Make Money Online With A 13-Year Old

Archive for January, 2009

What Would You Do To Brand Yourself?

By Carl On January 28, 2009 17 Comments

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A month ago, a guy named Dan Schawbel emailed me and asked for a 500 word article for this personal branding magazine – I get invitations like that from time to time, nothing unusual.

Suddenly, my dad got into the scene “That’s great, I’ve heard about Dan before.”

(My dad’s PC is beside my laptop so from time to time, he peeks when I’m reading mails – he always points out the big names *LOL*)

But reading further down his email, I felt something struck my gut when I read that I’m gonna be writing on a magazine where Gary Vaynerchuk, Donald Trump and Jack Welch has written on.

So I setted my priorities straight and whipped out an article… and there I am.

Check out the Personal Branding Mag, it’ll be available on February 1st.

As for this issue, they’ve interviewed Marcus Buckingham, Marshall Goldsmiths, Tim Sanders, John Assaraf…

And articles from Jack Humphrey, Maria Elena Duron, Jim Kukral, Tiffany Monhollon, Liz Pabon, Justin Levy and more.

10 Things To Blog About When You Don’t Know What To Blog About

By Carl On January 26, 2009 13 Comments

This aritcle is guest posted by Caden Grant.

Today, I was sitting at my computer desk trying thinking of something to blog about. I sat around for quite some time trying to think of something but nothing came to my mind. Then I finally thought of something. I thought I should write a post of ideas to blog about when you have no clue what you want to blog about. Updating is very important in blogging so what if you run out of ideas to blog about? Pretty much every blogger gets writing block and it’s not fun. So here are a few ideas to help you out when don’t have any ideas.

1. Go to Google!

I personally think Google is one of the best things that ever happened. I use it a bunch and it can be a great tool to use for a bunch of stuff, and when you don’t know what to blog about. Make a search of things to blog about or new stuff that’s going on like hot trends. I’m sure you’ll find an idea to make a post about there.

2. Keep a list/journal of things to blog about

This is what I do and it really helps. Sometimes I’ll just be doing whatever and an idea will pop into my head about what to blog about. So, I keep a journal and I just write each idea down. This way if you’re ever thinking of something to blog about, you just get out your journal and pick a topic from there.

3. Maybe re post an old post?

Perhaps if you made a blog entry a few months or years ago you can take one of your old posts and revise it to make it better and re post it. Perhaps you’ve learned more since then and have some new ideas you would like to include.

4. Take a nap or go to bed

Sometimes when you think too hard it can be very frustrating and mind-boggling and you just need to relax and get some rest. Go take a nap or go to bed and when you wake up you might feel refreshed and you might think of a new idea. Maybe even take a few days off and do stuff you like to enjoy. Give your mind a rest and when you come back later it might be a little easier.

5. Write a tutorial

Maybe you could write a tutorial to teach some of your readers to do something. For instance, write a tutorial on Web design, how to make money online blogging, etc, depending on the type of website or blog you have. Whatever you do, try not to go off topic.

6. Reply to a readers question

This is always a good idea for something to blog about. Take a question that one or some of your readers have asked you and address it in a post to inform the readers. Readers always like when the blogger themselves interacts with them.

7. Tell your readers to ask you some questions

Make a post where you tell your readers to ask you any questions they want. Then once they’ve submitted their questions, you can answer a few of them in a new blog post. This is always a good idea because you can gain loyalty from your readers and it’s an extra thing to post about when you don’t have any ideas.

8. Check your email

Check your email. This kind of ties in with 6 and 7 but maybe some readers have sent you a question or an email regarding a certain topic you could cover in a post.

9. Ask somebody

Maybe you could talk to a friend or somebody you know and ask them what would be something interesting to blog about that they would like to learn about. This might not work if they have no clue really about what you’re trying to do but it’s possible. I myself have come up with a few blog posts this way.

10. Interview somebody

Interview somebody. Interview a blogger. In most cases many people won’t mind sharing some information with you. Write up a few questions and be prepared in case they say yes. Perhaps they’ll make a post about you linking back to your site resulting in some more traffic!

So, if you ever get writers block, try a few of these ideas out for yourself and see how they work and most likely you’ll come up with something!

