Content marketing is huge right now, but does it work for you?
Just writing and writing and writing can work, eventually. However, it’s much better to apply tested and proven methods to your writing.
In other words don’t just write instead write copy!
I was at a conference recently and I attended a talk by Joost de Valk of Yoast SEO fame.
His talk was all about tuning your content with some very easy tips, to make the writing stand out.
Of course, his aim was to make you use his Yoast SEO plugin which now offers a feature that point out your errors.
I want to teach you these ideas today, with little bit more of an in depth explanation to each, as well as some extra tips for taking your writing to the next level.
The basics of copywriting
What Joost was proposing isn’t rocket science, neither is it anything new. That being said, they are easy to implement and will improve your writing.
Have a structure
The absolute first thing you need to do is have a structure in place. Having a basic outline, just a list of subheadings for example can help you focus your article.
You could also use a list of ideas or topics you want to talk about, so you can see how they flow together.
Use clear paragraphs
Paragraphs should be short, 2 or 3 sentences is a great paragraph length. Any longer and they become a wall of text.
As well, each paragraph should start with an idea. The following sentences should expand upon that idea.
Have clear headings
As an internet marketer you should know that clear headings are important. When done correctly just reading the clear headings can tell some the story, if in brief.
Examine your sentence structure
Wordy sentences that go on and on, without really coming to an end that just keep going and don’t really get to the point, all the while going from idea to idea and maybe even changing topic to dogs and how cool they are becomes really annoying to any reader.
See what I did there?
Keep your sentences short and to the point. If you don’t your readers will quickly become tired of your writing and redo their Google search. Ideally sentences should be 20 words or less.
Use simple words
I am terrible at this as I love using a wide vocabulary.
If you’re writing prose, using interesting and underused words is great. Using those sort of words for copywriting is a bad idea.
Keep your words simple, and ideally with a short syllable count: 3-4 max.
I’m not saying you should dumb down content, that’s possible the worst thing you can do. Instead just use words that convey the point clearly and simply.
Remove fluffy and filler content and words. Examine the sentence and think, do I really need this word? Can the sentence work without it?
The Passive Voice is terrible
This is the hardest thing to remove from your writing, as not everyone even understands what it is.
The passive voice is a grammatical construction (specifically, a “voice”). The noun or noun phrase that would be the object of an active sentence (such as Our troops defeated the enemy) appears as the subject of a sentence with passive voice (e.g. The enemy was defeated by our troops).
Still confused? Yes, me too. It’s difficult to understand let alone realize you are writing in that “voice”.
The best way to understand it is if there is an action then the person (organization, etc.) must do the action.
Passive: the website was created by the web developer
Active: the web developer created the website.
While Joost’s plugin can identify the passive voice, it can’t fix it for you, so you need to have a good understanding of it and that will take a little time to learn.
More than the basics
Joost’s talk was really just an advertisement for the new feature with some basic advice to help provide value.
That basic advice however is important and a great stepping stone to improving your writing.
There are some more tips you can use to create writing that is effective copywriting.
#1 Write to the reader, not the audience
Forget that thousands of people can be reading your content. Instead remember that people read your content one at a time. Don’t talk to the audience, talk to that person.
This comes across as much more intimate and personal.
#2 Write a story
I started this article with a story about visiting a conference and seeing a talk by Joost. Perhaps it’s not a great story, but it’s still better than nothing.
Humanity has used story telling since we could string words together, and it is integral in our psyche.
Using a story to get a point across helps to tap into this and makes your content more memorable, because when a story is remembered, so is the moral or point of the story.
#3 Don’t use Weasel words
A weasel word is basically a vague word or turn of phrase. Avoiding Weasel words is essential for sales copy, though in content marketing it can be more of a relaxed.
Here’re some examples, clearly stolen from WikiPedia:
“A growing body of evidence…” (Where is the raw data for your review?)
“People say…” (Which people? How do they know?)
“It has been claimed that…” (By whom, where, when?)
“Critics claim…” (Which critics?)
“Clearly…” (As if the premise is undeniably true)
“It stands to reason that…” (Again, as if the premise is undeniably true—see “Clearly” above)
“Questions have been raised…” (Implies a fatal flaw has been discovered)
How well did I score?
You might be wondering how well I’ve done with this article. The answer, not too bad:
This is before editing, and as you can see, my Passive Voice score is a bit high (it’s a curse!) but everything else seems good.
Remember that the scores are a guideline, nothing more. If the article or content reads well and more importantly converts, then having 11% of sentences containing the passive voice is just fine.
The Bottom Line
As a content marketer you might be writing pure sales copy or you might be writing a 5,000 word tutorial. Most likely, you will be somewhere in the middle.
These Joost and myself have provided these copy writing tips to help you make whatever you write that much more readable, enjoyable and actionable.
Cash Finder System starts out by stating that it offers work from home opportunities for people interested in becoming “Professional Finders.” As a finder, you can be paid big fees of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. One example mentions making $5,420.58 for just “a couple hours of work.”
