Today I would like to share my thoughts on the best way to make money online… and also extend an apology. 
On Monday I wrote a post on the easiest way to make money… and I will admit, it was a little off the cuff… and likely came across a little cockier than I really am.
I have had some good feedback though,… all true, and a couple of my readers made some very good points; ones that I had not overlooked… but simply chose not to mention in yesterdays post.
As pointed out by a couple of my commentators, some people might search for the ‘easiest way to make money online’ or the “best way to make money” because they truly don’t know HOW to start.
In other words, they ARE serious… but don’t know what they don’t know and have make a starting point by searching the internet for … obviously “the best way to make money” or the “easiest way to make money” so they know what is available.
This makes sense really doesn’t it? I mean you’re not going to search for the ‘worst way to make money’ or the hardest way to make money’… are you?
So with that said, I do know it is not fair to put everyone into the same category and I apologize for coming across as if I do.
Though there are a number of people who simply don’t want to work towards anything, there are those of you who DO… you just don’t know how the heck to tackle this internet thing… and really, genuinely need some answers rather than some cocky woman with a sarcastic post.
So today… being a much nicer me, I’d like to share my thoughts… from the heart… with a few suggestions to help you become clearer on what might be the best way to make money so you can at least have something concrete to go on, rather than just get your bottom spanked!
I’ll start with what I did… not because this post is about ME, but since I now have a few years under my belt, I still clearly remember not having a cotton picking clue when I got started.
As you can read in the ‘about me’ section of this site, I sat in front of my computer with fingers poised one evening… rain pouring outside (this is how clearly I remember) looking for ideas to make money.
I knew people were doing it… I wanted to be one of them.
Since I didn’t have any ‘hobbies’ that I personally felt might be income earning solutions I chose to look for a ready made business opportunity.
Yes I saw all those ‘hypey’ pages promising instant wealth the moment I submitted my information. You know the ones with some schmarmy looking guy on a yacht or in a Porsche with a martini in hand… guaranteeing dollar bills will start to pour over your head?!
I knew… and hopefully you know too,l that if it sounds too good to be true… it is! If anyone guarantees you easy money, just run the other way.
After some perseverance, I found a business opportunity that really appealed to me. One that told me up front that I was going to have to roll up my sleeves and WORK.
This business opportunity tickled my fancy because it was in the personal development industry… and since at that time in particular I really needed some self growth as well as financial growth, it seemed like a healthy choice for me.
Once I was satisfied that I did indeed like what I saw… I actually picked up the phone!! (Imagine that!) 
I called the company, I hopped on some overview calls, I met others involved and I asked questions.
There are many things you can do to check the legitimacy of any organization… but this is what I did. .
I knew that if I didn’t at least give it a try… an honest effort that is…and actually WORK the business… that I would never know what might have been. Besides… my options were to either stay stuck… or make changes.
I decided I was worth the effort. You never know what the future holds if you don’t try something new.
Yes… I invested… I made an investment of $1700.00 but to me… particularly since I ran my own brick and mortar business for 15 years, this was a fraction of the start up cost.
The way I looked at it was that two partnerships would more than cover my initial investment… I just had to put my efforts into learning the ropes to earn that back… and I did… in a very short time.
Now not everyone wants the same… or can afford the same…and I respect that.
For me though, having a proven business to market as well as incredible support was something I was comfortable with.
Of course since learning a LOT since then, I now know many other shoestring budget business ideas that can prove to be very lucrative.
However, with that said, I DO feel investing in a few in a few courses…as I have, certainly will more often than not shorten the learning curve rather than grappling through the internet jungle alone.
With these thoughts out of the way… I am a firm believer that regardless of previous experience or knowledge for that matter, if starting a business is something you truly want to do, and you are willing to WORK at it, you should start where you are with what you have and commit to learning along the way.
The only way to gain experience is to actually experience!!
Affiliate marketing is also an excellent option to consider, in fact there are thousands of people who swear it truly is the best way to earn money, particularly considering you don’t need your own product to market.
Though it’s not always necessary, I feel having your own blog set up (less than $10.00 per month) is very helpful when affiliate marketing, and will give you the freedom to populate it with whatever floats your boat.
Last week I did a post on Affiliate Marketing Courses, and share two of the very best courses I ever purchased.
