Need some feedback (networking?)

[Ridge Wolf]

Well, it finally happened. I am now unemployed due to not being able to pass the D.O.T. physical because they discovered a medical condition that disqualifies me. I'll disclose that condition only in a PM, but not on the public post. So now, what I thought would be a driving job career until I retire has now been pulled out from under me. Without new training of a scholastic type I am hardpressed to find another 'job'. I am 57 years old and that is kind of out of the question at this point for the amount of time that I have left of my working years.

I am considering doing a website and being independantly employed with that among some other independant employment possibilities. I need some feedback on the website idea though. The idea that I have would be to chronicle (write about) outdoor survival techniques (and/or other areas of survival) after going out into the wilderness and (practicing?) them, coming back home and putting the information up on the website. What I need is what anybody here thinks of that idea as to the feasibility/marketability of it. Would it work, in your opinion? Any other ideas of an independant nature would be greatly appreciated also. You can post here or send a PM to me. I have a lot of common sense and employ that trait everyday. Thanks.

[wareagle69]

i know in my experience the money is in teaching but how to get allot of it i don't know i am shooting for traing in about 10 years 600 dollars a student a week long 10 students maybe 3 times a year, but i am planting wild edibles all over the property just so they are always there and i can study them moer efficiently, i don't know about websites how much money can be made off them, maybe write a book, but this subject seems to be over done- so need to find a different angle to hit..good luck my freind...

[Chuck]

The idea that I have would be to chronicle (write about) outdoor survival techniques (and/or other areas of survival) after going out into the wilderness and (practicing?)

That is pretty much what I do there's not much money in writing unless you are very good writer and very knowledgeable about what you are doing. If it were me I would learn all I could and write to get my name out. Then when you have developed skills and technique's where every thing you do is second nature get into teaching. There not very many good survival instructors so the field is pretty much open.

Good Luck

[Teotwawki]

Ridge Wolf: Sorry to hear about your circumstances.

Hate to put some more water on the fire... but don't count on making money on the web without a good bit of time and effort.

Some folks think: "build it and they will come" but it doesn't really work that way. For one, google (I think they still do this) puts any new site in "the sandbox" and keep 'em out of top page ranks (regardless of incoming links and hits) to try and cut down on the scam sites / link farms and such. I could write a book about this - in fact there are a lot of books about this.

I make my living of the net (been at it a while) but NOT from advertising like 99% of the sites. Hey, so many do it so it must be working... right? I sell my own software and services - the internet is simply my sales channel. I personally think if you want to go internet you'd be more successful coming up with some useful / unique products that you can make / sell.

If you are thinking about making money from ads on your site don't count on much income for quite a while. You've got to have traffic. To have traffic the search engines have to see you. For the search engines to see you: 1) related sites have to link to you; 2) you have to have content. That is one reason a site like this can do very well - guess who is providing the content for free? That's right you and me.

The advertising doesn't work the way most people think either. Mostly it is pay-per-click or pay-per-sale. Meaning, a site doesn't get paid to host ads they get paid when the ads produce results - no traffic, no results, no money.

----
Now on the positive side. I am a BIG believer in free enterprise and self-employment. You CAN do it. I think maybe you are putting the cart before the horse however. You need to spend some time asking yourself (and asking around like you are here): What do people need that they are not getting at all or that I could provide better? You answer that and you've got the makin's of a successful business.

Build me an affordable grain alcohol still and I might buy one.
Build me an affordable biodiesel processor and I might buy one.

Just some thoughts.

[Rick]

I assume the DOT issue is a no go at any level (Hazardous, flatbed, etc.). Some rhetorical questions. Is there some other capacity you could fill with your current employer. Dispatcher? Shop? Sales? Business owners hate to loose good employees so talk with your boss and see if there is something else you can do.

Teotwawki did a nice write up on the net. Affiliate programs are mostly percentage of sale and as he said, no traffic, no sales, no income. Google (are jacka**es) and Yahoo are pay-per-click. Still, no traffic.....

He's also correct about a niche. You have to have something that folks want. And you have to be able to distinguish yourself from all the others. There are a lot of ways to do that. You just need to figure out what is right for you.

I'll be glad to assist with any questions you have or if you just need to bounce some ideas. You can PM me.

