Why The Industrial Age Formula No Longer Works

A college diploma, while once a competitive advantage, no longer sets you apart from the competition. The increased demand for higher education has both lowered the competitive value of a degree, and raised the cost of obtaining a degree. That 9-to-5 job? More like 9-to-9, with declining benefits. One spouse working? More like both. It's no wonder it's become more stressful for most people who are trying to raise a family. The problem? We need a new winning formula. One that works in the Information Age. One that puts us ahead of the curve, not smack in the middle of the competition. One that doesn't pit us against hundreds of millions of others, competing for a meager career with an Industrial Age mindset.

What Changes In The Information Age?

The Industrial Age gave rise to mass manufacturing – technology boosted the growth of industry which created high paying jobs even for the common man. Now that the Industrial Age has passed, we enter a new era: the Information Age. It may sound obvious, but the new currency of this age is Information. With further automation of industry, and a global economy at work, we can't rely on Industrial Age values in order to succeed economically. To achieve true economic prosperity, we must learn to profit from Information.

Making Money In The Information Age

In the industrial age, information had many mediums. Magazines, newspapers, books, television, radio, and billboards were the predominant methods for transmitting information to the masses. The average person probably would never have their own media outlet, and thus would have little chance of profiting from information. It made sense that if you wanted a successful career, you needed a degree.

All that has changed now, though. While education is still incredibly important, it's becoming harder and harder to justify paying for the expensive piece of paper you receive at graduation. Profiting from information is something even the average Joe can do. Just like factory work in the 1950s provided opportunities for ordinary people to have the good life, more and more people are finding true wealth using an Information Age approach.

Information: The New Currency

Ever go to Google and search for something? Chances are you have. And even if you haven't, Google still processes billions of search queries every day! This is the simplest form of Information Age technology at work. You type in a question, Google gives you the answer based upon the websites it has indexed. In the Information Age, you profit from being one of those websites. The only skills necessary for profiting from information are reading, writing, and perhaps a bit of problem solving. The only expenses are $5 a month for a web host and $10 per year for a domain name. Unless you are completely illiterate, you can do this!

Okay, But How Do I Make Money From This?

Television advertisers pay good money for their ads to appear because they know people are watching. Just the same, your website will profit from attention. Once you're getting traffic to your site, you can make money from the display of advertisements. But before you start raking in the ad money, first you need to build your site.

Start out by picking a topic of expertise. Pick something you know a lot about, or are at least somewhat knowledgeable in and want to learn more about. After you've decided what topic you're going to write about, research popular phrases that people are using to find information about this topic on Google. Your goal is to pick keyword phrases that are popular enough to get some traffic, but do not have much difficult competition for search results.

Learning about search engine optimization, keyword research techniques, and monetization of your website are all secondary and will come in time. The most important key to success is continued development of information on your website. The more keyword phrases people can use to find your website through Google, the more you can profit.

Other than the tiny cost of web hosting, this business model is entirely FREE. There are no employees, and no employers. You create your own schedule. You can build traffic to your website for FREE and build passive income this way. Previous to the Information Age, it was nearly impossible for an average person to create passive income. You either had to be a successful actor or musician, or a rich investor. No longer is that the case.

The Industrial Age continues to fade away year after year, leaving behind a trail of college graduates saddled in debt, with very little to show for it. Where will your income come from in the Information Age? Will you "play it safe" and go for a career in a decaying industry, or will you think ahead of the masses and profit from information?

Dear Webmaster,

I visited your web site earlier today and just wanted to congratulate you on a well presented, and informative web site. I have a website which has content relevant to your website. I was wondering if you would like to trade links with us.

Can you please post our link information on following location or category

Following are the details for my website:

<URL redacted>

Title: Hot Vidhya Balan Wallpapres

Description:  Hot and sexy wallpapers of Bollywood  Actresses and Actors like Katrina Kaif, Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Bipasha basu, Kangana Ranaut, Priyanka Chopra and many others

Your website link will be placed here with category of your choice on this URL

<URL redacted>

It will take 24 to 48 hours to get your link on our resources pages when you approve link exchange with us.

