Here is my path. What would you choose ?

[kentclub]

I am writing this post in hopes to find some guidance from this community as I am determined to start 2018 committed to one goal : to earn a living online and quit my job.

Now to start off, let me tell you a little bit about myself.

I'm a mechanical engineer, graduated in 2015 and been working for two years in the R&D department of a big company. I will be 26 next week.

Small detail : my contract has an exclusivity clause, stating that I can't do any professional work outside my company. I'm living abroad with my gf who still is a student, so I am supporting the both of us financially. I also can't stay unemployed for legal reasons, in order to keep my work visa.

Never been a fan of working in a company. I've always been very motivated to do what I do (been often described as "passionate") but at the end of the day, you get your mediocre paycheck and go home. I'm not a very workplace person either - maybe it's because I live in a different country, but I just can't connect with people at work even though they are all good people.

Last year, I read about a guy making a living online - and a good one too. That's when I learned there are other ways. Afterwards I spent everyday reading quora, reddit and blogs about earning money online.

In November 2016, I finally took the step and started an amazon affiliate website. I wrote 14 articles and almost didn't build any backlinks. Right now I have around 30-40 views/day and around 1-2 affiliate link clicks - almost no commissions earned so far.

I've spent the whole year learning about SEO and IM. I will soon have my end of the year bonus and after deducting yearly taxes and spendings, I will have around 1000€ to spend. That's 1000€ that I am prepared to lose on the path to glory, even though it may not seem like much. I can also spend an extra 200€/mo each month.


---------------------------------------

I made a breakdown of what I could do to earn money online and hopefully get to that level where I can work from anywhere. Some estimations may be inaccurate.

One last note : I have "shiny object syndrome" and can switch from one idea to another so this time whatever I choose, I need to stick to it and never look back.

So here goes :

• Amazon Affiliate site

This is the website I've been working on for a year. It has a few information articles, around 8 product reviews and one "best of" article ranked at the second page.

• Monthly "best of" kw volume : 800/mo
• Average commission : 15€/sale
• Required investment : around 500-800€ for PBN links - ranking site
• Time to spend : 5-10 hours/week

Positive sides : it's already a work in progress and "safer" to test (you'll see what it means in a sec)
Negative sides : limited income - I don't think it will earn more than 1000/mo at most so I need to build other sites, which will also take a long time to rank and bring income

​

• Client SEO

Find local clients and close contracts in exchange for SEO services. I created the website of a friend's company and he is willing that I do SEO for him in exchange of a testimonial.

• Number of local SEO agencies in my city : 3
• Required investment : around 100€ for domain, hosting
• Potential income : 800 - 1500€/mo/client
• Time to spend : 20 hours/week

Positive sides : High income, possible testimonial to start with, low investment
Negative sides : I'll probably get fired if my company finds out, even if I do it on my own time (hence the "safer" positive point)

​

• Local Lead Gen

Pretty straight to the point : rank a local website and sell leads. Maybe hire it to a business.

• Required investment : around 500 - 800€ (domain,hosting,PBN,articles)
• Potential income : depending on the niche 800 - 1500€/mo
• Time to spend : 10 hours/week

Positive sides : a lot of opportunities (local lead gen not that developped here)
Negative sides : finding a client that will pay for leads, time to rank a brand new website

​

• Shopify Dropshipping

I've been in Frank Hattchet's Online Samurais group for a while, seeing people’s success testing products and following Frank’s methods. He himself says that the bare minimum to start is 500$.


I feel like if you stick to it, and keep testing, this is a sure way to create a profitable business.

• Required investment : minimum 500€ for testing, around 150€ for frank's shopify course
• Potential income : ??
• Time to spend : 20 hours/week

Positive sides : easily scalable income
Negative sides : very time consuming, I could end up spending every penny without making a sale

​

So what do you think ? Am I lacking any perspective, looking at these choices ? What would you do at my place ?

 

[Billy Batts]

I know what I wouldn't choose, Amazon. They are greedy mofos and they reaping all the rewards for your work.

The other ones, if I had to choose for myself I would do dropshipping because the other 2 are too boring for me.

Nonetheless all are hard to succeed in.

I myself regretting I didn't start this game early 2000 as it becomes harder fast every year.

 

[yuuzokun]

Ok one advice, don't buy any courses, Why would you do it if you can find all the knowledge within and more on YouTube or here.

Drop-shipping isn't an exact science so the guru will try to make more than 90% of his course on "how to build your store" (which my 72 grandma can do If I spend a week teaching here how to) and the remaining 10% will be about how to set an ads account that "won't be banned", if you're lucky enough you'll get a "how to create an ad campaign".

Social advertising (as basically all other paid advertising model) requires testing in order to find the best combination, no one gets it from the first try (if yes then by luck).

Of course you don't want me to remind you about the easiest and fastest way to loose than $1000 which is answering your upcoming PMS. (God got tired from saying that over & over).

You seem like a decent person, you still have a couple of weeks till 2018 starts, spend it wisely.

 

[awesomewebsites]

Nice to see that you are already starting with multiple revenue sources. Even if one method fails, you can compensate with other methods. Al the best for your journey.

 

[moosicles]

All of these are great options and it seems like you've put some decent thought into this.

Local lead gen is a great way to make $$$ and would probably be my first pick. Ranking in some niches is almost too easy and selling to clients isn't as hard as you might think it is; They usually want/need the extra customers that your website can provide every month. Plus, in the right niches, you'll make good cash.

Since you already have your amazon site partially up, you should suck up the extra time it will take you to finish it and just do it. Learn from it. You're already half way there.

It seems like the focus of your work so far has been in web design and seo. Shopify + FB Ads is a great method, but it seems to focus on a slightly different side of IM than you may know already. Maybe try it later?

 

[airsocks]

What is your nationality?

 

[kentclub]

Thanks for all the replies, it means a lot !

I’m turkish, living in Francex

Ok one advice, don't buy any courses, Why would you do it if you can find all the knowledge within and more on YouTube or here.

Drop-shipping isn't an exact science so the guru will try to make more than 90% of his course on "how to build your store" (which my 72 grandma can do If I spend a week teaching here how to) and the remaining 10% will be about how to set an ads account that "won't be banned", if you're lucky enough you'll get a "how to create an ad campaign".

Social advertising (as basically all other paid advertising model) requires testing in order to find the best combination, no one gets it from the first try (if yes then by luck).

Of course you don't want me to remind you about the easiest and fastest way to loose than $1000 which is answering your upcoming PMS. (God got tired from saying that over & over).

You seem like a decent person, you still have a couple of weeks till 2018 starts, spend it wisely.

Frank seems pretty honest and I regularly see testimonials on his fb group + I am very academic - I need organized lessons.

I didn’t understand the losing 1000$ Pms thing

 

[airsocks]

By the way, you can both work in office and freelance in the Internet at home or even during your main working hours to earn some additional income.

 

[kentclub]

By the way, you can both work in office and freelance in the Internet at home or even during your main working hours to earn some additional income.

I have an exclusivity clause in my contract. I normally shouldn’t be doing anything else on my free time.

 

[airsocks]

I have an exclusivity clause in my contract. I normally shouldn’t be doing anything else on my free time.

Looks like slaveship. They own your whole life