Ghostwriting Services – How To Hire A Good Ghostwriter

By alan cheng On January 25, 2009 No Comments

This article is guest posted by Alan Cheng.

Ghostwriting services are much needed in the online money making world. If you struggle to write or have a phobia with writing, then you definitely need to hire a ghostwriter. This article will show you how to hire a good ghostwriter so that you can increase your online sales.

It’s worth mentioning first of all, that looking for the cheapest price is definitely not the way to select your ghostwriter – unless you’re working on an Adsense site where content doesn’t matter and  you’re only concerned about Adsense clicks.

If you need 10 articles (500 words) to be ghostwritten, and the ghostwriter charges $5 for each article, that would mean he will earn $50. But it takes him a minimum of 3 hours to finish them. Why would anyone work 3 hours for $50?

If they’re in India or the Philippines then yes, than would justify the pay. However, you need to be extra careful to see what their standard of English is and the amount of research they will do for your articles or ebook. You are writing content to provide valuable information to your customers and readers. You’re not writing content for the sake of it.

Here is a checklist of things you should go through when hiring a ghostwriter:

1. Does he have samples to show you his writing style? Does his samples have informative content written in an interesting tone with good English?
2. Does he have testimonials from his past customers? Do the testimonials sound real?
3. Search for the ghostwriter’s name on forums. Does anyone mention his name and say they liked the work ghostwritten for them?
4. Look at the prices the ghostwriter is charging. Do they seem reasonable? If they’re too cheap then you run the risk of receiving poor quality content or a delay in receiving the material. If they are good and cheap, then obviously they will get bombarded with work.
5. Ask the ghostwriter questions on your ebook or articles that you want written. Look at their responses to your emails. Are they written in good English and do they reply your email in a timely manner?
6. Ask for referrals from friends or word of mouth. If several people recommend a ghostwriter, check them out and see if you are comfortable with working with them.
7. Ask the ghostwriter if they can do the research for you or whether they need a lot of hand holding from you. Some ghostwriters will expect you to supply them research material so that they can work on it. This is costing you time. Professional ghostwriters will do the research for you. You need to make sure.
8. Ask if the ghostwriter can write a sample for you based on your topic. If they say yes, then you need to consider if they’re worth hiring. A good ghostwriter would not write for free to prove themselves. It could mean that they are desperate for work due to lack of clients. Good ghostwriters are very busy.
9. Does the ghostwriter understand how to write a Search Engine Optimized article? Do they know what LSI is? If they’re knowledgeable in this area then they can write articles for you that can rank high in the search engines.

And finally, if you do get good quality work from a ghostwriter, then make sure you stick with them. The more you work together, the more you will understand each other. They will know how to produce work that you want.

Conclusion

I am not saying that ghostwriters that are charging low prices produce low quality content. But you run the risk of hiring someone who’s first language is not English and therefore produce below average material.

If you fiind that they are good ghostwriters then they will be so busy with work and therefore very likely delay in delivering your ebook or articles.

Think about it. If they are good and cheap, why would people not use them again? Also once they get many orders, it’s only a matter of time that they will increase their prices.

If you want to make money online, then you need good content. Content is what the internet is about. If your readers like your ebook or the articles that you have produced, you will get loyal subscribers and customers. Ghostwriting services are an important part of your business to outsource. They make money for you. So make sure you get this part of your business right.

Alan Cheng is a professional ghostwriter who delivers a complete solution for information product owners. His ghostwriting package includes ghostwriting an ebook, sales letter with minisite graphics, squeeze page, thank you page and press release. His website is at http://www.bestinstantsites.com.

My Top 5 Ways To Drive Traffic

By Carl On January 25, 2009 13 Comments

Last week, Alvin Phang, interviewed me. It’s really a candid interview and it’s never been practiced so sorry if there’s a hiccup from time to time *LOL*.

Alvin’s good with the ladies as many of you may know, but other than that he sure knows how to grill – he made me spit out my top 5 ways to drive traffic, how I made it on top of Google, the best monetization tactic I use on my blog and a ton of personal stories on how I got started.

