Here is something....

Hi MaaMaw,

> I want to hear about people who are JUST selling their product or service
> and making a living.

Kelly Lowe, from www.allbusinesspublishing.com works online full-time creating content for newsletters, blogs, ebooks, articles etc....

She isn't doing anything that you couldn't do.

Jeremy Wright (of eBay fame) started a new service at www.insideblogging.com where he blogs for businesses and is hiring other writers to work for him.

My take on this (if I were in your shoes) is that since you have an eBook about this behind your belt, I would hit up some of the bigger weight-loss product companies and promote your self as an expert who will do their corporate blogging for them. Use trackbacks and comments on other blogs to drive traffic to their website. The big thing for 2005 will be building websites that are less brochure like and actually engage the reader.

As far as transcribing goes... I also know a lady who does this full-time from her home. It is a full-time job for her. But she just doesn't transcribe. She looks after and manages her clients websites by making sure the content goes on their websites, and works as a buffer between the website owners and other suppliers; managing not only static content but audio and video as well. She has been doing this for quite awhile. She doesn't have, nor has she ever had a website of her own.

Did you read that free eBook offered by Jim Straw a few weeks ago? If not you can read my blog post about it titled Organizing your Mastermind Group and download it there and see my suggestions for software to organize your data. This free eBook is probably better then any eBook you'll buy in the next 5 years.

And you need to apply the principles. For example... the lady I spoke of, Kelly Lowe, was looking for a little more work, and I told a few people about her. See her post on my message forum. This is a result of Jim's book. I saw somebody looking to hire a content creator, and I sent them an email and said, "I don't do it, but I know somebody who does..."

So then... you have created your Mastermind Group. These are people who have proven over the years that they don't mind sharing information and resources with you. You know these people are not going to delete your email, and will respond with whatever resources they can offer. You email them, "Hey! I need some work! Do you know somebody...?"

Jim's ideas really expand upon what I've done over the years. When I need more work, I email some of my favorite clients and say "I'm starving over here! Can you send me some referrals?" And do you know what? No one has ever objected to me doing this, and whoever I email will send me some referrals.

Funny... you know... about the popularity of blogs taking off this year. The true benefit of the Internet is not the ability to put up sales pages... it's real usefulness lies in how we can use it as a communications tool... to reach people we would never have known otherwise, and to be able to share information and resources with like-minded individuals.

So... take heart. It isn't about putting up a new eBook or website and hoping someone sees it. It's about communications. Contact everyone you include in your Mastermind group and see if they can help. You just might find they will say "Sure contact so and so... hey by the way do you know somebody who does this?" ... and the next thing you know... everybody in your group is benefitting from your query... and the fact you stopped and took the time to create your group.

When you email these people... tell them what you already do and what you want to do for work. Make a list. You might find you will get more work than you can handle. You've spent years building a solid reputation on the Internet and a lot of people have a great deal of respect for you AND what you're trying to accomplish and build for yourself and family. Use this.