These might be very helpful if this model is appeals to you. Both courses I loved, and though they are quite different from each other and one or the other will suffice very nicely, they are also fantastic when used together.
Regardless of the direction you choose to take, the most crucial investment will be the time and effort factor.
The main point I was trying to make loud and clear in my “smart Alec” post yesterday was that we live in a world of opportunity… yet so many people won’t put in the effort to seize it.
Positive change takes work… but it is so worth it.
The brass tack fact is that the choice is really yours.
You can step out and create change, which would help you glean positive results much sooner than if you decided to do nothing more than wish or think about it.
That really is the bottom line.
If you are serious about getting started with something you can call your own… by all means give me a call or contact me through this site. .
I’m pretty much an open book, I’ve got nothing to hide and I’m not a sales person. If you are genuine about making some changes, I will do my best to help you determine the best way to make money online for you.
Feel free to leave questions or comments below!
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{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Jayne,
I was thinking, there is actually no easy way to make money – even online. Maybe they call it easy because all they’ve got to do is sit in front of the computer in the comfort of their home. But if you come to think of it, you don’t even know how or where to start. How could that be called easy? I hope I’m making sense here… Twas just a thought of mine.
Regards
Jayne, Great post! I agree with you whole heartily…..So many people do not act on God given opportunities because they are fearful and think they’re being scam or just don’t want to develop the skills needed to be successful when it come to making money….
HI Anna, how lovely to meet you.
YES!! some people are fearful, but as you just mentioned… some conclude ‘scam’ before really giving things a try. I just had an experience like that … I’m going to blog about it actually. I had recommended a course that I took for affiliate marketing. I don’t recommend things like this very often… but it was SO excellent, and since I have been working online for 3 years (more or less) I have tested many products. In other words I know the difference from good, bad and ugly… and can also recognized when some courses are good for newbies … or too advanced.
Anyway, sorry, I digressed… but this person decided to try this particular course. WEll, as we know, learning can be frustrating (I get that), but they got ‘stuck’ on a minor detail.
I got an email saying “Jayne… I am having problems with “X”… I can only assume this product is a ‘scam”
What????
This drives my zingy… it’s not that I don’t know ‘frustration’… I put it down to not wanting to put the energy into developing the skills … It’s the only conclusion I could make based on the ridiculousness of the statement.
(sorry, I went on… it sure felt good though to get it off my chest!) Thanks for listening
and for your comment!
Jayne
Great post, Jayne! I couldn’t agree with you more that there are some people who are naive, and some people who are lazy. The difference is that the naive people really want to do their best, but just don’t know how.
I’m reminded of the time in German I where the teacher got upset because she asked us what we were having trouble with, and finally I told her that I didn’t know enough to know where I was having trouble. Sometimes, it takes a certain level of knowledge to know what you don’t know, which is why it is always important to try to help those who don’t know so they can start on the path to where they want to go.
Hello Steve. Yes I understand exactly not knowing what you are having trouble with. It is very important to try to get people over the stumbling blocks. Its funny isn’t it that once we start, even though we can get stuck, if we keep going, we get passed it, and things become easier. It’s this knowledge that helps us help others. Experience is a wonderful thing!
I love seeing a bit more of you Steve. I too have been a little overwhelmed lately and had to spend some time getting caught up.
talk soon,
Jayne
Jayne,
Your advice about starting where you are with what you have is a wallet saver. The greatest advantage to someone starting with nothing is they don’t have resources to burn. They’ll carefully select the program to join with the little they have to invest.
If you have money and options, you tend to throw things at the wall to see what sticks (not saying you do that).
The choice is ours to make. The choice to take action on our circumstance if we’re not completely content with it. You’re right.
Hm, I should see if I pick up on this cockiness in your last article that you’re writing about here
Jon
Jon recently posted..Subliminal Manipulation- Are Advertisers Controlling You
Hey Jon, I know exactly what you mean… about having money and not being so careful, however I think it depends on your personality type and how you’ve been raised.
I’ve always done ‘ok’.. prior to getting online, but also had a huge respect for a dollar, so I don’t like losing it anymore than the next guy. I know you weren’t talking specifically about ‘me’… but ‘generally’ and I am sure there’s definitely a good percentage that feels a little more ‘free’ with it.
I till think a lot of the problem people have though is ambition and willingness… there’s a certain percentage but these days there seems to be fewer… or perhaps they’re just showing up more now… or maybe we’re just taking note of it… ‘who knows’ all I can say is it drives me a little zingy.
