The right way to earn...

**LeeD** · 07-11-2006, 12:52 PM

I will likely update this sticky topic with more thoughts, but I wanted to go ahead and set the stage for this forum and where I want to see it go.

Before I started this place I saw a great need for a forum where web earners could come together and network online with other like earners. I needed and wanted a place to both meet and mingle with other web earners. After hearing the felt need from other web earners I chat with, I set out to put together the ultimate resource for web earners. This won't become a competitor to SitePoint, or directly compete with other webmaster-like forums. I am concerned about seeing folks make more money online, or make the same while working much less. That is the purpose here...

In addition to these thoughts, I must clarify a few things. I am also going to continue promoting something I feel strongly about, and that is doing business on the web the "right" way. We all know there is a wrong way, and while there is plenty of money to be made the wrong way, I am going to keep the theme of this forum about making money the right way. If I lose some big earners due to this stance, then so be it. In everything I do, I always aim to do it the right way, to do nothing "under the table" or shady, and provide something legitimate to the user / visitor. This is and will continue to be my take on doing web business successfully and LONGTERM.

You don't need to do the following to be successful on the web:
~ Beat the system
~ Lie to your visitors
~ Use shady SEO tactics
~ Get involved in a questionable web industry
~ SPAM

I think you get the idea here. If you want to talk about shady techniques, the adult industry, or blackhat SEO, you will find this isn't the place. If you want to learn how to do business the "right" way, then this is and will continue to develop into the ultimate place to be.

In closing I want to stay that 2 years ago when I heavily dove in to this arena of monetization and online communities, I read and researched for hours a day. I do feel this was a DEFINITE key to my success. This is a major reason why I want to give back to you (and the fact I am a realtively nice guy). I hope to get to know many of you, offer my personal insights, as well as be a part of an amazing group of web earnings helping one another to reach our next goal!

Thanks and your feedback is appreciated! :thumbup:

**Atomm** · 07-11-2006, 01:09 PM

Lee,

I appreciate this forum for the opportunity it provides. I am happy to learn the right way to make a living online and look forward to digesting more information on how to accomplish this.

Thanks for a great resource.

**imported_Bas** · 07-11-2006, 01:11 PM

Hi Lee, thanks for the motivation and for starting this forum

**xboxundone** · 07-11-2006, 01:16 PM

I think it is awesome... as the one thing i think many webmasters have to fight back against is GREED... as with greed comes the shaddy ness etc... While i can't say i am perfect all the time and haven't tried shaddy stuff i Have learned my lesson on a few occasions. I think in the long run it will help this forum grow and help the people in the forum meet the dreams of earning MAD money off of the internet and still be able to sleep at night.

One key is as you stated you don't have to beat the system... just know how it works and most importantly realize it is always changing. IF you can't handle change then the online business is probably not for you as some days you may make thousands and 3 days later you may make 3 bucks ... but hopefully with knowledge shared and gained from this forum people can help levelize that effect.

**handsome rob** · 07-11-2006, 01:35 PM

Great forum you've got here. I'm looking forward to learning from the other posters and perhaps being of some assistance myself

**LeeD** · 07-11-2006, 02:45 PM

Thanks for the comments! David, I completely agree with being able to sleep at night. Feeling good and helping folks is the real way to win!

**Hawaii SEO** · 07-11-2006, 02:46 PM

Could you please direct me to the:

System beating, visitor deceiving, shady SEO in questionable web industry & SPAM forum? (LOL)

**pcdoc** · 07-11-2006, 03:36 PM

Social networking, embrace it and you will earn $$$.

**nwingate** · 07-11-2006, 04:13 PM

Well said... thanks Lee for a great place to come, learn, and share.

**Steve_G** · 07-11-2006, 05:57 PM

Great post! I have a question though.... if there's a "right" way to earn, is there a "wrong" way?

**LeeD** · 07-11-2006, 06:59 PM

Yep, I outlines / described several "wrong" way options above.

**Zen** · 07-11-2006, 10:07 PM

Lee,

Thanks for the great forum. I've been to a lot of the other forums, and you usually find one of two things.

