About

Hi, I’m Mary – a baby boomer, longtime travel-industry entrepreneur, website owner, and accidental late-in-life tech geek.

And believe me, that last part was not part of the original plan.

I spent most of my career in the travel industry, starting my business long before websites, social media, smartphones, or “making money online” were part of everyday conversation.

Somewhere along the way, though, I got curious about what was happening online.

One website led to another. I learned about different ways websites could earn money. I figured out WordPress. I started learning about things I previously didn’t know existed – and occasionally wished I still didn’t.

And here we are.

How Smart Online Journey Started

Smart Online Journey grew out of something I kept noticing:

There are a lot of people who would like to create some extra income online – but have absolutely no idea what they could do or where they should begin.

And if you come to this world later in life, it can sometimes feel as though everyone else received the instruction manual and neglected to send you a copy.

They didn’t.

Most of us are figuring things out as we go.

That’s what I want Smart Online Journey to help with.

Not to convince you there’s one perfect online business everyone should start, but to help you understand the possibilities, learn how this stuff actually works, and decide what might make sense for you.

I Didn’t Start Out Doing This

I’ve spent more than 40 years in the travel industry and still own my travel business today.

My online life came later.

Over the years, I’ve created and run websites in several different niches, earned income from websites in different ways, worked with affiliate programs, dealt with Google and its ever-changing moods, learned new technology, tried tools I loved, tried tools I definitely didn’t love, and changed direction more than once.

If you’ve ever thought you had something completely figured out only to reconsider the entire plan three weeks later, you’ll fit in nicely here.

Why Online Income Matters to Me

For me, earning income online was never about becoming an internet millionaire.

It was about flexibility.

Years ago, my husband and I began spending extended periods in Europe – usually several months at a time – while I continued running my businesses.

That kind of freedom matters to me. Your reason may be completely different.

Maybe you’d like some extra income as retirement gets closer. Maybe you’re already retired and would still like to earn. Maybe you want something that’s yours. Maybe you’d like more flexibility, a project that keeps you engaged, or simply the satisfaction of learning something completely new.

You don’t need to want my life. The point is figuring out what you want your life to look like – and whether creating income online could play a part in it.

What You’ll Find Here

Smart Online Journey is for people who want to understand the online-income world without being overwhelmed by it.

We’ll explore realistic income ideas, the basics of starting and running an online business, useful tools and resources, and the very human side of trying to make all of this work.

I’ll share things I’ve learned, things I’m testing, things I’ve changed my mind about, and occasionally things that seemed like an excellent idea at the time.

You should expect honesty here.

If I like something, I’ll tell you why. If I don’t, I’ll tell you that too. And if I don’t know something yet, I’m perfectly comfortable saying that.

A Few Things About Me

Because apparently no About page is complete without information you absolutely did not come here looking for:

• I would usually rather shop for a new WordPress theme than clothes.
• I only discovered my inner geek later in life. She has since become rather demanding.
• I’m a lifelong reader and unapologetic romance-novel fan. The romance-book industry doesn’t make billions of dollars by accident, people.
• Naturally, I have a book blog. Because apparently one website wasn’t enough.
• I’ve loved cooked spinach – even the canned stuff – since I was a little kid. I realize this raises questions.
• I remain deeply committed to comfortable shoes, realistic expectations, and snacks.

Mostly, though, I’m curious.

I like figuring out how things work. I like trying new things. And I don’t believe there’s an age when we’re supposed to stop learning, experimenting, or asking:

What else could I do?

If that’s a question you’ve been asking too, you’re in the right place.

Pull up a chair, grab your coffee (or wine), and let’s figure some of this out together.

Preferably with snacks.

~ Mary