Is it possible to make a living online anymore?

[arelio]

It just seems like every idea is taken and every area online is oversaturated with people trying the same thing. Face it. If it was easy to make money online everyone would do it? Has the time come and gone to even try an online profession? Seems like those who got involved with websites 3-5 years ago are the lucky ones.

[Gillie]

Strange way of thinking when more and more people are turning to the internet to do their shopping ... yes some areas are very saturated and perhaps too many people in certain small fields, but I really don't see the internet as being totally out used.

[sirearl]

Desmond The internet is growing at a very fast rate

more money is spent on search engine advertising than conventional newspaper and tv adds.

It is one of the few areas in life where the little man can compete with the big financial institutions.

you don't have to have a completly original idea to crack it

You can compete on price,service,delivery.e.t.c

remember there are only three reason why people go on the web

1 to be amused
2 for information
3 to make a purchase

[webit]

Desmond The internet is growing at a very fast rate

more money is spent on search engine advertising than conventional newspaper and tv adds.

It is one of the few areas in life where the little man can compete with the big financial institutions.

you don't have to have a completly original idea to crack it

You can compete on price,service,delivery.e.t.c

remember there are only three reason why people go on the web

1 to be amused
2 for information
3 to make a purchase

4. Porn the great driver in innovation the interweb over the years like it or not ! (unless that falls under all three!)

[sirearl]

comes under sport athletics gymnastics = amusement

[cjd]

It just seems like every idea is taken and every area online is oversaturated with people trying the same thing. Face it. If it was easy to make money online everyone would do it? Has the time come and gone to even try an online profession? Seems like those who got involved with websites 3-5 years ago are the lucky ones.

It's actually quite the opposite.

When the first round of internet investment happened it was almost impossible to get people to actually buy stuff from it - everything had to be free.

Additionally, the technology was expensive, difficult to use and really not quite up to it. It was all dial-up, 56kb connection.

Nowadays people buy off the net routinely and the technology is ubiquitous and cheap. This has lowered the entry barriers so that, of course, it seems like everyone is at it.

In practice though there are lots of things to be done - just don't expect it to happen without investment, talent and hard work.

[advice]

I hope not. What does concern me though is that a lot of people are doing what I'm doing (I would argue that many are not as qualified to do it). I just hope my qualifications and experience see me through.

Dawn
www.upturnconsultancy.com

[sirearl]

Hi dawn it is most important to have your telephone number and contact details on each and every site page ,and to write unique copy that makes you stand out from the rest.

[Hedgehog Toys]

It is like any other aspect of selling. If you open a newsagents in a town then you are competing against loads of other news agents. The secret is to do your 'shop' better and with the customer service backup to match. Repeat custom is a great way for a business to build.

[advice]

Hi Sirearl,

Thanks for the good tip. That should prove helpful, as I know some people don't go beyond the first page. Wish I'd thought of it sooner.

Just saw your post Hedgehog0045 - thanks, early days yet and so fingers crossed.

Many thanks,

Dawn
www.upturnconsultancy.com

[kimmrunner]

It just seems like every idea is taken and every area online is oversaturated with people trying the same thing. Face it. If it was easy to make money online everyone would do it? Has the time come and gone to even try an online profession? Seems like those who got involved with websites 3-5 years ago are the lucky ones.

What a negative view.

The thing about the internet is , it is not one big business is is a millions and milliions of niches, many of which are being searched and as yet there is nothing much there on offer.

In the last two weeks I have registered another five domain names, for projects that are crying out to be done but chances are I will never get round to doing them, there are just too many opportunities!

So dont focus on main stream, dont sell cameras or MP3 players - look at niches! Did you know that an ebook about teaching a parrot to talk, and a site on wire frame jewellery have both made hundreds of thousands?

[SteveGibson]

Desmond,

I think you're looking at things the wrong way ...

It just seems like every idea is taken and every area online is oversaturated with people trying the same thing.

There are loads of Italian restuarants in my city ... we don't really "need" nay more ... does that mean it's not possible for someone opening an Italian restaurant in Edinburgh to make a good profit?

Well, if they have great food at value prices ... and the marketing to tell people about it, I reckon they'll thrive at the expense of some of the existing restaurants.

If it was easy to make money online everyone would do it?

Why should money be "easy"?

There was a time when people could enter under-supplied markets and make money just by turning up.

But those situations rarely last.

As I recently wrote on another site:

the internet has matured to the point where 'business fundamentals' are going to re-assert themselves over 'techniques'.

And the ultimate business fundamental is that business is about the exchange of value:

'if I want your money I damn well better find a way to make your life better'

Has the time come and gone to even try an online profession?

If you can offer the market something they want but can't get elsewhere ... and you've got (or are willing to hire) the marketing skills to get that message to the right prospects ... then you've a great chance of doing very well indeed.

However, if you're looking for easy money or to get paid just for having a "me, too" site, you've probably missed the boat.

However, this is just my 2p and I'm sure others will be along to say I'm wrong.

