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I've been making money flipping the odd domain here and there. It's really just a hobby.
And online commerce can take many forms. Not just domain flipping. But also traffic monetization, PPC on content sites, affiliate marketing, and then the purchase and sale of actual goods and/or services.
But this isn't 2003 anymore. PPC is down. Domains that people will pay money for are harder to get. And any niche you can think of that would make noise, be it a speciality online store, or a funny site/video/etc., has already been thought of.
Additionally, consumers have gotten smarter. So they're less likely to buy affiliate-type products such as "how to make money online" guides. And anybody on this forum with half a brain knows that the only people getting rich from writing those books are the ones writing them.
And to top all that off, free services such as plentyoffish and Craigslist have killed what was once a bustling online dating market. I can guarantee you that less than 5% of users who have signed up have so much as thought about actually paying for the service. They're just window shopping.
(though I shouldn't knock craigslist, as I met the most wonderful woman, ever, on there a few weeks ago)
So, that being said, the channels which were once generating sizeable monthly incomes for people who do online commerce have become difficult to penetrate into who are newcomers. And this is essentially what I am, as I started in 2009.
Getting to the point, I've become somewhat frustrated with my inability to make money online, despite having what I would consider to be an above average online commerce acumen compared to the average person.
That being said, short of domain flipping, what has become the "vogue" way of making money online these days?
I'm looking at pursuing this much more seriously, given life circumstances of mine which are requiring me to "step up my game".
My purpose of creating this topic is more of a philosophical discussion with respect to what making money online has become in 2011 (or in 10 days, 2012 D: ), as opposed to addressing my situation specifically.
Any discussion on the topic would be greatly appreciated!
And online commerce can take many forms. Not just domain flipping. But also traffic monetization, PPC on content sites, affiliate marketing, and then the purchase and sale of actual goods and/or services.
But this isn't 2003 anymore. PPC is down. Domains that people will pay money for are harder to get. And any niche you can think of that would make noise, be it a speciality online store, or a funny site/video/etc., has already been thought of.
Additionally, consumers have gotten smarter. So they're less likely to buy affiliate-type products such as "how to make money online" guides. And anybody on this forum with half a brain knows that the only people getting rich from writing those books are the ones writing them.
And to top all that off, free services such as plentyoffish and Craigslist have killed what was once a bustling online dating market. I can guarantee you that less than 5% of users who have signed up have so much as thought about actually paying for the service. They're just window shopping.
(though I shouldn't knock craigslist, as I met the most wonderful woman, ever, on there a few weeks ago)
So, that being said, the channels which were once generating sizeable monthly incomes for people who do online commerce have become difficult to penetrate into who are newcomers. And this is essentially what I am, as I started in 2009.
Getting to the point, I've become somewhat frustrated with my inability to make money online, despite having what I would consider to be an above average online commerce acumen compared to the average person.
That being said, short of domain flipping, what has become the "vogue" way of making money online these days?
I'm looking at pursuing this much more seriously, given life circumstances of mine which are requiring me to "step up my game".
My purpose of creating this topic is more of a philosophical discussion with respect to what making money online has become in 2011 (or in 10 days, 2012 D: ), as opposed to addressing my situation specifically.
Any discussion on the topic would be greatly appreciated!
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