We see and share a lot of Internet marketing success stories because we need to learn by example and motivate ourselves to move further.
However today’s list is not just another one of that kind. The people featured today have much in common:
- They are 100% self-made independent entrepreneurs who have built their businesses from the ground;
- They never received any funding from outside: all they have earned is 100% theirs;
- They have never been taken over by larger corporations and their projects haven’t been bought by third parties: they have chosen to be independent and continue building their businesses on their own;
- Lastly, they are very successful and provided the three points above, that’s truly inspiring!
So who are they?
1. Kyle James
Site: Rather-Be-Shopping.com, coupon codes aggregator
Making money: Through affiliate marketing
Kyle is an online entrepreneur working on his site since 2000. Kyle has managed to grow the resource into the huge business that generates over 6 million a year in sales for the stores listed on my site. Rather-Be-Shopping.com has been mentioned on MSNBC.com, The Detroit Free Press, Washington Post Holiday Shopping Guide (2001), Reader’s Digest, and L.A. Daily News to name a few publications.
Secret of success: Providing high-quality useful content (While most owners of coupon code directories use affiliate data feeds and little to no original content, Kyle focuses on hand-picked deals and coupons and writes unique descriptions for each retailer he features on the site)
Best articles:
Interview: 10 Questions with Kyle of Rather Be Shopping and Search Engine Journal Interview of Kyle James, Owner of Rather Be Shopping.
2. Aibek Esengulov
Site: MakeUseOf.com, the daily blog sharing cool websites, software and Internet tips
Making money: Through blog ads
Aibek Esengulov has started MakeUseOf back in 2006 and developed into the huge resource with hundreds of thousands of subscribers, 114, 000 Facebook fans and over 22, 000 Twitter followers. Without any funding from outside, MUO has grown into the huge competitor of powerful blogs like Life Hacker and TechCrunch. MakeUseOf has been recommended by several mainstream sites and mentioned in hugely popular publications such as Telegraph, Fast Company, the Washington Post, and PC Magazine, including their Top 100 Websites for three consecutive years.
Secret of success: Persistence:
As an entrepreneur, I think the single most important lesson or the quality I would suggest to someone is persistence. For the first two years, I would work every day on MakeUseOf without seeing anything back in return. It was really easy back then to give up and start something else. I think persistence helped me here. I had a goal to make a popular website and stayed on it.
Best articles:
3. Onibalusi Bamidele
Site: YoungPrePro.com, Internet Marketing Advice from a 17-year-old kid
Making money: Providing services
Onibalusi Bamidele did an astounding journey from a poor Nigerian kid to a successful Internet Marketer. He started learning Internet Marketing in 2009 and is now one of the most successful bloggers online.
Secret of success: Trust in his own powers:
Yes. I am special. Not everybody has all the above traits and all the other traits that helped me become a successful blogger
Best posts:
Interview: Interview: Onibalusi Bamidele
4. Jill Smokler
Site: ScaryMommy.com, An honest look at motherhood
Making money: Through writing gigs
ScaryMommy.com averages over 500,000 page views monthly. It has been recognized with numerous blogging awards, including lucky number 13 on Babble’s “Best Mom Blogger” list. Her Scary Mommy Society provides a forum for other “scary mommies,” blogging newcomers, and smart people with something important to say to share their stories in a community setting.
Secret of success: Unique style: ScaryMommy features a unique style combining humor with in-depth insight. Definitely, Jill’s successful due to her writing talent.
Best posts:
Interview: Interview with a not-so-scary Scary Mommy
Note: For more fearless blogging mompreneurs check out and possible take part in the X Factor Awards by Home Loan Finder
5. Gary Arndt
Site: Everything-Everywhere.com, Around the world travel blog
Making money: Through sponsorships
Gary is special: he is successful without actually sacrificing anything. He lives a dream life of a travel blogger and enjoys his time while still being a solo entrepreneur. Gary Arndt launched his blog soon after he began traveling in 2007. Today, Everything-everywhere.com reaches hundreds of thousands readers a month! It was featured in Time Magazine, CNN and many other highly authoritative online publications.
Secret of success: Authenticity: Gary writes about what he experiences: he travels and blogs about what he sees.
