites are their business.
There is another group of people who already have businesses (or want to start one), and want to use their websites as a tool to assist in their business. A good example is my website. It isn’t my business. It is used as a marketing tool to help me attract clients – so others can learn about what I have to offer.
Another website I operated a couple of years ago was a site that sold advertising to local used car dealers. The business was finding buyers for used car dealers that I sold advertising to. Most of the traffic to the website was driven by off-line advertising, such as fliers, newspapers, car seller magazine ads, radio ads, car magnets, posters, even some joint venture advertising and good old-fashioned off-line networking.
I know of other people who make their living without websites too. I know one lady who designs and sews lingerie for a small business. Two other women I know who sew logos on promotional items for a company. Another person who runs a dog day care. I know a few men who run their own construction businesses. Actually, there are millions of people who run their own businesses, that may or may not have websites. I don’t see how “website spammers who can create a thousand websites full of junk content” offer any real competition to these people.
So when one considers “people who are transitioning from the workforce to the kind of lifestyle you describe… one focused on freedom…,” I think it is an important consideration to develop a business idea first. Following your market research, to determine the feasibility of the project, (which includes developing the profile of the ideal client who will use your product or service), you would build the business first, and worry about a website, if it’s needed, later on.
Naturally the road to being self-employed or running a business requires a lot of work. Fortunately, one can get started without having all of the answers. Most major town and cities have resources, like small business development agencies, that put on workshops where people can learn the basics about accounting, taxes, laws, etc… and point you to small business seminars designed to help you in marketing.
When someone decides they are going to make the transition from being an employee to being self employed, you have to carefully analyze your strengths and weaknesses to determine what areas of running the business you will need help or additional knowledge in. Then you need to find out where you can get this help. A lot of this can be covered in your market research.
I don’t think any real business has to worry about competition from “website spammers”. Part of your research (besides developing a profile of who your ideal client is) can be interviewing potential clients or customers to see if they would be interested in buying from you. When you open the business, you know who the clients/customers are, how to reach them, and how to market to them. Sadly, I’ve seen a number of people with good business ideas putting up websites without knowing who their customers were or how to reach them. That’s a recipe for disaster. Interviewing potential clients and customers also gives you an insight into how your competitors may be missing elements in their service that could be incorporated into your business model. A unique edge; something that can be done a little better/faster, is enough to win you some extra business.
I think there is a lot of opportunity for people who are seriously interested in building a better life for themselves. These days, the Internet is the first thing many people turn to when trying to decide what they want to do. That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the right place to look. The best place to look is inside, at yourself. See what you can do. See what you can offer. Build with the future in mind. If you want to get out of the workforce, you need to plan how you will accomplish this.
Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan
Bob on June 15th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
One thing that I have noticed when talking with people who want to try an online business is how easy they think it is to just slap an ad or Adsense on their web pages and they’ll make a ton of money. It doesn’t work like that as you well know. I think the opportunity is well within people’s grasp; the tools to do well are easily and freely available. It just takes a ton of time or a ton of money. You either learn and do it yourself or outsource.
Steve MacLellan on June 16th, 2006 at 3:17 am
Hi Bob,
I read through some of your blog posts where you claim to be a “frustrated internet marketer” who fits the description of the first group of people I mentioned. Who knows? Maybe one of these days you’ll be rich!
I’m not into it. You know — like to do my own thing. Right now I run my own business from home being a web developer. I’ve been doing it for several years.
If I had the time, which I don’t… here is an idea I would pursue.
In just about every province in Canada and probably every state in the US you will find groups that want to save heritage landmarks. One such group in my province of Nova Scotia is the “Save the lighthouse” group. They have several chapters of this society located around the province. Two summers ago my old country band got together and played for a fund raiser for the local chapter. They are always looking for ways to raise more money for their cause.
At this fund raiser, they were selling a few trinkets, asking for donations, and allowing people to explore the inside of the now retired lighthouse.
