Hello, I'm new here but have been reading through as many threads as I can.

I first heard of SBI several years ago but put up as many reasons not to go ahead and try it. At long last I feel the time is right and I'm trying to plan ahead. I haven't taken the plunge and actually parted with my money yet but I've started working through the videos, my thinking being that this would give me a head start.

I would like to be earning money from the site in 2 years time and wonder if this is a realistic time scale and how much time it might require. I realize this is like the proverbial how long is a piece of string question but am hoping some of you would be good enough to share your experience.

I've had a website showing my photography in various forms since 1997 but have never earned money from it despite harboring the ambition to have an internet based business for all that time. Well the time has come to take the plunge :-)

Caroline

Hi Caroline! You sound like me a few years ago. I also have had a web site for my photography, but since '02. I didn't get serious about IM until more recent years and am so glad I took the plunge. I'm not rolling in the dough yet but I'll get there.

I'm certain you would be earning SOMETHING within 2 years. When I started, I made back my investment (affiliate software—not SBI, hosting, and domain) in about 4 months. Would you earn enough to live on? Well, it depends on your standard of living, and from what I've seen, most people probably don't achieve that goal within 2 years. However, if you give it your all and log some serious computer time, you could be doing quite well in a couple of years.

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Thanks for your response Bunny - its all a bit scary at the moment, so many choices to make and I'm not the worlds best decision maker.

I would still love to here from others of their experiences please :-))

caroline

Since I do not work online for money but for service, volunteer and educational, I cannot answer specifically about this subject relative to the internet, but I can speak about some related issues that I urge you to consider.

First, the most important thing is for you to know that this is what you really want to do. If it is, the time it takes you is not so important. What if every one else can do it in two years and it takes you four? Or what if everyone else can do it in four years and it takes you two? Just arrange to find an income that puts food on the table and get busy.

If others are succeeding you can too. You just have to keep learning. Discard what doesn't work. Keep what does and expand it. The fact that you are thinking in terms of two years gives you a great advantage. You are smart enough to know that you must learn and that takes time.

Sadly, we often see people saying that for one reason or another they are desperate and need to earn a lot of money in the next few months. That is unrealistic, but in two years you can learn a lot if you apply yourself.

Second, if you want this to be your source of income and want to maximize that potential determine to learn from those who know how to do it themselves. That is what makes Lisa's information so valuable. She will tell you to focus on getting good content first, writing skills and marketing. These are primary for making money.

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Good Success!

Douglas County Master Gardeners
"We don't always get what we want, but we always get what we expect."

Thank you for your wise words James. I'm not in desperate need but I have always been an impatient person, I think this may have been what prevented me from taking the plunge some years back because I knew there would be no quick returns. I'm much more at ease with the concept of the long haul now and absolutely determined that this is what I want to do.

Caroline

This is a great statement. To be truly successful online you have to spend time developing your skills and your business plan. And, it is different for each person. But once in place your income will continue to increase at a faster pace all the time with less work needed as you go (although you can never let your guard down as opportunities change).

It is no different offline. In my own case I determined to develop a business with an income that was in my control and provided more than I needed for the lifestyle I wanted. I developed my plan and worked hard at it. It took five years to begin to pay what I wanted but the effort was well worth it. Now, after a little more than ten years I not only have a good income, I have no debt even on my home and no worries about the economic chaos around me. But I had to have the same resolve you express and the self-discipline to carry it out.

Stick to your plan. You are certain to succeed as long as you believe in yourself, work smart as well as hard, and ignore the criticism and scoffing of people who themselves have nothing and are destined to stay that way. Those who are successful will cheer you on.

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Good Success!

Douglas County Master Gardeners
"We don't always get what we want, but we always get what we expect."

James, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply, and your thoughts.
I'm looking forward to getting started properly and to sharing my progress, hopefully it may help others as well as me :-)

I've started a blog to record my progress, not a very original idea I know but it is a public statement of my intent, and eventually of my success.

Caroline