Right now you need to write down on paper all the pluses and minus you have going with finances and job prospects. Doing that will help you develop a plan and place you in control of your situation. The helplessness can be fixed if you put yourself back in control and you need to put your plan on paper to make it concrete.

[Ridge Wolf]

Ridge Wolf: Sorry to hear about your circumstances.

Hate to put some more water on the fire... but don't count on making money on the web without a good bit of time and effort.

Some folks think: "build it and they will come" but it doesn't really work that way. For one, google (I think they still do this) puts any new site in "the sandbox" and keep 'em out of top page ranks (regardless of incoming links and hits) to try and cut down on the scam sites / link farms and such. I could write a book about this - in fact there are a lot of books about this.

I make my living of the net (been at it a while) but NOT from advertising like 99% of the sites. Hey, so many do it so it must be working... right? I sell my own software and services - the internet is simply my sales channel. I personally think if you want to go internet you'd be more successful coming up with some useful / unique products that you can make / sell.

If you are thinking about making money from ads on your site don't count on much income for quite a while. You've got to have traffic. To have traffic the search engines have to see you. For the search engines to see you: 1) related sites have to link to you; 2) you have to have content. That is one reason a site like this can do very well - guess who is providing the content for free? That's right you and me.

The advertising doesn't work the way most people think either. Mostly it is pay-per-click or pay-per-sale. Meaning, a site doesn't get paid to host ads they get paid when the ads produce results - no traffic, no results, no money.

----
Now on the positive side. I am a BIG believer in free enterprise and self-employment. You CAN do it. I think maybe you are putting the cart before the horse however. You need to spend some time asking yourself (and asking around like you are here): What do people need that they are not getting at all or that I could provide better? You answer that and you've got the makin's of a successful business.

Build me an affordable grain alcohol still and I might buy one.
Build me an affordable biodiesel processor and I might buy one.

Just some thoughts.

Teotwawki, That is some information I didn't know about. Thanks. There has got to be a way around that. I would imagine that to be providing a lot of content off the bat so the search engines pick you up on their crawl? I know that when I did this before with another site I had I just did a links page and didn't get a lot of traffic. That was right after Hurricane Katrina et.al. and I was providing links to family members of dispersed survivors at the time... as well as some information of different types of survival, i.e. natural disasters etc. etc. Finally, I gave that up as it became too burdensome at the time.

[Ridge Wolf]

That is pretty much what I do there's not much money in writing unless you are very good writer and very knowledgeable about what you are doing. If it were me I would learn all I could and write to get my name out. Then when you have developed skills and technique's where every thing you do is second nature get into teaching. There not very many good survival instructors so the field is pretty much open.

Good Luck

I was thinking about managing a forum.. it is an off and on thing right now. Have to figure out the time factor in managing that.. Or? get a good moderator like Rick or Sarge to run that for me..

[Chuck]

get a good moderator like Rick or Sarge to run that for me..

Moderators are 90% of a forums success. We have 2 targeted forums and an online magazine. I can tell you from experience affiliate programs don't make you rich if you are lucky the will pay for the host and a six pack of the cheap stuff.

[Rick]

And there are some good affiliate programs and some really really bad ones.

[Ridge Wolf]

Hmmm, I am reading a lot of caution here about going into a website. I'll be aware.

edit: Hmm, what is going on? do the ads pick up on the content in these posts and then insert an appropriate ad? There is an add up topside for the U of Pheonix.. about becoming a nurse.. Well, I never thought of myself wearing a white dress before. too much white on my legs as it is now..

[crashdive123]

Another computer related idea for you. Ebay/Craigs List, but with a slight twist. There are alot of people that would like to sell on them, but for whatever reason don't (lack of time, knowledge, fear of internet, whatever). There's a guy in town that does it for them and takes a % of the sales. From what I understand, he does pretty well at it. Just a thought.

[Ole WV Coot]

Go with what you know. If you have any experience in any service industry or say a Master Electrician's license to a small business loan for a trash service. At 57 you have more going for you than you think. After I retired I was shocked by how much I could make on repair jobs. I don't know what your physical problem might be but it is always tough to hire anyone that will do a decent job. I repair practically anything I can, and it is always a surprise how much businesses charge. I do all my work for free, sometimes furnish materials for folks that just can't afford it, just to give a little something back. IMO the service industry is a sure way to make money.