The usual eyebrow-raising claims are made, including the following:
There’s very little work required.
You don’t need any kind of training or education.
The checks are delivered right to your door.
You can work from home.
You don’t need to create a new product.
You don’t need to sell anything.
What are professional finders?
The first clue you get is the following:
The second clue states that all you’ll need are “a telephone and access to the Internet.”
Finally, about a third of the way down the sales page, the professional finder is defined as follows:
Lee Gilmore is introduced as one such finder.
Apparently, in the case of Cash Finder System, you’ll become a real estate finder.
Here’s Lee, by the way, who gives you a summary of the vast amounts of money you stand to earn by finding real estate for buyers. The video cuts off midstream, but you hear enough of his message to know that being a real estate finder is the ticket to big bucks and little work.
Lee then encourages you to purchase his Cash Finder System so that you can get trained to become a real estate finder.
The Cash Finder System offers the following items:
Self-paced training videos and their transcripts.
Resource center with tools to help you find real estate in your own geographic area.
Pre-generated scripts, postcards, and an amazing “one page letter” that generates leads.
Information on when to present investors-buyers with your real estate finds.
Lee assures you that you need no specialized training to become a real estate finder. You don’t even need a realtor’s license.
Sounds good so far…
How much does Cash Finder System cost?
It costs $99 to purchase Cash Finder System; however, if you are one of the first 50 persons to purchase the system, you get your membership fee back. How do you get your money back?
Lee says that once you close on your first real estate assignment, you need to take a picture of yourself holding your finder’s check and send that photo to him. He’ll then reimburse your membership costs.
Does Cash Finder System work as advertised?
Real estate finders, also often called property locators, do exist. It’s also possible to make money as a real estate finder/property locator. However, it’s not quite as easy as advertised. Here are some reasons why.
You’ll face competition.
At least 75% of realtors are also in the business of being real estate finders. In fact, it’s their job. If a realtor beats you to the punch and finds a good property to sell to his buyer, you won’t be seeing your finder’s fee.
Realtors have more experience and more training than a “regular” person at finding and assessing properties. They also have access to a wide network of other realtors and realty companies that you don’t.
You will be travelling.
Many real estate finders scope out foreclosed properties or properties about to be foreclosed upon and approach the current owners about selling beforehand. If you have a thick skin and don’t mind being viewed as a vulcher, then being a real estate finder could be a good fit for you.
However, you better not mind hearing ‘no’ again and again. Also, unlike what Lee promises in his sales videos and page, you will indeed be getting in your car and traveling to real estate locations. You will also be selling- as in, you’ll be selling the idea of selling to various homeowners who are behind on their mortgages.
You need rehab expertise.
If you are a building contractor or builder, you have much of the needed expertise already in place to quickly assess how much a property will cost to fix up and sell at profit. If you don’t have much experience as a contractor and/or have never rehabbed a property, you’re going to be in for a sharp learning curve.
Can you spot an undervalued home that would make a 50% or higher return on investment following a few inexpensive updates? This is, in essence, what many of your investors-buyers will want to know from you.
This isn’t for newbies.
Don’t expect to get investors-buyers lining up to work with you by simply sending out a few postcards and sales letters, like Lee claims.
You’ll need to get on the ground floor and rub shoulders with contractors, auction agents, and real estate brokers. You’ll need to physically attend real estate auctions because, by the time a property is listed online, it’s already spoken for by another realtor or property finder.
You’ll need to learn the legal ramifications of finding a house that is behind on tax payments, or has expensive update clauses (e.g., connection to city water) as conditions of its sale.
Should you pass on Cash Finder System?
While the Cash Finder System proposes a legitimate career opportunity, it vastly underestimates the amount of time and effort you’ll need to invest in order to make this career pay off for you.
Unless you’re prepared to go “all in” with becoming a real estate finder and traveling to various properties and investment possibilities, you won’t discover many hidden gems by just working from home. Likewise, you’ll need to sell your realty proposals to both your investors-buyers and to current homeowners.
Can you really buy into a world-class marketing funnel for just $7? That’s what Lead Lightning promises you when you click on its sales page, including ready-to-go lead pages and emails, a contact management platform, and impressive 85% commissions on product sales. You also get swipe copy, sales banners, commission tracking, and free training.
This nearly $850 starter package is priced at just $7:
So, does Lead Lightning live up to its claims?
What is Lead Lightning?
Lead Lightning is a marketing automation platform that automates several marketing activities for you, including sending emails, tracking clicks, prospects and conversions, and following up converted customers with additional products (often called upsells and cross-sells).
You also get access to a Facebook support group, tutorials, and training. The sales page showcases the program’s many benefits:
Supposedly, you get access to all these goodies just by paying $7 for a regular membership in the program.
That’s the front-end sell of this system. However, Lead Lightning also claims that it’s “a lead attraction machine” that “spits out daily commissions.”
Commissions from what, you ask?
From the sale of Lead Lightning memberships to others (ahem, your downline).