1. The forum is too "tech" oriented and doesn't focus enough on business aspects.

2. The forum is full of people who "want" to make money online but don't have the slightest clue how to do that.

Needless to say, I have never felt the desire to participate in either type to a very large degree.

However, there is something about this forum that is very different, in a good way, which is what prompted me to register.

I get the impression that the people on this forum are real people who are earning money online.

We can understand and handle the technology, but we are not obsessed with it to the point that it interferes with what we are really doing: building businesses and systems that will shape the future of online commerce.

If you look at it that way, you'll see that what Lee said earlier in this thread is absolutely true. There is no need to do anything underhanded to build an amazing (and amazingly profitable) business online.

Online commerce *is* the future of the worldwide free enterprise, and we are sitting at the dawn of it.

This is a historical opportunity for all of us to build something of real value to the entire world.

What I love about this forum is that Lee has come up with the perfect place for like-minded individuals to come together.

**Frito Pie** · 07-11-2006, 10:35 PM

Well said. Thanks Lee.

**imported_mondala** · 07-11-2006, 10:52 PM

Good to know that honest folks do/can make money too!

**rex_b** · 07-11-2006, 11:23 PM

Great stuff! Keep up the good work Lee.

**imported_mondala** · 07-12-2006, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zen

Lee,

Thanks for the great forum. I've been to a lot of the other forums, and you usually find one of two things.

1. The forum is too "tech" oriented and doesn't focus enough on business aspects.

2. The forum is full of people who "want" to make money online but don't have the slightest clue how to do that.

Needless to say, I have never felt the desire to participate in either type to a very large degree.

However, there is something about this forum that is very different, in a good way, which is what prompted me to register.

I get the impression that the people on this forum are real people who are earning money online.

We can understand and handle the technology, but we are not obsessed with it to the point that it interferes with what we are really doing: building businesses and systems that will shape the future of online commerce.

If you look at it that way, you'll see that what Lee said earlier in this thread is absolutely true. There is no need to do anything underhanded to build an amazing (and amazingly profitable) business online.

Online commerce *is* the future of the worldwide free enterprise, and we are sitting at the dawn of it.

This is a historical opportunity for all of us to build something of real value to the entire world.

What I love about this forum is that Lee has come up with the perfect place for like-minded individuals to come together.

Well said! Does earnersforum.com have a testomonials page? This post belongs there. :thumbup1:

**Curitel** · 07-12-2006, 02:36 AM

Wel all know that integrity is important. Honesty goes much longer than some cheap tricks that you try to pull.

Great post Lee. I've been a part of ZU for a while even when Anakin was around and I've seen your dedication to things.

Keep up the great work as I hope to be somehow a part of EF in a positive way too!

**ChildeRoland** · 07-12-2006, 11:48 AM

The bottom line is, if you're willing to bust your A$$ day in and day out, practice ethical business and maybe some gray and eventually you will see fruits from your labor. The secret is, that those who jump all over from project to project never succeed. Pick a project (or numerous projects) and stick with them for 3-4 years in order to get all you can out of them. It took god 7 days to create the earth, so it'll take you at least 3-4 years to create a money making business.

**chrishong** · 07-12-2006, 12:51 PM

Agree wholeheartedly with what you said. I'm in this for the long term. If I make a difference (help someone solve a problem) and gain friends with my blogs, I'll be very happy. If I happen to make some extra pocket money, that is fine like the icing on the cake, but it's still not the main course.

**Bookworm-SEO** · 07-13-2006, 01:39 AM

I look forward to hearing your advice on this Lee

! How about starting an "ask lee" thread where people ask you monetization questions and such.

In fact, I'd like to start right now. Both you and Jon (aojon, mook-jon, whatever jon he takes a leak in) have said repeatedly that research is the key to your success. Neither of you have said what you research though! How's about offering some sort of checklist of things to research, and some tools to go about conducting that research? Expand on the scientific business method, if you know what I mean ...

bookworm-seo
cityseo.blogspot.com