How to Get on Page 1 of Google and Make a Six Figure Income
by 15 people |
Ranked #2,278 in Business, #67,624 overall
Getting on page 1 of Google isn't easy, but if you can get there, you can make a lot of money.
I have several sites that show up page 1 of Google for various keywords.
Why is showing up on the 1st page of Google so important? Because it is one of best ways (if not the best way) to drive traffic to your websites. It's is simple as this: most of your search engine traffic will come from Google.
Just how powerful a force is Google in getting people to your site? For most of my sites, between 75-80% of all search engine traffic comes from Google.
What This Lens is All About
And how it can make you a lot of money
Lots of websites (and lenses here on Squidoo) talk about selling informational products online as a way to make big money. I am here to tell you that you can absolutely make big money with e-books and other informational products. But here is the big issue I have with some other sites is that they don't really give you the whole picture. They don't address the most important issue of all which is getting traffic to your website.
Some background on me: I have an MBA in Finance, have been a college professor, a business and strategy consultant for a Fortune 150 company, and am now an executive in the business world. Over the last few years, I've spent thousands of hours trying to figure out the best way to make money online. My passion has been trying to figure out how an average person can start an online business and grow it to the point where they can make a six-figure income.
As part of this process, I've started various successful online businesses. This has allowed me to see what works, and what doesn't work. I've developed is a wealth-building strategy for starting and growing an online business.
I've put this lens together for people who want to work for themselves and who want to make a living with an Internet business. My goal is to save you time and lots of frustration. I'll try to help you avoid all the trial and error that I've been through and give you all the tips and secrets I've learned in business, and as I've built my online businesses.
I just recently put out a new e-book related to the fitness industry (sold through one of my websites). First-day sales were good, and I expect it to be a big-seller going forward. Click here to see a screen shot for just the first-day sales of this one e-book.
This will give you an idea of what kind of money you can start to make online (hint: if one e-book sells well, think how much you can make from 5, or 10, or 20 e-books, and ad revenue, and affiliate sales, etc.).
Some background on me: I have an MBA in Finance, have been a college professor, a business and strategy consultant for a Fortune 150 company, and am now an executive in the business world. Over the last few years, I've spent thousands of hours trying to figure out the best way to make money online. My passion has been trying to figure out how an average person can start an online business and grow it to the point where they can make a six-figure income.
As part of this process, I've started various successful online businesses. This has allowed me to see what works, and what doesn't work. I've developed is a wealth-building strategy for starting and growing an online business.
I've put this lens together for people who want to work for themselves and who want to make a living with an Internet business. My goal is to save you time and lots of frustration. I'll try to help you avoid all the trial and error that I've been through and give you all the tips and secrets I've learned in business, and as I've built my online businesses.
I just recently put out a new e-book related to the fitness industry (sold through one of my websites). First-day sales were good, and I expect it to be a big-seller going forward. Click here to see a screen shot for just the first-day sales of this one e-book.
This will give you an idea of what kind of money you can start to make online (hint: if one e-book sells well, think how much you can make from 5, or 10, or 20 e-books, and ad revenue, and affiliate sales, etc.).
Trick #1 for Increasing Traffic and Search Rankings
Don't underestimate the importance of social networking sites
Social networking sites are a hidden key to getting more traffic to your site, usually at no cost.
Just a few years ago, these types of sites could drive some traffic to your websites, but today, they can have a huge impact on your visitor counts.
Here are some of the biggest opportunities for getting free traffic, and increasing your rankings.
Just a few years ago, these types of sites could drive some traffic to your websites, but today, they can have a huge impact on your visitor counts.
Here are some of the biggest opportunities for getting free traffic, and increasing your rankings.
- Myspace
- Friendster
- Youtube
- Classmates
Trick #1 Continued: Additional Sites
High traffic, and high value sites
In addition to the social networking sites listed above, here are some sites you need to be familiar with, and start using.
Using these sites will help develop traffic to your site, and will help give you a boost in page ranking.
Using these sites will help develop traffic to your site, and will help give you a boost in page ranking.
- Digg
- Del.icio.us
Trick #2 for Increasing Traffic and Search Rankings
The key word is "relevant"
Getting high ranking in the search engines is not easy, but it can be done.
