Increasingly more folks these days are making a residing on-line. Laptops, netbooks, cell telephones, tablets and different cellular or hand-held gadgets are permitting a brand new technology of enterprising entrepreneurs to do business from home or simply about anyplace on this planet.
For the previous 5 years, I too have been making a residing off the Web… and in simply the previous two years have found out the way to do my work from anyplace on the planet (as long as I’ve entry to an Web connection).
It was that you could possibly run an internet enterprise from anyplace on this planet so long as you had your laptop computer with you. That was nice, but when one thing had been to occur to your laptop computer when you had been touring, you could possibly be in large, large bother.
Right this moment, digital employees like myself not want a laptop computer of their very own to run their on-line enterprise(es). All you want is entry to a Internet browser!
The Internet browser might be in your laptop computer, your cellular phone or a public pc on the library, an Web cafe, or wherever. As a result of many of the software program I now use to conduct enterprise relies on-line, I don’t have to fret about carrying my laptop computer round with me, damaging my pc, syncing my recordsdata, or backing up my information. All the data wanted to run my enterprise and earn money from anyplace on this planet is saved on-line utilizing the newest in on-line safety and backup applied sciences.
The next is an inventory of the 25 Internet-based providers I at the moment use each day to handle my enterprise and earn money from anyplace on this planet.
Gmail
Google Mail or “Gmail” as it’s referred to as, is my primary useful resource for accessing my e-mail whether or not at residence or on the highway. As a result of I’ve greater than a dozen totally different e-mail accounts related to quite a few on-line companies, I take advantage of Gmail to verify and reply to all of them. All of my e-mail is collected in Gmail, the place I can then kind emails in accordance with class, topic, and timeliness. E-mail is a big a part of my on-line companies and Gmail makes it potential to entry my vital messages from anyplace on this planet.
Google Reader
I learn quite a bit. Greater than most in actual fact. And far of my studying is completed on-line. I take advantage of Google Reader to subscribe to my favourite blogs, web sites, video feeds and different on-line info that I discover vital. A lot of this on-line studying is private, however a lot of it’s enterprise associated as effectively. I take advantage of RSS feeds to trace my rivals, discover low cost residences on Craigslist, be taught new languages by studying worldwide blogs, and an entire lot extra. Google Reader makes it potential for me to entry my favourite on-line assets in a single location and be notified every time new content material is added to my favourite feeds.
Google Calendar
I plan out every day prematurely. Utilizing Google Calendar I schedule appointments, block out time for writing, studying, bodily exercise, or social interplay. I at the moment have eight totally different calendars synced inside my Google Calendar system in order to trace my quite a few companies and private appointments.
Google Docs
It was that each one of my work and college paperwork had been written on Microsoft Phrase, saved on my pc and emailed backwards and forwards between computer systems when mandatory. These days, nonetheless, I take advantage of Google Docs to create phrase paperwork, spreadsheets and extra that may be accessed from any pc, anyplace on this planet so long as it has an Web connection. And in contrast to Microsoft Phrase, which might value a reasonably penny, Google Docs is free!
Google Analytics
In the case of my on-line companies, there isn’t a instrument I really like greater than Google Analytics. Analytics is a one other free piece of Google software program that’s used to trace your web site’s statistics. I take advantage of Analytics to learn how many individuals are visiting my web sites every month, the place my reader’s are coming from on this planet, learn how lengthy my readers keep on the web site and on particular pages, uncover which articles and pages are hottest, what net content material must be reworked, and an entire lot extra.
Skype
Once I took my first lengthy distance bicycle tour in 2001, I used pay telephones to name residence and verify in with my dad and mom – letting them know that I used to be okay. Quickly thereafter, the cellular phone turned part of my travels. However now that I’m spending increasingly time touring internationally, I hardly use my cellular phone in any respect. As a substitute, I take advantage of an internet primarily based service referred to as Skype to remain in contact with family and friends everywhere in the world… and to make enterprise offers with companions throughout the globe. I take advantage of Skype to make telephone calls, immediate message, video chat, ship and obtain giant and small pc recordsdata, drawback resolve with display sharing and an entire lot extra.
Dropbox
Dropbox is a extremely cool service that permits you to entry your private pc paperwork from any pc on this planet. That is particularly helpful if in case you have a number of computer systems in your house (like I do) and it’s essential always entry recordsdata on each computer systems. As a substitute of emailing the paperwork backwards and forwards to your self or manually transferring the recordsdata on a USB stick, you merely drag an drop the recordsdata you wish to share between computer systems into your “Dropbox” folder and people recordsdata are then immediately accessible to be used on any pc you’ve gotten entry to. Better of all, you’ll be able to entry your shared Dropbox recordsdata by yourself private computer systems or some other pc on this planet just by logging into your account at www.dropbox.com.
