The first thing you must realize is that everything starts with the headline.  If you can deliver a promise and focus on the benefits half of the battle is already won.

A lot of people get confused between benefits and features.  A feature is what a product does and a benefit is the end result you will get.

For example, I am involved with Empower Network.  Here are two headlines – one states benefits and the other will focus on features…

“Who Else Wants to Get Boatloads of Free Traffic to Their Blog on Autopilot While Earning 100% Commissions?”

“Learn How to Blog Quickly and Easily By Using a Simple Web Interface That Even a Newbie Can Understand!”

Do you see the difference here?  The first headline is a lot more sexy because it focuses strongly on the end result while the second headline is rather dull and boring.

Test!  Test!  Test!

Once you have a good understanding of headlines the only real way to know which one is better is to test it.  You can track your opt ins and also your sales.

That is why ad tracking is so important.  You also need enough traffic to make sure your data is statistically significant.

Sometimes you will be surprised to find out that a headline you thought would do better actually does not.  The reverse is true as well.

Do Not Reinvent The Wheel

When it comes to writing good ad copy especially if you are an affiliate you do not need to reinvent the wheel.  Study whatever is working for the vendor and modify it slightly to suit your own purposes.

Once you build up a collection of good headlines you can keep them all in a file so that whenever you need it you won’t be stuck.  Being organized and managing your time wisely is a huge part of being a successful marketer.

Use The Right Words

There are certain words that you can use that are designed to trigger certain responses with your web site visitors.  Here is a brief listing of them:

High Converting Words: free, instant, revealed, secret, access

Emotional Triggers: fast, easy, instant, safe, simple, warning, magic

Credibility: proven, proof, results, expert, facts

Scarcity: limited, secret, exclusive, revealed, access, discover

Action Words: act now, give me, visit now

You can use these words when writing your own copy.  It really does depend on your style but personally I try not to hype things up too much.

You should get your prospect excited but at the same time you do not want to sound outrageous.  There is a fine line there between the two.

There is also some debate with the use of the word free.  Some do not use it because they claim it attracts the wrong type of person and others swear by it.  It is just something you will have to test.

You can also sprinkle these words throughout your text and your bullet points.  It is also beneficial to study headlines and keep ones you like on file too.

Here is a good resource I use:

http://www.copyblogger.com/magnetic-headlines/

Another good thing to do is ask yourself what made you buy a certain product?  Was it a particular benefit that made you feel a certain way?  Or did it solve a particular problem that you faced?

Chances are you are not unique.  Whatever emotional response it evoked in you, it is highly likely that others will react the same as well.

People mostly always buy with emotions and not logic.  A person buys a sports car because of how it will make them feel, not because of the anti lock brakes.

If you learn this truth, you will be well on your way to figuring out how to make passive income.

Wow, this post is starting to get long!  I have merely touched on headlines.  I know that this subject can fill entire books.

This post was designed to get you started quickly without information overload.  If you have any additional copywriting tips I would love to hear them!

One time, my brother showed me a simple but seemingly amazing magic trick that I just couldn’t figure out.  He had a glass, a coin, and a handkerchief.

He then put the glass and handkerchief over top of the coin, said a few magic words and the coin was gone!  He was just a kid at the time and I was wondering “how in the heck did he do that?”

So naturally I kept pestering him until he finally showed me.  You can see how it is done below:

Sometimes an idea can sound sound good in theory but it might not work in the world of online marketing.  Or you might have purchased an ebook but the instructions are not as clear as you imagined.

A lot of the time marketers will tell you what to do but not necessarily how to to do it.  That is actually a marketing tactic used in order to get you to buy something.

Free Video Training

If you really want to see a real live example of how to make passive income you can download my free video by filling out the form on the side of this page.  I will take you step by step through the entire process leaving no stone unturned.

I start off by showing you one of my niche sites and then I go back to the beginning and show you how to set it up.  The video is around 30 minutes long and is designed to get you started quickly.

If you are focused and consistent you can make your first sale in as little as 21 days.  This is all accomplished using free traffic and basic search engine optimization.

The method I teach is great because it does not require you to be an expert and you can get started with a minimal investment.  The video is hype free and can be done by anyone.

You can use this method in any niche you are currently in and you can use it to promote any product you want.  All it takes is a little creativity and a little brainstorming.

What Are You Waiting For?

Here is a good quote I’d like to share with you:

“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.  The second best time is today.” – Chinese Proverb

Some people try and wait until all of their ducks are lined up before they get started.  In other words they spend too much time getting ready to get ready.

Please don’t be that person…fill out the form and start now!

Does your spouse have an entrepreneurial mindset?

Ah, the single life…  It seems like you have all the time in the world.  You get home from work, eat your dinner and your time is yours.

If you are trying to figure out how to make passive income you can spend hours at your computer.  But what if you are married and/or you have a family?

That is really where effective time management comes into play.  You can’t just waste time like you did in the past.  Every moment counts.

I want to share with you 3 ways to get your spouse on board with your online business…

1.  Open Up Doors Of Communication

I am very fortunate to have a partner that supports my decision and understands what it is I am trying to accomplish.  However, others aren’t so lucky.

I have heard stories where a person will say “my spouse just isn’t on board.”  That’s where I got the idea for the title of this post in the first place.

Maybe they think it is a waste of time or money.  I think it is very important to sit them down and explain how important this really is to you.

Everyone has hopes and dreams.  And in any healthy relationship you will have a little time for yourself.  You can make the most of this time by working on your business.

2.  Show Them The Money!

A lot of people are somewhat skeptical until you start showing them payments you are getting.  Yes, this includes some spouses too.

Even if you are new to internet marketing, if you want to learn how to make passive income bad enough you will eventually make a sale.  Once you receive a commission show it off!

Sometimes no amount of reasoning will fully convince someone until they see proof.  This will show them that it IS possible and that you are not simply a dreamer and wasting your time.

The only thing is that you have to be up to the challenge.  Be consistent and try your best at it.

3.  Get Your Spouse Involved

Since this is obviously such an important part of your life you should talk to your spouse once in awhile about it.  That way, it will help them understand better exactly what it is that you are doing.

For example, if you improved the look of your blog show him or her the new design.  Or you could start explaining how email marketing works and give them a tour of your autoresponder campaign.

If you notice that they are really interested in what you are doing you could even assign them tasks.  Things like spinning articles can be a big help and a time saver if you have someone helping you.

That way you will feel like a team and it might even help bring you closer together.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this subject or any additional tips or stories you may have

Sometimes I wake up to discover that I made money even while I was asleep!  It doesn’t get much better than that.

Waking up to emails like this doesn't suck!

In all the niches I have done this in I identified some specific things.  Here is how to make passive income with your computer…

Keep an Open Mind

Pick a few ways of getting traffic and start taking action.  It really depends on what niche you are in.

If you are an affiliate do not reinvent the wheel.  Find out what others are doing and copy it.

Most good affiliate programs will offer support from the vendor.  You can also study what other affiliates are doing or better yet you can find a mentor.

A good coach or mentor is a huge asset because it is in their best interest to help you.  If you make money, they make money.

Keep Going Until You Get a Result

Once you start consistently implementing different ways of getting traffic you will eventually make a sale.  This is where having the proper mindset comes into play.

Most people are too impatient and give up after a week if they don’t make any money.  You just have to work your plan without fail no matter what.

Once you see a sale you can then identify where it came from.  That is why tracking your links is so important.

Tracking will help you identify what is working and what isn’t.  It will also give you an idea of your conversion ratio.

Different sources of traffic will give you different conversion ratios.  You will never know this unless you track it.

Focus on Traffic First

While it is important to get your site and content up you have to know where to draw the line.  What is the use of spending countless hours toying with your site design if no one is visiting it?

Worry about building up your traffic first and then you can keep improving your process as you go along.  The higher the volume of traffic you have the more you can test different variables.

So instead of spending the next month writing and perfecting a 50 page report, use this time to start driving traffic first.  Once you start getting traffic then start working on the report.

Content = Traffic = Sales

The web is all about content.  The more content you can get out there the more of a chance you will have getting noticed.

You need to find out where your potential market will be and stand in front of it.  Do this by consistently creating content in the form of articles, videos, blog posts and optimizing your site for the search engines.