There are various ways to stack the odds in your favor, and establish the foundation so that Google, Yahoo, MSN, and other major search engines will rank your site as relevant for specific search words and terms.
Here are areas you need to focus on as you try to increase your search rankings and web traffic.
There are various ways to stack the odds in your favor, and establish the foundation so that Google, Yahoo, MSN, and other major search engines will rank your site as relevant for specific search words and terms.
Here are areas you need to focus on as you try to increase your search rankings and web traffic.
- URL Name
- Keywords (what keywords are used)
- Related keywords (it is important to use main search words and terms, but also related words and terms)
- Keyword and related keyword usage and density (how often and where you use keywords)
- Long-tail search terms and phrases
- High quality links to your site
- Search engine submissions
- Contextual submission techniques
Secret #3 for Increasing Traffic and Search Rankings
Find your niche
When starting an online business, look for a niche market that you can dominate, or at least be highly competitive in.
Niche markets are attractive and lucrative because the big players (i.e. Fortune 500 companies, huge Internet retailers, and the like) may overlook such smaller markets.
Because smaller markets may go largely overlooked, they can provide excellent opportunity for smaller Web owners.
Would you want 5% of a small ($15 million) market? How about 25% of a $5 million niche market?
As an example of how many niche (but viable) markets there are out there, I picked 5 random search terms just to hilight how much opportunity there is out on the Web.
I'm not saying any of these will make a great business, but I want to get your mind thinking about what opportunities are out there.
The following counts are the number of times this word (or phrase) was searched for in the month of August.
Mind you, these totals don't include all searches from all search engines, so the actual number of searches was higher than the number listed.
Niche markets are attractive and lucrative because the big players (i.e. Fortune 500 companies, huge Internet retailers, and the like) may overlook such smaller markets.
Because smaller markets may go largely overlooked, they can provide excellent opportunity for smaller Web owners.
Would you want 5% of a small ($15 million) market? How about 25% of a $5 million niche market?
As an example of how many niche (but viable) markets there are out there, I picked 5 random search terms just to hilight how much opportunity there is out on the Web.
I'm not saying any of these will make a great business, but I want to get your mind thinking about what opportunities are out there.
The following counts are the number of times this word (or phrase) was searched for in the month of August.
Mind you, these totals don't include all searches from all search engines, so the actual number of searches was higher than the number listed.
- Knitting - 62,112 searches in August
- Boxing gloves - 11,172 searches in August
- TV trays - 3,616 searches in August
- Green lampshades - 92 searches in August
- Jump ropes - 7,377 searches in August
Secret #4 for Increasing Traffic and Search Rankings
Free Websites and Resources
One of the best ways to drive traffic to your site and increase your search rankings is to use free sites and resources.
Here are some of the best:
1.) Get a blog - blogger.com is a good source (it's a Google owned site).
2.) Squidoo - how can I not mention this one?
3.) Article sites - there are lots of sites where you can submit articles to be distributed around the Web.
4.) Cafepress - selling one item is free, and if you have a unique or hot-selling product to sell, you can drive lots of traffic to your site.
5.) Yahoo Answers - post an answer to a highly viewed question and people will look at you as an authority on the subject, and potentially go to your site.
6.) Craigslist - post an item for sale, or a service, and link to your site. This is a GREAT way to drive traffic to your site.
Here are some of the best:
1.) Get a blog - blogger.com is a good source (it's a Google owned site).
2.) Squidoo - how can I not mention this one?
3.) Article sites - there are lots of sites where you can submit articles to be distributed around the Web.
4.) Cafepress - selling one item is free, and if you have a unique or hot-selling product to sell, you can drive lots of traffic to your site.
5.) Yahoo Answers - post an answer to a highly viewed question and people will look at you as an authority on the subject, and potentially go to your site.
6.) Craigslist - post an item for sale, or a service, and link to your site. This is a GREAT way to drive traffic to your site.
Why is this Lens Called "$100 a Day"?
Because $100 is a lot of money when you have 3, or 4, or 5 sites making $100 a day
You may be saying to yourself: $100 a day isn't really that much money. You're looking to make millions, buy a beach house, drive expensive cars, and take fancy, long vacations.
I've got news for you: everyone wants that.