Fb
It was that Fb was only a foolish social media instrument utilized by faculty co-eds to speak it up with their classmates between semesters, however over the past couple years Fb has was the primary social networking website on this planet. I take advantage of Fb to communicate with family and friends, share my journey experiences, promote my enterprise Fan Pages and really earn money by way of the adverts I run on the location. I like Fb just because it’s a good way to satisfy new folks and passively be taught extra concerning the folks I already know.
Whereas I used to be a gradual adapter to using Fb in my private and enterprise life, I used to be an early adapter on this planet of Twitter. I began utilizing Twitter in the summertime of 2008 after a enterprise buddy of mine mentioned how nice it was at connecting with like-minded people. Since creating my account, I’ve met 1000’s of individuals considering enterprise, entrepreneurship, journey, bike touring, motion pictures and extra. I take advantage of Twitter each day, typically instances sharing details about what I’m doing, issues I’ve discovered, motivational quotes I’ve learn, or answering questions. Twitter is without doubt one of the primary methods I drive folks again to my web site and create new on-line relationships.
Splitweet
As a result of I’ve a number of Twitter accounts related to a number of on-line companies, I take advantage of a free service referred to as Splitweet to ship tweets to a number of Twitter accounts with out having to always log out and in of Twitter frequently. When you’ve gotten a single Twitter account, a website like Splitweet is fairly pointless. However when you’ve gotten two or extra Twitter accounts that it’s essential put up to frequently, Splitweet is a savior. As a substitute of logging out and in of 8 or extra Twitter accounts, I do all of my tweeting from Splitweet.com. I merely go to the web site, write my tweet after which verify a field subsequent to the Twitter account I would like the tweet to be despatched to. It’s actually, very easy and saves me an enormous period of time. I additionally use Splitweet to trace particular key phrases, similar to “bicycle touring,” so I can see what different Twitter customers are saying with regard to those key phrases and reply if mandatory.
Aweber
I’ve already talked about that e-mail is a big a part of my on-line companies. And whereas common e-mail is a giant a part of what I do, computerized emails and big broadcast emails are much more vital to the success of my on-line ventures. To handle my a number of e-mail lists, I take advantage of a service referred to as Aweber to gather new leads, ship computerized comply with up emails, broadcast bi-monthly messages and monitor the success of my e-mail campaigns. For instance, whenever you join my free 12-part bicycle touring e-mail mini course, your title and e-mail are added to a database inside Aweber, which then robotically sends you the 12 or extra emails which can be part of my course. I’m not really sending these emails to you each few days. The software program does it for me… robotically! With dozens of individuals signing up for my e-mail course day-after-day, there is no such thing as a manner I may really ship and maintain monitor of that many emails. In order that’s the place Aweber is available in and helps me out! When folks ask me for recommendation about getting cash on-line, the very first thing I often inform them is to enroll in Aweber an begin engaged on their e-mail listing. It’s the primary manner I earn money on-line.
BlueHost
In addition to the web site right here at BicycleTouringPro.com, I’ve dozens of different web sites in my title and all of them are hosted with an organization referred to as BlueHost. I’ve used a lot of totally different net hosts over time and BlueHost.com has all the time blown the others out of the water. Not solely are their website hosting charges extremely reasonably priced, however the providers they provide are huge and their customer support is excellent. In the case of website hosting, I’ve discovered that you just wish to align with an organization who has glorious customer support. If it takes you a half hour or extra simply to get on the telephone with an internet host, you then’re gonna have some bother. Through the years, the folks at BlueHost have been quick, nice, and all the time prepared to assist. For those who want a superb host on your web site, I’d extremely advocate BlueHost.com.
GoDaddy
Whereas all of my web sites are hosted with BlueHost, nearly all of my domains are bought with GoDaddy.com. What I like about GoDaddy is simply how straightforward it’s to maintain monitor of my domains, make title server adjustments, search out new domains, purchase expiring domains, and be notified effectively prematurely every time one in every of my present domains is arising for renewal. A number of years again I bought the area title “DarrenAlff.com,” however when the net host I bought the title with failed to inform me that the area was arising for renewal, I misplaced the area title, was advised I may solely get it again if I paid greater than $3,000, and was pressured to attend whereas the title floated round in cyber-space with out an official proprietor for greater than two years earlier than I used to be in a position to purchase it again with GoDaddy. The lesson I discovered from that have was to have a superb net host and buy your domains with a good supply like GoDaddy.com.