(no harm in that)

Steve

[PeteYoung]

If you can offer the market something they want but can't get elsewhere ... and you've got (or are willing to hire) the marketing skills to get that message to the right prospects ... then you've a great chance of doing very well indeed.

However, if you're looking for easy money or to get paid just for having a "me, too" site, you've probably missed the boat.

SPOT ON

It is also worth considering, that convergence with IP technology is likely to further increase the use of the 'Internet', and thus the potential target audience as technologies advance further. VOIP is fast becoming business mainstream, and IPTV is not far away. Further to that Broadband speeds are increasing the potential of the web at breaknet speed.

However the days when just being on the Internet would do, well unfortunately they are gone (the DotCom Boom).

As Steve said, if you have a good idea, market it well, it has a good chance of succeeding. A bit like offline really.....

[lockie]

I think it is possible if you know about the stuff your selling if your thinking along the lines of a shop. A friend of mine recently got offered the chance to be a sole distributer of a product.All the big guns in the trade turned it down as they hadnt heard of this brand but after he did some research it turned out to be a very popular polish brand.He set up the online shop and hes doing extremely well due to the polish community here, they already know the brand and are googling for it in the uk.
Im setting up an e shop to try out a possible market for products i sell.After a ppc campaign i got lots of enquiries for these items from all over the country, much to my surprise as the competition is strong. It turns out most other companies actually make it hard for the customers to buy or get a price (they are custom made). My theory is if i can set up a shop that is easy to use and go "click" "click" "buy" it should satisfy this market, only time will tell.;)

I have to say forums like this actually inspire ideas as i read through other threads, its a great mix of people and a brilliant place to learn.:D

[Gavin Harris]

It just seems like every idea is taken and every area online is oversaturated with people trying the same thing. Face it. If it was easy to make money online everyone would do it? Has the time come and gone to even try an online profession? Seems like those who got involved with websites 3-5 years ago are the lucky ones.

I'm guessing you know of a few people who have failed or not made the anticipated revenue they were expecting from the web?

What I would say is that there are more and more people who think the web is "easy" and that with little investment they can make millions - hence why so many people say "oh, it's saturated - that's why my website didn't work"!

If you invest properly, market properly and run the business as you would a high street shop, you have every chance of success - and there are plenty who are doing so. But it's not an easy ride, just as much as running a traditional business isn't easy.

Invest in a good website, market it properly, and with a little luck (as with any business), you'll be just fine.

[RayB]

There are circa 18,000 printing companies in the uk.

There are circa 50 certified eco friendly printing companies in the uk.

There are circa 20 online printing companies in the uk.

There is only one certified eco friendly online printing company in the uk.(and perhaps only THREE in the world).

Hope that helps you to "think out of the box"

[sirearl]

ray congratulations for being No 1 on google for "eco friendly printers"

here are the search results for the last year across all search engine for that term
eco solvent printers (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/keywords.html#)
17 (javascript:;) solvent vs eco solvent printers (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/keywords.html#)
3 (javascript:;) solvent printers vs eco solvent printers (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/keywords.html#)
3 (javascript:;) eco solvent printers ratings (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/keywords.html#)
2 (javascript:;) eco printers (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/keywords.html#)
1 (javascript:;) eco sol ink printers reviews (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/keywords.html#)


Thre is only one certifiable SEO in the UK and my kids are related to him :D

[RayB]

ray congratulations for being No 1 on google for "eco friendly printers"

here are the search results for the last year across all search engine for that term
eco solvent printers (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/keywords.html#)
17 (http://javascript<b></b>:;) solvent vs eco solvent printers (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/keywords.html#)
3 (http://javascript<b></b>:;) solvent printers vs eco solvent printers (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/keywords.html#)
3 (http://javascript<b></b>:;) eco solvent printers ratings (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/keywords.html#)
2 (http://javascript<b></b>:;) eco printers (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/keywords.html#)
1 (http://javascript<b></b>:;) eco sol ink printers reviews (http://www.keyworddiscovery.com/keywords.html#)


Thre is only one certifiable SEO in the UK and my kids are related to him :D

Hi sirearl,

The point of my post was to think out of the box and think niche - not about SEO :D

However, if you are in a niche you get high conversion long tail search.

For instance - if some clicks on me for postcard printing they look at 2.5 pages and the conversion is low.

However recycled postcards - the average page views per new visitor is 11.5 and the conversion is massive - cos the buying decision was made before the search was.

Such long tail search brings me approx 2000 unique new visitors per month organically with overall page views of 8.5 per visit and a conversion of approx 35% (Not everyone is ready to "buy now" in my game)

So the point is find a niche where you can - the visitors may be lower but the conversion is higher

[TheProblemConsultant]

look at niches!

Great advice and I like to think that I've been good at spotting niches but this (http://uncommonbusiness.blogspot.com/2007/05/how-to-make-money-selling-tumbleweed.html) blew me away - I'd never have thought there was money in selling tumbleweed online!

Regards, John

[DuaneJackson]

Hi Desmond,

Your subject line asks if it's "possible", then in your message you say it isn't "easy".

It is possible, but it's not easy - it never was easy, not even 5 years ago.