If you have already received this email, please ignore this request or if you think we are spamming your inbox please let us know and we would immediately remove you from our email list.

You know back links helps in generating more traffic to our sites as well as achieving higher search engine rankings. So if interested, you can add our link in your resources/Links/Partners pages or feel free to contact me to add your link first.

I'll be glad to hear anything you have to offer. If you have received this e-mail before then please ignore this and accept my sincere apologies.

Kind Regards,

<name and e-mail redacted>

Did you find them all? Here they are:

1. Form Letters

It's fine to start with an e-mail template instead of writing up an e-mail every single time you e-mail someone to exchange links. However, you should avoid making it really obvious. Keep your e-mail short and sweet, and don't make it sound like a form letter.

2. Insincerity

If you're going to use a template, don't throw out cut and paste compliments. Most of us weren't born yesterday! If you really think my website is informative and well presented, at least tell me why.

3. Lack of Relevance

Link exchanging is most useful when you're trading links with sites that are related to yours. If the connection between your website and your potential link partner isn't obvious, make sure to point out the connection in your e-mail.

4. Too Much Text

If you asked your neighbor for a cup of sugar, they probably wouldn't mind. But if you asked them for an entire five pound bag of sugar they might look at you funny. The same applies in cyberspace. There's nothing wrong with providing linking text to use for your link, but don't try to fit every single keyword on the planet into your link!

5. Typos

Always spell check. Especially if you're going to use a form letter! This should go without saying, but common sense isn't always common – as seen in the e-mail above.

6. Uneven Link Equity

All of the exchanged links on my website appear on the main page of my site. If you ask for a main page link, at least offer one back. I am not interested in having my link buried on your "links" page where it will rarely be seen.

7. Lack of Consistency

It's okay to use "we" to represent your company. Alternatively, it's also fine to use "I" to show you're handling this matter personally. Choose "I" or "we" and be consistent. How many people are you? Pick a number and stick to it!

8. Opting Out

Putting me on your mailing list without my permission and then asking me to opt-out is not a way to get on my good side. It's also not going to get you a link! If you have to ask "if I already received this email" you're obviously doing it wrong. That's your job to keep track of, not mine.

9. Captain Obvious

Of course I know external links help with SEO. There's no need to insult my intelligence by reminding me of this. Seeing as I have an "informative" and "well-presented" website, there's a pretty good chance that I have a basic understanding of SEO.

10. Unrealistic Turnaround Time

This person had no problem spamming me and asking me to put a wall of irrelevant text on my website, but he won't have my link up for 48 hours. Give me a break. This should take no more than 5 minutes to do. It's rude to spam someone in the first place, but it's even worse to spam them and then ask them to wait two days for you to get back to them.

Imagine brick and mortar businesses leaving negative feedback about their customers through the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Sound ridiculous? Of course it does. In the world of business, the customer is not the one who gets rated. There are always going to be customers who are upset or act irrationally. That doesn't mean that as a seller, you need to act irrationally too!

Leaving negative feedback for a buyer won't do anything to help improve your business. Even if it was still possible to leave bad feedback for a buyer, this is not a practice you want prospective customers to see you engaging in anyway. Imagine walking into a store where the owner ridiculed the customers publicly. Is this a place you'd want to do business? Of course not.

The occasional red mark on your eBay profile isn't the end of the world. If a customer is unreasonable, and it was not your fault – getting too upset is a waste of energy. You can't control such irrational customer behavior; the best thing to do is simply accept it and move on. Instead of looking to retaliate against a few problem customers, you should be focusing on growing your business. Finding discounted merchandise to resell, listing auctions, promoting your website – these are much better ways to spend your time. Revenge doesn't pay the bills!

