Other ways of bringing in ££

[DimPrawn]

Nothing here.

Everytime I think of an idea, I scour the net and see that someone else already does the same thing. With no start-up capital and no killer idea, it's back to the grindstone.

Some advice. You don't need to have a killer idea.

You just need to make your online business more attractive to customers than the competition and take a slice of the competitors pie.

If you are waiting for the "no one ever dreamed of this before" business, you'll never get anywhere.

[Shimano105]

I see so if I were to develop, say, a search engine I could meet Google head on? What a majestic idea!

[DimPrawn]

I see so if I were to develop, say, a search engine I could meet Google head on? What a majestic idea!

[VectraMan]

I know how you can make extra money working at home. Just send a cheque for £25 to Department Z....

Third week on the bench and I haven't stopped working on the Plan B. The problem is it's all long term (i.e. develop something that hopefully will make money down the line). It'd be all too easy to wimp out and go for short term income, which I guess is what we all do as contractors. But the nice thing about there being no work around is that you don't have to worry about whether you're doing the right thing or not. You may as well give it a go, because it beats watching Trisha.

[thunderlizard]

I see so if I were to develop, say, a search engine I could meet Google head on? What a majestic idea!

That's what Google did to Altavista in the first place.

[MPwannadecentincome]

Nothing here.

Everytime I think of an idea, I scour the net and see that someone else already does the same thing. With no start-up capital and no killer idea, it's back to the grindstone.

Just because someone else already does the same thing does not mean they are doing it well or successfully or even have the means to capture the full market.

That is how the japanese got good at TVs, electronics, cars etc - they copied the Europeans and Americans then got better at designing their own stuff!

Some people get big on ebay doing this, they see what sells well and elbow their way in.

In fact if its a small company doing whatever you want to do if it is successful in their market just copy the same thing in your market - unless they have patents or intellectual property protection they cannot stop you.

[MPwannadecentincome]

I see so if I were to develop, say, a search engine I could meet Google head on? What a majestic idea!

Tongue in cheek maybe, but before it was yahoo and altavista. If Google do not continue to innovate someone else will!

[Troll]

I'm retired but make a bit of extra money from educational software. http://www.gatekeeperel.co.uk

Seriously considering doing an Ipod version, seems to be the in thing at the mo.

At what age did you retire ...if you don't mind me asking

[Menelaus]

Just because someone else already does the same thing does not mean they are doing it well or successfully or even have the means to capture the full market.

That is how the japanese got good at TVs, electronics, cars etc - they copied the Europeans and Americans then got better at designing their own stuff!

Some people get big on ebay doing this, they see what sells well and elbow their way in.

In fact if its a small company doing whatever you want to do if it is successful in their market just copy the same thing in your market - unless they have patents or intellectual property protection they cannot stop you.

I have IP protection on a couple of my inventions and both have been copied. Catching up with the fothermuckers who instigated the copying has been a long, tortuous and ultimately unsuccessful process.

[poser]

I have IP protection on a couple of my inventions and both have been copied. Catching up with the fothermuckers who instigated the copying has been a long, tortuous and ultimately unsuccessful process.

If I remember correctly the British Library have a business and IP centre that may be able to help you with this, they do one on ones, advice, courses etc.

Ive used it a few times, quite handy and free.