Without further ado, here it is folks…

(Click the white arrow to play)

(Props to the spiffy player, stunning color :-P)

P.S. There’s a time there where I really went blank. I think it was the part about finding a niche and I just kept repeating the same idea for like thrice :-D

Avoid PayPal Problems By Learning How To Use PayPal Safely

By jmonegro On January 22, 2009 9 Comments

This article is guest posted by Joel of BadPal.org. I recommend you take time reading this…

If you’ve been using PayPal for a while, you’ve probably come accross a number of “PayPal horror stories” by PayPal users who got “back stabbed” by PayPal’s poor seller protection, and customer support. This has caused websites like AboutPayPal.org, PayPalWarning.com, and PayPalSucks.com to emerge.

By reading a couple of them, you will quickly realize that most of these stories include sellers being scammed by buyers, etc. and how PayPal fails to provide any time of support.

You might be a happy PayPal user right now, but it can happen to you. Here are a few tips that should help you use PayPal safely, and keep your chances of getting back stabbed at a minimum:

Be honest

When you sign up for a PayPal account, make sure all the information is 100% correct.

If you ever have to deal with a PayPal problem, they will probably require you to fax them a couple of official documents that are supposed to verify that you are you.

They usually ask for your ID, passport, bank statements, driver’s license, or even copies of your last utility bills.

If for any reason, there is something wrong, PayPal isn’t going to help you out. Not that they would otherwise either…

Don’t deal with unverified members

Unless it’s for low amounts of money, avoid dealing with unverified members. Even though this rule is a given (most scammers are unverified), PayPal may take over your account just because they “feel” that you’ve dealt with someone who “might” be suspicious.

Avoid dealing with unverified members from questionable countries.

You should also avoid dealing with unverified members from questionable countries. I don’t have a list per se, but I understand that PayPal keeps an eye on countries from Asia and the middle east. This is a shame, really, because I know some very respectable people from there :(

But the truth is that is in those regions where most of the scammers operate, so you should keep an eye on who you’re dealing with.

Avoid unusually large transactions.

While small transactions like a couple of bucks to a few hundred dollars, or maybe even a thousand might slip under PayPal’s high security measures, large transactions tend to alarm PayPal. This frequently results in the funds being frozen until PayPal verifies it’s not fraudulent (and you’ve seen how inefficient PayPal is when it comes to fraud detection). If you must send or receive large amounts of money, consider using XOOM, or dividing the transaction in 2/4/etc.

Do not apply for a Business account if you do not have a registered business.

This is how it works:

• Personal accounts are for individuals who mainly use PayPal to purchase online, and receive money casually.
• Premier accounts are for individuals who buy AND sell online.
• Business accounts are for those who mainly use PayPal to sell online, and maybe buy as well.

I think it’s pretty clear, but let me tell you something. If you sell online, a Business account might be very attractive. It’s “fancy”: you buy and sell under your own business name, your clients or customers see that you are a business, it improves trust, etc.

But, if you do not have a registered business, with a business bank account, you should not open a Business account. Technically, you can open a business account, but you shouldn’t. This is why:

I used to have a business account, and it was awesome because of all the benefits it had. But then, reading a couple of “horror stories” I realized something: when there’s an issue, PayPal frequently requests documents like driver’s license, and utility bills as mentioned above.

I figured that if you have a business account, they will ask for your business papers, and related documents. And if you don’t have them, you’ve got a problem. I immediately created a premier account, transferred my money to it, and closed the business account.

So, if you don’t have a registered business, avoid problems and go for a Premier account.

Don’t open 2 accounts, unless…

You should not open 2 accounts. There is a relatively low chance that PayPal will find out if you do not have any problems, but should problems arise, PayPal might find this out and close your account.

However, you are allowed to have more than one account if:

1. You want a Personal account for yourself and a Premier/Business account for your business. Remember each should have different addresses, e-mails, bank account details, and credit/debit cards.
2. You moved. If you moved countries, then it’s OK to open a new PayPal account for your new country of residence because PayPal does not allow you to change your country. However, you should delete your old account for security purposes.

Keep your account balance at a minimum, withdraw as much as possible.