The following upgraded membership plans are presented by Lead Lightning, each with a higher and better commission payout:
Regular membership: $7
Payout: $6 commissions on new memberships.
Silver membership: $29.97/month
Payout: $15 monthly commissions on new memberships.
Gold membership: $53.97/month
Payout: $20 monthly commissions on new memberships.
Diamond membership: $147
Payout: $100 commissions on new memberships.
Platinum membership: $497
Payout: $400 commissions on new memberships.
If you haven’t guessed it by now, Lead Lightning is focused on selling one major product through its funnel: Itself. In all fairness, the program does tell you this up-front in its sales page:
Naturally, you won’t make $100 commissions unless you first purchase the Gold membership yourself. Likewise, you won’t make $400 commissions unless you first purchase the $497 Platinum membership for yourself.
So, the system technically costs $7 to start…but you won’t achieve its promises of big money unless you pay a lot more money later on, and also pay money for monthly memberships.
Is this investment worthwhile? I’m a bit skeptical, and here are some reasons why:
1. The “testimonials” are highly suspect.
Lead Lightning lists three testimonials from Richard Dwyer, Dotti Berry and Jeff Gardner as proof that this system is a great way to make money online.
There’s just one issue with these testimonials- the same individuals also provided glowing testimony in an email processing (aka, envelope-stuffing) scheme called Email Processing System.
2. Where’s the support?
When you go to Lead Lightning’s Facebook group page, you encounter five posts for Udimi (an ad platform), probably posted by an affiliate of the system…and that’s it. There’s no group discussion here amongst the 105 members. Any questions posed by fellow members get zip for an actual response.
3. Lead Lightning is a rebooted Power Lead System.
The Power Lead System, which was introduced in 2013 by Michael Price and Neil Guess, offered a similar marketing product and affiliate payout structure before it was dismantled in 2014 due to affiliate recruitment issues. Interestingly, the domain of that site was plsfunnel.com.
I’m not sure if Michael and Neil parted ways since that time, but Neil is now the creator of Lead Lightning. As for Todd Gross, the guy who introduces himself in the Lead Lightning sales videos, we’re not sure how he fits in.
4. A system with no product except itself is a pyramid scheme.
The creator of Lead Lightning props up the system as a way to market “your business” and the Lead Lightning product if you don’t have your own product. That’s a clever way to avoid litigation, I guess.
In truth, very little is discussed about how you can use the Lead Lightning tools to promote your own product, and there is much more emphasis placed on affiliate recruitment.
In other words, you’re not going to be researching niche markets to promote or studying SEO. No, your goal will be to email as many prospects as possible with spam emails and sales banners promoting membership in Lead Lightning. Although you might get a signup here or there, you’re far more likely to get in trouble for violating the CAN-SPAM Act.
5. Many of Lead Lightning’s marketing tools are free.
The customer management system that Lead Lightning touts as one of its benefits is nothing special- SuiteCRM and Insightly, for example, offer such a system for free. If you’re looking at an email system that can become an autoresponder, there’s MadMimi.
Sure, you’ll be stuck writing your own emails and ads…or for $5, you can hire someone through Fiverr to do that task.
In short, Lead Lightning offers nothing so extraordinary and powerful that it warrants paying nearly $850.
Having said that, you might find sufficient value for your money if you only pay $7 for Lead Lightning and resist investing any more dollars into this system.
Lead Lightning is a big ‘nope.’
If you are a marketing newbie and want to learn about sales pages, email autoresponders, etc., then Lead Lightning might fit the bill. However, as a long-term system, Lead Lightning is tenuous and may disappear at any moment, much like its Power Lead System predecessor. Furthermore, most of this system’s energy is focused on self-promotion and affiliate recruitment. You’re better off looking elsewhere for a long-term marketing software platform.
Recently, I came across an online income opportunity called EZ Money Team. Jeffery Hart is the name you first hear when you go to the EZ Money Team sales page and start watching its nearly 30-minute long video. Here’s a picture (taken from the sales video) that is attributed to Jeffery Hart:
Jeff claims that he developed an online money-making system that is the following:
Easy to use: You don’t need to know how to use a computer to get started with EZ Money Team.
Step-by-step: Jeff teaches you everything you need to do to start generating an online income.
Inexpensive: EZ Money Team training costs just $49. When you try to leave the sales page, your final cost drops to just $9.
Foolproof: Jeff claims that anyone can use this system to get rich.
Automated: Jeff portrays EZ Money as being capable of making money through different “set and forget” software platforms.
As an example, Jeff describes a down-on-her-luck single mother of three named Sarah. She became enrolled in the EZ Money Team and, within no time at all, paid off all her debt and is now buying a new house.
Incidentally, this is “Sarah,” who Jeffery claims used to live on food stamps. Now, however, Sarah has over $120K in just one of her bank accounts.
The EZ Money Team sales video doesn’t reveal too much about exactly how you’ll be making money online. Instead, you’re encouraged to purchase the system for its low price of just $49$37 $9.
