To begin making money online, you need to create a small investment portfolio with the understanding that you will not make a profit straight away. It is advisable to begin with just $5,000 to $10,000 to avoid any risk of bankruptcy. Once you have established yourself as a profitable trader you may then consider investing larger sums of cash.
Profiting in the financial markets is a demanding task. You will need to study the markets closely and be aware of the latest financial news and tips in order to succeed. Keep in mind that there are many different ways to make money online, so you need to find the one that works best for you.
Which Online Business Should You Start?
You must first decide whether you want to enter the world of commodities or stocks. The primary differences between the two are as follows:
- With commodities, there is no need to study the markets closely because prices are mostly determined by the forces of supply and demand. However, when studying commodities, you will need to become familiar with the terminology associated with the industry. For example, the commodities market is often referred to as the “physical” commodity market because so much of the trading is done in the physical realm (i.e., metals, energy, agricultural goods, etc.).
- With stocks, the prices are mostly determined by the supply and demand of the market. However, there are other factors that impact the price of a stock such as the quarterly results of the company, the state of the economy, and so much more. It is therefore recommended to study the news and reports surrounding a company before deciding to invest in its stock.
When Do You Expect to Profit?
Once you have decided which route you want to take, you need to determine when you expect to begin making a profit. The simple answer is that it takes time to become profitable. In most cases, it takes months, if not years, of consistent effort to start generating earnings.
It is not advisable to expect to make a quick profit. Just because you have taken the time to build a website and learn the ropes of trading does not mean that you should expect to make big bucks right away. Most likely, you will need to put in the time to learn the ropes of being a profitable trader first before you can begin attracting any serious investment. If you want to get started making money online now, then you should definitely consider focusing on commodities trading until you develop some experience. Once you do start generating a small profit, you can then move on to the more complex world of stocks trading.
How Many Days/Hours Are You Allowed to Lose (Take a Loss)?
The final important question to ask is how many days or hours you are allowed to lose (i.e., how much “leverage” you are allowed to use) before you need to take a loss. This is particularly important if you are using a margin account where your money is deposited. In most cases, you are not allowed to “rollover” a margin account because of the high risk of losing all of your investment if the market moves against you. This generally means that you are required to take a loss whenever the market moves against you. However, there are some exceptions to this rule such as when the security or commodity you are trading is in “decline” mode.
When using a margin account, it is extremely important to only use a portion of the funds deposited. For example, if you have a $10,000 margin account and you want to place a $20,000 order, then you should only provide your account with $10,000 because any further investment will be at your own risk. This way, you do not put yourself in financial jeopardy. Once you have established yourself as a profitable commodities trader, you may then move on to more complex stock trading where you can use as much leverage as you like without risking your investment.
The Art of Making Money Online
In order to make money online, you need to learn the “art” of becoming a successful trader. To that end, here are some important tips:
- Study the markets closely. Learn the direction of the prices and how the market moves. Keep in mind that in most cases, prices will rise and fall in line with the basic economic laws of supply and demand. Still, there are many different factors that can cause prices to rise or fall including the direction of the U.S. dollar, interest rates, and much more. You need to be aware of all of these elements.
- The best way to learn how to trade is from experienced traders. There are many different platforms where you can find experienced traders willing to share their knowledge and advice with you for free. Through proper guidance and education, you can become a successful trader and begin making money online.
- Managing risk is one of the most important skills you need to master as a trader. The most experienced and successful traders in the world manage their risk and leverage wisely. Regardless of whether you are using a long or short-term strategy, you need to do the same. Learn to manage your risk and maximize your potential returns. Still, this comes with experience so you must be patient.
- In order to be successful, you must follow the “golden path”. This path begins with proper education and then leads to responsible speculation which is subsequently followed by careful and frugal investment. Study the markets, learn to analyze them, and then apply this knowledge to your own investments. This is the surest way to ensure that you will achieve financial security in the long-term.
Additional Reading
For those interested, here are a few additional readings that can assist you in becoming a successful commodities and stock trader: