photo credit: highersights

I have some serious concerns for website owners and I feel that they need to be much more aware of their potential disappointment.

This post may be hard for some website owners to read…but it has to be said!

Many start a website to build an extra income and the vast majority start, work hard for a short period…only to find they were disappointed with the income and eventually give up.

Then they tell everyone they meet, you cannot make money on-line.

Here Are My Top 9 Concerns

1. You believe the hype

If I said…in 6 months time you could be earning $50,000 a year via the internet…how much would you give me to tell you how?

$1,000?

$10,000?

$25,000?

Even $50,000 would be a good investment – you’ll be in profit in just over a year. For a new start up business – that is rare.

What if I said you only had to pay $47?

What would YOU think?

The thing is, perhaps you don’t, but many believe this type of hype.

These are just some of the hyped up headlines I found on the internet today:

“Who Else Wants a Step-by-Step Guide to Start Making $1000 or More Per Week Online…Without Spending Big Bucks on Another Complex Internet Marketing Product or Wasting a Single Penny on Google Ad Words”

Cost: $97

Pretty good! A $97 investment for a $1000 per week return.

“Discover The Step-By-Step, Super-Easy, Highly Profitable Secret System For Generating a Full-Time Income From Blogging…..In Just 6 Months!”

Cost: $47

Now it really depends upon what you think is a full time income.

$50,000?

Invest just $47 in return for $50k in 6 months. Nice!

“7 Shocking Secrets I Discovered After Starting 5 Blogs and Generating Up to $35,000 in Real Dollars”

Cost: $9.95

The best investment!

Less than $10 for a $35,000 return.

Unfortunately many website owners believe this hype, buy the products, work hard, get no return…and give up.

If the headline is too good to be true and promising unimaginable riches…believe me, it’s hype.

Best thing to do is to exit as fast as you can.

2. Nay- Sayers

photo credit: cglosli

Watch out for those family and friends who love to tell you’ll never make money on-line.

In one sense, what they say is true because most website owners don’t know how to make money on-line.

But there are also many that do!

If you have the drive and knowledge to make it work…don’t listen to the nay-sayers.

When I first started my on-line business a good friend (now ex friend) of mine at the time told me I’d never be able to leave the 9-5 and start my own on-line business. That was 9 years ago and I’ve been working on-line full time for the past 6 years.

3. Forums

Most forums on internet marketing I’ve visited (and quickly left) are hyped up. If you really want to waste time with people who are promoting their own hyped up ‘scammy’ products…then go ahead. But they are not for me.

4. No Patience

Getting your first $ income on-line is hard. It can take 6 months of hard work before you do.

If you are not prepared to work 20 hours a week for 6 months for no pay…don’t start an on-line business.

5. Role Models

Most people out there telling you how to make money on-line…have not made money on-line!

There I said it. It’s true.

They hype it up.

They pretend and lie about how much money they are making…hoping you will buy their product or service.

If you are seriously looking for someone to help you / mentor you…find someone you can trust from a recommendation.

Do your research before you part with any money and never pay for more than one month in advance.

I made that mistake. When I first started out, I paid for a year’s mentoring up front. We didn’t get on and no refund was forthcoming. Big mistake!

Oh and one more thing about mentors….you want one who is going to tell you the truth and not necessarily agree with everything you say / suggest.

6. The wrong niche

Many website owners don’t make any income because they have picked the wrong niche.

I know it’s been said before…many, many times but website owners just don’t understand how important it is to get right.

Before starting…you need to do the research to ensure your chosen niche will ‘sell’ on line.

7. Tools

There are so many different tools/ themes / software on offer for the website owner… many of which may have been created by those who claim to be experts.

Too many website owners buy ‘shiny object’ after ‘shiny object’ after ‘shiny object’.

Don’t do that!

8. Boredom

The boredom factor can sometimes kick in and before you know it you give up.

Ensure you love the subject of your on-line business.

9. Design

Design is very important for a successful website business.

Check yours is not:

  • Too hyped up
  • Full of ads
  • Too cluttered
  • Hard to navigate around
  • Just a load of text

Don’t get me wrong, there are some website owners who make a good living (and a few more that make millions of dollars) out there.

However, the vast majority don’t.

Don’t fall into the camp that never makes it.

What mistakes have you made in your website business journey?

Please share your views in the comments below.