However, if you go to YouTube, which is the host for this sales video, you’ll notice that the video’s creator, who goes by ortease121 and oortizIII, has several EZ Money Team videos posted here. One of his videos discusses the training modules for EZ Money Team, which are noted as being part of the program’s paid training. Whoops!
So, what do you get to learn from the EZ Money Team after paying for membership in this program?
EZ Money Team training
The EZ Money Team training program is divided into several modules, and each module has you complete a different task.
Module 1: Affiliate account and website
You are instructed to create a Clicksure affiliate account and a CoolHandle-hosted website. Clicksure is free, but CoolHandle ranges from $3.95 to $8.95/month.
Module 2: Email marketing and managing clicks
Jeff recommends using Clickdrop to generate online leads, and ClickMagick to track emails click and to mask your affiliate links
Clickdrop is an email list and traffic exchange platform where you’ll pay anywhere from a few cents per click (via PPC) to even thousands of dollars for large email lists. ClickMagick costs between $12-$66/month.
Module 3: Traffic generation
Jeff recommends WebFire as an automated lead-generation system, and Video Firestorm as a video creator. Money-generating campaigns are introduced as a method for getting traffic to and conversions on your website(s).
Module 4: Tips and tricks
Interestingly, in this module, Jeff tells you how you can avoid online scams. He also goes through a FAQs section where he answers common questions about the program.
Module 5: Platinum and Gold membership bonus programs
The Platinum membership offers you the opportunity to create your own “product” by giving you your own EZ Money Team platform, so that you can create your own lessons.
With the Gold membership, you get 50 VIP swipe emails (prewritten email copy), plus access to WebFire.
From the videos, I’m suspecting that Platinum membership costs $99, and Gold membership runs about $199.
The problems with EZ Money Team
While all this training and software sound good in theory, there are several red flags that made me reassess the inherent worth of EZ Money:
1. Fake testimonials.
Remember “Sarah,” the single mother of three who uses EZ Money? I found her photo through iStock:
If this photo of Sarah is fake, I’m betting her bank account shots and recorded phone call testimony are also fake.
2. There is no Jeffery Hart.
Oscar T. Ortiz is the actual creator of EZ Money Team, and that also explains his chosen YouTube names. Why is the name Oscar Ortiz important, and why would he use a fake name to begin with?
Because Oscar is promoting several other online scam systems, as shown by his own EZ Money Team platform:
Million Biz Pro, My Internet Success Coach, and Steal My System are all online scams- and these are the products that you’ll end up also promoting if you start using EZ Money Team. Do you really want to promote online scams?
3. Upsells and cross-sells galore.
At an point in the training videos, when Jeffery/Oscar discusses using WebFire or Click Magick or some other software, he always asks that you click the link below his video to get signed up. Why?
Because every software platform he talks about is also his own affiliate product. So, even if you end up making no money through EZ Money Team, Jeff/Oscar will certainly make a handsome commission from you.
My verdict: EZ Money Team is a no-go.
At first glance, EZ Money Team sounds like a decent system to get into, along with its useful tools and training. Problems start appearing the minute you take a closer look at just how this system operates and who is really making a profit from its promoted products. Furthermore, the EZ Money Team creator has you promoting online scams.
In summary, there are better online trainings out there that don’t ask you to compromise your principles.
Feeling like you’re cooped up in an urban, cement-walled prison? Looking for a career where you get to touch plants, cuddle animals, breathe fresh air, and even all of the above? Look no further because today, we list nature jobs that you can apply for!
So much has been written about the healing properties of nature. Studies have found that one’s mental health improves when one is exposed to nature (Source).
This has become even more important in the last couple of years as the pandemic forced people to stay inside their homes. Now that life is slowly getting back to normal, people are understandably excited to go outside.
So why not find a job that lets you experience nature and help save the planet while getting paid for it?
Go through the list below and find the nature career that fits you!
15 Unique Nature Jobs To Apply For
Whether you’re just starting your career or you’re looking for a change of scenery, here are some unique nature jobs so you can work while being surrounded by nature and showing your love for the environment.
Note: Salary information is from PayScale.com unless otherwise indicated.
1. Horticulturist
Horticulturists are basically garden scientists who are knowledgeable about different plant species and use that knowledge to cultivate and propagate plants.
They make sure that the right plants are planted in the right soil in the right place.
They focus on improving plants toward a certain goal, such as increasing a certain plant’s yield, developing disease-resistant plants, cultivating drought-resistant plants, or simply maximizing a plant’s health.
Landscape architects may work with horticulturists to decide what type of plant is best suited to their design.
Farmers, vineyard owners, orchard owners, and other similar owners work with horticulturists to increase yields and breed new plant varieties that can resist drought, pests, and extreme temperatures.
Other horticulturists inspect fruits and vegetables for government and private agencies.
Average annual salary: $42,991 Education Level: Bachelor’s degree in plant science or botany
2. Forester
Foresters play a significant role in land management, conservation, and rehabilitation.
They are responsible for forest management and such tasks as choosing locations for tree plots, inspecting and marking trees that are ready to be harvested, applying sustainable timber harvesting, assisting in wildfire prevention, implementing forest regulations, and other technical duties.
