Maybe solution is to do EVERYTHING part-time.

Let's say you work full-time in paid employment and you run an online business in your spare (part-)time. Let's also say that your salary is low enough that, if you just had enough time to devote to it, you're pretty sure you could ramp up your online business to point that you were generating more profit from every hour you devote to it than if you spent that same time working in your paid job.

Now, some would decide that at that point they'd quit their day job and just work on their business full-time. That may be a good option. IF you can be sure that your business is going to succeed over longer term. But it ignores fact that you don't really know what's around corner and by giving up your day job you've also just given up your financial cushion (your "insurance" if you will).

And if you decide to do away with your business because you figure if you devote your time and energy into working even harder and longer hours for your employer you'll get a promotion and more money, if you lose your job you're screwed because you don't have financial cushion of your business as insurance.

THE "ONE PART-TIME PLUS ONE PART-TIME EQUALS ONE FULL-TIME" SOLUTION

So what's answer? Work both your job and your business part-time so that, together, they add up to full-time. If (and this is an important "if" if cash flow is tight) extra time you have to devote to your business will result in a commensurately greater financial return than would working same hours in your job (make sure you run numbers to be sure this is case - if not, start a more profitable business!) this can be a viable option. Even if it yields same return (or maybe even a little less) it may still be worth considering as sort of an insurance policy against being laid off.

Likewise, an employer that's struggling in a soft economy and facing having to lay off staff may well welcome option of converting you to a part-timer with resultant reduction in payroll and overheads.

Such a situation can be a win-win for all concerned. (And if you're a parent of young children, I hardly need to point out lifestyle advantages and reduction in child care costs.)

THINK PLURAL

So, if you're still looking for The Answer, your Big Break, The One, STOP. Stop thinking in terms of "ones" and start thinking in terms of multiples. Multiple part-time ventures (and don't limit yourself to just one part-time job and one part-time business, best combination for you may be two part-time jobs and one part-time business - whatever works) which, when added together, bring in just as much or more income than your J.O.B. (Just Over Broke) and minimize your risk from vagaries of forces and events over which you have no control.

Just as investment advisers warn investors not to place all their eggs in one basket, so too you should avoid relying on just one golden goose. Get a flock of 'em!

Also, automate process of publicizing your ezine and submitting your articles as much as possible. One excellent software program that will do this for you (in fact only one I know of) is Ezine Announcer. Check it out here: http://www.ahbbo.com/ezineannouncer.html .

4. Negotiate Reciprocal links

Find websites that target same demographic as your site and contact webmasters of those sites for a reciprocal link. (This just means that each of you links to other's site from your links page or elsewhere else on your site.)

5. Submit to FFA Pages

Opinion is divided on effectiveness of FFA pages. Personally, I think they're a waste of time. Others maintain that although they're pretty useless in terms of people actually reading your listing, they can be helpful with search engines that rank your site according to popularity (i.e., by how many other sites out there link to your site).

If you do decide to go FFA route, make sure you use a free email account rather than your main email account. You will get a LOT of rubbish mail in response. You want to be able to delete it in one fell swoop without having to sort through legitimate mail first.

6. Identify Commonly Searched for Keywords and Create

Doorway Pages to Submit to Search Engines

What's a doorway page? Just a simple page targeting a particular keyword tailored specifically for search engine you're submitting to. How to create and submit a doorway page? You can do it manually if time is not an issue or you can use search submission software like Webposition Gold mentioned above (http://www.ahbbo.com/webpositiongold.html). Webposition Gold also gives you all information you need about what particular search engines look for in order to rank pages well.

How to find commonly searched for keywords? Use Word Tracker service. Dirt cheap but turns up excellent keywords. Click here for info: http://www.ahbbo.com/wordtracker.html .

7. Write Articles and Submit Them

Submit them where? Directly to ezine publishers looking for quality content for their publications, to article submission lists, to article databases that exist for express purpose of providing other people content for their sites and ezines.

The ezine submitter software I mentioned above can automate this process for you and save you literally HOURS of time each week. (http://www.ahbbo.com/ezineannouncer.html)

8. Remind Visitors to Recommend You

Include a short note in every issue of your ezine asking your readers to forward your ezine to their friends and family, sign up for Recommend-It service at http://www.recommendit.com and put button on your site and link in your ezine. You get idea. Word of mouth sells!

9. Monitor Your Search Engine Rankings But Don't

Obsess Over Them

Again, use software to take care of grunt work. Webposition Gold includes this function. And when I say don't obsess, realize that search engines are only one source of traffic. You will find that a LOT of traffic comes from sources other than search engines. Do things recommended here and you'll soon see that for yourself.

10. Negotiate Joint Ventures and Co-Ops

Find people to joint venture with - whether it be for ezine subscribers (you each recommend other's ezine on your "thank you for subscribing" page) or bundle your products together and each sell bundled package. There is no limit on types of joint ventures and co-operatives you can negotiate. Be creative and flexible.

11. Join Web Rings

12. Offline Promotion

Don't forget to promote your online business offline. For more on this, read "Offline Promotion Matters Too" at http://www.ahbbo.com/offline.html .

13. Host a Forum

Host a forum at your site and contribute to forum discussions. A lively forum (or bulletin board) will keep visitors coming back for more.

14. Contribute to Other Forums

Contribute to forum and newsgroup discussions run by others to establish yourself as an expert in your field. Remember, these are not platforms for blatant advertising. The most you can get away with is a short signature file.

15. Create Your Own E-book

Create your own e-book with links to your products and services or your affiliate programs and distribute it freely and encourage others to do so too. This is what's known as "viral" marketing - it spreads like wildfire.

The above activities represent a lot of work and a serious investment of time on your part. By no means are you expected to do each and every one of these things from get-go. Once you have an established online presence, though, they do represent a good range of activities that, pursued regularly, diligently and consistently, with discipline and patience, will truly grow your online business exponentially ... and your profits right along with it.