Disability… the Fall of an Income

Disability… the Fall of an Income and Why I became a LapTop Rebel

There are many reasons why I decided to become a LapTop Rebel. The first reason I started was to pursue and add on to my current Profession, and in that, a secondary income, as well as retirement from the physical aspects of Massage.

I had been searching the internet for about three years trying to find exactly how to do this and make a passive income. Let’s face it, after 25 plus years in massage therapy, my body is worn out. I still love it, however, some days my body does protest. I want to continue with Massage, just from a different perspective business wise.

The Unthinkable

Then the unthinkable happened, after battling rheumatoid arthritis for many years my spouse ended up on permanent disability. Thus, the fall of an income.

We consider ourselves lucky. My husband’s employer had a Premium Health Care Package. Without going into many of the ins and outs, I will tell you that we lost a full income. For the last 2 years, I have also had to take time off from my regular practice, and this made the losses even larger.

As fortunate as we have been, we still lost over $50,000.00 per year. While he receives 50% of his regular income, we have also had to increase our expenses as he no longer has employer benefits for prescriptions. Why are we lucky? He had Disability Insurance. If not for this, we would be totally hooped financially.

We did have disability insurance on our mortgage, unfortunately, this insurance, in most cases, is only accessible for 24 months, after that your mortgage payments start back up.

Disability Benefits Canada

Because we’re Canadian most of my research here is based on a Canadian perspective, however, I have also researched the USA.

So let’s have a laugh together. In Canada, one can claim EI disability benefits for up to 15 weeks with a maximum cap of $1800 per month. ( If you become unemployed due to layoff, you can collect for 12 months). I find this a bit insane. You’ve paid into EI for years, have never claimed, become disabled, and can only receive 15 weeks of benefits! (Sorry, I occasionally will have side rants)…

If you qualify for Canada Social Insurance disability benefits, the maximum per month is approximately $1,200.00! (Side Rant, yet again… you pay into something for years, and will never be able to access your full paid in amount! Unless you live to be 85+)!

Remember that the Premium Health Care Package I was talking about? It’s about 50% of his former income. If we were to claim his Social Insurance Disability as well, the disability insurance will deduct this from his disability payment.

Currently, I am unfamiliar with USA employer benefits packages and disability however I don’t think it’s much different from Canada. In my research as far as the Government Social Security Benefits go, it’s pretty much on par.

In the US, social security insurance benefits the Federal benefit rate is $771 for an individual and $1,157 for a couple. Not much different from Canada really.

That explains my title. The fall of an income. It can happen in a heartbeat, without warning. (Bleak of me, I know)…

Okay now that you’ve heard my sob story, this brings me to the point of disability and making money online.

Disability and Making Money Online

Yes, you can. You can make money online, even with a Disability! Finding the tools is the hardest part, and if they are FREE… even better!

Having an extra source of income can be a life saver in this case. The amount of income that is lost after becoming disabled, can be frightening! I will tell you that becoming a LapTop Rebel will give you an advantage to recovering some (if not all), of that income.

I’m going to give you a head start on this, and add to the list, as time goes by. These tools are the base that anyone with disabilities will need, and if you don’t have a disability, you may find them handy as well!

Free Tools

Right now, I am using voice text in Google Docs which is a free app. I will have to do some editing but it’s quite easy to use. Whether disabled or not, this app allows for easier writing. as with any voice to a text, there will be some editing needed, but it is the best free version available. (If you need a paid version, I recommend Dragon Naturally).

I am also using the free version of Grammarly… I will be upgrading this feature. The free version is fantastic but as I move forward I have decided to ramp it up! So why haven’t I upgraded yet you may ask? See my response below!

Hemingway editor. Currently, I am not using this one, but I do want to give it a try before I upgrade Grammarly. After hearing many great reviews about this application, I believe that I should give it a try before making my decision.

That’s 3 free apps, so far that can aid anyone, but specifically those with disabilities, in the LapTop Rebel life. Other free tools would, obviously include, the free training that I’ve mentioned in my You, Me, and Affilaite Marketing post.

Other essential free apps for everyone wanting a Laptop Rebel Life, include the following:

Google offers Google Webmaster and Google Analytics. These are essential tools for online presence. Free to use, these will give you Google rank, Insight performance insights. Helping with keywords, website position, and potential improvements to increase your traffic.

Along with Google, we can’t forget about Bing. Bing Webmaster Tools will give your site more coverage thus increasing traffic. As with Google you can rank keywords, traffic and see where improvements are needed.

Working Hard

You’ve worked hard before, you can do it again! A LapTop Rebel is hard work, but it can be easier than you think!

Check it Out!

Have an AWESOME DAY!

Shaunna

Online Rebel Resources Affiliate Programs

What is an Affiliate Program? What is Affiliate Marketing?

First, let me tell you what an Affiliate Program is:

  • A company pays you a commission when you sell a product through your website by a ‘link’. Most links should be relevant to the topic, at hand, or the website.

That’s the simplest explanation.

Why Affiliate Programs and Marketing?

Shopping Online is increasing EXPONENTIALLY every year. The causes behind this are somewhat mysterious, however, I have, in my own personal life, come up with a few reasons as to why.

1. Location and convenience. Not all products are available in Canada, for example, but you can order from the US. Or, living in ‘remote’ areas, where driving to your nearest City is time-consuming.

2. Price Comparisons. Price shopping, online, is so much easier than driving around all day, to get the biggest ‘BANG’ for your buck. Once you find a product, at the best price, you order it, shopping is now done, and you can continue on with your day.

3. Where do you find Affiliate Programs? Here are a few of the most popular:

  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • ShareASale
  • Clickbank
  • Commission Junction

JUST RELEASED!!!

