| October 7th, 2008 Dow Jones took a dive by a | | | | extremely emotional and even start to panic. |
| whopping 508 points. Over the past three months | | | | Surviving the financial crisis is a hot topic right now. |
| global markets were hit by an $8.1 trillion loss in value. | | | | Therefore if you read this article to the end you'll get |
| Banks fail one after another, panic in the Wall Street... | | | | a double benefit: |
| That's what already came to be known as the | | | | * You'll secure a sustainable income for yourself and |
| biggest economy meltdown since the Great | | | | your family. |
| Depression. | | | | * You'll be able to help others do the same. |
| The helter-skelter of the stock-exchange swiftly | | | | Moreover you'll have an undeniable proof of your |
| resonates everywhere. With media fuelling the buzz | | | | paycheck to show people the way, and they will |
| you need to have a steel nerve or live deep in the | | | | follow. This will bring you not only money but also |
| forest not to be concerned with the crisis thing. The | | | | self-satisfaction of doing a good thing. |
| home-grown economic prophets loudly predict 'the | | | | The list is just a small fraction of the niches you can |
| end of the world as we know it'. | | | | take up with your business. Explore the web for a |
| The last thing you'd want to do in times like that is | | | | while and you'll get tons of other ideas to choose |
| start a business, right? - Not quite. | | | | from. |
| Great Depression Creates Great Opportunities | | | | Once you've picked your product(s) you can get |
| History knows a lot of cases when economic | | | | down to launching a website. |
| meltdowns created opportunities for new ventures | | | | 2. Going Online |
| and bold startups as well as remarkably profitable | | | | Depending on the focus of your online business you |
| marketing investments. The Great Depression turned | | | | need to decide whether you will use a website, a |
| out the golden ticket for hundreds of businesses. | | | | blog or both. Blogs are easier to start and maintain. If |
| Disney, Procter & Gamble, Camel and Chevrolet, | | | | you decide to focus your marketing efforts around |
| to name a few, were among the companies that | | | | information this is your best choice to go. You can |
| bloomed and thrived while others were desperately | | | | set up a free blog at or Websites offer more |
| fighting for survival. They saw an opportunity and | | | | functionality but may take up more time and skills to |
| seized the moment. They were advertising when | | | | manage. You can hire professionals to have a |
| others cut down marketing budgets. They offered | | | | website set up for you. In the slow economy the |
| new products when others thought no one could | | | | quotes should get very affordable. You can also |
| afford to buy. They stayed calm in the | | | | explore the free options for there are plenty out |
| across-the-board market mess and they ended up | | | | there. There are even ones that will get your |
| outstandingly victorious. | | | | website up and running in about 5 clicks. |
| What does it have to do with you? Everything. The | | | | Google 'free websites' and you'll get one before you |
| ongoing crisis is your chance to start a new venture, | | | | can say 'How do I make a website?'. |
| grow your business and make money even when the | | | | 3. Getting Traffic |
| economy seems to go wild. And the best place to do | | | | A website without traffic is a dead one though. |
| this is online. Against the background of economic | | | | Visitors are the blood of your website that gets its |
| downturn the prospects of the Internet market look | | | | heart beating. So your first and foremost concern |
| especially promising. | | | | now is to attract traffic to your website. The only |
| Why Online Business is Recession-Proof | | | | most effective way to do it is promote your |
| Although the cyberspace is tightly tied to the | | | | website in search engines. |
| real-world economy, the negative market trends | | | | According to Pew Internet 84% of internet surfers |
| seem to turn out the positive way online. Both retail | | | | use search engines. About 68 million Americans will |
| customers and investors seeking ways to safeguard | | | | use the search engines tomorrow. If your website |
| their capitals end-up putting their money online. Here's | | | | appears at the top of search results a large portion |
| the proof that Internet market is here to stay no | | | | of this traffic will come to you bringing you money. |
| matter what goes on offline. | | | | Now the question is how do you get your website |
| * Shoppers go online | | | | to the top of search engines? The answer is by |
| In every recession it is the low-to-middle class who | | | | optimizing it for natural search. The process is called |
| take the biggest blow. When big companies go | | | | Search Engine Optimization or SEO for short. Even if |
| bankrupt it is the regular workers who suffer most. | | | | you hear the term for the first time, it won't take |
| Off course CEOs and investors lose monstrous sums | | | | you long to figure out what it's all about. |
