How I Made My First $1k Online
Group: Better Networker Newbies Guide
Written by Nathaniel Johnson on Dec 12, 2008 3:35 am
Read More: Personal Development | Positive ThinkingHow I Made My First $1,000 Online
Before reading I want you to know that I realize $1,000 is nothing to be bragging about (especially not $1,000 in 4 months). But I have produced this blog simply because I am an everdaymarketer. I am a literal Joe Schmo. And when it came to making money online I always got discouraged and these past 4 months have been almost surreal because of the fact that my efforts are finally rewarding me. So it all started…
Around September of 2007 I had joined CashCrate, an online survey site that pays its members for surveys and questioners. It had a referral system and you could earn a % of people you refer. So here was my goal, to get referrals. I tried all the armature approaches, posting flyers, cold emailing, business cards and some traffic sites. I then learned about a social networking site called Yuwie. I read about it in the forums on CashCrate.com and soon realized that social networking sites like Yuwie are incredibly valuable.
As opposed to other social networking sites like MySpace or facebook, Yuwie is heavily online networking orientated. I soon realized that everyone on these sites like Yuwie or 6degree were interested in making money online. So here I was about to begin my journey to making money online.
The First Things I Did:
Before I even joined the company that made me my first thousand I was preparing my skills without even knowing it. You see, regardless of what kind of business you are in the things you need and the tactics you are going to use will be more or less similar. You need leads and traffic to be viewing your blogs/catch pages/websites. So I started blogging.
My first blog was actually about my past addiction to drugs which helped me meet a lot of supportive and loving people. But my first blog to help me make money was about CashCrate. I simply took a photo of a check I received. I made roughly $50/month and my best month eventually was around $200 for that site. So there you have it, I took a photo, posted it in a blog and said a few straightforward things and people started joining….
The Next Thing I Did:
Was probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do, I kept an open mind. One day while pitching my seemingly successful CashCrate business to others I ran across a guy named Kevin. He introduced me to UnselfishWealth and I watched his video. You have to understand I was in the mindset of don’t spend money to make money and I was not about to invest a single cent into anything. But luckily I kept an open mind and literally watched his video 10 times before I considered joining. And then I was hurled on my way….
That was a little under 4 months ago today. And now I know that $1,000 does not seem like a lot at all but again I am no guru. I slacked, I hit walls and pitfalls, I even got discouraged and nearly quit. I was neglectful to my downline, I was lazy and did not put enough effort into it (something we are all guilty of, I mean we are human!) Sometimes I would even beat myself up because I felt that I was not doing enough online.
Then I Cracked The Secret To Creating A Successful Business…
Are you ready for the secret? Of course you are... We all are… The secret was that there was no secret. The secret was to stop looking for the secret. By giving up my search for some magic and ultimate solution to my home based business I found the magic and ultimate solution.
Let Me Explain: The more I searched for what it was exactly I needed to do to explode my business and earnings the more I realized I was searching for the wrong thing. I stopped searching for those magic solutions and I simply made it a daily habit to work on my blogs/website/content/everything. Persistent, efficient effort will %100 of the time show you results.
So there I was just chipping away everyday writing some blogs, optimizing my pages, logging in and participating in all my social networking sites, being helpful and keeping my head up. This was it, and now I made my first $1,000 online in less than 4 months. Again, that does not seem like much but really if I made my first g online then you can too. My next goal… turn my business into a $1,000/month deal… Seem like an attainable goal?
Views: 321 | 
Comments: 12 
About the Author: Nathaniel Johnson
Member Since: 10/22/2008
Company: Me Inc.
Industry: Web Design
Primary Web Site: http://createwithnate.com
No Magic?
Haha .. weren't we all duped by the myth of magic online money making formulaes.
Welcome to the world of working for a living again.
At least online work can be done in your own time, and at your own pace.
Great post.
So True
I have been searching for the same secret and all I found was a bunch of online gurus who were on the financial scrap heap before they found the secret formula. Trouble is when you purchase these secret formulas the key component of the formula is either missing or that complicated you need to be a rocket scientist to work it out. Two years down the track and a lot of money down the drain I have finally decided to go back to basics agree on the direction to take and spend each day working at achieving the first sale and bingo it happened on the weekend, it is not a lot of money but it was a sale and I figure if I can get one there are plenty more out there.
Enjoy your post.
Regards,
John
Birds of a Feather!
Thank you for sharing that, now I don't feel so bad! I have for years been looking for an online business ever since I saw kids 1/4th my age becomes quite rich on the internet.......several thousands of dollars later, boxes and boxes of the same e-book rewriten by every Tom, Dick & Harry.....and I finally found a Company that I enjoy working with, have met some really great people, and had products that I loved promoting because they were REAL!
Now of course, I am looking to make money as well as friends and even with this Company it has taken what seems like forever. But I have celebrated every check and have logged each success so I don't forget the basics and revisited each failure so I stop making the same mistakes.
Now that I think I have a pretty good understanding of the basics, I am ready to step to the next level and am feverishly taking notes from people like you that are willing to share!!!!
Thank you again!
