Job Hunt Blog

Gray Googlers Strike Gold - Not as Easy as It Looks

Yesterday (Oct. 26, 2007) USA Today had a front page article on how "Gray Googlers strike gold" and ABC's Good Morning America also had a story on "Work at Home: Google for Dollars."  And, the people  making all the money who were interviewed were all in their 50's, 60's, and 70's.

YEA!!  Wonderful!  People in their "gray-hair" years working from home!  Just set up a Website, and you're rich?  NOT exactly! 

Is it true? Do people make money with Google ads?

Yes, it is true.  People do make money - sometimes LOTS of it - from their Websites by participating in Google's AdSense program

What's reality?

Sorry to rain on this parade, but it's not as easy as it looks.  The rest of the story is that it isn't easy or quick to create a Website that generates revenue consistently.

• These sites are not newly-created Websites.
  
  The people interviewed by GMA both had well-established Websites, one was 6 years old (CruiseDiva.com) and the other was over 10 years old (bees-online.com). It takes a while to build an Internet "footprint" - in-bound links from other Websites, bookmarks, etc. - unless you want to pay Google for traffic (the flip side of AdSense for publishers is AdWords for advertisers).

• These people were knowledgeable (maybe passionate) about their subjects.
  
  The CruiseDiva lady was already a professional free-lance travel writer when she started her Website, and she noticed that there was no information on the topic of picking cruises.  So, she was already comfortable with writing, very familiar with her subject, and filling a gap in the available online information.  And the bees-info man started the site at 64 when he retired to educate people about honeybees.

• It takes a lot of "traffic" to generate good revenue.
  
  Money is generated only when someone clicks on an ad. This is called Pay Per Click. Although it does vary by site, subject, and ad, most of the time the "click-through rate" (percent of people viewing an ad who then click on it) is between 1% and 2%.  So, to generate $10/day in revenue, a site typically needs at least 1,000 unique visitors a day and $0.50/click payout.  It's not easy to get that much traffic quickly, and the payout can vary widely, but less than $1.00/click is average and you're splitting that with Google.

• Anyone Google accepts can advertise on your Website.
  
  Publishers have some control over the advertisers whose ads appear on their Websites, but it's not much control.  You can add the domain names of competitors or those with products or services you don't like to a list of banned domain names, but you can end up hosting ads you don't want on your Website.  If you don't care, then it's not a problem.  If you do care, watch out.

Bottom Line

So, don't expect a quick boost to your revenue as a consequence of launching a Website, and don't expect it to be easy.  It takes a lot of work to create and maintain a Website.  It can be done – if you are really interested in your topic (passionate or, even, obsessed, might be best) and if you are willing to sink the time and energy into creating the content that will interest people.

Do NOT “borrow” content from someone else’s blog or Website without permission.  It’s not “fair use” – it’s copyright “infringement” when you do that, and you could lose your whole Website for doing that if you get caught.  And, don’t expect to automatically receive permission to use content even when you ask for it – search engines don’t like “duplicate” content, so it doesn’t rank well.

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Real Work from Home Job?

Question:

Are there any REAL at home jobs I can do?

Answer:

Yes, there are real at home jobs, but there are SO many scams that you need to be very careful.  Be particularly leery of any job offers that come to you via e-mail, even those claiming to have your resume from one of the big job sites.  99.9999% of those are scams.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission lists "schemes" to watch out for - http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/invest/homewrk.htm

And so does the Better Business Bureau - http://www.bbb.org/Alerts/article.asp?ID=436

Telecommuting

Sometimes, a regular office job can be done at least part of the time from home.  It's called "telecommuting" and it can be great for both the employer and the employees.  But, for that to work out the best, you need to actually start with a real job.  Check Indeed.com to see what is listed.

Self Employment Options

Working from home CAN definitely be done. I do it, and I love the freedom. But, it's a Website business I've developed myself and worked very hard at for 10 years. Hard work - full time - not for everyone.  And, of course, it can be done part time, too, in the beginning or permanently.