I can’t remember if you read the last one or not Jon … it is http://jaynekopp.com/2011/05/09/the-easiest-way-to-make-money-online/ .
Lovely to see you Jon. talk soon
Jayne
PS: any girlfriends yet??
Hi Jayne, I missed your earlier post too. As to how you feel other felt about your post……. well it has a lot to do with the written word as opposed to a face to face conversation. It is very difficult if not impossible to portray body language in the written word. So many people on newsgroups etc. get in to big arguments over what is written. I think that is it is why it is good to choose words carefully when writing. Written words can so easily be mis-interpretted. Bottom line is, what ever anyone feels and expresses, it is something that they own.
I love, however, the fact that you care about your readers and seek to resolve any mis-understandings. That is truly caring about people. To your continued success.
Marty recently posted..How to Understand and use Empathy
HI Marty, thanks for the compliment. I do agree that words on paper are not as emotionally felt as a face to face.
With that said, the last post on this topic was not ‘bad’ really it was just straight. I got a couple of emails. ha ha… and then I had some people in our network who wholeheartedly agreed… but also pointed out the few that fall into the ‘benefit of the doubt’ category.
With that said, I don’t want to offend anyone… and frankly with the exception of one or two, most people knew exactly that sometimes the truth hurts.
http://jaynekopp.com/2011/05/09/the-easiest-way-to-make-money-online/
here’s the post… just incase.
Looking forward to having a nosey around your blog soon Marty. You have been so busy pumping out posts. I can’t help but notice.
great job!
Talk soon!
Jayne
PS: Marty… just a suggestion … perhaps you should install the same plugin as me… I’ll have to get you the name of it… so when you respond to a comment, you send the response to the person who left it. It’s a good reminder or kick in the butt to get over there to keep caught up.. at least that’s what I’ve found.
ttyl
Hey Jayne,
I have not read the post you talked about , but I’m sure you would not have sounded cocky.
The problem is that people tend to see what they want to see.
The word ‘Easy’ gives off a hands-off no working-off-your-butt-an-taking-action kind of connotation, and people who are called Opportunity seekers are attracted to such.
Great post, Jayne!
Tosin
Tosin recently posted..Facebook Fanpages- How to Get Thousands of Fans for Fanpages
Hey Tosin, yes the word Easy certainly does give off the impression… and as I mentioned in the post http://jaynekopp.com/2011/05/09/the-easiest-way-to-make-money-online/ I actually did a 10 second experiment on the External Keyword tool to see how many people looked for “the easiest way to make money” “easy ways to make money” and a couple of personal faves: “How to make money with no work” and how to make money doing nothing
Talk about send me squirley… so it wasn’t hearing the word that draws them in… ‘they’ actually search for it…. LOL… so I made it fairly clear as to how I felt about it.
Lovely to see you Tosin… talk soon! I will definitely request for ‘Fanship” when I create my fanpage!
best
Jayne
Hi Jayne,
I enjoyed reading this post and you did great work with sharing the true facts. There are too many people looking for easy way and even i got many mails from people asking me an “easy way to do a work’ or “easiest way to make money”.
When i started blogging i never spent a single dollar on any course or ebooks. All i did was spending money on domain and hosting.
Anyways, Thanks for sharing this awesome post.
Have a great weekend, Jayne.
~Dev
Devesh recently posted..Twitter- Rebecca Black- and the Dark Side of Social Media
Hey Devesh, well I am not surprised you never spent money… but I know you spent time, energy and determination.
With a greatly intelligent mind, you may not have needed the kind of help some of us dummies need… but I know you paid your dues with your hard work.
thanks for leaving a great comment Dev. Talk soon!
Jayne
Hey Jayne,
I don’t think you need to apologise. There is nothing wrong with putting the facts on the table. Unfortunately, too many people are looking for an easy way out, with doing any work.
Of course, the truth hurts, hence some of your readers didn’t take your advice well or thought you came across too cocky. Not at all.
I personally think you did an awesome job. The truth needs to be told!
All the best,
Mavis
Mavis Nong recently posted..Guest Posting Success – What Does It Take to Get In Front of a New Audience
Hi Mavis, thanks so much for your comment and encouragement.