Laura
ready to take it to the next level?
then ask yourself this, if your company went under tomorrow where would you be? You want to be able to create for yourself an environment where you are no reliant on finding the right company but rather you are the company...
that's where I'm trying to get, but aren't we all?
Hi
Hey Nate,
Always ready to take it to the next level. But I think I need to make it to the first one first. :) My dream is to Not have to ask a BOSS anything. But one thing that Business owners, especially new ones don't realize, is that your client is your Boss, at least to a degree. Even if they are the ones coming to you for your product or service. Especially in the service oriented business, ie auto anything. The customer tells you what he wants and it is your job to accomodate them. If they are paying you to do, say a "Custom" anything. Repair not so much, cause if they are bringing it to you to fix, the only thing they really have a say in is the price and whether or not it is a safety issue. The Old addage Of the Customer Is Always Right! I never really believed wholly, but there is something to be said for going out of your way to please someone, they will come back to you for future whatever.
Enough for now. Talk to you later
Kim W.
medhat141
The Missing Ingredient
Usually what is missing from the get rich quick books are the key ingredients time and work.
It is true that there are some schemes out there that have made a few people lots of money overnight.
The trouble is that by the time they release their "secret formula" to the world, they know it is on the way out. Otherwise they would not share it. Why would they ruin it for themselves? Because they suddenly got compassion .... uhhuh.
As Nate said, the goal is to be your own brand. Once people are following you, you have the ability to create businesses with an email, or an endorsement. Then you can create money in get rich quick fashion.
And when you come to write your ebook you will leave out the years boring hard work that got you to that point (who wants to read about that). ;)
Spot on Dean
Hit the nail on the head. Sure the tales of 'making $37,546 in just 7 days' (or whatever numbers they come up with), are very probably true.
Only they conveniently 'forget' to mention that it took them years and years of learning, studying, tweaking, failing, testing again and again, in order to finally accomplish the 7 day riches.
But you're right - it would make pretty boring reading. And can you imagine the size of the download, or the cost of putting it into print? lol,
It Takes a Few Years is True!
Good reply to this Susan!
It is very true, in anything we do or learn how to do. There are steps, there are lessons, commitment, and so much more...
sure, some people are "naturals" at some things, like playing piano etc...
just because you are a "natural" at something doesnt mean you don't need lesson, learn theory, and practical application of it all...
Even with all of that, you still might "miss a beat" now and then... thing is if it is your passion, you won't let missing a beat, keep you from growing and moving on...
Become that passionate person, become that passionate leader, want to give back what you know, or don't know!
Its quite an interesting game here online, very intriguing. Observation, and active learning and applying from watching the "greats" or those who are doing or have done what you want to achieve is the best way I know how to do it...
Great reply Susan... and yes... it would make for all ,long, boring reading!
although it would filter people out, you know the one's that will read that and say " hell no! I am not doing THAT!"
;)
Great Post
What really hit home for me, was learning things the hard way...What I mean by this, is I was that guy at 1am in the morning looking for that secret....the special something....I didn't know what it was excatly, then your in box/ email, is bombed with every opportunity known to man.... then I realized just like some of you guys is that the secret is really YOU.
You are the biggest Secret because we all have the ability to learn from our mistakes...So the real Secret is the ability to to make some mistakes out there and see if you can do it again but this time fine tune it....I'll never forget what ROBERT KIYOSKI wrote in his book.... He said something to the affect of, the difference between the Rich & Poor is Rich people think of how they can make things happen. VIA creatitvity/ activity...more work to make things better...problem solvers....
Poor people don't have to be poor...they think of J-O-B sercurity,benefits, insurance plan, retire in 40 years from now.... Nothing wrong with that...except there is no sercurity and all of us at some point were brain washed to think so.... So lets keep making some mistakes...try out some new things...stay positive, stay active in what ever your doing....and keep Networking, because one of the biggest traits of millionaires is that they CREATE NETWORKS....POOR MINDED FOLKS LOOK FOR WORK....Not to be offensive in anyway....but we all want riches...but what are we doing to achieve it .....!!!
Doniel
I've found the Majic Formula to Success; check it out!
There seems to be a misconception in ever aspect of life; Business, Family, Relationships, Community, Fun time. The misconception is that most people look outside of themselve for a solution to their problem. The secret is you will only find the answer within you.
Don't misunderstand what I am saying as I know you can buy books, compact disc, attend seminars and all those things that are outside of you; but those just aid you along the path to success. It is you whom still needs to walk that path.
As we see, Nathaniel took the action of being consistent with the writing of blogs/website desing, etc. He did not insanely continue to search for a secret outside of himself. He took consistent action!Kudo to you Nathaniel!
You are the majic formula to your success so take the time to feed the mind, body and soul!
Great Post
I am very new to this internet stuff and trying to read and absorb as much as possible.
Jay
I see it now!
No matter where you go- There YOU are!! It is easy to make excuses or reasons why you CAN'T do the things necessary. I am sure that I am quoting someone when I say that those who don't learn from history/mistakes are bound to repeat it.
Jay, beware of information overload. learn the basics and go from there. I know it's hard I am right there with you. For me it's fear! I am having to overcome things like fear and get going.
I Want It! So therefore I will get it!.
Kim~medhat141