According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau, U.S. online ad spending grew about 25 percent through the first three quarters of last year, compared with the same period in 2006. Growth is steady in terms of dollars, though the growth rate is slowing as the size of the pie gets larger.

And there’s room for a lot more growth, analysts say, considering that by most accounts, the Internet accounts for less than 10 percent of all U.S. ad spending but more than 20 percent of the time Americans spend consuming media.

What does this growth mean to you?

It means online marketing has a huge potential for making money. More demand and less supply mean more opportunities. Your previous job occupation or experience does not matter. The job opportunities are in, helping local companies bring their products to the online world. The more experienced you are with online marketing, the sooner you can get a piece of this growth.

The best thing about online marketing is the fact that you can do this at the comfort of your own home. This saves on transportation costs and a car maintenance. However, there will be travel because you have to find your local business contacts. The more businesses you contact, the more your list of clients will grow.

I don’t need experience for this job?

You don’t need any experience because everything is very basic to start. All the information is freely distributed online. Well, you might be thinking, “if this is so easy why isn’t everyone doing it?” That’s because not everyone is committed to doing it. Most start for a day or maybe a week and then give up. If you started a business for one week and didn’t see any customers, would you give up? The key is dedication and constant marketing.

Is this better than starting a store business?

Absolutely! There should be no discussion about this because it’s so simple. You don’t need to rent any office space, which means, no pricey overhead fees. Another thing to consider is targeted marketing. The internet allows for a larger market and more precise marketing. With a store, you need to send out flyers, advertise in newspapers or take out a radio or TV advertisement. And you still don’t know who will see or hear it. This means more money out of your pocket.

By the way, that article was dated February 2008 and lots of others have gotten started. When a field is in huge demand and has lots of growth, you have to get in before it’s saturated. Why do you think Google is so rich? It’s because of online marketing.

How far should you follow your passion?

In a bad economy, savvy entrepreneurs can capitalize on low overhead costs, cheaper commercial leases and advertising

More people are unemployed. There are more spaces for rent. Advertising is cheap. This is a perfect time to start your own business. To put it in a different way, a bad economy is the perfect time to fail a business. You don’t have to invest so much money. There will be more qualified and unemployed people for you to choose from. And you get to do what you love.

A failure could be a great learning experience that will bring you closer to your dream. Yes, even failures can help people realize their dreams. Not everyone knows if their passions are their true calling or just an idea that someone embedded in their minds. A failure can open your eyes. Consider this option if you are unmotivated.

Networking is the most effective way in obtaining a job or career regardless of your expertise or field. Much like a resume, if you are unable to get your name out there, you will have to work that much harder.

A network can be teachers, friends, families, or a friend of a friend. It can even be a repeat customer who you talk to daily. Caution: This might not be the best thing to do if your current boss is around. The important thing here is to get someone to speak for you or keep on the lookout for job opportunities. The more eyes and ears you have working for you, the better your job search success.

Remember in High School, when you were labelled as a particular person depending on who you hung out with? The Jocks hung out with the Cheerleaders and the Geeks hung out with the other Geeks. If you were able to get into a particular group, you would

increase your chances of gaining the benefits of being in that group. This doesn’t change in the “real” world either. If you surround yourself with successful people, you increase your chances of being successful. This not to say that you have to become one of the group members in order to gain their benefits. You just have to speak their common language.

Stable Career Networking Tips

So how will you move forward to your goal of a stable career? Get out there and socialize! But wait, you are an introvert and you get anxious or uncomfortable around large crowds. You find it hard to simply socialize and make career networks with strangers or you don’t like talking about yourself.

I hate small talk because I find them to be time wasters. It is like digging a hole in order to get to the hidden treasure chest with no guarantee of gold. Lots of hard work and you might end up with a dud.

Most introverts will open themselves up in situations where they are very knowledged or comfortable with the discussion. Find other introverts interested in the subjects where you shine.

Go with a friend who will not leave your side during discussions. This way you have someone to reduce the social load and be there in case of awkward pauses. Eventually, you must set a goal to do it on your own. Skipping a networking event because your friend is not going cannot be an excuse.

Set up an environment where everyone gets their turn to speak. Gather professionals, who all have a common passion and desire, together in a useful setting.

Career Networking Tips