How To Earn As You Learn

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Updated 6 years ago

A lot of people who start their online journey here at WA have a certain expectation as to when they should start making money online. In this post, I would like to offer you some alternatives on how to earn as you learn while your online business starts to take off.

Once you have completed a certain amount of training here, you should feel pretty competent in a number of areas such as keyword research, finding images, writing blog posts, using Wordpress, setting up hosting.

How to Use Your WA Skills

You can offer a number of different services based on the skills you learn here. Pricing these skills will vary depending on where you live. But here are a few ideas:

Web administration: this covers quite a bit of territory but it's everything you've learned here.

Installing/updating plugins
Finding/uploading images
Setting up menus
Writing content
SEO

Writing Blog Posts: you can charge this a few different ways.

Option 1: Package can include good quality keywords, sourced free images and a certain word count, like 1,000.
Option 2: Charge by the word. 10 cents a word or something like that.
Option 3: Have the client provide you with the keyword and links to research they would like you to use to write the article. This would be the least expensive option because all you have to do is pull all the information together and write an article.

Keyword Research: for anyone you know who may be interested in a particular niche, you can provide keyword research consultations whereby you make recommendations on whether the niche is viable or not. This is especially critical for anyone starting out.

SEO: This service can help anyone whose current site isn't doing too well. You can go through their posts and see if you can make them more SEO friendly.

Social Media Posting: one of the easiest things to do. A lot of people don't have time for this or simply aren't interested.

These are all skills you can use to help others and make extra money for yourself.

How I Used My WA Training

Personally, I have 2 businesses. I have my affiliate marketing business and my virtual assistant (VA) business. My VA business has been growing recently and I have a few new promising leads. You should know that the work I do for my clients is all down to the training I learned right here at WA. Here's a little breakdown of the work I do for my clients:

Client 1. Social media posting

Client 2. Web administration (upload images, SEO blog posts, writing blog posts)*

Client 3. Editing documents using Microsoft Word.

Client 4: To be determined.**

*This started out as an actual job I interviewed for. When asked how I learned all the skills I listed on my resume, I cited WA's training program and got the job! Due to some company reorganizing, they are now a client!

**I am currently in negotiation with my fourth client so I'm not sure what the work will entail just yet.

How I Got Started

Networking has played a huge part in how my clients have found me. Back in 2012, an old work colleague from San Francisco found me on Facebook. He told me he was starting his own consulting company and asked if I'd like to work for him. That's Client 3 but he was really my first client! ;) And that's how I started out. I'm still doing a small bit of work for that company.

Volunteer to Help Someone

Back when I first started out, I really wanted to learn Wordpress. So much so that I offered to create a website for a friend for FREE. All he had to do was supply the content, pay for the hosting and the domain name. I did the rest. I did this for free because I didn't have a lot of confidence in my skills back then. I didn't know how to even price the job! Eventually, that job turned into a paid gig.

The best part about volunteering to help someone is that it promotes good will. People remember good will. So even if you are not getting paid for the initial gig, your good will could lead to a paying gig.

Get to Know Web Designers in your local area. This is a great way to get your name out there. Ask them for a 1-1 meeting and inquire about their business. See if you can collaborate together. If not, leave your card or a few cards. They may be able to pass your card along to someone. A lot of web designers are not interested in the little stuff. This is where you can help. You can offer all kinds of services starting with social media marketing and working up from there.

Join a Networking Group

I recently joined a networking group in my area. This meant that I needed to get business cards and my website up. I put up a Coming Soon page on my website and passed out the business cards each time I attended a meeting. This has resulted in many 1-1 meetings that I hope will generate work for me. A recent 1-1 meeting has resulted in being asked to write content. I'm still working on the details and how to price this.

If you don't know where to start with networking, try MeetUp. You can also check your local newspaper or events at your public library.

It can absolutely happen for you! Last weekend I was in Paris meeting a friend from the states who was over here visiting. The money I earned from my businesses paid for my trip! (That's a cute little cafe where we had lunch across the street from Bon Marche!)

Keep Your Eye On the Prize

Keep in mind that my ultimate goal is to work for myself from anywhere. Whether I make money with affiliate marketing or through my VA work, it's all the same to me because the end result is being met. I can and have worked from anywhere!

Enjoy the ride!

Alanna