Foresters can be hired by local, state, and federal government agencies to manage forests in national and state parks, as well as unprotected forests to reduce wildfires, prevent illegal logging and burning, and ensure wildlife habitat is protected.
Logging companies hire foresters to make sure they are practicing sustainable harvests.
Urban planners hire foresters as well to maintain plots of trees in the middle of urban areas to ensure the safety of both the humans who spend time there and the wildlife population that live in the trees.
Note that certain states require foresters to be licensed, and getting a certification from a professional organization such as the Society of American Foresters is advantageous as well.
Average annual salary: $53,637 Education Level: Bachelor’s degree in forestry or forest management; also agricultural engineering, environmental science, conservation
3. Conservation Scientist
A conversation scientist, in a nutshell, studies the quality of various natural resources and plans how to use them without causing severe, permanent damage to the environment.
As you can imagine, as there are many natural resources with so many entities, both private and public, that want to tap into those natural resources, there are many ways to be a conservation scientist.
For instance, you can work as a conservation ecologist and consult with the government or private companies planning to develop some land or water. You’ll be surveying the planned site for the possible impact on habitats and protected species in the area, letting clients know about the potential issues, and providing advice and recommendations to minimize their impact.
You can also work as a conservation biologist, where you study different plant and animal species in the field with the aim of protecting their lives from human-made obstacles and dangers.
Or you can become a conservation geoscientist and help prevent soil and groundwater contamination by determining safe locations for disposing of waste such as landfills, nuclear power plants, industrial wastewater, and many others.
The salary range is a bit higher than other nature jobs in this list because the education and research experience required are also higher.
Average annual salary: $69,020 (Source) Education Level: At least a master’s degree, preferably a Ph.D., in your chosen specialty
4. Meteorologist
If it wasn’t for meteorologists and their work, we wouldn’t have known about climate change and its effects on all organisms on Earth.
Meteorologists collect, analyze, and interpret atmospheric data and study various weather conditions for various
Government agencies (such as the National Weather Agency) are the largest employers of meteorologists. Even the military hire meteorologists to help them plan military operations around weather conditions.
Media companies also hire meteorologists for their forecast reports, although this may be mainly a desk job.
Law firms and insurance companies can also hire forensic meteorologists to recreate the weather conditions on a particular date, time, and location.
Average annual salary: $55,129 Education Level: Bachelor’s degree in meteorology or atmospheric science; training in weather analysis, dynamic meteorology, forecasting advantageous; certification from professional organizations a must for some employers
5. Oceanographer
Around 71% of the Earth’s surface is all ocean, and we haven’t even explored over 80% of it.
Oceanographers aim to change this by studying the ocean and its different aspects. Physical oceanographers study the currents, tides, waves, and erosion, while chemical oceanographers study the chemical composition of ocean water and geological oceanographers focus on the ocean floor.
Duties of oceanographers can vary greatly, but most oceanographers spend a lot of time on a boat to collect data and perform experiments. Plenty of oceanographers also spend time teaching and training aspiring oceanographers when they aren’t on boats and doing their research.
The insights from their research impact marine wildlife conservation and the proper extraction of fuels (oil and natural gas) from the ocean.
Government agencies and research agencies are the biggest employers of oceanographers, but private companies, especially energy companies, can pay more.
Average annual salary: $67,232 Education Level: Master’s degree in oceanography or specialized field; Ph.D. is preferred and can command higher pay
6. Limnologist
If oceanographers study the oceans, limnologists study freshwater bodies, both natural (e.g., lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, springs) and manmade (e.g., dams, reservoirs, canals).
They study the physical, chemical, biological, and ecological properties of these freshwater bodies and analyze the data they collect to be able to make recommendations to clients.
Specific duties of limnologists may vary depending on who they’re working for and their specialties.
The ultimate goal is to protect the freshwater ecosystems and minimize the impact of human development and activities such as manufacturing, farming, or recreational activities on these ecosystems.
If you like working near water but freak out over a wide expanse of nothingness, being a limnologist may just be the nature job for you.
Average annual salary: $51,826 (Source) Education Level: Master’s degree in limnology, aquatic biology, or other related courses
7. Naturalist
If you’ve always admired Sir David Attenborough, being a naturalist might come naturally (!) to you.
Naturalists, also called “park and wildlife naturalists,” observe living species in nature and study their impact on one another and on the environments where they live.
They look for evolutionary indicators that explain why a certain attribute is beneficial or detrimental to a specific organism.
Government agencies that oversee national parks, state parks, fish and wildlife, and outdoor recreation are the usual employers of naturalists.
Private companies and organizations that oversee an outdoor space where wildlife live also hire naturalists to ensure that any development on their property doesn’t disrupt the ecological balance in the area.
Average annual salary: $39,217 Education Level: Bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology, environmental science, botany, and similar fields
8. Outdoor Guide
Imagine waking up every day, putting on your hiking gear and shoes, and going outside into the wild.
