The question asked in the title "Can you make money on the Internet?" evokes many reactions, and I've heard many answers to it, from an enthusiastic "Yes!", to a bitter "No, it's all scam."
Unfortunately, there were more people accusing Internet Marketers of being scammers than those who supported Internet Marketing with their whole heart. I decided to talk to the people who have been successful, and who definitely agree that you can make money on the Internet. One of the things I learned from them was "be realistic". "What do you mean?" – I used to ask. Below is the summary of their answers.
First of all you have to understand that Internet Marketing or any online business is no different from any real-world business. This concerns the basics: time, effort, goal setting, constant development. Maybe not exactly in that order, but these are the main factors which decide on your success or failure.
You have to devote enough time and effort to run your business, no matter if online or offline. Can you imagine a business owner who says that he works just an hour a day, because everything else is running on autopilot? Not possible, even if you do not do "work" as such, you look for better methods to do things, you learn new ways to communicate with your customers, and you do many other things directly related with your business which you don't necessarily call "work", but it is work, and it requires time. Online business, Internet Marketing is no different.
No business can function and develop without clearly set goals. Otherwise it resembles a drifting piece of wood, but you may use a drifting piece of wood and turn it into your life-boat, rowing in a clearly designated direction. In Internet Marketing personal goals overlap with the business ones, as the latter help you meet the former. You don't just want to earn much money, you want to have a better quality life, and the elements of this quality life are your goals. Money is just means. Therefore you have to look at your practices, and see if what you do brings you closer to reaching your goals or not, and drop things that do not.
No business can develop if the people involved in it do not develop. You should always try to learn something new relating to the business you do. Read books, e-books, reports. Join relevant forums, ask questions and carefully read the answers. Implement what makes sense to you. Experiment with what does not make sense at the beginning, but if it comes from someone more experienced it may work for you, too.
Goal setting, devotion, constant learning and development are only rudiments of a successful business, a cornerstone upon which you can build your success. There are also many other elements, but these three were mentioned the most often by successful Internet Marketers. Have you based your Internet business on those three principles or are you still chasing shadows, lured by the superficial luster of get-rich-quick scams?