$100 a day is $36,500 a year to be exact. And it's nothing to sneeze at. I made less than that in my first job out of college, and in lots of places in the country, making this much would be considered earning a good living.
But add $36,500 to what you're earning now from your regular job, and then you start to realize what kind of impact just $100 extra a day can have on your life.
And, the real point is this: $100 a day isn't your goal. Your goal is to make more, much more. Making $100 a day is a starting point, an initial target to set for yourself.
Because once you get your business going, and once you figure out what works and what doesn't, it's much easier to start making some big money. Once you reach the $100 a day mark, you'll have a foundation and a system in place to increase that to $150, $200, and a lot more.
And once you figure out how to make $100 a day from one site, you can then beging to duplicate your success, and start making that kind of money from 2, 3, 4, or more sites. That's when the real wealth starts to build (and the fun starts).
Create just 3 sites, each brining in $100 a day, and you'll be creating revenue in excess of six figures. Not bad at all.
I've got news for you: everyone wants that.
$100 a day is $36,500 a year to be exact. And it's nothing to sneeze at. I made less than that in my first job out of college, and in lots of places in the country, making this much would be considered earning a good living.
But add $36,500 to what you're earning now from your regular job, and then you start to realize what kind of impact just $100 extra a day can have on your life.
And, the real point is this: $100 a day isn't your goal. Your goal is to make more, much more. Making $100 a day is a starting point, an initial target to set for yourself.
Because once you get your business going, and once you figure out what works and what doesn't, it's much easier to start making some big money. Once you reach the $100 a day mark, you'll have a foundation and a system in place to increase that to $150, $200, and a lot more.
And once you figure out how to make $100 a day from one site, you can then beging to duplicate your success, and start making that kind of money from 2, 3, 4, or more sites. That's when the real wealth starts to build (and the fun starts).
Create just 3 sites, each brining in $100 a day, and you'll be creating revenue in excess of six figures. Not bad at all.
First Things First
To start, we need to get a few things out of the way
If you are looking for a get-rich-quick plan or scheme, then stop reading and go to another lens or website.
If getting rich was easy (and could be done quickly), wouldn't everyone have already done it?
Making money takes good ideas, lots of planning, and lots of hard work.
As an executive, I usually get home from the office at 7 or 8pm, and then spend another 2 or 3 hours a night working on my Web research and businesses. I don't mind doing it because I know I am building those businesses to a point where they will pass the salary I make from my regular job.
But the bottom line is: it takes hard work. So if you're looking for an easy way to make money online, go look somewhere else.
If getting rich was easy (and could be done quickly), wouldn't everyone have already done it?
Making money takes good ideas, lots of planning, and lots of hard work.
As an executive, I usually get home from the office at 7 or 8pm, and then spend another 2 or 3 hours a night working on my Web research and businesses. I don't mind doing it because I know I am building those businesses to a point where they will pass the salary I make from my regular job.
But the bottom line is: it takes hard work. So if you're looking for an easy way to make money online, go look somewhere else.
What Works and What Doesn't Work?
There's a lot of information out there about making money online. Some of it is great, some of it is terrible. I've seen both kinds.
I guess my advice is to remember two age-old pieces of advice that we've all heard many times: 1.) if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and 2.) buyer beware.
Like I said right at the beginning of this lens: this is NOT a get-rich-quick scheme. I don't have a secret way of making money.
There is no magic way of becoming rich with an online business, just like there is no magic way of becoming rich with an off-line business. How could there be?
Who makes tons of money for doing nothing? No one. People make money because they provide a quality product or service. Period.
I think we all have that 5% of our minds (or hearts) that believes there is a secret or magic way of making money for doing nothing. I guess there is no harm in keeping a little hope alive (it's probably no different than thinking you might win the lottery).
But to really make things happen in life, you've got to be realistic. So if you're looking for information on building a web business, be realistic. Does something sound too good to be true, or does it make business sense?
Is someone telling you how you can "Make $75,000 a month online without even owning a website"? Or are they giving you sound business advice that is reasonable, makes sense, and can help you start and build a sustainable online business?
When evaluating information about starting a Web business, buyer beware, and use your best judgement.
I guess my advice is to remember two age-old pieces of advice that we've all heard many times: 1.) if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and 2.) buyer beware.
