SEO Websites and Blogs – Creating a new website or blog is simple.  Especially if you do it not with the idea of making a site with a lot of professional design aspects and good looks, but instead as a site or blog focused on search engine optimization (SEO).  These are called various things, but the good ones are called AdSense-powered sites or SEO-based websites.  Far from being a scam, they are a legitimate way to make a steady income.  Best of all, it’s a lot easier than you might think, especially with the easy to use tools that are out there now.  A simple website can be built in a few hours using WordPress, free templates, and some time setting up menu-based configuration and a $10 domain name.

Start Your Own Blog – If SEO blogging isn’t for you, why not set up a blog for your own business?  These have a lot of advantages, most of them being the long-term marketing they produce.  Not only can a well-made blog increase traffic to your site (especially if you know anything about SEO), but it can build clientele for your main business over time.  Readers get an idea of your expertise and over the long term, they will often become clients when they need someone with your knowledge.  Blogging is also a good way to stretch yourself professionally as you look into aspects of your business that you might not have spent the time delving into before.

Experiment with Advertising – Try something you haven’t tried before and see if it helps your bottom line.  There are thousands of ways to advertise.  One of them might be the gold mind you’ve been looking for.

Do Short-Term and Charity Projects – If you find yourself with a little time on your hands, why not put it towards a good cause?  Set up short term projects with interns or school kids or whomever or offer your services to a charity.  No matter what your profession, there is always a worthy charity looking for your help.

Plan Personal Projects – Why not do something for yourself?  Maybe you’ve been working on a personal project that always gets put off.  Or maybe you’ve always wanted to write a novel or a few short stories and try to get published?  Well, now’s as good a time as any!

This doesn’t mean it’s hard or impossible for you to do on a tight budget, however.  Most of it is just getting past the traditional “look in the want ads” mindset and thinking outside the box for freelance writing jobs.

Start locally to get on your feet and build a portfolio.  Small, local newspapers and other publications are often looking for good material, especially from local writers.  In many areas, weekly or bi-weekly newspapers are willing to pay a few dollars to have you act as a freelancer, covering local events or submitting commentary.  Other annual publications, such as coupon books or local business directories are often looking for “filler” writers to produce material to fill in the margins, extra pages, and other space in their publication.  Many times, just walking in the door with a couple of samples can land you a trial position.

Freelance-specific websites and directories are another source.  While most focus on technology (Web developers and so forth), there are many with writers in mind.  These sites generally come with a price, but are worth the percentage paid from your revenue to use, as they get near-instant connections and give you access to world-wide job opportunities.

Finally, the old standby of using a printed writer’s directory (purchased or from the library) to send material to editors is always an option.  It’s slow and you can expect a 99% rejection rate, but print outlets generally pay much better than websites do and once you’re in the door, you’ll find it easier to return for more.

There are a lot of options for the freelance writing enthusiast and there are plenty of freelance writing jobs out there if you just look for them.  Go ahead and try!

As most of you know, I have been focused on learning how to make money online.  I have been creating Squidoo lenses where I have been promoting affiliate products.  I have been creating niche WordPress sites focused on very narrow niches and keywords.  I have been creating niche Blogger blogs.  And, I am about to purchase the Build a Niche Store software so that I can more easily sell ebay products.

This might sound simple, but it is something we all have to learn.  You have to create websites and create content on the web in order to make money online.  The biggest mistake that I tend to make is not creating enough content.

As stated in Field of Dreams, “if you build it, they will come.”  Well, I am not sure that it is that easy, but I promise you that if you don’t build it, they will not come and you will not make any money online.

Most of the Internet marketers and bloggers that I have met who are making money online have many sources or streams of income.  It is imperative that you start creating you multiple streams of income.

Why not just stick to one website?

If you are already meeting your financial goals with one website, then go for it.  Stick with that one site.  However, most of us are finding it pretty difficult to make money from just one website.  Especially in the how to blog or how to make money online niche.  So, go out there and create new websites.

Each new income stream that I try to produce I learn something new.  I have a very specific focused strategy with Squidoo.  And, I can tell you that I am now making some pretty decent money with Squidoo.  I am also learning how to make made for adsense blogs.  But, what I am learning is that I am not going to be able to retire off of one website.  I am going to have to build a ton of them.

So what different ways are you trying to make money online?

Tools that I have reviewed:

• Secret Income Streams
• Micro Niche Finder
• Viral Mini Sites

Too often  I hear bloggers talk about the need to like what you are blogging about. Over the last year, I have learned that this is complete hogwash.  Well, at least partially.  Let’s explore this a little further.

For me, I break down blogging into two high level categories: flagship blogs and niche blogs.  My flagship blog is Newest on the Net.  However, I don’t make much money with Newest on the Net.  On the other hand, my money blogs are my niche blogs.  And, let me tell you a secret for these niche blogs.  DON’T BLOG ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE.  BLOG ABOUT WHAT CAN MAKE YOU MONEY.

That was a very important lesson for me to learn.  Every thing that I read said that I needed to blog about something that I am passionate in.  But, you know what?  For my niche blogs, I am passionate about making money.  I am not doing these niche blogs to gather a huge following of RSS subscribers.  I am creating these niche blogs to made money.

I have learned that I really don’t need to like what I am writing about.  I just need to research the niche very thoroughly, and write articles from this research.  And, despite not always loving the topics that I am writing about, I am motivated by learning more about Internet marketing, blogging for money, etc.

This is an important thing for us bloggers to learn.  Sometimes you need to go against the grain.  Don’t always listen to the professional bloggers.

I think that the number one reason most people fail at Internet marketing is that they give up on something too quickly. They set up a blog, put some affiliate ads on it, and then become discourage when no one buys their affiliate products. I know that I have had this problem. However, Squidoo has helped me build up my confidence.

How did Squidoo help me to build confidence?

Well, it is simple really. I made my first affiliate sales with it. That’s right, I finally made money online. However, it was kind of by accident. One day in December, I decided to log in to clickbank and check out my account. To my surprise, I had sold 4 affiliate programs with a Squidoo lens that I had forgot about. I created this lens in August when I was participating in the Thirty Day Challenge. I created a Squidoo lens for an affiliate product, but then quickly forgot about my lens.

I sure was surprised when I learned that I made $85 from this site that took me 15 minutes to build. So far this month I have made over $100 this month so far on three lenses.

Why is Squidoo such a good way to start making money online?

1. Squidoo is easy. You can create a lens in about 15 minutes once you get familiar with the interface and Squidoo modules.

2. Squidoo lenses rank high in Google’s search engine results pages. If I carefully select my keywords, I can quickly rank in the top 10 pages on Google which allows me to get some traffic. Remember, focus on long tail, focused keywords.

3. You can promote affiliate products on Squidoo. Unlike many free website platforms, Squidoo allows you to insert affiliate links into your lenses. This allows you to start making money with Squidoo very easily.

4. You can experiment. Because Squidoo lenses are quick to create and you can quickly get some traffic, they are great for experimenting with different website styles, affiliate promotions, sales copy, etc.

5. Squidoo is great for diversifying. Many of us bloggers tend to focus on our flagship blog, and fail to diversify. But every personal finance advisor will tell you that you must diversify your investments. This is also true for Internet marketing. Don’t just focus on your flagship blog. Build Squidoo lenses, create build a niche stores to sell ebay products, create Hubpages, create niche Blogger blogs, etc. Don’t put all of your eggs in the same basket.

So go sign up for Squidoo. And, go sign up for Clickbank and sell clickbank products on you lenses.