LogMe In
LogMeIn.com is a free (and paid) service that permits you to entry computer systems from anyplace on this planet and function them remotely. Have you ever ever referred to as for help on your own home pc and had the operator working in Malaysia or Indonesia management your mouse and sort together with your keyboard. That’s precisely the kind of factor that LogMe In does… and I take advantage of this service on a regular basis. I take advantage of LogMe In to entry my residence computer systems when I’m out on the highway and I take advantage of LogMe In to function my consumer computer systems when I’m instructing them the way to run their new web sites or overcome a selected drawback they could be having. Have you ever ever tried to inform somebody over the telephone the way to do one thing on their pc? It’s irritating and at instances, nearly not possible. With LogMe In, you’ll by no means once more have that very same drawback. Merely log into their pc, function it as if it had been your personal, and your in your manner!
OpenX
Whereas not totally web-based, OpenX is a bit of free advert serving software program that I take advantage of to run and monitor promoting campaigns on my numerous web sites and Web properties. OpenX permits me to place particular adverts in particular spots throughout particular dates, and run adverts in particular continents, international locations, states or cities, which for a lot of advertisers is extremely vital. The software program additionally permits me to rotate a number of adverts in a single spot, set advert priorities, and decide which adverts are getting one of the best response. When it comes internet marketing, OpenX is one unimaginable useful resource.
Craigslist
Craigslist won’t be a website many contemplate to be vital for working an internet enterprise, however when what you are promoting is journey, Craigslist is a serious participant with regard to discovering a spot to remain. I take advantage of Craigslist’s class particular RSS feeds to seek out low cost and nice residences when touring abroad. Simply discover the nation and/or metropolis of your selection, click on on the condominium listings, subscribe to the RSS feed, after which you can be notified nearly immediately when new residences or homes are posted to the location. That is the technique I used to seek out my residences whereas touring by way of Europe final 12 months… and it’s the identical technique I plan to make use of on my upcoming adventures in 2011.
Capital One
In the case of paying for bills abroad, you wish to be sure you have a bank card that isn’t going to cost you astronomical charges every time you make a transaction. You probably have a Capital One bank card, there’s a superb likelihood you’re within the clear! Once I went to Germany for the primary time in 2007, I used my debit card for all of my worldwide purchases. The cardboard labored nice and I by no means had any issues, however once I obtained residence and logged into my account, I used to be horrified at simply what number of additional charges and penalties I had obtained merely for utilizing my financial institution card overseas. With my Capital One bank card, the charges merely don’t exist. And better of all, the Capital One web site permits me to log into my account at any time, verify my stability, view my transactions, obtain my month-to-month statements and even pay my invoice on-line.
Chase
Whether or not touring at residence or abroad, you want to have the ability to maintain monitor of your funds when you are away. Fortunate for me, my financial institution has gone digital and now I cannot solely maintain monitor of my stability, however I will pay my payments, switch funds between accounts, wire cash internationally, and entry my month-to-month statements from any pc on this planet. There’s a superb likelihood your financial institution has all of those options as effectively! It might be one thing it’s important to choose into, however they’re providers that basically are available in hand when you hit the highway.
Amazon
Once I have to buy absolutely anything, one of many first locations I look is Amazon.com. I’m a giant reader, so I purchase a number of books from the location, however I purchase a number of different issues as effectively. I’ve purchased tents, backpacks, digital cameras and an entire lot extra from Amazon.com. I take advantage of the location to buy when at residence or abroad… and have really had a number of objects bought from Amazon.com shipped to me whereas on my travels.
Not solely do I take advantage of Amazon for purchasing, however I take advantage of the location to earn money as effectively. The Bicycle Traveler’s Blueprint for the Amazon Kindle might be bought from Amazon. And people with the Kindle may subscribe to the Bicycle Touring Professional RSS feed. And whenever you click on on this hyperlink (and different hyperlinks prefer it right here on BicycleTouringPro.com) and buy one thing from the location, I make a small fee. Each month a whole bunch of individuals click on the Amazon hyperlinks on my numerous web sites, which lead to 1000’s of {dollars} price of gross sales, which I then obtain a small fee for and the cash I make is then robotically deposited into my checking account. So that you see, Amazon.com is simply a part of the best way I’m able to dwell wherever I would like, journey every time I please, and earn money from anyplace on this planet… whether or not I’m awake or asleep.