[RayB]

Hi Desmond,

Your subject line asks if it's "possible", then in your message you say it isn't "easy".

It is possible, but it's not easy - it never was easy, not even 5 years ago.

Thats a good point - it has never been easy to run any kind of business.

If it was "this time next year we'll all be millionaires!"

Thats the fun of it.

[kimmrunner]

Great advice and I like to think that I've been good at spotting niches but this (http://uncommonbusiness.blogspot.com/2007/05/how-to-make-money-selling-tumbleweed.html) blew me away - I'd never have thought there was money in selling tumbleweed online!

Regards, John

Amazing!

But the worst thing you can do with a profitable niche, is tell anyone how profitable it is. Within days there will be competition!

[sirearl]

Ray Mega conversion rate point taken.you learn every day ;)

[JustOneUK]

In the last two weeks I have registered another five domain names, for projects that are crying out to be done but chances are I will never get round to doing them, there are just too many opportunities!

I agree, how many domains have you got altogether that are undeveloped? I am at a microscopic 45 now :redface:

[RichardJ]

I have simliar question. It just seems that internet not as promising like I thought before. I developed software products, put them on web, optimized website for search engine so it comes within first two pages of search result of barcoding keywords; Now I just wait here, hoping people to buy it. But that does not happen. I just sold a few. Sad.

[kimmrunner]

I have simliar question. It just seems that internet not as promising like I thought before. I developed software products, put them on web, optimized website for search engine so it comes within first two pages of search result of barcoding keywords; Now I just wait here, hoping people to buy it. But that does not happen. I just sold a few. Sad.

But most people do this back to front.

They think product , and then how to sell it.

The right way todo this is

(a) To find what people are searching for

(b) To know how to check the quality of the supply, and target only
those areas which are not well supplied

(c) To ask the prospective customers what they really want, via flycatchers. ( and look at newsgroups to see what they are asking about)

(d) So then you are supplying what they really want.

Sell what they want , not what they need

Find a hungry market then give it what it wants

[kathdawson]

Really interesting thread and I agree with all those who say that the opportunities are out there - the internet business world is still very young and fresh Of course things change quickly and popular areas do seem saturated but there will always be an opportunity for creativity.

Affiliate marketers for example can make a killing but its mega hard work.

A great idea, a niche, mega hard work - a combination of the 3 = $$$$

[dan_moore]

Definitely possible, but also very hard. But with a combo of some of hard work, innovation, a niche, great marketing, luck, you can still get there!

[RichardJ]

But most people do this back to front.

They think product , and then how to sell it.

The right way todo this is

(a) To find what people are searching for

(b) To know how to check the quality of the supply, and target only
those areas which are not well supplied

(c) To ask the prospective customers what they really want, via flycatchers. ( and look at newsgroups to see what they are asking about)

(d) So then you are supplying what they really want.

Sell what they want , not what they need

Find a hungry market then give it what it wants

Great advice. "Sell what they want , not what they need"

I need to think more of this sentence.

Thank you!

[PintoPotts]

The problem is that so many people seem to think they can come up with an idea and make millions over night just by putting up a new website - wrong!

Yes it helps if the website is original or aimed at a very niche market, but there will nearly always be someone else doing it, competition is a fact of life and it is healthy.

I had my own experience running a very succesful online insurance comapny a few years ago, which I since sold, and although the website was good and it came top of Google and MSN the main key to success was hard work and customer service.

No matter how good your website or idea is, it will fall down without these essential components.

All this said, I think the internet is becoming saturated in certain areas and I also think it is harder now than it was a few years ago, which is probably down to better quality websites and service, coupled with consumers becoming more demanding as expectations have raised in line with this.

[DanMartin]

Just look at how many people have copied the Million Dollar Homepage idea since Alex Tew set his site up!

Dan Martin
BusinessZone.co.uk

[FALDON LTD]

When the British were trying to open new market in Africa at the end of the 19th century, two seperate British shoe manufacturing companies sent out a sales representive each to do market research.

The first company's sales rep returned home to England and reported.
'Nobody wears shoes out there, they don't even know what shoes are. There is no market potential at all'

The second company's sales rep returned home and reported.
'Nobody out in Africa wears shoes, we have a great sales potential out there!;

I believe that this analogy applies as much to the Web in the 21st century.
It's not always what you think you see, believe or know, it's how you percieve it that matters.

Allan, Faldon Ltd.

[asonda]

If everybody is having a crack at it, then, well done them!

Everybody needs more money to pay bills, buy more luxuries that they haven't had before etc..

Remember though, that these people, aren't really real businesses..

This way, us lot, the professionals, can show what we're made of!

[RahXephon]

4. Porn the great driver in innovation the interweb over the years like it or not ! (unless that falls under all three!)
Hi Webit,
I agree with you, by the way I strongly believe that living online is still open to everybody from the growth of online users. And it mean that the seekers or the customers increase everyday also.

[advice]

Hi Crewgirl25a,

It's interesting that you mentioned that, as I'm working my way (very slowly) through ways to promote a business online and this is something I intend to look into more. Good to hear it seems a viable option.

Many thanks,

Dawn