If that sounds like a great life to you, well you might want to turn that into a career.
Outdoor guides lead individuals or groups through outdoor recreation activities and educate them about the flora, fauna, and history of a certain area.
They can lead hiking, wildlife watching, birdwatching, hunting, or fishing trips with enthusiasts, tourists, or park guests.
The more active ones can be adventure guides for activities like backpacking, mountain climbing, biking, kayaking, rafting, and other much more strenuous activities.
Aside from the educational requirements, you’ll need additional certifications for skills such as first aid, life guard, water rescue, wilderness first responder, and outdoor leadership training.
You can find jobs with guided tour companies or you can offer your services yourself on a freelance basis.
Of course, there are educational and experience requirements to be an outdoor guide, but the best ones are those who truly love nature and are able to express this by sharing their enthusiasm with other people.
Average annual salary: $39,732 Education Level: Bachelor’s degree is an advantage but not required; certifications depend on activities you want to lead
9. Park Ranger
As far as nature jobs go, park rangers definitely have the most beautiful workplaces you can hope for.
Park rangers are responsible for a park and the safety of its guests. Duties of park rangers may include patrolling campgrounds, trails, and surrounding areas, enforcing park rules and regulations, and ensuring wildlife and forest conservation guidelines are met.
Law enforcement park rangers have more responsibility and authority, as they can enforce state and federal laws within their designated area, as well as act as first responders and assist in search and rescue or retrieval efforts.
Rangers in visitor services welcome guests, give tours, answer visitor questions, present educational materials, and patrol the park to check on visitors and the park grounds.
National parks, state parks, and municipal parks are the most frequent employers of park rangers. Private parks may also employ park rangers as well.
Average annual salary: $39,466 Education Level: Bachelor’s degree in park and recreation management, environmental science, forestry, and other related courses; law enforcement rangers require certification as law enforcement and peace officers
10. Fish and Game Warden
If you love hunting and fishing and you want to make sure that it remains fun for everyone, being a fish and game warden may be a good fit for you.
Fish and game wardens enforce fish and game regulations and laws in their assigned territory.
They make sure that hunters and fishers have the proper permits, inspect their catch or their harvests to make sure they are within legal limits, and observe hunters’ and fishers’ conduct to make sure they are not a danger to themselves or to others.
They also sometimes conduct safety training seminars, collect data for wildlife research efforts, and assist in search and rescue operations.
Fish and game wardens can usually be found patrolling fishing docks and waterways, as well as backroads and roadways during hunting season.
They are authorized to cite people who are behaving recklessly, obviously inebriated, or breaking other hunting or fishing laws.
Aside from the educational requirements, fish and game wardens are required to be physically fit and mentally sound.
Another requirement is having a permit to carry firearms and being comfortable enough to use them when necessary. Remember, this is essentially a law enforcement position, and those you encounter are likely to be armed.
The government is the largest employer of fish and game wardens, which they place in wildlife areas, nature preserves, and public fishing and hunting areas. State game wardens are employed through the state’s fish and wildlife department, while federal game wardens are employed through the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Average annual salary: $49,000 Education Level: Associate’s degree in environmental science, biology, criminal science, or other related courses
11. Wildlife Veterinarian
If you’re studying to become a veterinarian, or you’re already a veterinarian and want to change your focus, it’s worth considering being a wildlife veterinarian.
Wildlife veterinarians, also known as conservation veterinarians, treat wildlife in game reserves or wildlife refuges.
They tend to work with wildlife biologists to conserve and manage existing fish and wildlife populations and to recover species that are considered dangerous.
Wildlife veterinarians also aim to protect wildlife from diseases carried by domesticated animals, and vice versa.
Being a wildlife veterinarian can be very fulfilling but may be challenging as well, as wild animals aren’t the best patients; wild animals get stressed when humans interact with them.
Wildlife veterinarians most often work for federal or state fish and wildlife agencies and departments.
The salary is a great deal higher than the average salaries of the other jobs on this list, but the educational and experience requirements are much higher as well.
Average annual salary: $98,829 (Source) Education Level: Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (or equivalent) from an accredited college; license to practice veterinary medicine
12. Wildlife Refuge Manager
Management jobs don’t always have to be behind a desk.
If you’re leaning more toward management but also want a nature job, managing a wildlife refuge may be a good fit.
Wildlife refuge managers oversee land, water, and all wildlife contained within in national wildlife refuges and sanctuaries.
Aside from the management duties, wildlife refuge managers have extensive knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies related to wildlife management and environmental management.
As with wildlife veterinarians, the government is the biggest employer of wildlife refuge managers through the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Being a wildlife refuge manager is a huge responsibility. You’re not just responsible for the employees on the refuge, but you’re also responsible for the animals, plants, and all other wildlife on your turf.
Average annual salary: $97,683.39 (Source) Education Level: Bachelor’s degree in wildlife management, zoology, animal ecology, botany or any other related biological sciences
13. Fish and Wildlife Technician
If you like interacting with animals but are not a veterinarian and have no plans of being one, being a fish and wildlife technician is your best bet.
