Poll: Who is making some $$$

Hi Rick,
LindaC here.

Short answer to your poll:

Yes Rick, over the years I have made lots of money
putting to use and following through on several ideas
that I have learned about from post of several SowPub
members.

My advice to you is ( find a business idea that interest you
and go to work bringing that idea to life) .

And remember, you don't need to create new money there's
already enough money to go around.

All you need to do is find a legal way to obtain your fair share.

My Best 2 U,
LindaC

Long post warning...

Hi everyone,

It has taken me a long time to press "send" on this post, well they say confession is good for the soul ;-). This is not a negative post just factual.

You know how the gurus like to say they've been online since forever. So have I. The only difference is that I've never been able to make it work for me.

Sometimes I feel like a reverse Midas, you know, the guy who everything he touched turned to gold. For me it feels like everything I touch turns to sh*t.

I work a 9-5, have done for a long while now and get paid well. Only problem is I royally screwed my finances so well that I've been paying off debt for the last 3 years and still have another 5 to go. So money is pretty tight, hence the need to find something workable on line.

I have done many different things to earn a extra crust but usually ended up losing out and paying though the nose for an expensive course that didn't work for me. I've built more sites than I care to remember, none of them profitable, until now.

Mostwantedwatches.com is a site I build earlier this year as a sort of "sleeper" site, you know, set it and forget it. I checked the stats recently and over the last 3 months it has gotten around 1500 fresh hits a month and has, drum roll please, generated around $60 (45 UK pounds) from eBay clicks. I've got adsense on there as well but that has brought in 0 buxs.

So 2 things, firstly thanks to all of you who have helped me by answering questions or giving free advice and in one case providing me with info that you have sold for real money in the past. My respect to you.

Secondly, I want to develop this site and see how far I can get with it. So again I'd like the Sowpub community's help and advice.

- There aren't really any decent affiliate products out there to promote in the wristwatch niche, mainly product (actual watches) referrals like eBay. So I can't see affiliate products as a way forwards.

- I don't have connections to access free watches for reviews or the spare cash to buy more watches to review. I'm not a watch aficionado, just have a mild interest in them. So I think the expert route is out.

- Watch forums have been running for years and are well established, so I don't think a membership site or new forum would work.

- I could work on building a mailing list but what would I promote?

As you can see, I've reached a sort of impasse and need your collective brain power to help me push this forwards.

So how can I move this site forward? Any and all ideas welcome, the more the better.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Best regards,

Paul.

PS: if anyone needs a beta tester or someone to bounce ideas off or any help, please let me know. I'd be happy to assist.

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by Paul Wilson

Mostwantedwatches.com is a site I build earlier this year as a sort of "sleeper" site, you know, set it and forget it. I checked the stats recently and over the last 3 months it has gotten around 1500 fresh hits a month and has, drum roll please, generated around $60 (45 UK pounds) from eBay clicks. I've got adsense on there as well but that has brought in 0 buxs.

[...]

So how can I move this site forward? Any and all ideas welcome, the more the better.

Hi Paul,

First, thanks for asking your question...

I had a quick look at your website. The first thought I had was, who is your target market?

It looks like you are targeting "everyone"... If it were me, I would probably pick a "niche" group to target.

For example, the founder of "The Sharper Image," Richard Thalheimer, started his business by selling a watch. However, he didn't just target anyone... He started by selling a watch which targeted runners...

So, I would research and pick one or more groups you want to target with your watch sales. The "sales pitch" would probably be different depending on the target market.

Once you have your target market, then it is easy to figure out what to send them if you start a mailing list. You send them things which that target market is interested in! For example, if you were targeting runners (just as an off-the-cuff example), you'd send them things of interest to runners...

This could then expand to selling other things related to running... And so on...

In my opinion, I would first choose a target market - and go from there...

If I have any other thoughts on this, I'll share them...

Best wishes,

Dien

P.S. Maybe I am wrong... I just had another quick look at your site, and perhaps you are targeting the "high end" of the market - executives, or other people with wealth, for example? If so, you could then find out what other things those people are interested, and also sell those, and talk about those in a "newsletter" to an email list? You could look, for example, at the "Robb Report" to see what the luxury market is interested in (if that's who you are targeting)...

Long post warning...

Hi Paul,

Great to see your post here...

Never a problem asking for a little help and a few Very {Twistable} ideas here & there as you Might have expected...

Gets my Brainstormer and Idea Creation Thinking running on Non-stop!

Although a Quick Question in regards to particular Money requirements needed over the Next few Years...

If you don't mind me Asking...

