Success,Stories,Doers,Share,Th DIY Success Stories - 12 Doers Share Their Secrets: Inte

When starting a new work at home business it is very easy to become consumed by it. We spend so much time trying to get the business up and running that we may end up becoming burned out and lose our motivation. There is so much to learn and Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in

Ben, from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, is a 26 year oldsoftware development consultant. He says that his jobis to help people turn their dreams into reality.After years of looking at the Internet from theoutside, Ben decided to take the advice of the gurusand turn his own specialized knowledge into aninformation product. His e-book, 'Software Secrets -Exposed', tells the real inside story of how anybodycan develop software products.It sure hit a nerve, because Ben tells me that in thefirst eight weeks after launch, he sold over $75,000worth of his book. And his sales, and good reviews,continue.Here is a great example of what you can achieve onceyou get up and have a go.BizE-zine: Your book reflects your work, so whatexactly do you do for a living?BP: I'm an software development consultant. Previously,I was the Chief Technical Officer of a web-basedcompany - so I've been seriously involved in theprogramming side of things for some time now.BizE-zine: And Internet-awareness must go with the job.BP: Oh yes! It wasn't long after the Internet becamepopular and accessible in my home town that I gotonline. In fact, early on, I was paying per-minute feesto be online. I've been excited with the Net since thebeginning.Although I haven't been doing it for myself, my wholecareer has been involved in the web and web-relatedbusinesses. Even when the web wasn't commonplace, I wasusing my background in programming and graphic designto build some of the first commercial web sites thatpeople were using. The Internet was amazing - anyone inthe world could see my work within seconds of meposting it online. This blew me away. I was hooked!BizE-zine: What made you take the giant step to becomean online entrepreneur?BP: Microsoft is to blame! I'd been thinking aboutcreating a product for some time, but it was only aftera visit to Microsoft that I finally decided to get onwith it.'Software Secrets - Exposed!' came from my directexperience with my own clients. Making their dreams areality meant putting a plan together that they and Icould use. Over time, I began creating a step-by-stepsystem we could follow and it worked like a charm!Once my mind was made up, it was a simple process ofpackaging my system into an ebook and offering itonline.BizE-zine: So you were really making money online evenbefore the book came out.BP: All my income is effectively derived online.Originally from my consulting business - but now,rather more directly through my online publishingcompany.BizE-zine: When did you first realize that you had asuccess on your hands?BP: With my new book? Overnight! Within the firstmonth, the book had pulled in over $30,000 in profits.And sales have been steady ever since.I just wish I had started much, much sooner!This is still a part-time hobby for me. I still have aregular day-job as a programming consultant. Imaginewhat I could accomplish if I could dedicate eight-hoursa day to doing this!BizE-zine: You are making money from a self-publishedbook, but do you buy any ebooks or courses on onlinemarketing?BP: There are tons of great books and courses that somevery brilliant marketers have put together - and if itsounds like they can add something to you business,grab it and call it an investment.The reason most people don't find success is that theydon't create a plan and hesitate to take any action. Iwaited far too long, but at least I made a starteventually.Absorb as much info as you can get your hands on, buildyour confidence level, and do something.BizE-zine: Getting noticed is probably the hardest partof running an online business. How did you set aboutgetting traffic?BP: Many moons ago, in my first foray into marketingonline with my web design business I focused onattracting attention by the search engines. As time haspassed, I've focused less on search engines are more onmore active ways of attracting attention.Endorsed deals between myself and other savvy marketershave brought in the most profits in the shortest amountof time. If you have created a product that you believewill bring benefits to someone else's list - don'thesitate to present it to them. But make sure you knowyour numbers - what are your conversions, how muchwould they get for each sale. Like everything else, youhave to address the 'what's in it for them' question.Looking for deals shouldn't be your first step - but itshould be there early on.BizE-zine: It is still early days yet, but can youpoint to one big mistake you wish you could put right?BP: My biggest mistake was not doing something earlier.I spun my wheels for four years before I finally put mybook together. Those are four years I can't get back -who knows what I could be doing today.All my other mistakes are pretty minor in comparison.BizE-zine: What kind of software does the 'King ofSoftware Secrets' use himself?BP: I use a couple of applications day-to-day that Iwrote myself, including my autoresponder. Obviously,not everyone can do this, or would even want to - butit is important to find the tools that let you spendyour maximum amount of time focusing on doing thingsthat will make you money.If you are wasting time doing something that isn'tmaking you money, find a way to automate it. Forinstance, if you are responding to similar questionsthrough you email, set up a FAQs page or use a macroprogram like RemoteKeys to get these questions answeredmore quickly or better yet, without your intervention.In my writing, I use Word. Then Adobe Acrobat to sealit up. I wish more people would stick to using Acrobat,rather than some of the ebook packages available.Acrobat increases the level of portability and makesit easy to print out.BizE-zine: Having tasted such a spectacular success,I'm sure you don't plan to sit back and do nothing.What are your plans for the future?BP: I have several ideas. Early on, I'd like tocontinue to build on the success of my 'Secrets -Exposed!' brand.I keep liberal notes in dozens of notebooks - and tryto revisit these often to keep my mind fresh andlooking for new opportunities. Even this morning, I wascontacting a publisher and pitching a software idea tohim. This project may not see sunlight for months - butit is planting seeds for the future.BizE-zine: Many people would love to produce their ownebook, but don't know how to go about it. What wouldyou say to them?BP: Do a little each day. Such a simple suggestion, butif it's followed each day the book will "magically"complete itself. Write a paragraph, a section or achapter, but keep cracking at it every single day.Have a good outline you can follow. Instead of tryingto decide what content you need to fill it out, you cansimply follow the outline you have already in front onyou.And bring passion to your work every time you sit down.Infuse it 100% with your personality and enthusiasm.BizE-zine: What advice would you give to someone whowants to make it online?BP: Become educated, create a plan, and do something.It might mean breaking into your weekends or evenings,but the resulting success can last you a lifetime.Have a burning desire to succeed. Find someone that canmentor you - or a friend that has a similar desire tosucceed. You definitely want a cheering section of yourcrowd. Be thankful and be giving. And don't forget theimportance of your family.BizE-zine: And a final word?BP: I started with zero like most people - I didn'thave tons of contacts in the industry, I didn't haveexperience writing a book or a sales letter or runningan affiliate program.But I didn't let those fears stop me. I took the actionI knew I needed to take. And I learned from my mistakesand I keep learning more today. But had I been tooscared to get started, I'd still be sitting herethinking about what to do today.Get out there - get started - and do somethingeveryday! See you at the top! Article Tags: Secrets Exposed