PayPal
In the case of promoting issues on-line, PayPal is my primary useful resource. I take advantage of PayPal to course of bank card gross sales for bodily merchandise like bicycle mirrors and seat packs… and I take advantage of PayPal to facilitate orders for “The Bicycle Traveler’s Blueprint“ – my eBook on fashionable bicycle touring. With a few of PayPal’s extra superior options I’ve been in a position to arrange my enterprise in order that, for instance, when somebody purchases a replica of “The Bicycle Traveler’s Blueprint” their order is processed, their bank card is billed, an e-mail is distributed to me telling me that I’ve made a sale, and an e-mail is robotically despatched to the customer telling them the way to obtain the e book. As soon as once more, the method is totally computerized and it occurs 24/7, whether or not I’m in mattress, in entrance of the pc or out driving my bike.
iDevAffiliate
A part of what makes The Bicycle Traveler’s Blueprint so profitable is that the e book additionally has an associates program, which is a system I created that permits anybody from anyplace on this planet to advertise the e book and really earn money by telling different folks about it. I take advantage of a bit of piece of software program referred to as iDevAffiliate to run my on-line associates program. With the software program put in, I can have 1000’s of associates (individuals who promote my merchandise) from everywhere in the world. And when these folks ship different folks to my web site, the software program tracks their actions. If one of many folks my associates despatched to my web site buys one in every of my books, the affiliate will get credit score for that sale and she or he makes cash! Once more, the method is totally computerized (due to the iDev software program) and I don’t need to do a factor besides log into the iDev account each couple months and ship out a number of funds to my affiliate companions.
Carbonite
Final 12 months my pc crashed whereas I used to be in Switzerland and I practically noticed my total life get flushed down the drain. I had 1000’s and 1000’s of {dollars} price of precious recordsdata on my pc and if I had misplaced them I’d have been in large, large bother. Fortunately, I had remembered to again up my pc to an exterior arduous drive a pair months prior, so I solely misplaced about 2 months price of labor. After that incident, nonetheless, I turned critically involved about shedding my recordsdata ever once more. And it was round this time that I signed up for a service referred to as Carbonite, which robotically backs up all of the recordsdata on my pc so I by no means have to fret about shedding them. Backing up your vital pc paperwork to an exterior arduous drive is nice, however the factor that makes Carbonite so fantastic is that the backup course of occurs robotically each time you connect with the Web.
Flickr
You’re in all probability aware of Flickr, proper? Flickr is type of like a social community centered round digital pictures. You will get a free Flickr account and put up a number of pictures on-line to share together with your family and friends, however I pay about $25 a 12 months for the upgraded model of Flickr, which permits me to put up as many pictures as I would like. These pictures are then sorted into classes, units and collections… and robotically seem within the sidebar of the BicycleTouringPro.com web site. I primarily put up pictures from my travels to my Flickr account… and these pictures serve two primary functions. 1) By posting pictures from my very own travels, it exhibits those who I do really know what I’m speaking about relating to world journey and bicycle touring… as a result of they see my pictures and know that I’ve achieved these items for myself. 2) My Flickr pictures additionally are likely to drive a lot of folks again to the web site right here at BicycleTouringPro.com. They stumble throughout the pictures on Flickr after which go to Bicycle Touring Professional to be taught extra about touring with a motorbike.
YouTube
In a lot the identical manner that Flickr helps to attract visitors again to my web site and set up me as some type of bicycle touring professional, my movies on YouTube do very a lot the identical factor. What I really like about YouTube is simply how straightforward it’s to add new movies after which share them on-line or embed them into my very own web sites. As of this writing, the Bicycle Touring Professional YouTube channel has obtained greater than 100,000 views and continues to develop each day. I plan to put up much more movies sooner or later!
WordPress
And eventually, this listing wouldn’t be full with out mentioning WordPress. For individuals who don’t know, WordPress is a free, open supply Content material Administration System that was designed to make constructing web sites tremendous, tremendous straightforward. BicycleTouringPro.com and each web site I at the moment personal is managed with WordPress software program. The software program shouldn’t be solely free, straightforward to make use of, and nice at driving visitors by way of the various search engines… but it surely comes with 1000’s of free plug-ins (extra items of software program than can be utilized for a plethora of duties). My favourite function in WordPress, nonetheless, is the truth that I can schedule my weblog posts prematurely and have them posted to the web site robotically. What this implies is that once I go off on a visit, I don’t have to fret about the truth that I’m not in a position to replace my web site as a result of I’m not in entrance of my pc. By scheduling my posts prematurely, I can write a bunch of weblog posts earlier than I go away residence on my travels, schedule them to put up to the location on particular days and at particular instances, after which know that they are going to be posted to the location whereas I’m away. For somebody like myself, who is continually on the highway and away from residence, that is an unimaginable function and one which makes my enterprising nomadic way of life potential.
So, there it’s! That’s my listing of 25 totally different web-based assets that I take advantage of to dwell and work from anyplace on this planet and earn money 24 hours a day, one year of the 12 months.
For those who too are an Web entrepreneur who works at residence or on the highway, what web sites and software program are you at the moment utilizing to run your on-line enterprise(es)? I’d be curious to listen to! Let me know by leaving a remark under.
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