Dear Webmaster,

I recently came across oshkoshmagic.com through search and really like it. I was just wondering if you would like to exchange links with me?

You may be aware that exchanging links would be mutually beneficial and also very helpful in increasing traffic or visitors for both yours and my websites. If you are interested in exchanging links, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience and I will send you more details.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Best regards, Sandy

Here was my reply to Sandy's canned link exchange request:

Sandy,

Thanks for your email.  I'm glad you liked my site.

Having been an internet marketer for over 10 years, I definitely know the value of exchanging links.   I also know that it's also only beneficial when done with related sites.   I can't be 100% certain what your website is as you haven't told me, but by your e-mail address I assume it is a site about go-karts.  This has nothing to do with my website unfortunately.  Therefore, no, it would not benefit us at all.

I also know the benefit of writing personalized emails. Writing a canned email like the one you sent me will not impress any webmasters, or get you many links.

Better luck in the future.

Jon Prywes

1. You're Holding on to Old Beliefs That Are No Longer True

Back in 1950s post-war America, there was a simple formula for success. You got a high school diploma, got a nice factory job, and the company you worked for would take care of you and your family for life. Later in the century, the formula changed – a college degree was necessary, and two incomes became necessary instead of just one, just to make ends meet. But now, with college degrees losing most of their value, perhaps it's time to let go of our old beliefs and take a step forward.

Working hard is crucial to your success, but it has its limits. When you work at a job, you are forced to trade your time for money. The minute you stop working, you stop getting paid. In essence you become a slave to your job! No one wants to admit this, but doing so is the first step on your journey to becoming financially free. Entrepreneurs work hard, but they don't trade their time for money. Instead, they work hard and get paid for a lifetime from the fruits of their efforts!

2. You Aren't Willing To Invest In Your Business

Starting a new business requires the most important investment of all – investment in yourself! The cost of this investment is both money and effort. Depending on what kind of business you are starting, the money part may or may not play a huge role. An internet start-up can be opened with pocket change; the main issue is usually whether you're willing to put in the effort it takes to build your business.

Similar to good exercise habits – if you make a small time investment every day into your business, the results will eventually be too great to be ignored! Your fortune will not be made overnight, but with small consistent efforts over time. Your willingness to continue to invest in yourself – even when you aren't seeing any results yet – will determine your success or failure.

3. You Don't Truly Believe It's Possible

Perhaps you're the kind of person who believes that all the good ideas are taken, or that it's simply not possible to be your own boss because "everyone else is doing it." If that's your reason for not going into business for yourself, then the joke is most certainly on you! You don't need an original idea to become financially free. Perhaps if you want to make billions, you might need something original – but for the kind of money it would take to replace your salary, originality is far from necessary. Just ask any franchise owner!

Find a proven formula for success that's worked for others, and find a way to make it work for you. Your attitude must be positive, no exceptions! Others will come along and try to talk you down, but you can't let them stop you. No matter what other people may think, you have to truly believe that it's possible to succeed. Reading motivational blogs and business publications are good ways to stay motivated. Most of all, surround yourself with successful, positive people to help you stay encouraged!

How To Make Money Blogging

Blogging is a great way to get your feet wet making money online. Companies spend an incredible sum of money advertising their websites anywhere there's attention to be gained. Blogging is an easy way to build traffic, if you can provide enough content for people to find your site through search engines like Google. The more traffic your site receives, the more potential income you can receive from advertising programs such as Google Adsense.

If you're just getting started, you can use a hosted site like Blogger or WordPress while you're still learning the ropes. Eventually you will want your own domain name, and web host. This only costs a few bucks a month, and will easy be covered by the money you are making with your blog.

To get started blogging, pick a topic you're knowledgeable about. Brainstorm a list of topics on that subject. Try to post an article every day. The more content your blog contains, the more chances you'll get search engine visitors. As you gain experience blogging you will learn to pick good keywords that mirror what people are searching for.

