Internet marketing gurus claim that anyone can make a fortune online following some system or other. And it may even be true. But that doesn't mean internet marketing is right for everybody.

Lots of people get started in internet marketing hoping to make a quick and easy fortune. They're lead to believe that they can toss together a website promoting somebody else's product, set up a few automated scripts, and spend the rest of their lives swimming in caviar while a hot babe rings a bell each time they earn a commission.

If that's what you think you're getting into, you'd better be ready to substitute cold water for caviar and yourself for the hot babe. But don't worry, you won't have to dedicate much time to ringing the bell.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but internet marketing takes work. As Ryan Lee said:

And don't think for a minute other "gurus" have it so easy. I know all of them, and believe me, they all work. None of them are sitting on the beach all day, sipping drinks with umbrella straws. Even as I'm writing this (at 4:30am since one of my kids crawled into our bed and woke me up!), I can see other marketers online through my IM box.

Also check out what Paul says in the comments for that post:

...Rich Schefren loves to hit the Tim Ferris (4 Hour Work Week) story. How Tim came and hung out with a bunch of the guys one weekend "“ or at least Rich thinks so, but couldn't say for sure because Tim worked 20 hour days!

So if internet marketing isn't for the lazy, who is it for?

Entrepreneurs. If you've got red-hot boiling entrepreneurial blood, internet marketing is a great option.

  • If the mere thought of spending 8 hours a day working for someone else drives you to tears, but the thought of spending 8 hours a day working for yourself doesn't, internet marketing may be right for you.
  • If you're so full of ideas for new products of better ways to sell existing products that you wish you could clone about 100 of yourself to work on them all, internet marketing may be right for you.
  • If you're more comfortable working toward your dreams, even knowing that you might crash and burn, than working for a reliable paycheck, internet marketing may be right for you. (It helps if, like me, you have a spouse who understands what drives you well enough to support your being an entrepreneur, even if they'd rather have you bringing in the predictable paycheck.)

But internet marketing isn't only for hardcore entrepreneurs. It's also for people who need or value flexibility. If you have activities or obligations that may pull you away from work at any time, working for yourself at a job you can reschedule any time is ideal.

Reader Comment:
Antone Roundy said:
Thanks for the comment Patrick. I'm using my Facebook profile for personal contacts only these days.
(join the conversation below)

If you're unable to work outside of your home for physical or other reasons, internet marketing is a great way to keep the money coming in.

If jobs are scarce in your area, and despite concerted efforts, you've been unable to find other work, internet marketing may be a good avenue to try part-time.

If you'd like to add to your income with part-time work, but don't want to commit to a part-time job, dabbling in internet marketing is a good option.

Who ISN'T Right For Internet Marketing?

If you'd rather have someone else give you something to do that choose work for yourself, if you're highly risk-averse, if having your own business sounds ho-hum to you, internet marketing may not be your thing.

Also, if you're not self-motivated -- if you find yourself living the 4 hour work week even though you're not making any money -- internet marketing may not be right for you.

If you need income, but are only willing to work on your own pet projects that in your rare realistic moments, you admit no one will ever buy, you're probably better off working for someone else.

The Bottom Line Is This...

I think for most people, the key to deciding whether internet marketing is right for them is accepting the fact that you're going to have to work at least as hard as you would at any other job, at least until you're making a strong, consistent income. With that in mind, which would you rather do: get a predictable paycheck working for someone else, or carve your own path?

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