Fish and wildlife technicians are hands-on with fish and wildlife, collecting biological samples, trapping, tagging, and tracking them, and compiling the data collected.
Other duties include caring for trapped animals in the lab, calibrating scientific and technical equipment, and writing detailed reports.
Fish and wildlife technicians typically work with wildlife or marine biologists to know what data is needed when.
As with many other nature jobs on this list, the federal government is the most frequent employer of fish and wildlife technicians, usually through the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Average annual salary: $62,399 (Source) Education Level: Associate’s degree in wildlife biology, zoology, ecology, animal science, or other closely related fields; certification is an advantage to get higher salaries
14. Nature Photographer
It seems like every other nature job on this list is science-y.
But there are nature jobs for artists and creatives, too.
Nature photographers capture the world’s natural beauty. From vast oceans and majestic mountains to magnificent eagles and the tiniest insects, nature photographers have plenty of subjects to choose from.
It’s not as simple as going on a hike and snapping away, though. The best nature photographers have mastered working with natural light, composing the photo, and using the proper exposure settings to capture that beauty and produce a compelling photo.
Working as a nature photographer usually means being self-employed and selling your photos to various clients. That said, media companies, nature conservation groups, and niche stock photography websites may look for regular or semi-regular nature photographers.
Average annual salary: $41,000 Education Level: No degree required; associate’s degree and photography training preferred but not required
15. Nature Blogger
Being truly passionate about nature and preserving it for future generations is a great thing. Why not become a nature blogger so you can share your enthusiasm and raise awareness for nature issues that everyone should know and get involved with?
With a very low barrier to entry, anyone can build their own website and start a blog in minutes.
Topics to write about include local plants, birds, and animals, travels to state or national parks and the species found within, conservation topics, or nature therapy.
Technically, you don’t have to be outdoorsy to write a nature blog. But if you hardly go out of your house and your knowledge is limited to what you can find on the internet, your blog suffers in terms of credibility.
Being a nature blogger is a largely self-employed endeavor, and most of the time, especially when you’re just starting out, you might not earn a livable income from it.
The good news is that if you already work in one of the other nature jobs above, you can start a nature blog on the side.
Also, there are various ways to make money from your blog. You can display ads on your blog, go into affiliate marketing, or accept sponsored posts.
Average annual salary: Varies widely depending on income streams Education Level: No degree required
Other Ways to Make Money From Nature
Aside from the nature jobs we’ve listed, there are other ways to make money from nature that doesn’t involve exploiting it. Take a look at these ideas and you might be able to start today.
Collect and sell natural dead stuff
Yup, selling natural dead stuff can be quite lucrative.
For instance, if your area is rich in rocks and you have time to look around, finding unusual stones and geodes can earn you some side cash from artists, jewelers, and tourists if you’re in a tourist town.
Fossils are also a hit, though. Best to stick to small invertebrate fossils and plant impressions. If you find a vertebrate fossil, better call a paleontologist instead.
Feathers (ones that have been shed, don’t torment birds!) are also worth collecting and selling.
Driftwood can be found where there’s water, such as in beaches, along rivers, and along lakes. They don’t look like much, but they can be used to create natural art and thus can be a hit in marketplaces like Etsy.
Some beaches are also perfect for beachcombing for seashells, dead corals, sea glass, stones, and other random dead but pretty things.
Different shaped twigs and odd-colored dried leaves also have buyers, so if you leave near some trees, take a walk and find some interesting leaves and twigs to sell.
Create and sell art from natural dead stuff
Instead of (or in addition to!) supplying artists and craftspeople with nature-themed media, consider making your own and then selling that artwork.
For instance, unique driftwood frames and benches are in demand.
Feathers can be crafted into pens, dreamcatchers, jewelry, hair clips, shoes, and other accessories.
Dried leaves can be used in wreaths, pressed into bookmarks, or used to create leaf prints (especially those “veiny” ones).
Seashells can be incorporated into gel candles, jewelry, and home décor.
There are so many possibilities, and simply browsing through Etsy can give you plenty of inspiration.
Go into urban farming
We can’t all live in the woods or near the ocean, but there are nature jobs for us city folk.
We just have to create them.
Many city dwellers have already gone into urban farming, which means growing or producing food in a heavily populated city or town.
It increases access to locally grown food, which is important especially in so-called food deserts, where there is a lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
Some even increase profits by setting up a compost pit and making it into fertilizer to use back in the farm and sell the excess.
Urban farming is different from community gardening in that urban farmers grow and produce food to sell while community gardens have an agreement to share whatever is grown there. So please don’t steal produce from your community garden and sell them; don’t be that guy or gal.
Groups of people within the neighborhood can definitely set up an urban farm, though, sharing both the labor and the profits from the sold produce.
The first place to look for a location is in your own home. Many have set up urban farms right in their backyard, or if they live in a building, right on their rooftops. Others have utilized landfills, brownfields, sometimes even demolished houses or commercial buildings.
