Mind if I take a moment to scream in frustration? I had just finished writing a new entry to this blog – getting ready to hit the “Post” key, and …. the electric flicked off. It’s not raining, there’s no wind, there’s no reason – it just went off for a second. Long enough to trash everything I’d written. (sigh) So, I’ll start again – if I can remember any of what I’d written!

There’s really no excuse for my having ignored this blog for the past 6 months. There are “reasons”, but no excuse. What I really need is a couple of weeks of 48 hour days to get everything caught up! I’ve just been unbelievably busy since the beginning of the year. Which brings me to the reason for this particular article – making a living on the ‘Net. My clients ask me constantly how they can make a living on the ‘Net, and I’ll try to answer that below…

Don’t ever let anyone tell you that making a living on the ‘Net means 2 hour work days, and sitting on the beach with a laptop checking your bank account. What it really means is that you’ll spend more time working for yourself than you ever did working for someone else. You’ll work harder and be in constant “learning mode” - but, then, some of us like it that way…

The other day in one of the forums I visit frequently (Ken Silver’s Ebook How To forum), Sean (one of the moderators) was responding to someone’s question about protecting their ebook from theft. Sean had a different “take”. He said he purposely allows piracy of his ebook – he gives it away. He makes more money when people pass it around, and gets additional clients he wouldn’t have had otherwise.

This is a great example of “thinking outside the box”, and doing things just a bit differently, but there is a key point hidden here. You can’t just think outside the box – you have to have something in place to back it up. Notice above that I said “clients he wouldn’t have had otherwise…” Sounds like Sean has more going on than just his ebook, doesn’t it? Yep, he does – lots more!

You’ll see lots of websites on the ‘Net talking about how you can write an ebook and make a lot of money from it. Well, the odds of that happening are “slim” and “none”. Once upon a time, when ebooks were new and rare, it was possible. No longer. With just one ebook, you’ll probably make a couple of hundred dollars a month – IF you spend a lot of time and money advertising and promoting it. But, don’t get discouraged - there are ways you can make a living on the ‘Net, starting with that one ebook.

Remember this “magical” phrase – “multiple streams of income.” It’s critical!

Let’s start with that one ebook – you promote it and advertise it, and you make a couple of hundred bucks a month from it. Can’t live on that, so what do you do? Write another ebook – either on the same topic, a related topic, or something totally different, and promote and advertise that one. Now, you have 2 streams of income – they’re small, but they add up. But, you still need more. Maybe this time, instead of another ebook, you find some related products you can sell – perhaps as an affiliate. Another trickle. Maybe you create some CD’s of your ebooks that you can sell on eBay. Trickle. Maybe you do some audio and video related to your subject. More trickles. How about becoming a consultant in your field? Or doing seminars – either live or on the ‘Net? Trickle, trickle, trickle. And, all of a sudden, you realize you’re making as much as you did working for Joe Schmoe!

THAT’s the way you make a living on the ‘Net. It works.

The possibilities are unlimited – do what’s best for you and your situation. Create your own “package” of ebooks, services, and other income-producers. Here’s what I do…

1. ebook design services

2. 3 ebooks

3. eBook Librarian Plus and Pro

4. website hosting

5. CD interface design and creation

6. Offshoots of the above – for example, website design and maintenance, design of logos, banners, advertising, etc., and some custom programming.

The important thing is – I am NOT an exception! Thousands of people are doing the same thing – creating multiple streams of income, and making their living on the ‘Net. I have a client who called me the other day – he had his first $4000 month, and his “stream” consists mainly of a number of different ebooks he’s written and sells from various websites. Another of my clients sells his ebook on digital camera technigues on eBay along with some camera-related products he’s created. A third client uses her ebook as a “catalog” for the many affiliate programs she’s in. And the list goes on…

So, what’s your topic of interest? What can you do with it? How can you create multiple streams of income, and make your living on the ‘Net?

Maybe this article has given you some ideas… (and, my usual closing…) Think about it!