How To Get Started Online: What To Do When You Are Just Starting Out [LNIM140]

by | May 18, 2017 | Podcast | 0 comments

How To Get Started Online: What To Do When You Are Just Starting Out [LNIM140]

Getting started with an online business can feel overwhelming. There are so many business models, so many gurus, and so many conflicting opinions that it is easy to get paralyzed before you even begin. In this episode, Mark provides a clear big-picture framework that explains how to navigate the online business landscape, from choosing a business model to driving your first project to profit.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

  • The major types of online businesses and how to evaluate which one fits you
  • Why following one proven mentor beats chasing multiple gurus
  • How to decide between investing time or money when getting started
  • Why “start to profit” focus is the difference between success and failure
  • A tech tip on using the Wayback Machine for research and content strategy
  • Why refreshing old content is one of the best SEO strategies available

Episode Summary

Mark tackles one of the most common questions he receives: how do you get started with online business? His four-step framework provides a clear path through the noise.

First, educate yourself about the different business models available. Blogging, affiliate marketing, digital product creation, ecommerce, YouTube, virtualizing your existing services, and Amazon selling are all viable paths, each with different strengths and trade-offs. Choose a model that resonates with your personality and existing skills.

Second, find one mentor who is currently successful at the business model you have chosen and follow their guidance closely. Avoid the temptation of multiple gurus across multiple models. Third, invest your resources wisely, whether that means time on free content or money on a structured course. Fourth, focus relentlessly on your chosen project from start to profit without getting distracted by new opportunities.

Mark also covers a tech tip on the Wayback Machine and how refreshing old content is a powerful SEO strategy, demonstrated by a Search Engine Journal article that has been ranking since 2008 through regular updates.

Key Takeaways

  • Understand the major online business models before committing to one
  • Choose a model that matches your personality. If you hate writing, do not start a blog.
  • Find one mentor who is currently doing what you want to do and follow their path
  • You can trade time for money or money for time. Paid courses are faster but cost more.
  • The biggest success factor is focusing one project from start to profit
  • Affiliate marketing is a strong starting point for beginners because it builds core skills without product creation burden
  • Regularly refresh your existing content to keep it ranking in Google

What's Changed Since This Episode

Since 2017, the online business landscape has expanded with new models like paid newsletters on Substack, community platforms like Skool and Circle, and AI-powered tools that dramatically lower barriers to entry. The four-step framework Mark outlines remains exactly right: choose a model, find a guide, invest wisely, and focus through to success. AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude now help solo entrepreneurs move faster on content, research, and planning, but the discipline of finishing what you start is still the bottleneck for most people.

Resources Mentioned

Related Episodes

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Listen and Subscribe

Listen to Late Night Internet Marketing on Apple Podcasts or subscribe at latenightim.com/internet-marketing-podcast/. Have a question for Mark? Call the digital recorder at 214-444-8655 or drop a comment below.

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