Best articles:
Interview: An Interview With World Traveler Gary Arndt
Note: When it comes to traveling, here’s the list of more travel start-ups and entrepreneurs to follow (via Sell My Timeshare blog)
Any other self-made people that deserve the honorable mention here? I am sure there are many people we can feature here: let’s discuss!
Ann Smarty is a newbie self-built entrepreneur behind MyBlogGuest, the large, still independent community of guest bloggers. She have had a lot of choices in her life but decided to stay independent and follow her dream. Join MyBlogGuest to find awesome guest contributors for your blog or start guest blogging on your own!
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I remember falling in love with MakeUseOf a few years back, so much so that I applied to write for them. I managed to write for them for a year or so and loved every minute of it. Aibek and the others running the site are true techies and are a great bunch of writers! Awesome community.
computer love would love you to read ..HP TouchPad
For entrepreneurs internet have a great advantage when it comes in promotion and advertising internet business and they can also use internet to start their own home business.
Orangesoda reviews would love you to read ..An iPhone App for Your Practice or the Masses? Which is Better?
Twitter: matthewacoleman
January 19, 2012 at 11:01 pm
I so admire these people..they inspire a lot of us to keep on going and never give up
Just what I needed to get me motivated for the rest of the week. If they can do it, so can I!!
Hiking Sticks would love you to read ..Chestnut Hiking Stave with Bark
As someone who has worked from home online since 2003, I find inspiration through posts like this one. Live the dream, work from home!
Tim Love would love you to read ..Wallace Wattles
This is an exciting group of people. I read a few chapters from “The Four Hour Workweek” and these guys would totally fit the list!
Mark would love you to read ..Assisted living and in home care in Utah and Idaho | Caring Hearts
Really very inspirational article you shared here. It is boon not only for me but also for others. The point here is to learn something from them. Thanks for sharing.
iPhone App Development would love you to read ..Overview of End To End Mobile Apps Development
Twitter: apsbusiness
October 15, 2011 at 11:16 pm
I am very much inspired by Onibalusi Bamidele because I exactly doing like him. Making money doing blogging.
Thanks for sharing this,
Abhijit…
Twitter: bkgroup
October 11, 2011 at 6:35 am
Nice sharing.
Articles like those are inspiring other junior bloggers to improve their self over web.
Thanks too for the information.
Mr.bhavesh would love you to read ..How to convert pdf to image file format
Great to hear about some less-than conventional online successes. When I read the headline of your post I figured I’d get hit with all the usual millionare-marketer figure-heads: Eben Pagan, Chris Farrell, Matt Ling, etc.
So nice to hear about people who make a success online doing things other than marketing their marketing skills, which seems to be the most widely-taught method of online success out there.
Chris would love you to read ..By: Maintaining Your LCD Screen
Thanks for posting these success stories. Sometimes you can get really down when all your hard work hasn’t proved itself yet. I really do respect those that have put in the time and dedication to make their dreams come true.
Another inspiring post!
I have a lot of respect for people like this.
It would probably look a bit narcissistic but don’t you fit perfectly on this list Gail?
Travelblogger that is probably one of the smartest things to do, if you like to travel and you can pull it off.
I hope I qualify for this list some day, hopefully sooner than later.
Danny would love you to read ..Remington RM1015P 10-Inch 8 Amp Electric Pole chain Saw
Thanks for the information…
Btw … can I take some part of this post as my blog reference and create a link to it?
Thanks
Twitter: GrowMap
September 2, 2011 at 1:43 pm
Hi Steven,
Yes, we encourage bloggers to spread our content using excerpts of our posts and always appreciate incoming links, especially when the blogger knows growmap would love you to read ..Social Media: Why You MUST Specialize
I haven’t heard of any of these people before today. I’ve read a lot of good information on the subject, but I’m really interested in reading some biographies of top online entrepreneurs so I can adapt their mindsets, learn the details that they may not even realize they do themselves, and to begin to understand the human element. There are only a handful of these running around though.
Twitter: http://www.accesstemplates.org/
August 11, 2011 at 2:33 am
I really like and appreciate your article and like to say thanks for sharing a inspiring post. Keep sharing such kind of post.
Twitter: mybusinesscash
August 10, 2011 at 3:14 pm
These bloggers are proof that as long as you keep your nose to the grindstone that you can achieve fantastic things. It is great to see people set goals stick to them and then achieve success, provides inspiration for people like me.
Kevin Royster would love you to read ..Front Page
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