[Ridge Wolf]

Another computer related idea for you. Ebay/Craigs List, but with a slight twist. There are alot of people that would like to sell on them, but for whatever reason don't (lack of time, knowledge, fear of internet, whatever). There's a guy in town that does it for them and takes a % of the sales. From what I understand, he does pretty well at it. Just a thought.

Now that appeals to my entrepreneurial spirit... I'll look into that. I once had an idea to verify the actual existance and ownership of items that were listed on ebay for people buying such things that were originated in the local area here. That didn't pan out but this is an interesting idea you present. Thanks Crash..

[Sourdough]

Ridge, Could you drive a rig on private property? Like on a large mine. or a large ranch?

[Teotwawki]

edit: Hmm, what is going on? do the ads pick up on the content in these posts and then insert an appropriate ad?

Google ads pick up on content and tries to place appropriate ad content.

Some affiliate programs work differently and the webmaster picks the banner ads and such.

Someone above commented that ya might make enough to cover hosting costs and such... that has for the most part been my experience (but that is not what I focus on either)...

My best payout come from some Amazon affiliate links.

There is an add up topside for the U of Pheonix.. about becoming a nurse.. Well, I never thought of myself wearing a white dress before. too much white on my legs as it is now..

Now, that might be a hit website! Ridge Wolf Nurse!

Must be 18 or older to enter.

---
Someone posted above about e-bay support service business. There is a biz near us that takes care of the whole thing for folks. Bring in your junk to sell and this company does the listing, packing and shipping and everything for a percentage of the sale.

[crashdive123]

Oh man! Now that's a picture I do not need in my head this weekend.

[Ridge Wolf]

Ridge, Could you drive a rig on private property? Like on a large mine. or a large ranch?

Yeah.. I can drive everything that is in existance. However, I still need to qualify for the DOT physical. I have given up on that as it is central to gaining employment anywhere that is of viable wages and earning capability. My driving career is over. Instead, I am moving on to other things. I have recently discovered a website that is an online school and organization for professionals in the security field. http://www.asisonline.org and I am in the process of joining that organization and will go from there. I have a resume already in an employers hands at this point and submitting to others. Things are now looking up. I am and have been a security professional throughout my adult life (intermixed with other types of employment) but that all adds up to the big picture. I have gained insight into all sorts of industries throughout that applies to professional security work. In recent years security work is no longer represented by the overweight security guard walking around industrial sites or sitting behind a receptionist desk at night with a candy bar and a cup of coffee. Security has come of age since 9/11. I plan to cash in on my years of experience and knowledge that I have accumulated (and no, I am not nor have never been that overweight security guard I mentioned here). I have always had a can do attitude and professional demeanor in whatever job I have had.

[Sourdough]

Ridge: We have bought some remote site battery power, security camera systems. I would think marketing those systems will become easier and easier.

[Sarge47]

My living, for now, requires a D.O.T. physical every year as well; I drive buses. So I can pretty much guess what happened to you and you have my condolences. However, if I remember my CDL training correctly there were 3 positions that were EXEMPT from requiring a CDL: Religious Organizations; Farms: & the military. Regardless DO check out the "e-Bay" thing; I hear positive stuff about that!

[Ridge Wolf]

My living, for now, requires a D.O.T. physical every year as well; I drive buses. So I can pretty much guess what happened to you and you have my condolences. However, if I remember my CDL training correctly there were 3 positions that were EXEMPT from requiring a CDL: Religious Organizations; Farms: & the military. Regardless DO check out the "e-Bay" thing; I hear positive stuff about that!

Hmm, didn't know about the exemptions I'll check it out. I saw a news story on TV about the E bay site and apparently everybody is doing that. Going to garage sales, second hand stores, etc. etc. picking up stuff to put on E bay. It works and I am going to check that out for a side business.. maybe going to full time??? Somebody up line here posted on 'Go with what you've got'. I remember a story about a familyman that started a window washing business during the depression just doing that.. going with what he had. I am certainly common sensed enough to try almost anything.. so there is a lot to check out. ASIS is expensive, not necessarily to join, but the courses are. I am looking at that for long term. I have been helping my dad out around his house.. painting remodeling etc. That helps and there are some other things I'm looking at also.. E bay is one of them. Thanks.