| but at least they don't have to worry about how to | | | | There are a lot of do-it-yourself SEO guides out |
| feed the family. | | | | there. However they all seem to miss the most |
| In times like that people do their best to tighten the | | | | important point. It's actually doing SEO not just |
| belts and cut the expenses. We go hunting for | | | | reading about it what drives your website up in |
| bargains and the first place to look at is the Internet. | | | | search engine rankings and earns you money. Good |
| The reasons are obvious: you can compare prices | | | | news is that there's one SEO Book that tells you the |
| without leaving the house; you don't have to waste | | | | exact things to do in a way that let's you get right |
| time and money on the gas running around the shops | | | | down to doing them. The e-book is called SEO in |
| and you can really buy cheaper over the Internet. | | | | Practice. It is the ultimate guide that will help you get |
| Offer the best price and people will buy. Make a | | | | your website to the top of search engine rankings in |
| discount on something they could do without but | | | | a matter of weeks. |
| would rather own, and people will buy. What's even | | | | One of the great things about SEO is that it gets |
| more important, even after the economy goes | | | | you traffic (read customers) free of charge. No fees, |
| stable, your customers will stick with you. Read on to | | | | no bills. You do everything yourself and you reap the |
| learn how to pick the right product and get a | | | | benefits of what you've sown. However, when doing |
| discount for it. | | | | SEO you'll most likely stumble upon the same problem |
| * Companies Invest in Online Advertising | | | | all SEOs do: There's just not enough hours in the day |
| However slow the economy is a business needs to | | | | to do everything by hand. The way out I found for |
| invest into advertising if it wants to stay afloat. | | | | myself is automating some of the SEO tasks with |
| Under the tight budget ROI (Return on Investment) | | | | special SEO software. |
| becomes the focal point. The Internet offers lots of | | | | There are a lot of tools out there. I personally use |
| measuring instruments other media lack. Computer | | | | SEO Software by (I've put a link to their website |
| technology allows tracking the money you earn from | | | | under the article). It has all the functionality I need |
| each banner or text ad up to the last cent. | | | | and I like it. But you can use any software (just |
| Therefore businesses cut down or completely | | | | make sure it's good quality) or no software at all. |
| abandon the press, and TV, but they'll never give up | | | | You can go and search around for free SEO tools. |
| on SEO, contextual or banner ads. | | | | They are usually of limited functionality as compared |
| Outsell Inc., The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), | | | | to the paid versions, but can still be helpful. |
| IDC and other research agencies all report Internet | | | | 4. Earning Money |
| advertising growing at a galloping tempo (18.2% for | | | | After you've read and followed the tips outlined in |
| the first quarter this year) while print, TV and | | | | the SEO Book you'll see a sustainable stream of |
| outdoor ads lose their share of the market. | | | | traffic coming to your website. This is great but |
| IAB reported that advertisers invested $5.8 billion in | | | | we're looking to make money not just traffic, right? |
| Q1 2008. Part of that money could be yours. | | | | There are many ways to monetize your website |
| With marketing budgets zipped up businesses seek | | | | traffic, some of the most popular and effective are: |
| every opportunity to advertise online. If you have a | | | | * Advertising |
| website or blog with some traffic companies will line | | | | People pay you to put up a banner or text links on |
| up to pay you for advertising. If you don't have any, | | | | your website. The more traffic you have the more |
| it's very much the time to start one. Read on to | | | | you can charge. Search around to see what the |
| learn how to create a successful advertising platform | | | | general pricing is and test several pricing options to |
| and promote it in the search engines. | | | | see which suits your prospects best. |
| Selling ads space is just one of the many ways to | | | | * Affiliate Marketing |
| make money online. There are many more such as | | | | I had been earning a good living from affiliate |
| paid subscriptions, affiliate marketing, review posting, | | | | programs for several years before I completely |
| sponsored directory listings, etc. They all create great | | | | jumped into the SEO services. The system is dead |
| opportunities to start an online business. And of | | | | simple. You help businesses sell their products and |
| course, you don't need to put all eggs in one basket. | | | | earn a percentage of every sale. To achieve the |
| You can combine various online marketing techniques | | | | best you need to pick a product you believe in |
| into a powerful money making blend that would be | | | | (preferably the one you own and use). This way |
