Rising Tides, Radar Detectors In Internet Marketing

Contributed by Patrick preety
We've all read about rising gasoline prices, which are taking a bigger and bigger bite out of consumers' disposable income. Compounding the situation at the gas pump is trouble in the banking sector. Mortgage defaults and mortgage foreclosures are skyrocketing. Credit is tight. The U.S. government has tried to stimulate the economy by providing taxpayers special rebates ranging from $300 to $600. Meanwhile, the government has made money available to banks and hard-pressed homeowners as a means of stopping a giant hemorrhage in the real-estate market.

It's also a Presidential election year in the United States. With Republicans and Democrats alike trying to curry favor with voters, the people's business sometimes becomes of secondary importance. Politicians know that change-focused agendas depend on electability. Government attentiveness will be in short supply until election season passes.

How all of this will shake out is unclear. What is clear, however, is that more and more people are turning to the Internet to supplement their income. Pain at the gas pump is a great motivator. So is the rising cost of groceries. Joblessness is not rampant in the United States. Regardless, people are seeking new ways to make money to offset higher costs or simply because they don't have a good feeling when they assess their futures.

It is a great time to assess your skill sets. If you have specialized knowledge that can make a difference in the lives of others, start looking for ways to share your knowledge for profit. You'll need core skills to start your own online business. The key is committing yourself to getting started.

You're a bright person, right? Steer clear of "Get Rich Quick" schemes. If you feel as though someone is trying to pick your pocket as you begin the process of researching ways to make money online, listen to your inner self. If you're already stressed over money, you'll only compound your problems and waste time if you spend your money on dream-chasing.

Here are two important questions to ask if you're contemplating a part-time job in Internet Marketing:

1.) Is the model sustainable or is the person who introduced you to the opportunity using "hype" to play on your vulnerabilities?

2.) Would the idea appeal to "average people," the type of people who might attend a county fair, root for a favorite sports team or bowl in a Thursday night couples' league?

"Average people" are very discerning. They don't fancy schemes and don't appreciate smooth-talk. In short, "average people" have good radar.

If your radar detector is beaming poisonous impulses, it's good to listen. Focus on practical solutions. It is possible to make money online by offering services, writing eBooks and information products, starting small, specialty publishing companies, selling software, selling on eBay and getting involved in Affiliate marketing. Many other equally valid choices exist.

In general, the best solutions are not of the "cookie-cutter" variety. Your individualism is one of your most important assets. Do your homework well. Learn what you need to know, including how to purchase a domain name and upload files to your hosting company. You'll need a means of receiving payments, so spend some time researching choices such as PayPal and Google Checkout.

Don't overreach. Take a step on Day One, and another one on Day Two. Writers, teachers, designers, software engineers, plumbers, lawyers, sanitation workers, clergy members, business people, professionals of all types -- people from within these and many other groups are making money on the Internet.

They believe in the rising tide, and they're using their knowledge to extend this boat-lifting tide to all parts of the world.

Fantasy-branding maven Patrick Pretty writes about online business and is the author of "Simple PDF News Release Strategy For Internet Marketers."