Never really have been one to mince words… but the truth is the truth and you can’t be faulted for that in my humble opinion. I also think that the sooner people realize it… the better.
I know you know!
and now look what the law of compensation is doing for you in return! 
Thanks so much for stopping by…. I know how busy you are too. I am so excited for you… I have butterflies. Can you feel them all the way from Canada?
Talk soon…
Jayne
Hi Adrienne, thanks so much for your kind words.
Choosing the personal development industry was one of those things that surfaced quite by accident… or was it? I was on the path of looking, and actually started promoting an MLM.. and came across a lady who was doing something similar when i was checking my rankings in the Search Engines.
Though I picked up the phone and talked to her about her business… I didn’t go with her… or that business. Long story why… but it did put ‘personal development’ into my mind because I knew I needed to improve my mindset and outlook… and knew it wouldn’t hurt… in fact would only better me on my journey of building a business.
As it happens… it was a good move… personally and professionally!
I am glad you didn’t feel I was too snippy! ha ha… I guess the truth is, we don’t really know what goes through the minds of ‘searchers’… but I do know that a great percentage are looking for the ‘easy button’…
Thanks so much for stopping by. It’s always a pleasure to see you.
I’ll be over at your place a little later. My step daughter (so to speak) is graduating… so we are off to see her all ‘glammed’ up in her gown!
bye for now
Jayne
Agree with you there are too many schemes on the internet offering money for nothing and a kick for free. For the simple price of $9.99 a month. Turns out the only ones making the profit are the owners of the scheme.
How are you doing with your personal devlopment online business?
Catarina Alexon recently posted..What would have been gained by capturing Osama bin Laden alive
HI Catarina, you are correct. I guess some people find a weak spot and feed on it, regardless on how unethical it may be…. and yes, they are the only people doing well. Lets hope what goes around comes around!
I’m really enjoying and doing well with my personal development biz. It’s amazing how many people want to create a new mindset. The ones who contact me and are really wanting to grow personally and work at it… are refreshing.
thanks for stopping by.
Jayne
Hi Jayne,
Nope I didn’t find you cocky with that post! Our time and effort are the greatest investments to our blogging business and if we can’t afford to provide them, we are not being serious about our business. A positive change is a must.
BTW I LOLed when I read this line – “If anyone guarantees you easy money, just run the other way.”
Cheers,
Jane.
Jane | Blogging Tips recently posted..How to build a better blog Do it now- really
Hi Jane, lovely to see you.
I am glad you didn’t find that previous post too painful! LOL
I am glad you got a kick out of the ‘run the other way’ usually I say “scream and run the other way”… which tickles my funny bone too.
Online, however, it’s so true we must avoid empty promise makers. They only end up in disappointment.
Talk soon,
Jayne
Hi Jayne!
Oh, I didn’t find it cocky at all! In fact, I really enjoyed it. Sometimes the best way to get the message across is to really tell it like it is. And, I really look forward to learning from your experiences.
Thanks in advance for sharing! Looking forward to it!
Elmar Sandyck recently posted..2 Benefits of Long-Tail Keywords
Hi Elmar. I’m glad you enjoyed that post. I think a lot of people sometimes like to hear people tell it how it is.
I was at a funeral once, it was my friends mom who unfortunately had left us. My friend and her brother had been in opposition for many years. She was NOT in the wrong.
When it came time for her to speak… she gave a wonderful speech, but intertwined it with bits and pieces… that in essence scolded those who had sided with her brother.
It was very classy… but very entertaining… and most of us were really glad she said what sometimes ‘NEEDS’ to be heard.
This just came to mind… while not related to business… but I just remembered it after reading your comment.
Thanks for your kind words. I look forward to learning from your expertise too!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Jayne
Hi Jayne,
Enjoyed reading this post, and I love the sentiment you’re sharing within it.
It’s interesting to consider the search terms people use, and as you’ve described, words like ‘easy’ don’t always indicate someone who’s not willing to put in the work to succeed (although sometimes it does!).
One word I do tend to avoid using in my keyphrases is ‘Free’ though – as you mentioned, from a business perspective $1700 is not much of a start up cost, add in some personal study and development…
It is possible to make money online with very little outlay, but by and large, the ‘free ride’ fraternity are not a useful target market (for me in my business at least!)
