More people than ever before are walking away from the cubicle and settling into Internet-based careers. In times past, people who made money online usually had to be techies with programming knowledge. But today, the Internet is increasingly becoming a lucrative domain for the average Joe. If
you’re thinking about taking the plunge, be sure to consider the following first
How to find clients
Finding clients on the Internet is different than finding them in the brick-and-mortar world. Regardless of the product or service that you are selling, your customers and clients are most likely going to be avid web users, so that automatically narrows down your target demographic. Before you get serious about earning money online, it is important that you have a plan for finding clients. Your income depends on it. If you are hawking a service, forums and freelancer databases like Elance are going to be the best move. For products, there’s Ebay and thousands of sites like it.
How to manage your revenue
When you make money in a nine-to-five style job, you get paycheques of the same size on a regular basis throughout the year. When you are operating your own online business, totals (and their frequency) vary. Exceptional months require exceptional discipline in terms of saving and investment. It’s wise to consult with a financial specialist about growing your income. While you’re at it, toy around with an online saving calculator to see how much your investment today could be worth down the road.
How to draw attention to your site
Making money on the Internet is one of those things that is so easy to get started with, that people end up thinking it’s just easy in general. The truth is, there are so many millions of websites out there competing for attention that you are never going to be seen by potential customers and clients unless you take some special measures. If you already have a website for your service, considering hiring a search engine optimisation SEO consultant to boost its ranking in search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing.
How to get paid
You’ll need to establish a channel through which your customers can pay you before you start offering any services on the Internet. It’s easy to focus so intently on the product you are pitching that you neglect the payment options. Bear in mind: this is not just about getting paid; it’s also about instilling confidence in your clients. If you haven’t worked out a payment channel, they’ll assume you’ve neglected a few other things as well. When all else fails, set up a PayPal account and resign yourself to irritating fees.
How to pay taxes
More and more people are making money online, creating an increasingly significant stream of 21st century income that governments are starting to take notice of. Operate under the assumption that, if you are not currently paying taxes on your income, the government that considers responsible for you will eventually come after you. Consult with a financial advisor or accountant in your area to establish an above-board means of claiming income and paying taxes.
