Web is a virtual world that can net real money.
But it is not as easy as book writers and others would like you to believe.
Many people wrote many books on making money on the web. Some of them really got rich off the internet. Some of them just say so, knowing that no one will check.
Because making serious money on the web without first investing a huge dollar amount is seriously difficult.
I have been exploring ways to monetize my web surfing for a year. And let me tell you, the cyber space is a maze, where one can easily get lost without making a dime.
In order to make a dime, a surfer must organize an actual campaign! And he must really organize the net he surfs, otherwise he drowns! (Or she).
So let's discuss ways of making money on the web:
1) A WEBSITE (dahh!)
Well, just creating a w-site and putting it out there is an equivalent of throwing a pebble in the ocean. Chances of a paying customer finding it are ZERO.
Moneyed owners of cyber lots invest in Adwords, other forms of advertising, and pay affiliate marketers to spread the word. They may also pay handsomely for Search Engine Optimization.
So what people with little or no money can do in order to keep their little pebble of a website afloat in cyber ocean? THEY USE THE FOLLOWING FORMS OF FREE ADVERTISEMENT:
a)They join cyber groups and networks where they can EXCHANGE LINKS with sites of other people.
That is time consuming (networking takes time, link exchange must be monitored - since too many links pointing out would defeat the purpose), but necessary to keep afloat and spread the word of mouth. Search engines use links TO websites as a verifier of a website validity.
On the right, I have listed a number of helpful networking sites.
b) Website owners may join mutual surfing sites, where members surf each others' websites to keep their own sites afloat (search engines use clicks as a verifier of a site's popularity). This is even more time consuming: one may spend hours on end to do enough surfing to satisfy the surfing sites' requirement.
On the right, I have a list of such sites.
c)Website owners may write blogs about their sites and post them on as many blog aggregators and e-zines as possible. This is the quickest and least painful way of creating free advertisement for those who can throw a few words together nicely.
On the right I am listing all these sites.
d)Another neat form of free advertisement is adding your sites URL as signature to your e-mails.
2)The second way to make money off the internet is AFFILIATE MARKETING.
One can use his website or blog to sell other people's products. If it is a website, it becomes a virtual storefront for others' e-stores.
However, an affiliate marketer must use all other ways listed above to get percentage of sales. He or she is nothing but a cyber salesperson.
The only difference here is that the affiliate marketer sits at home all day, instead of working somewhere else.
An affiliate marketer, however, can multiply his income by affiliating with as many e-establishments as he chooses.
Moreover, an affiliate marketer does not even have to have a blog or a website. He may simply invest in Adwords or other forms of advertisement.
This, however, is expensive and risky.
I am listing here a number of sites that hire affiliate marketers.
3)Yes, there is a third way of making money on the web. This one is even more time consuming and less rewarding in monetary terms.
There are networking or other membership sites that pay money to their members for referrals and signs of activity (like starting a discussion, for instance).
I am listing them here.
4)Joining Pay Per Click sites is the last more or less legitimate way I know to make dollars off internet. Out of all other ways, it is the most time consuming and least rewarding financially. It is for people who have no imagination but plenty of time.
I am not even going to bother listing these sites here.
I will keep updating this site as I gather more information and links.
Good luck!