This is pretty much common sense, but it should be mentioned nonetheless. Always keep your PayPal balance at a minimum, and withdraw your money ASAP. I’ve seen people keep up to $16,000 (true story!) on their PayPal account. Now imagine if their account gets seized!

I personally try to keep my balance at around $100 for my purchases, and I withdraw as soon as my balance reaches $200-$300.

Those are just some of the tips and tricks on how to avoid getting scammed through or by PayPal. To read the full guide, head out to BadPal.org, where you will learn everything you need to know about the subject!

3 Authority Backlinks You Can Build Today

By PNH On January 22, 2009 10 Comments

This article is guest posted by Patric Herber of pnhnetwork.com.

If you plan to dominate the search engines you are going to need backlinks, and if you are going to spend your time building backlinks then they might as well from strong authority websites.  Of course you are all now staring at your monitor wondering how you are supposed to do that, right?

Actually, its pretty easy!  There are literally millions of prime link spots just waiting to be picked by the next person who strolls along, you just have to find them!  First I will show you how to find your own backlinks and then I will share some of my secret stash with all of you.

Best Methods for Building Authority Links

There are so many different ways to find and build backlinks,  some methods will vary from niche to niche.  Here are my favorites, why not see how you can adapt them to fit your website.

• Become a Guest Contributor – Carl did a great job of covering guest blogging in another post, so I will just touch on this briefly.   You can almost guarantee that there is at least one website/blog in your niche that will accept a guest post, you just have to find them.  For instance, if you are in the real estate industry you can write for sites like Real Estate License Direct, in the make money online and home based business industry you can write for Carl and many others.  I usually find a site that I like and send them a friendly email expressing my interest in writing for them, you will be amazed at how easy it is.
• Social Communities – There are so many authority social communities out there that using them to build backlinks could easily take weeks.  While social bookmarking is a great way to build easy links, its not the only option in town.  You can also use your profile pages to build links.  Some social communities also offer free blogs that you can utilize as a link building resource.  Be sure to check back on your pages and see that they were indexed by the search engines.  It never hurts to drop a few links to those pages so that they will get picked up by Google.
• Blog Commenting - This is one method that I tend to use very conservatively.  I am not a big fan of spammers, so I try to always add quality comments and contribute to each blog.  Becoming a part of the community is often more valuable than the link itself, so keep that in mind the next time you are dropping a quick comment.  Here is a list of over 500  dofollow blogs to get you started.
• Forum Signatures - Link building via forum signatures is a debateable method, some think they are of little value and others disagree.  I have seen plenty of websites rank very well thanks in large part to their forum signatures so I feel that they do add value.  There are a lot of authority forums out there, here is a list.
• Article Marketing – If used selectively, article marketing can be a great way to build links for your niche site.  Google has devalued many of these links, so you are best to only contribute unique articles to the highest authority article directories.

I am sure I am forgetting a few methods, but those should get you started.  I know from experience that just the above methods could literally take you months to cover completely.

3 Authority Backlinks You Can Build Today:

Below are 5 authority websites that allow dofollow backlinks.  I highly recommend that you use these resources with care or the webmasters will certainly stop allowing new links.

• Stanford Law School - Visit http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/people-and-blogs click on an article title, click on add a comment, fill out the form include a relevant on topic comment and you will have an authority dofollow .edu backlink to your site.
• Wikio – Visit http://www.wikio.com, click on sign-up in the upper right hand corner, create and verify your account, log-in to the website and click on publish an article, fill out the article title and body, preview and click submit.  You are done!
• MSDN Blogs - Visit http://blogs.msdn.com click on the join link, fill out your information, verify the account, return to http://blogs.msdn.com, click on a recently published title and leave a good comment on the page. There are numerous blogs on this site, it is a pr 7 and most blogs have dofollow comments.

These link opportunities don’t even put a dent in the available links out there, but they will give you an idea of what to look for, how to go about getting the links and how to find similar links on other websites.  Enjoy and remember what one ancient wise man once said:

He who abuses his link sources will soon no longer have any link sources to abuse!

PNH offers the very best self improvement advice from his blog, pnhnetwork.com.  Visit his blog today for 57 Home Based Business Ideas to Get the Money Rolling!