Why not [Analyze] your Expertise through your Work related Experiences etc...

And Seriously offer Service/Consulting business related Idea(s)...

Very Focused on Some Nice Cash Flow, Revenues with ongoing Profits to Help your current situation overall...

Just wondering if you considered that option of Making money more Quickly! ...

Even Brokering misc. much needed Services or some type of Spin on the Many possibilities and opportunities...

Everything from Wordpress related web services, Rentals for local businesses, Hosting, Writing, Backup and Security services, Video creation and Marketing and So Many other Web type Services and more...

That are Needed by Endless businesses and other E-Commerce related Web Connections.....

No such Thing as Competition, just Do it Different & Better as you Build your Client base...

Ok, back to regular Programing regarding WATCHES and Endless other Ideas...

Related ideas on the Watch industry, News and So Much, more to...

Dig into... Spy on and Consider blending into Your overall up-and-Coming Fresh new Watch Concept! ...

Here you Go! ...

Have some FUN! ....

Warrior related WSO developer, who builds Software online Amazon (affiliate) type applications etc., etc. in Many different Niches, Watches recently started too! ...
http://watchesclone.net/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/marcbabe...ts-experience/
http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/12/02/...ches-giveaway/
http://www.watchtime.com/category/wr...industry-news/
http://www.watches-of-switzerland.co.uk/news/
http://gizmodo.com/tag/watches
http://www.hodinkee.com/
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/refere...es_and_clocks/

You just Never Know, Could be right in your backyard with More Ideas!

The man who makes £100,000 watches
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24211691

http://www.watchpro.com/
http://iwmagazine.com/
http://www.pocket-lint.com/hub/watches
http://minutemanwatches.com/news
http://www.luxury-insider.com/channels/watches
http://www.watchalyzer.com/
http://luxury-watches-news.blogspot.ca/
http://www.tissot.ch/?news
https://www.google.com/search?q=www....MeKCjALA3oD4BQ
http://www.amazon.com/Watches-Mens-W...node=377110011
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wristwatches...node=199482031

A few Things to Think about...

All the best,
Phil

Hi again,

Thanks for the excellent response to my post and request for help. I'd like to reply to Dien and Phil/Dave's comments.

Note to self: relax shoulders, deep breath and...

I had thought that "wrist watches" was a niche/targeted market with my assumptions based on the relatively low numbers I found when doing keyword research. Also when I looked around for the traditional online signs of a large market, they weren't there.

However after reading Dien's post I can see that was a little shortsighted of me -----> back to the drawing board on my market research...

Phil, in answer to your question, yes I'd really like to make money fast and clear up financial mess quickly. "Why not [Analyze] your Expertise through your Work related Experiences etc...". Unfortunately I suffer from a rare form of problem called "Low self esteem with paint by numbers syndrome". Meaning that when I take a long hard look at myself and abilities I find it hard to find anything that is readily saleable.

I currently work as an Emergency Response Manager. I work with the emergency services in the UK and France on mitigating the consequences of accidents/incident/disasters in a specific location. Clearly we try to prevent such things from occurring but need to be ready if it ever did.

We write tons of procedures, plan organise and direct exercises based around bad things happening + work day to day with our onsite firefighters and specialist technicians.

In relation to this I built a site called genprep.com based around emergency preparedness etc, even created (with help from Gordon) a couple of products on bugout bags and how to create evacuation plans. I sold 0 copies and shut the site down. The info I'd offered was freely available from tons of Uk and US government related sites.

Phil, you mentioned a few possibilities "Even Brokering misc. much needed Services or some type of Spin on the Many possibilities and opportunities..." I know that I would be able to take on some of these ideas but the way I have learned in the past is by being shown how it's done and then doing it for myself (hence the paint by numbers reference). But I think the real issue is finding customers who want the services I'm able to offer, and who are willing to pay more than $5 a time.

Thanks for posting the links, I'm emailing the WF programmer about his software and looking at the other sites you posted. Dien, I'm also taking a fresh look from the target market perspective. You are right I had aimed at anyone interested in buying a watch, instead of a specific kind of buyer.

Best regards,

Paul.

Hey Paul,

Thanks for being honest...

Quick evaluation as per your comments! Hopefully this just Might be able to Help you and others Here with Similar interests, abilities, Expertise and New found Confidence...

Define your Specialized/Niche interests, Talents and much, much more about Yourself! ...

Although, Work doesn't Always do it... BUT! ...

I'm throwing the Idea out to You Anyways...