Once you're familiar with running your blog, you can begin to delve into Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO means designing your content, and building links to your website in order to gain more a prominent rank in the search engines. There are many great, free SEO blogs on the Internet where you can learn everything from the basics to advanced SEO techniques.

As a blogger, it's important to stay in the loop and read other blogs related to your topic. It's also important to read internet marketing and SEO blogs to help you improve your site's traffic and profitability. Blogging and internet marketing are both constantly evolving creatures – make sure you evolve with them by staying informed.

How To Make Money With eBay

The best way to get started using eBay is to sell off any items you have sitting around the house, that you might consider selling at a rummage sale. As long as it's not cumbersome to ship, you can probably get more money selling it on eBay! Old CDs, DVDs, trading cards, books, or anything else you want to get rid of will both make you money and get you valuable practice selling on eBay.

Once you're familiar with the selling process, you'll need to find more things to sell. You can pick out valuable or under-priced items at garage sales, buy wholesale lots and re-sell them individually, or even sell other people's items on commission! There are many people out there who would like to sell their unwanted items on eBay but aren't comfortable with the technology. Selling other peoples' goods has the added benefit that it does not tie up your own funds on purchasing inventory.

Sourcing items to sell is where most of your money will be made. It's hard to change the amount people are willing to pay for an item, so instead you need to make your profits by acquiring goods for resale cheaply (or free, if you're selling goods for others!) This isn't always an easy task, and requires perseverance. Find a few good products to sell at a profit – or a steady base of clients whose items you can sell for them – and you'll have a profitable part-time eBay business.

How To Make Money With Network Marketing

Network marketing, or multi-level marketing (MLM) is a business opportunity that allows you to earn commissions in two ways: by selling their products and/or services, and by recruiting others to do the same. The business model was popularized by companies like Amway, Mary Kay, Excel and Herbalife. There are a wide variety of products and services sold through MLM: health & beauty products and communications services are widely popular as they bring repeat sales from your customers, which can give you passive income!

First you need to find a network marketing company that has a product or service you feel comfortable selling. It's extremely important to find a product you can use yourself. You must be able to be your own customer if you want others to be! As you build a group of loyal customers, you will also build your organization by helping others start their own business doing what you are doing. As you teach them how to gather customers, you will both earn commissions. MLM encourages ongoing support from your "upline" as there is an obvious financial incentive tied to it. Money aside, though, some of the best training support networks can be found in network marketing companies.

There are two main downsides to MLM. The first is the negative stigma. When many people hear "MLM" they instantly think of an illegal pyramid scheme. While there are dubious multi-level marketing companies out there, the business practice itself is perfectly legitimate. There is a simple test you can use to determine whether an MLM company is legitimate; simply ask "if all recruiting stopped today, could I still make money as the last guy in?" The answer should be a resounding "Yes" because a legitimate MLM makes its money from the sale of products or services – not from the recruiting of more salespeople.

The second downside to network marketing is the sales part. Every business you participate in will call upon some sales experience. In MLM, you're going to be "marketing" to your "network" (that's why it's also called network marketing!) This means your first customers are going to be your friends and family. The idea of selling to your friends and family can be off-putting to many. That is why it's important to find a product you really believe in. Not all of your relatives and friends will be your customers at first (or ever!) but it's the first place you'll need to look.

What makes network marketing so powerful is that it provides a way for the average person to build a passive income stream. You can find a customer once, and potentially get paid from it month after month. The more customers are in your organization – your own customers, and those of your downline – the more passive income you will accumulate. MLM lets you leverage your time by building a network of salespeople to work for you, without the headaches associated with hiring employees. (Perhaps that is the best benefit of all – there are no employees needed!)

MLM will help you gain valuable sales experience. If you are with a reputable company, you will have access to extensive amounts of training. Starting a network marketing business is like working a franchise – you gain access to a proven system, and all the tools you need to make it work for you. You'll typically pay under $500 to get started. Compared to the tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars you'd need to start a traditional franchise, network marketing provides great value as a way to start your own home-based business.