Always consult your local laws and homeowners’ associations to know how you can go about this legally before you even start. Once you get the green (hah!) light to proceed, you can start studying and training on the basics of food production, developing a business plan, and growing your crops.
Become a beekeeper
If you have the space, consider taking care of bees and selling bee products while helping to pollinate and propagate flowers and increasing the bee population.
As I’ve mentioned, the main source of income from beekeeping is the proceeds from selling bee products (e.g., honey, beeswax, pollen, bee venom), but you can also tangentially make money from blogging about the experience or training other wannabe beekeepers.
I’ve previously featured making money from beekeeping in detail, so you can go over the guide and decide whether it’s for you.
Apply to one of these nature jobs today!
Don’t these jobs just make you want to get up and save the planet?
Working in the midst of nature can both be personally fulfilling and lucrative. You can work in a job that’s environment-friendly and give you the chance to help protect the natural world while earning a suitable income.
There are many other outdoor jobs you can do, not all of which are environment-related, though.
Are you interested in any of these nature-related jobs? Which ones of these are you most interested in? Sound out in the comments!
Lately, it seems that there are multiple online and work-at-home opportunities that operate as ad pack Ponzi schemes. These schemes do not make you any money. In fact, you end up losing a good chunk of your own cash because you must “invest” in this system by buying advertising.
While you may know what a Ponzi scheme is about, you may not know about ad packs and how they fit into this plan. So…
What is an ad pack?
Advertising packages, or ad packs, are bundles of banner, video, text and other ads that are sold for a discrete amount of money (e.g., $50). After you buy this advertising bundle, you can use it to advertise your own goods and services on the vendor website or family of websites.
In many cases, your purchased ad pack gives you only a fraction of the total money you paid in the form of ads. For example, if you pay $50 for a single ad pack, that pack may only provide you with $11 worth of ads. The remaining money, meanwhile, is said to “mature” over time, like a certificate of deposit (CD).
Traffic Monsoon (TM) is one example of a platform that sells ad packs. In exchange for making a purchase through TM, you unlock a sharing position with the site. As such, you earn money from any revenues generated through TM. With TM paying out 110% currently, your $50 ad pack can theoretically become $55 when it matures.
This all sounds good, except that most ad pack Ponzi schemes have no idea when their ad packs will mature and pay out that 110% or 150% or 200%. So, you are encouraged to keep buying the ad packs, but no one can tell you when you’ll see your payout.
You’re performing tasks (i.e., clicks)
The other action that most ad pack Ponzi schemes encourage is the clicking of ads shown on the vendor website. Most schemes actually require that you watch a set of ads on a daily basis. The ads must be seen completely to the end or else you aren’t credited. Generally, the ads run about 10 seconds.
It’s not difficult to figure out that the “traffic” being sold by the ad pack Ponzi scheme is coming from none other than its own subscribers and members. In essence, you are paying money to view and/or click on your own ads.
You’re paying membership dues
Many ad pack Ponzi schemes don’t just sit back and hope you’ll buy an ad pack (or three) every day. No, many such schemes also expect you to become a paid member of their community.
Membership plans can cost anywhere from $10 to even $50/month. Once you’ve become a paid member, you share in the revenue streams of your referrals and friends. You also share in their product sales. And speaking of products…
There are no products!
Although you’re encouraged to purchase ad packs and post them on the platform in the hopes that someone will see your ads and buy from them, the site itself offers no actual products of its own. So, how does it really make money?
The answer is referrals.
You are asked to find and sign up members under you who will kick up their product revenues to you. These new members will also buy additional ad packs and membership plans. With this money, the Ponzi scheme will be able to pay off at least some of the older members’ matured ad packs.
Some ad pack Ponzi schemes have large matrix setups that kick up member earnings in elaborate ways. GlobalAdShare is one such Ponzi scheme.
When a business offers no real products of its own, and when its revenues are solely generated through recruitment of new members, such a setup is termed a Ponzi scheme.
However, many of today’s ad pack Ponzi schemes get away with their fraud by announcing that they are selling advertising.
How can you recognize ad pack Ponzi schemes?
It’s important that you not be fooled by ad pack Ponzi schemes, which will only drain you of your money and time. How can immediately recognize such a scheme?
1. Buying ad packs is emphasized.
The site may make bold claims about how it’s legit, or has $0 debt, or some other irrelevant detail. But at the heart of its message will be the insistence that you buy ad packs, and often.
2. Clicking on ads is emphasized.
The only way you’ll see any kind of traffic going to your purchased ads is if others click on them. So, you’ll be told to click on ads that other members have purchased and placed. Whether you buy the advertised products, and whether they’re even a good match for you, are completely irrelevant details.
3. Referrals are strongly emphasized.
You’re not going to make money from your product sales. The only way you’ll make any money is if you refer others and then collect a commission from their signing up with the program.
Bottom line: Don’t sign up with ad pack Ponzi schemes
If you listen for these three telltale signs of an ad pack Ponzi scheme, you’ll steer clear of this scam and obvious attempt to make you part with your money.