That will create a long term strategy that will help you build up your levels of traffic.  If you want to learn how to make passive income this is your best strategy.

You can focus on the long term strategies while you drive immediate traffic to your site in the form of paid advertising.  If you really know what you are doing and are persistent traffic might come quicker than you think.

The great thing about content based traffic is that it is free and is great if you are on a budget.  Yes, it might seem boring at times but it’s what you need to do in order to get the job done.

You kind of have to be robotic in a sense and realize that it is a means to an end.  Once you wake up and see that first sale, rushing to your keyboard and spitting out content will get a little easier.

Trust me

I remember a time back in high school when I liked two girls at the same time…  I know, I know.  But I liked one more than the other!

So my idea was to ask one out and if it didn’t work out I would ask out the other.  Plan A and plan B as I so brilliantly put it.

Well what I didn’t know is that one of the girls (plan B, who actually liked me) got wind of what was going on.  I was confronted about the issue and wound up with neither girl.

Sometimes online business is kind of like that.  If you start chasing too many opportunities you will end up with nothing to show for your efforts.

It is best to pick one thing and stick with it until you start profiting.  Just keep at it until you figure it out.

If you can get one business model or opportunity to work, chances are you will be successful with the next one too.  Staying focused will help you build momentum.

“Make $500 A Day In Your Underwear!”

I know it can be tempting to give in to hype because hype is everywhere.  It seems that claims need to be more and more outlandish in order to sell.

Just step back from that and focus on building a real, stable business that will last.  And be prepared to put in some work.

Start by doing the obvious.  Set up your own blog and start building your own list.  If you have been avoiding it, the best time to start is right now.

The timing will never be quite right, you just have to go ahead and do it.  The more you practice your skills the better you will become as an online marketer.

Branding Yourself is Key

People do business with those that they know, like and trust.  The more you put yourself out there the better people will know you.

Think of your blog as your personal business card.  It helps to build credibility and will allow you to pre-sell whatever it is your are marketing.

Once you start building up a following you will be able to market whatever you want.  Having your own list will give you flexibility in the event that what you are currently promoting doesn’t work out.

For example, what if the business opportunity you are promoting ceases to exist?  Having your own list will make this situation a lot less painful.

You will have much more control over your business and you will be able to earn multiple streams of income.  So stop chasing shiny nickels and start minding your own business!

Our Lot in the Philippines

I started reading a book recently called The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss.  Actually my wife bought it for me as a gift.

I have been hearing about it for awhile and I wanted to know what it was about.  I found the ideas contained inside not only practical but fascinating as well.

It talks about a concept known as the “New Rich” meaning that you do not need to be a millionaire in order to enjoy a millionaire lifestyle.  In fact, the process can be accomplished much faster than the old formula of work, save and retire.

This really resonated with me because it is similar to a plan I was already following that I found elsewhere.  There are many ways to accomplish this goal – no situation is exactly alike.

I would like to share my passive income formula with you and how I’m applying it to my own lifestyle.

1.  Determine Your Dream Lifestyle

Figure out exactly how you want to live and where.  From what type of residence you will dwell in right down to what you will need in order to live a fulfilling life.

Everything starts with an idea followed by a plan.  Proper money management that includes a sound budget will prepare you for the next steps.

2.  Figure the Cost of Your Dream Lifestyle

In the book, Tim Ferriss states that exotic, tropical living is much cheaper.  That is why my wife and I just bought a lot in the Philippines just minutes from the ocean in order to build a house.

One of Our Coconut Trees

We are choosing to pay cash for everything as debt elimination will reduce the costs involved in maintaining our dream lifestyle.  Honestly, once the house is built our monthly costs will be under $1000.

3.  Create a Source of Passive Income

Once you have your expenses figured out you will then know how much passive income you need to create on a monthly basis.  And if you manage your money well as mentioned in step 1, you will have enough set aside to build a business with.

In my opinion, the internet represents the best opportunity for the average person to create an ongoing monthly income.  The barrier to entry is extremely low when compared to a traditional brick and mortar business.

To accomplish my goal in step 3 I have chosen to work with Empower Network.  Not only do they offer huge monthly commissions, they also offer the training you need in order to get started the right way.