*  Sell a Product You Make at Home

It sounds kind of corny, but see if there is something you enjoy doing (writing or making something or cooking or...). See the Work From Home Moms posting for more ideas. I have a friend who is very good at oragami - Japanese paper folding - which she sells on the Internet (Craig's List and eBay). She isn't rich, but she makes a fair amount of money every month doing it, although sometimes she's doing it at 2 a.m. to meet a customer's deadline.  Be prepared to put a good amount of effort into finding ways and places to sell your products.  It isn't easy, but it can certainly be done.

*  Start a "Content" Web Site

You could really study what ever it is that interests you, becoming an expert if you aren't yet.  Then, if you can write well, turn your knowledge into a Website that helps or informs other people about your topic. Don't expect it to be a get-rich-quick idea.  It takes time and a lot of work, but it can be done!

There are Websites on the most amazing things - training parakeets, crocheting afghans, making wine out of weeds or fruit, etc. - but there are lots of people across the world who are interested in those topics, even if just for a few hours. Keep looking for new variations of whatever it is your Website is about, something new and unique, the latest products, the latest news, and put it on your Website. Eventually, you'll attract attention (draw attention to it yourself, to help) and advertisers. Or create ebooks instructing people how to do it, once you've developed a reputation, and sell them to your Website's visitors.

Think Martha Stewart, on a much smaller, more focused scale.  She started out with a home redocorating project in her own house.  That turned into a series of books, which let to appearances on TV, and the rest is history.  Of course, not everyone has Martha Stewart's talent and drive, but you probably don't want to have an business on that scale, either.

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Work from Home Moms

Question:
I am a stay at home mom. Like many other moms I want to do something from home to help contribute to my husband and our family.  I'm considering multi-level marketing (MLM).

Answer:
Working from home CAN definitely be done. I do it, and I love the freedom. But, it's a Website business I've developed myself and worked very hard at for 10 years. Hard work - full time for me - not for everyone.

MLM is a LOT of work! In addition to selling the products or services, you MUST keep recruiting new people for your "down line" because the attrition rate is so high. Even with excellent products, most of your time is spent selling people on joining and then trying to help them be successful (coaching them on recruiting their down lines).

It may sound kind of corny, but look at the things you really enjoy doing (writing or cooking or collecting NY Yankees memorabilia...). Then:

• See if you can get someone to pay you to do it, on a project-by-project basis. You might find a local employer who is willing to have you work from home (check your local Craig's List).  Or, you might be able to find "contract projects" yourself. I have a friend who is extremely good at oragami - Japanese paper folding - which she sells on the Internet (Craig's List and eBay). She isn't rich, but she makes a fair amount of money every month doing it, although sometimes she's doing it at 2 a.m.
• If you collect something and really know a lot about what you are collecting, buy and sell it on eBay.  Read several of the "eBay Selling" books, and you'll probably need to purchase a decent digital camera if you don't already have one.  Start small and build as you learn.
• Or, really study what ever it is that interests you, and if you can write, turn it into a Website (a blog like this is easy to do technically - you don't need to know HTML).  Help other people do what you enjoy doing. There are Websites on some amazingly "small" topics - training parakeets, making wine out of dandylions, etc.  But, there are many people who may be interested in those topics, even if just for a few hours or days. Keep looking for news or fresh ideas about your topic, something new and unique, and put it on your Website. Eventually, you'll attract attention (draw attention to it yourself, to help) and advertisers. Or create ebooks instructing people how to do it, once you've developed a reputation, and sell them to your Website's visitors. Think Martha Stewart, on a much smaller, more focused scale.

If those ideas don't appeal to you, I'd recommend checking out the information on Nancy Collamer's Jobs and Moms Website. There are SO many scams, and I think that Nancy does the best she can to separate the good possibilities from the junk. Sign up for Nancy's newsletter, and see what you think of her ideas. http://www.jobsandmoms.com/

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