I currently work as an Emergency Response Manager. I work with the emergency services in the UK and France on mitigating the consequences of accidents/incident/disasters in a specific location. Clearly we try to prevent such things from occurring but need to be ready if it ever did.

BINGO! In my Opinion... As per Your Own Words! ...

We write tons of procedures, plan organise and direct exercises based around bad things happening + work day to day with our onsite firefighters and specialist technicians.

." I know that I would be able to take on some of these ideas but the way I have learned in the past is by being shown how it's done and then doing it for myself (hence the paint by numbers reference). But I think the real issue is finding customers who want the services I'm able to offer, and who are willing to pay more than $5 a time.

Just a few {Golden} Money making links, I'm suggesting you Consider Checking-out regarding...

We write tons of procedures, plan organise/organize...

Quick [FREE!] Hotsheet... Many! Many... Higher-end Writing options & Opportunities...

Piles of misc. writing jobs and more throughout the following resources etc...

http://www.weblens.org/writers.html

http://www.bloggerjobs.biz/

http://jobs.problogger.net/

http://www.writersweekly.com/markets_and_jobs.php

http://www.online-writing-jobs.com/

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/sites-t...s-you-to-blog/

http://www.squidoo.com/FreelanceWriterWebsites

http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/

http://savvybookwriters.wordpress.co...-writing-jobs/

http://www.freelancewriting.com/paid...iting-jobs.php

And the list just goes on and on if you Google around...

Quick pricing related Research/Food for thought as a Starting point! ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=pric...FaTUiwKayYH4BQ
http://www.earlytorise.com/the-price-is-right/

All the best,
Phil

[Ankesh]

Thanks for experimenting and seeing what sticks to the wall - Paul.

1. First thing you need to do is go through your analytics. If you're not using any traffic analytics program yet - then remedy that. Signup for google analytics or something similar. And see which pages are receiving the most traffic. Chances are, it will be just one or two pages that is bringing in all the traffic. All your pages on your website won't bring in equal traffic. So first step is intelligence gathering and discovery process.

2. Check out: thewirecutter.com - its a gadgets review site. But they don't buy 20 laptops to review and then tell you which of those is the best laptop to buy. Instead what they do is curate the reviews and opinions and then write a review themselves. You don't have to buy 100 watches to review each of them. Just do the research imagining that you have to buy a watch yourself. And then write down how you made the decision to buy that particular watch. Rinse and repeat for each audience / usage. Best budget watch. Best formal watch. Best watch for women. Best watch to gift. etc etc.

3. Do some research and find watch distributors. See if they can drop ship for you. If not, see if you can buy and sell just 1 watch at a time from the traffic you receive. You now know that buyers are coming to your website and buying from ebay - so figure out which exact watch they are interested in - and sell that and make a profit. Then repeat. Then repeat.

[Dien Rice]

Originally Posted by Ankesh

Thanks for experimenting and seeing what sticks to the wall - Paul.

Ankesh knows his stuff... so he's sure well worth listening to!

Best wishes,

Dien

Ankesh, Phil, Dien, thank you.

I have taken on board your comments and will be spending the weekend reviewing the links that Phil sent, looking at my target market and sorting out my stats to find the most active pages on my site.

I've already spoken via email to the "watchclone" programmer and that is a distinct possibility. But I also need to consider Phil's comments about writing for one of the sites he listed in order to generate some quick income.

The one thing that holds me back from that option is that nagging inner critic that keeps shouting at me "no one will want anything you write, you're not a writer etc etc". He's an annoying little bugger and a real pain in ass.

Please keep your thoughts and ideas coming. I will post regularly and let you know how things progress. If anyone else who's read these posts has any thoughts and ideas please don't hesitate, join the discussion.

If there's someone else out there who's struggling, get in touch and we can form our own little mutual support fan club

Warmest regards,

Paul

once again , interesting thread ...I still have to get my PHILtranslator plugin
Paul...write under a 'fake' name...then you can be anyone you want to be ..I was listening to an American Greed episode on the radio , talking about how this one Greedy guy was buying 200k watches ....dont know how many of those types are shopping online tho ..

That 'nagging' voice you hear is the voice of inexperience....not fear. Once you jumped off that high dive the first time, it became FUN...Believe it or not, most people ( except SowPubbers ) dont have any interest in your success or Failure...they are too busy in their own worlds.

I would use your expertise in prepping in the doomsday area..and see what happens....do like Phil suggests and write some articles for people. get a big red nose from your local hobby/birthday store . put it one. walk around in public...see what happens...

hope everyone has a wonderful, healthy, happy holiday season and Merry Christmas !