I am part of a great community and that is something that is really invaluable.  It is really great when you can get your questions answered by experienced marketers.

Well there you have it.  You might have different goals or a different path in life.  I just thought I would briefly share mine.

It sure gives your life purpose when you have a clear set of goals that will allow you to live life on your own terms.

I have finally decided that 2012 is going to be my year.  I have really given it some thought and started isolating what I need to do in order to make things happen.

Here is a list that I have come up with.  See if you can identify with any of them:

1.  Over Analyzing Obstacles

I selected the quote above because often it is easy to just sit there thinking and thinking.  Meanwhile it is 2 hours later and I could have accomplished something tangible.

It is easy to get caught in the trap of “what if” thinking.  I think that it is important to just start doing what you know and things will start falling into place.

2.  The Pareto Principle

The Pareto Principle is also known as the 80/20 rule meaning that 80% of my results will come from only 20% of the causes.  That really is amazing when you think about it.

I have narrowed it down to 2 things that well help me grow my business.  They are creating content and marketing.  Most other activities merely serve as distractions.

3.  The Ability to Remain Focused

I have noticed that one of the hardest things to do is remain focused.  It is so tempting to want to jump to another project if you don’t see a certain opportunity produce results right away.

It takes real discipline to create a plan and follow through without fail.  Yes, sometimes obstacles will get in the way but it is more important to get the big picture and just keep plugging away.

4.  Perfectionism

This is another huge problem for me.  Reading articles or emails over and over again, adjusting different variables on my web site or even delaying action because of it is just plain wrong.

I know I need to just let things go and realize that perfection is a process than can only be accomplished through action.  Actually I can’t take the credit for that one.  I learned that from David Wood and David Sharpe, founders of Empower Network.

5.  Letting the Past Go

No matter how well I did or did not do in the past it is what it is.  Sometimes I think back to the glory days of Google Adwords remembering how much money I made.

It is better not to dwell too much on the past and keep looking forward to the future.  This will then allow me to take the action I need in order to be successful.

I am sure you have your own unique goal for this year too.  Whether it is to make an extra $500 a month, $1000 a month or even fire your boss I believe it is possible.

Simply identify what it is you need to do and just start doing it.  Adjust things as you go along and you can look back on this past year with no regrets.

When I first started researching different ways to earn money on the internet I studied many different business models.  The ones that impressed me the most were the ones that offered a passive internet income.

Think about it.  You work one time and you keep reaping the rewards of that effort.  If I am going to work hard to get a sale I would rather get paid over and over again for that sale.

You can keep promoting residual products or opportunities until you are satisfied with the level of income that you desire.  It will then free you up to do the things that you want to do.

For myself it is not so much about the money than it is about freedom.  Being free to do what you want to do in life is an option that not many people have.

The internet now makes it possible for more and more people to turn their dreams into a reality.  There is a very low barrier to entry and if you are determined and consistent you can make it happen.

You only really need a few basic tools to get started.  First you will need web hosting for your own web site and second you will need a good autoresponder to build a list of targeted prospects.

Building a list will also help with the residual aspect of your business.  You will be able to market to your visitors over and over again.

List building is something that many newbies ignore but it is vital that you do so.  You are leaving a lot of money on the table if you don’t.  Hit and run marketing will require you to keep searching for new people to share your message with.

Your own list will allow you to market a variety of products and services while giving you total control over your list.  They trust you and they are not exposed to any other message before yours.

Your traffic can also have a residual aspect to it as well.  For example, you write an article and that article keeps bringing in traffic for you.  As long as the article keeps bringing in traffic it keeps working for you.

If what you are marketing is converting well you will keep getting paid.  That is the primary benefit of having your own web site or blog too.  Once you start getting free, organic traffic it is something that will keep delivering.

On the other hand if you place a solo ad in an ezine you are mostly getting a one time exposure.  Your money is spent and if you are lucky you made a few sales.  Then more than likely you are back to square one.

If you want to really start earning a passive internet income it is important to think about these long term strategies.

P.S.  For a great example of a simple 3-step system that pays instant, daily 100% commissions to your bank account each month click here.