In order for a contest to not be considered an illegal lottery, there are three important words that must appear: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

There are three components to an illegal lottery: chance, consideration, and a prize. If only two elements exist, you have a perfectly legal contest. If all three exist, you are breaking federal gambling laws! I'll break down each piece:

Chance: If a contest is not skill-based, it falls into the category of chance.
Consideration: This basically means an entry fee. If there is a cost to enter the contest, then consideration exists. A postage stamp, for example, is not consideration. Requiring the customer to purchase a product, on the other hand, is a good example of consideration.
Prize: Without a prize you probably wouldn't have a contest.

This is why most contests you see advertised have fine print that instructs you to send a self-addressed stamped envelope for a free entry. If you run a contest, make sure you do the same!

Now don't get me wrong. In a lot of states, waitstaff makes under minimum wage and needs to make tips to survive. It's frustrating when a large group comes in and stiffs you on the tip. However, complaining about it probably won't change their ways. The best you can do is to do your job well, and hope for the best. If the problem is that you hate your job, maybe it's time to find a new one. If the problem is customers who are tightwads – well there is little you can do to get rid of them. They are always going to be out there. What good does it do to tell them to stop going out to eat, if they're going to leave a crappy tip? Fewer customers = layoffs at your restaurant. Yes, even the tightwads contribute to your employment being possible!

This group's aim is to teach people to tip better. However, the literal interpretation is valid – if you can't afford to tip 20% perhaps you should dine at home instead? I think I will – it's a hell of a lot cheaper! Hopefully everyone doesn't follow this advice, though. If they do, a lot of waitstaff will be without jobs, and I have a feeling that isn't what they expected!

You Have To Call Right Now!

Funny thing, I didn't call now… but the commercial came on again the following week. False advertising perhaps? Also related, "Quantities Are Limited" and "This Is A Limited Time Offer".

New And Improved!

If it's new, there's nothing to improve upon. If it's improved… then it's just a different version of something that already exists. So it can be one, or the other — but not both!

Payday and Auto Title Loans

They make it sound like they're empowering people. But how is giving someone a loan at a usurious interest rate empowering? Avoid these like the plague!

Method #1: Don't Reply To Their E-Mails

When a customer e-mails your company, an opportunity is born. You have a chance to quickly respond to your customer and help them with something. Yet many online merchants seem to ignore this. While perusing the customer feedback profiles of several of my competitors, this was the number one customer complaint, hands down. People were upset that their e-mails were not answered in a timely manner, or even answered at all. What's the point of even being in business if you're going to ignore the people who keep you in business?

Method #2: Take Your Time Delivering the Goods

When a customer places an order, a fast turnaround time is critical. If you take too long to get them what they paid for, do you really expect them to hurry back to your store? If you don't act quick to get your customers their products, they won't be acting quick to do business with you anytime in the near future. Once again, this is something that's extremely basic, but often forgotten by many merchants.

Method #3: Misinform Your Customers

Too many merchants have no idea about how merchants' liability works. If you ship a product to your customer and it is lost in the mail, the customer has every right to call their credit card company and do a chargeback. Too many chargebacks, and you risk losing your merchant account, or being hit with stiff penalties. Many merchants tell their customers that they're responsible for purchasing insurance. This is a huge scam. The buyer is never liable for undelivered goods when paying with a credit card. eBay has even made it a listing violation to ask your customers to purchase insurance. This is the seller's responsibility; it always has been and it always will be. If you want to scare off customers, tell them they're fully liable for any lost shipments if they don't purchase insurance. As customers become savvier, they will not put up with companies who try to get away with this practice.

Good Communication Is Important

Good communication, fast turnaround time, and honest business practices are the lifeblood of any business. If you want to guarantee that your competition gets the share of the market that could have been yours, just follow the three methods in this article and you'll be out of business in no time at all!