Do I need to become the next internet guru in order to make money onlline?

In order to make money online do I need to become the next internet guru?

Absolutely not!  You can make money by being exactly who you are.  In fact, it's not only possible, it's recommended.  People who have been writing content for websites, ads and blogs over the years are coming to one conclusion - authenticity is the key.

If you are an artist, writer, inventor, teacher, actor, programmer, scientist, craftsperson, philosopher, musician, traveller, critic,mechanic, activist, cook, farmer, sports fan, whatever category you fall into, your authentic voice is your ultimate tool. Nobody knows exactly what you do.  Nobody can express themselves exactly like you do.  Nobody has the passion for your particular interests that you do.  You need to let that personal energy come through in what you write and how your website looks and feels.

You need to make another commitment from a technical standpoint.  I don't care what marketing companies and hosting companies promise you; there is no such thing as a "turnkey" operation on the internet.  If you pay your money you might be able to log into your account and perhaps publish your
cookie cutter website, but the magic stops there. 

As a business person who aspires to make money online, it is a reasonable expectation that you would make a commitment to learn more than the just the basics of the internet.  If you expect to supplement your income or make your entire living by selling any kind of service, product or information online, then you should know more about the internet than the average person.  Your 14 year old nephew might know more about playing online games but he shouldn't know more than you about website construction or marketing analysis. Whether you are going to have a part-time or full-time online business, you must take yourself seriously as a professional.  If you don't, you can't reasonably expect any kind of financial results.

Makes sense, doesn't it?

If you purchased a product or service, you would expect the person performing the service, making or selling you the product to know more than the basics, wouldn't you?  If you met someone at a party, or in your neighborhood who claimed to be a professional but didn't seem to know more than the next guy about their so-called "speciality", would you take them seriously?  Would you want to do business with them and give them your money?  Further, would you recommend them to one of your friends, associates or a member of your family?  Probably not.  So, don't fall into the same trap.

I've met plenty of people who don't seem to know even the basics of search engines, yet they claim to be web designers.  Perhaps they know how to construct some pretty pictures. But if they don't have a concept of what the web sites they're designing are supposed to accomplish, which is reach
people and generate sales or reaction, then they aren't very professional.

I have several small online businesses.  I fought for every sale.  I went through years of analyzing data.  I read voraciously.  I comb through articles in business magazines, IT magazines, forums, websites, blogs and have a personal relationship with my local librarians.  I'm at the library so often, they grab my books for me when I walk in the door. 

You don't need to be an internet guru but you have to take yourself seriously.  You have to take your business education seriously.  Your education is a continuous process.  It's not over and done with just because you're read a few books on Twitter or an SEO for idiots book.  Underneath every great business, with great results, is a committed business person who is willing to make the sacrifices and do the work.  Commit to your business, commit to results, commit to yourself and your dream of prosperity will no longer be a dream, it will be a reality.