Thanks for this interesting post,
All the best,
Jym
Jym recently posted..Internet Marketing Success with Archimedes – Less Effort- More Results
Hi Jym, agreed. The “Free Ride” fraternity… that is… I find the majority of those searches are truly people who want something for nothing… and we’re not talking about monetary investment either.
With that said, I am sure there are a few who, again, will not fall into that category, but most of the time, I find they do.
some people do think $1700.00 is a lot… after setting up my brick and mortar business, tens of thousands (which we considered to be ‘low’)… there is no comparison, especially given the power of the internet.
Thanks so much for adding to this conversation. It’s always a pleasure to see you.
Jayne
Hi Jayne,
I didn’t read your earlier post (as you know, I’ve had a lot on my plate this week) but I really have a hard time imagining you being arrogant. I know we all have our low days but I’m sure that anyone who knows you would know better than to assume you were coming from that frame of reference.
When I first started looking for ways to earn an income online I ended up down every crazy path but thankfully I didn’t waste much money. I was already in a business opportunity (well, my husband and I were in two) and I was looking for ways to market those online. Somehow I ended up with a blog and some affiliate products and some new friends.
Take care,
Stacy
Stacy | Grow With Stacy recently posted..Finding Friends in Unlikely Places
Hi Stacy, nice to see you. I am sorry you have had a tough week.
Is it not wonderful though how things just transpire? New friends, blogs, new products, new opportunities.
I feel you were ‘meant’ to meet your friend… while traveling down your crazy road! How nice your husband is involved in a couple of ventures.
Thanks for your kind words. LOL… I’m not actually a cocky person… but I do tend to tell it how it is sometimes… even if it stings a little.
lovely to see you and I hope you start to feel a little better soon.
Jayne
Hi Jayne,
I also don’t think that you came across too cocky in your recent post. Of course, I also agree with the portion of your readers you just mentioned in this post. The thing is: We never know WHY people do what they do. Do we ever really know the true motivation behind a certain search engine query ? You are right: Nobody will look for the hardest way to make money. Who would look for the most expensive flight from A to B ?
Thanks for sharing your insights.
Take care
Oliver
Oliver Tausend recently posted..MLM Success With Think And Grow Rich And Oliver Tausend Pt 2
Hi Oliver, I am so glad you caught my point there… that it’s never guaranteed what lies behind a search query.
Based on experience I know there is a larger percentage of “easy button” seekers… but the give everyone the benefit of the doubt… we have to also understand everyone wants the easier way opposed to the harder way.
After all, that would be daft wouldn’t it! ha ha…
I loved your analogy, it made me chuckle… next time I am looking for a flight… I will recall what you just said.
talk soon
Jayne
Hey Jayne,
I didn’t think you came across as being too cocky about that subject.. I can understand why you did come across that way though. Unfortunately, the majority of the people (not all mind you) are looking for the easy way out. But like me, I just had no clue so I was searching for easier ways to start. Like you, I had no particular hobbies, nothing that I would want to venture into a business doing.
I sure wish I had found an opportunity doing personal development when I first got online. I think it would have been a much better experience for me. But I didn’t and I failed miserably. But the thing is, people need to find what they enjoy doing but still understand it’s going to take some work and hard work at that. But the end result is SO worth it.
SO thank you for your post and your honesty! You are a real gem and someone who I would want helping me if I were brand new to this industry. That’s for sure.
Thanks again and enjoy your day!
Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..How You Can Build A Business In Just 5 Months
Hi Adrienne, thanks so much for your kind words.
Choosing the personal development industry was one of those things that surfaced quite by accident… or was it? I was on the path of looking, and actually started promoting an MLM.. and came across a lady who was doing something similar when i was checking my rankings in the Search Engines.
Though I picked up the phone and talked to her about her business… I didn’t go with her… or that business. Long story why… but it did put ‘personal development’ into my mind because I knew I needed to improve my mindset and outlook… and knew it wouldn’t hurt… in fact would only better me on my journey of building a business.
As it happens… it was a good move… personally and professionally!
I am glad you didn’t feel I was too snippy! ha ha… I guess the truth is, we don’t really know what goes through the minds of ‘searchers’… but I do know that a great percentage are looking for the ‘easy button’…
Thanks so much for stopping by. It’s always a pleasure to see you.
I’ll be over at your place a little later. My step daughter (so to speak) is graduating… so we are off to see her all ‘glammed’ up in her gown!
bye for now
Jayne