Like I said right at the beginning of this lens: this is NOT a get-rich-quick scheme. I don't have a secret way of making money.
There is no magic way of becoming rich with an online business, just like there is no magic way of becoming rich with an off-line business. How could there be?
Who makes tons of money for doing nothing? No one. People make money because they provide a quality product or service. Period.
I think we all have that 5% of our minds (or hearts) that believes there is a secret or magic way of making money for doing nothing. I guess there is no harm in keeping a little hope alive (it's probably no different than thinking you might win the lottery).
But to really make things happen in life, you've got to be realistic. So if you're looking for information on building a web business, be realistic. Does something sound too good to be true, or does it make business sense?
Is someone telling you how you can "Make $75,000 a month online without even owning a website"? Or are they giving you sound business advice that is reasonable, makes sense, and can help you start and build a sustainable online business?
When evaluating information about starting a Web business, buyer beware, and use your best judgement.
Important Resources for Your Web Business
Here is a helpful list of websites and resources you'll use often
- Google Adsense
- This page explains the Google Adsense program. Adsense is a way for you to provide targeted ads to your website visitors. When people click on the ads, you receive part of the revenue.
This can be a GREAT way for generating revenue. How great? It depends on the amount of traffic you get to your site. Some of the top earners make thousands of dollars a month through Adsense. - Google Adsense Case Studies
- Interested in finding out how people make money through the Adsense program? Wondering just how much people can earn?
Check out Google's case study page which details how people are making money with targeted ads on their site. - Adbrite
- Google isn't the only player in town when it comes to getting paid for having ads on your site.
A company called Adbrite allows you to sell space on your site for text ads. You can make quite a lot of money for placing text ads on your site through this company (which acts as the middle-man between the advertiser and the website owner).
Can you make big money? Some sites charge over $500 a week to place a text ad on their site. Remember, it all depends on how much traffic you can generate.
What Kind of Business Should You Start?
Step 1 of making money online is deciding on a business model (i.e. how you are going to make money).
Most people, when they are thinking about starting an online business ask this question: how do I know what kind of business to start?
This is a very, very good question, and needs to be answered before you move forward.
There are a variety of ways to generate revenue online. The most basic are: ad revenue, Adsense revenue, affiliate revenue, e-book sales, other product sales, joint venture (or partnerships), membership fees, and consulting service sales.
There are more, of course, but this is a basic list to get us started. We'll go into detail on each of these as we move forward, showing you why some are easier than others, some are more effective than others, and which ones to stay away from.
Once you decide on a general business model (which won't take long), you can move onto deciding on the quickest, and most sustainable revenue sources for your business. Again, this shouldn't take too long. We'll cover various ways to tackle this step as well.
And finally, you'll move into an implementation phase in which you actually start your business. There are various things you need to know and fully understand about this stage as well.
Most people, when they are thinking about starting an online business ask this question: how do I know what kind of business to start?
This is a very, very good question, and needs to be answered before you move forward.
There are a variety of ways to generate revenue online. The most basic are: ad revenue, Adsense revenue, affiliate revenue, e-book sales, other product sales, joint venture (or partnerships), membership fees, and consulting service sales.
There are more, of course, but this is a basic list to get us started. We'll go into detail on each of these as we move forward, showing you why some are easier than others, some are more effective than others, and which ones to stay away from.
Once you decide on a general business model (which won't take long), you can move onto deciding on the quickest, and most sustainable revenue sources for your business. Again, this shouldn't take too long. We'll cover various ways to tackle this step as well.
And finally, you'll move into an implementation phase in which you actually start your business. There are various things you need to know and fully understand about this stage as well.
What Product or Service Should You Sell on Your Websites?
What product should I sell? How do I know what product or service is in demand and will be big seller?
This is the next set of questions people ask me all the time. The good news is, there is a pretty straightforward way to figure out answers to these important questions.
There are about five or six different tricks for figuring out the best products or services to sell online. One is to simply do research online and find out what sites are popular, and what products are big sellers.
Another way is to check bid amounts on keywords for pay-per-click advertising. If someone is willing to pay a lot of money per click, most likely they are making a fair amount of money off of the resulting business. So this can often be a good indicator of what kinds of products or services are hot sellers.
