You know in spite of the fact I have mainly ignored this blog for weeks or month on end in most of 2008, it still very handily ranks number one in a Google Search for “seniors and retirees making money online” (without the quotations). That’s not a huge feat of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) as there are on;y a bit over 2 million other pages on the web that mention that phrase.
But being ahead of 2,050,000 or so other competitors has to be good for something, and mainly Aaron Wall and his SEO Video Tutorials get the credit.
It gives me a warm fuzzy though, and makes me want to get busy and boost up the level of service around here. 2—8 has been an absolutely horrible year for some seniors and retirees and it doesn’t look like it will get a lot better any time soon.
The way this retiree looks at things, you can whine and moan, you can go down the Socialist road (AARP, anyone?) or you can just shake off the bad news and go out and do something to make life better.
Making my own money online is the way I’ve chosen and so far it’s been working just great. Overall I’m up about 500% this year, all things considered, and to paraphrase Curly from “City Slickers”, “Year ain’t over, yet.”
One way I have made a little money over the years and plan to make more is domaining. What the heck is domaining you might ask? Well the closest ‘off line’ example might be described the same as an investor buying up vacant lots and expecting to sell them later for Donald Trump to build a casino on, or at the very least for Apu Nahasapeemapetilon to open a Kwik-E-Store. (if you don’t know Apu, you aren’t watching enough TV 
).
Unlike real ‘dirt’ property, though, it costs very little to get started in domains and the carrying charges per year are also trivial to say the least.
Here’s a little virtual property I used to own … I sold it for a very nice profit and both the new owner and I are very happy with the deal.
Here’s another one I wasn’t nearly as astute on … could you imagine how many different ways you could turn a profit with this one when gas hits $4 a gallon again? Fuelfill.com. Not that the present owner isn’t making money as it is … notice all the ads? This domain is in a ‘parked’ status, the current owner didn’t have to build anything or do anything really with the domain … he ‘parks’ it and the parking company runs ads and shares the profits while the owner waits for his personal Donald Trump to come along. And while he waits, the present owner has something over 1,500,000 other domains in his portfolio to keep this one company.
I’m pretty bullish on domains as a way to make mainly long-term, incremental online money. Here’s just a few of the reasons I think they’re a good deal in 2009 or any other year:
1. Very low investment. You can buy domains for $6 USD or so, some even less.
2. 
Residual income. If you have domains in your portfolio that you haven’t built on but want to keep, you can let them pay their own way with paid parking. Unlike “real” jobs where one gets paid by the hour, domain work lasts longer. If you find a few domains that get type-in traffic you will reap the rewards for as long as it receives traffic. And there are cheaper than cheap ways to build that traffic as well.
3. You can work from anywhere. Want to travel and still have a business, no problem. All that is required is a computer and an internet connection.
4. Knowledge about domaining is everywhere, and mostly, for free
5. We’re open for business 24/7. Hate the alarm going of at 0-dark-thirty in order to get to some traditional retirement supplement job like being a greeter at Wal*Mart. No more. You domains and virtual real estate earn while you sleep, or play with your grandkids or golf. You are never tied down
There are many more reasons I think domaining can be an ideal way for seniors and retirees to make money online. But how about you? What do you think? Are you already a domainer and want to share your story? Had a bad experience and want to tell us why? Or do you have that burning question you just haven’t seen an answer to anywhere else.
Help is just as close as the comment box below this post. And while you’re at it, why not subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss any future articles and tips?
All the best for your success in 2009 from this senior who already makes money online.