As of today (May 17, 2019), Wealthy Affiliate has just released a NEW Affiliate Search Tool!!! After 2 years in the making, this was launched with great applause from all of us at WA.

This is IMPRESSIVE stuff! Not only can you look up Niche ideas, but now you can find Affiliate Programs! LINKS and ALL!!

Talk about Bells & Whistles!!

(Gads, I sound like a bad sales commercial)!! I’m just REALLY excited about this! You can search Niches, Niches ideas within a Niche, Affiliate Programs, where to apply, pay scale, Countries available, and acceptance process…(side note… some companies have an automatic acceptance, others you apply to. They check out your Website, and see you if ‘fit in’ with their program).

This Program is available, IN FULL, to Starter and Premium members… for now. In time, that MAY change, or certain features of it may be limited in access, but, as of today, though, EVERYONE can use and benefit from this tool!

Affiliate Commissions

So how much can you make on an Affiliate Sale? I’m so glad you asked that question and opened up a can of worms!!

I have seen Commissions as low as 1%, and others as high as 70% (or higher). Some Companies do offer a ‘flat fee’ of $X per sale, or $X per month, depending on the product, or subscription.

Getting Rich Online (My Personal Soapbox)

I will be harping on this often.

Very few people, in life, get rich overnight. You have to work towards success… period. The same applies to the Online Business Structure.

There are too many scenarios to predict just how long it will take to make an income online, but it can be done!

In deciding on this Laptop Life, I have given myself a non-defined period of time.

Why?

In my ‘Brick and Mortar’ Business of Massage Therapy, I had to:

  • go to College for 3 years
  • then I worked for another Clinic for 2 years
  • went on my own for 4 years, renting a room
  • opened a Spa
  • closed the Spa after 7 years
  • Back to renting a room for the last 13 or 14 years.

The first 5 years were all about Education, and building a Business.

Will it take you 3 years to make money? Probably not, but again the key to making it is commitment.

Okay… I got sidetracked!

Back to Affiliate Marketing… check out the NEW and Improved Affiliate Serch Tool Here!!

Have an AWESOME day!!

See You on the Inside!!

Shaunna

Niches within a Niche

Niches within a Niche

When first starting off with affiliate marketing or online blogging, one gets caught up in Niche. Remember my post Niche, Keywords and Jaaxy? I described a niche as relating to products, services, or interests that appeal to a small, specialized section of the population.

How do you Choose a Niche?

A niche is something that you are an expert on or something you are passionate about learning. Choosing a niche is probably the hardest part of becoming a Laptop Rebel. You either have to know your topic and be willing to research it further and come up with how to market it, and blog about it, and find affiliate programs that are consistent within your content.

You can also pick a niche topic that you were unfamiliar with but would like to learn more about. If you are unfamiliar with your topic, as you are ‘talking’ to your audience, you are teaching them as you learn. Through your research and discoveries, not only are you learning but you were teaching others to learn with you.

You can also have niches within a niche. Let’s take my Massage Therapy site. With this site I have the following niches:

  • Products
  • Tables
  • Education
  • Business

And so on. These niches can be broken down, yet again, should I choose to do so. For example, Tables. Massage Tables can be portable or hydraulic. Add certain features, or bells and whistles if you will, and you can have a ‘Price Range Niche’ for both.

Once you find your niche market, you can easily break it down into separate niches. Take your top 12, supposed hot niche markets from (insert link here).

I have chosen 5 of the Hot Niche Markets, to show you how you can ‘Niche within a Niche:

Jewelry:

  • Rings. This can be broken down yet again, to:
  • Engagement
  • Wedding
  • Anniversary
  • Mother’s Day
  • Family
  • and even Symbolic meaning.
  • Bracelet’s, Necklaces, Watches… this list never ends!! Then you can break each of these done as I did with Rings… can you see the power of this technique?

Clothing

Another hot one!

  • Women’s, kids, men’s, teen
  • Shirts & t-shirts
  • Dress wear
  • Formal wear
  • Shoes
  • Accessories
  • Lingerie…

The niches are unlimited!

Tech and Tech Gear:

As I already have niches, I do not have Tech niche, but I read about it. If I find something tech-related, for example, a massage billing program, I would promote it. However, promoting Tech as a separate niche is not my forte.

I like Tech stuff… Tech Gear is not my ‘thing’. I just don’t understand it. This is a huge, huge market, for many people. For me, to breakdown, the categories will make many people laugh too hard, so for those of you who do understand Tech, let me know in the comments section how this can be broken down! (PLEASE).

Alternative Medicine

  • Everything from yoga to Medicinal products is in here. From CBD to massage around to vitamins and supplements.

Fitness and Health

  • Can be along the same lines as alternative Medical, as many of the products do overlap.

Both of these topics have a wide ranges of Niches:

  • Supplements
  • Vitamins
  • Eating Habits / Diet
  • Energy Healing Work
  • Cooking
  • Exercise Programs

Oh my! And yet again, the ‘breakaways’ are endless!

This is just an example of how to niche a niche. A niche is never too large or too small. A niche can grow, and it can be broken down into segments.

I can hear the wheels turning!! But Shaunna… how do I find a Niche within a Niche? Oh, my dear, there is a simple answer!

Finding Niches within a Niche

Brainstorm your Niche. Where do you want to go with it? What is your purpose? What do you want people to know?

Break your Niche down as I did with jewelry and clothing. (I will admit, I took these topics as ‘an easy way out’, because they’re simple to breakdown into ‘sub-categories’, and everyone is familiar with these two topics).

See, being a Laptop Rebel can be easy!

Give your Niche a hug today!!

Have an Awesome Day,

Shaunna!