The two methods mentioned above are pretty basic, but effective. I use several other methods for deciding what products to sell online. Any one of the five or six ways to find out what to sell may not always be the best method on its own. But if you use all together (or nearly all of them), then you can get a pretty good idea of what might be a big seller online.
Check back soon. I will update this section and address some of the other tactics I use for deciding what products/services to sell, and which ones will be big sellers.
This is the next set of questions people ask me all the time. The good news is, there is a pretty straightforward way to figure out answers to these important questions.
There are about five or six different tricks for figuring out the best products or services to sell online. One is to simply do research online and find out what sites are popular, and what products are big sellers.
Another way is to check bid amounts on keywords for pay-per-click advertising. If someone is willing to pay a lot of money per click, most likely they are making a fair amount of money off of the resulting business. So this can often be a good indicator of what kinds of products or services are hot sellers.
The two methods mentioned above are pretty basic, but effective. I use several other methods for deciding what products to sell online. Any one of the five or six ways to find out what to sell may not always be the best method on its own. But if you use all together (or nearly all of them), then you can get a pretty good idea of what might be a big seller online.
Check back soon. I will update this section and address some of the other tactics I use for deciding what products/services to sell, and which ones will be big sellers.
Getting Traffic - The Key to Your Online Business
Your web business won't work if you don't get any visitors. So getting traffic is key. Getting targeted traffic is also very important.
But don't let anyone tell you that both kinds of traffic aren't valuable. They are both very valuable, just in different ways. Let me explain.
Say, for example, you have a site devoted to some recreational activity (like fishing, or sailing, or gardening). Getting tons of visitors to your site can be very lucrative. Once you develop a solid stream of visitors to your site, you can approach companies that would possibly like to advertise to your site's visitors.
Now, if your website sells a very specific product or service, then you're more likely to want targeted visitors. Getting tons of visitors to your site is important, but not as important as getting specific types of visitors (likely buyers) to your site.
We will go into more detail about very specific ways to generate traffic to your website. In addition, we'll talk about six or eight ways to get free traffic to your site.
Free traffic is going to be one of the keys to running your online business. I have developed several methods for generating tons of free traffic to my websites.
We'll also go into various ways of low-cost advertising (and business arrangements) to get lots of web traffic.
But don't let anyone tell you that both kinds of traffic aren't valuable. They are both very valuable, just in different ways. Let me explain.
Say, for example, you have a site devoted to some recreational activity (like fishing, or sailing, or gardening). Getting tons of visitors to your site can be very lucrative. Once you develop a solid stream of visitors to your site, you can approach companies that would possibly like to advertise to your site's visitors.
Now, if your website sells a very specific product or service, then you're more likely to want targeted visitors. Getting tons of visitors to your site is important, but not as important as getting specific types of visitors (likely buyers) to your site.
We will go into more detail about very specific ways to generate traffic to your website. In addition, we'll talk about six or eight ways to get free traffic to your site.
Free traffic is going to be one of the keys to running your online business. I have developed several methods for generating tons of free traffic to my websites.
We'll also go into various ways of low-cost advertising (and business arrangements) to get lots of web traffic.
In the Meantime...
We will continue to add new information to this site on a daily (or nearly daily) basis, so check back often for updates.
Until next time, check out my PayPal earnings for day one sales of one of my latest e-books. I use PayPal for some of my sites because it is so easy to use.
Until next time, check out my PayPal earnings for day one sales of one of my latest e-books. I use PayPal for some of my sites because it is so easy to use.
- Click here
- Remember, this is just the first day sales of one new e-book that I just came out with to test out a particular business area.
The real money starts to come in as you sell more e-books and add a variety of other income sources from your websites. (Remember, e-books aren't the only way to make money online. Ad revenue and affiliate revenue can both be large sources of income, and there are half a dozen other great ways to bring in revenue from your websites).
If you can make $100 or $150 a day (remember, this is PER DAY) from one e-book, think of the income you can generate from multiple e-books (5, 10...even 20), other product sales, and ad revenue. This is when it gets exciting.
If you'd like to be on my email list (I will send you some information on building your web business), drop me an email at: webbusinessguru@yahoo.com.
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