Suppose they had a large picture of the lighthouse, taken in a glorious sunset, or from the bushes in the Fall when you could frame the picture in some Autumn foliage. You had the picture placed in a beautifully ornate frame and it would beautify any wall that it hung on. You could have one of these done up (a sample) and allow the members of the group to show it off at their meeting. You could give it to them in bulk orders at a wholesale price so that when they have their fund raisers they could sell them to help make money for their organization.
With 8-9 various chapters around the province, you could go to each spot and take pictures of the lighthouse each chapter represents.
But it doesn’t necessarily have to stop there. There are lots of heritage organizations trying to save and preserve other landmarks.
A website could be used for groups to place batch orders, and as a showcase of your work.
And, of course, trips around the province or state to see these beautiful sites could be claimed as business, which would include hotel/motel charges, gas, meals and etc…
Something like this would give a person a great job. One wouldn’t have to compete with all of the gurus online. You would have a real business.
Bob, if you feel you are a “frustrated internet marketer” — maybe it is time to consider other options and ideas. I’ve presented one idea. Ideas are endless.
Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan
Chuck on June 16th, 2006 at 6:40 am
Thanks for your follow up Steve, this was a little bit more like I was looking for. I remember, for example, how you mentioned a real estate business deriving a significant amount of $$ from a web site.
Steve MacLellan on June 16th, 2006 at 8:58 am
Chuck on June 16th, 2006 at 9:02 am
Steve,
How adaptable is the used car marketing package?
Adaptable for any items that want to be sold?
Steve MacLellan on June 16th, 2006 at 11:51 am
Hi Chuck,
It is adaptable if you know how to code Php/MySQL. For the lady who wanted to use it to sell boats, it wasn’t any problem. But there would be a lot of code changes…
Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan
Don Resh on June 16th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Hi, Steve:
I just read your comments on making money on the Internet. Good stuff. You briefly touched on a topic that I believe is grossly overlooked by new Internet marketers. Business planning and infrastructure development.
So many people think that they can throw up a web site and become a millionaire. Even if they do not have that misconception, they think that just because they operate out of the home, they don’t have to operate like a bonifide company.
I believe that if you want to be successful and have a real shot at financial freedom, you have to lay the ground work.
Write a business plan. Have a mission statement. Set goals with real (achievable) dates. How can you work toward something if you don’t have a plan to remind you how to get there?
Another mistake home business entrepreneurs make is not building the foundation first. You have to assume that you are going to be a raging success and build your systems to support that success. There is a lot of really good software available to support every aspect of an Internet business. All of my sites cater to the home business venture. Yet I hear people time and again saying, “I’ll build the infrastructure after I become successful.” Well, by then it’s too late. Many say they want to keep expenses down until they have sales to support the cost of automation. Many software packages cost less than $50 and they range from site development to generating traffic to building an opt-in list.
Anyway, I know I’m preaching, but the key to success on the Internet is much the same as it is in the bricks and mortar world. Plan, review and revise, execute and stick to the plan.
Some folks want to escape decades of living in the corporate world by starting a home business, but many others don’t have a choice. Handicapped, under-educated and stay-at-home Moms and caregivers all have a chance to be extremely productive and earn good money. Until the Internet, many of them had no opportunities to be gainfully employed. I sure am glad Al Gore invented this thing.
Unfortunately, many rip-off and scam artists have tainted the reputation of an otherwise great marketing platform. But for those of us who believe in running an Internet business based on honesty and integrity, there is a obligation to keep reminding all those aspiring Internet Marketers that, “Yes, you can make money on the Internet.”
Thanx for listening. I didn’t mean to run on like that. Once I get started, it’s hard to stop.
Don Resh
WebForce, Inc.
http://www.webforcesolutions.com
http://www.bizbuildsoftware.com
http://www.turbomaxsoftware.com
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Mike on October 21st, 2007 at 4:02 am
Chuck,
Nice article you have here!