| 100% recession proof, no matter what goes on | | | | you'll be speaking confidently and with authority and |
| across Wall Street. | | | | people will buy from you. |
| Here's a Step-By-Step Guide To Starting an Online | | | | * Paid Subscriptions |
| Business | | | | If you deliver quality info or analysis that is unique |
| What does starting a business start with? Naturally | | | | and is of value to your visitors you can offer paid |
| before you start selling something you need to | | | | subscriptions. The subscription can grant more info, |
| decide what that something will be. So your first step | | | | earlier delivery or whatever bonuses you can think |
| is | | | | of. |
| 1. Choosing a Product to Sell | | | | As your online business gains momentum you'll find |
| A product to sell is not necessarily a 'product' as such. | | | | yourself living a new life. The one that is stress-free, |
| It could be a paid subscription or a service and you | | | | recession proof and incredibly enjoyable. And what's |
| don't even have to 'sell' it directly. You just need to | | | | more important you'll be living your whole life for |
| offer something of interest: information or | | | | yourself. No one can fire you; no one can cut down |
| functionality that will drive visitors to your website | | | | your pay. You're an independent entrepreneur and it's |
| and will make them wanna stay and come back. Get | | | | up to you when you come to work and when you |
| traffic and you'll have tons of ways to transform it | | | | leave. Your paycheck solely depends on you. |
| into cash. | | | | Please note, this is not a get-rich-quick kinda trash. |
| There are a number of things people are most | | | | You'll have to work first and most likely work hard. |
| interested in now. Here's a list of | | | | Not too hard perhaps, but hard enough. This is how it |
| What's Hot in Cold Economy: | | | | is and I strongly believe this is exactly as it should be. |
| * Information | | | | First you work for your business, then your business |
| People's desire to know what's going on doesn't | | | | works for you. Invest into your future now and you'll |
| cease in bad times. Moreover, the worse it gets the | | | | be able to reap the benefits later. Do nothing and |
| bigger their interest. The 'hottest' right now is financial | | | | nothing will happen. |
| information. | | | | What are the Risks? |
| According to comScore Media Metrix the number if | | | | The word venture itself contains a pinch of risk |
| visitors to finance-related websites jumped 30% this | | | | attached to it. Starting a business certainly has its |
| year. European websites skyrocketed to record | | | | risks. But the world is like this: |
| peaks of up to 141% in traffic growth. | | | | "Sometimes you do something, and you get screwed. |
| Start a blog or website about anything in the | | | | Sometimes it's the things you don't do and you get |
| finances from the market trends to personal | | | | screwed." - Fight Club |
| investments and loans, promote it in the search | | | | You start a business and you may fail, and then start |
| engines and you'll see tons of traffic you can convert | | | | another one and still another one until you succeed. |
| into money. Read on to learn how. | | | | But if you don't try you never succeed. You may sit |
| * Stress-Relief | | | | and wait for the economy meltdown to hit you in |
| During the Great Depression people went to the | | | | the pocket or for the company you're working for to |
| movies to relieve the stress and forget about their | | | | go under. These are also the risks we take by just |
| problems. Nothing has changed over time except for | | | | living in this world. And compared to them the risks |
| the movies. The general trend is when bad things | | | | of starting an online business are nothing. In fact all |
| happen people still pay for entertainment even | | | | you invest is your time and effort. |
| though it's getting harder to afford. | | | | You can start securing your future right now. Work |
| * Discounts | | | | for you business an hour a day at first, than more |
| With economy staggering and stock exchange falling | | | | until you can finally go your own way. |
| down the bills still remain the same. And bills are to be | | | | So Why Financial Crisis is a Good Thing |
| paid. Naturally we want to save on everything. If you | | | | Slow economy is sort of a market janitor. It gets rid |
| know how to show us the way to a good bargain | | | | of the mismanaged thrash and gives way to new |
| we'll stick with you. And bargains are plentiful on the | | | | players with fresh ideas and innovative approaches. |
| Internet. You just need to take the time to find | | | | The big and weak go under and the apt take over |
| them and gather in one place. | | | | their place. This is your chance to change your life |
| * Surviving the Crisis Guides | | | | once and for good. Go pick your product -> set |
| When it comes to our wallets we get emotional. | | | | up a website -> promote it in search engines |
| When it comes to our wallets getting thinner we get | | | | -> and earn the living you've always wanted to. |