lets  say they have some money….  with  10,000$$$  i would   find a  great niche that i really liked and invest in inventory….then i  would  get a really professional beautiful  website….and i would use pinterest   heavily and  etsy and  you tube and maybe an ebay or  amazon store…….all  focussed on the   good inventory…….i would  divide  the inventory into  3 or 4   areas and  pay attention to  what  got the  most interest….. 

the idea of  a  college  student  selling advice…i wouldnt  go there…making  money  the  first  year in  about  anything is  pretty unrealistic….

another idea is   TEACH A GRANDMA TO SURF…..   give  coaching lessons  to   the old  folks  so they  can  enjoy the   fun and  benefits of  the  computer,   stressing   connecting  withtheir  far flung  families….maybe a 100

$$$  package….  if  you got  some   happy   results  they would  spread  the  word…

do you  now anyone making a living  on line?  i would love to hear about them….   most i know   dont even  come  close,  rather  its a sideline usually….

First off, I’d like to completely disagree with Ann (with all due respect) for one reason- you do not have to invest that kind of capitol into finding a “niche.” I, myself, am in that 18-25 year old category who just got out of school and are striving to find something in the job force. Unfortunately even after obtaining a 4year degree there still are no jobs. However, I was fortunate enough to come across some online opportunities. My advice to people in my age group would be to look for something that you could invest in that can make your investment back quickly. I know a lot of people who owned businesses and never made it into profit, but there are plenty of opportunities where you could invest in and make money very easily.

All you need to do is find something that you could truly get excited about and would have no problem talking about it and sharing it with other people. There is plenty of money to be made online if you follow the proven systems.

@annfurnivall @richardmclaughlin @tschiltz @camwilkes

Wow, you guys and gals! This has turned into an interesting conversation! So glad I brought this up.

One of the reasons I did, Ann, is that I’ve been learning a lot more from the 18-25 crowd online lately than I have from the “experienced” crowd, lol. I’m thinking that has a lot to do with not limiting themselves by self-defeating thoughts. There’s no what-if fear, only what-if excitement of about what they’re going to create next. I’m totally energized by that outlook. 

Cam, I commend you for what you’ve accomplished, on both completing your “formal” education and your new job! The world truly belongs to you now! Give it all you’ve got and never look back!

Mac, you and me both, buddy!

T.J. and Cam, I wish I were just starting out again today like yall are. If I had had the tools you guys have back when I needed them, I would have been unstoppable! Still, I agree with both in online endeavors. There’s pure gold in them thar hills, but you gotta wears shades to guard against the glint of all those pretty shiny objects begging you to get distracted.

Overall, I would NOT spend money to earn money online until I had tested the idea first. Big inventories are a thing of the past and the internet helps everyone bypass that past… unless, lol, you’re in the antique business like Miss Ann. Ruh-roh, lol!!!!

Well, @atlantarobin, there is good news… And that being- you don’t have to be young like some of us are. Yes, we may be fortunate enough to had been approached with opportunities younger, but that does not mean that you cannot still be “unstoppable”. If you could have done it back then, I have no doubt that with more knowledge and the same tools, you could probably blow some of us youngens out of the water! With age comes wisdom and experience! Like I said before, it’s all about the opportunities you decide to partake in. Because if you keep doing the things you’re doing- you’ll keep gettting the same things you have. If you want something different than youve got to do something different!

@annfurnivall

Ann, I think I was referring to the fact that so many businesses these days have the opportunity to let “others” hold and store the inventory, while they just market their own or others’ products online, doing away with the HUGE cost of storing, managing, and moving physical inventory. 

Of course, a face-to-face brick and mortar retail business like your own can’t do that, except for those kinds of marketing efforts that allow a customer to order certain kinds of items online for store, home or online digital delivery. On a large scale, that kind of thing was just never possible until internet shopping became the norm..

Ann, remind me… are you selling or giving away any online digital downloadable products that dovetail with your antiques business?

Robin Carlisle

Back at cha, Miss Ann. YALL are the creative ones!!! @annfurnivall

Not sure if an online business would be the best way for someone to start.  Definitely you would utilize online, but the easiest and best way for someone to start in my opinion would be to start local, learn to network, interview ask questions, learn to be good at public speaking, and then the biggest skill learn how to sell. 

I would research several niches /business sectors and find one I thought had enough potential customers.  Then I would learn what their pain point is.  Go interview and survey the businesses.  Once I identified a common pain point I would try to design or develop a solution preferably a software / automation solution.  Then I would take my mock up drawing, features specs and then see if anyone would want to purchase the service or product.  I would ask for their feedback.  Then make tweaks and changes based on the input.   Then I would research how much it would cost to have a developer develop the app. Then go and get enough pre orders to have the application developed.  Then once you know you have a viable product create an online presence and then market the app.

Another great option would be to become a speaker and expert in an area and yes anyone can become an expert no matter what their age.  Read the top 5 books in an industry then find and read the top 30 days of postings from each of the top 30 blogs of the industry leaders.  You now know more than 95% of the people in the industry.  You are now able to provide value to others that have not taking the time to learn what you know.  Now start developing your own thoughts and material on the subject.  Start blogging, attending industry shows; volunteer to speak for free at any and all events, once you have 5 or more events done and at least 2 on video then try to get paid speaking engagements.   Write several kindle books 50-100 pages. Develop training programs.   Help a couple of clients for free to get references.  Join the National Speakers Association (NSA http://www.nsaspeaker.org) and speaker match http://www.speakermatch.com/ to land some speaking gigs. Also, you can then host webinars in which you invite others in your industry to speak to your clients / following, etc… you then split the profits from any products or services that they sell to your list.

If you need more experience speaking I recommend taking a Dale Carnegie class, join toastmasters, join Fred Pryor Seminars as an independent consultant http://www.pryor.com/career/seminar_leader.asp or Dale Carnegie as a trainer http://www.dalecarnegie.com/careers/job_openings/.

There are just so many ways to make money but I would recommend that you focus on working to learn vs. working for money and the money will come.  Just whatever you decide just get out and do it. Do not sit and plan and think about getting everything perfect before going out and doing it.  Just get out there learn, meet and talk to potential customers.  They will guide you to what is truly needed.