| There's an old saying, "It takes money to make | | | | more about website design and will be able to do it |
| money." While this is still true in many respects, on | | | | yourself. For now, however, you need all the help |
| the internet, it is possible to start and grow an online | | | | you can get. |
| business using free resources. | | | | 3. Sign up as an affiliate with companies that sell |
| You don't even need a computer! In many parts of | | | | products related to your interest. For example, you |
| the world, it is possible to get free computer access | | | | can become an affiliate of REI or Backcountry, |
| at a public library or other facility. However, it is also | | | | through Commission Junction. These two companies |
| possible to become involved in some systems that | | | | sell hiking boots and other outdoors goods. You could |
| can be promoted entirely offline by word-of-mouth, | | | | also offer goods or services indirectly related to your |
| and signing up could be done at one of the free | | | | site. Staying with the hiking boot scenario, you might |
| computers I mentioned or be done by a friend. | | | | offer physical training courses or even vacation |
| Don't get me wrong. I don't want to imply that it is | | | | packages for hikers. |
| easier or faster to completely use free resources; I | | | | 4. Create your site. Rest assured, your first attempt |
| am just making the point that it is possible to create | | | | will not be your best, nor will your 87th probably. |
| an internet business with little or no money. | | | | That's okay. It's all a learning experience. What to put |
| How do I know this? | | | | on you site? Not sales stuff. Not info about how |
| Other than the purchase of the computer itself, I | | | | great these boots are. Tell your visitors how to pick |
| never bought my first domain name until I had been | | | | a boot. Explain how to care for their boots. Teach |
| online for a couple of years and was making several | | | | them about hiking safety or how to find a campsite |
| hundred dollars a month from my internet business. | | | | for the night. Tell them where they can find weather |
| All of my websites were hosted on free hosting | | | | reports and a list of hiking trails. In among the real, |
| services, and all my "advertising" was done through | | | | genuine content, sprinkle a few (got it...FEW?) links to |
| free classified ads, traffic exchanges, and by linking. | | | | your products. If you don't know what to say, visit |
| However, despite all of this, and a magnificent case | | | | some sites that say it well and then say it in your |
| of ignorance, I eventually DID begin making hundreds | | | | own words. |
| of dollars a month. I then used THAT income to get | | | | 5. Go to You will need to promote your site to |
| my own domain name, in fact many domain names | | | | search engines and directories anyway. You can do |
| today, and to purchase effective advertising. But, as | | | | that for free and in depth at However, if you look |
| you can see, it is possible to start without any | | | | around the site, you will find a treasure trove of |
| money at all. | | | | information about such silly subjects as search engine |
| In fact, I would recommend starting for free even if | | | | optimization. So pick up a free education while you're |
| you have the money to invest, just to learn the | | | | there. The webmaster over there accepts donations, |
| ropes. I can't begin to tell you how much money I | | | | and, now that he has helped me get my internet |
| have lost on things that didn't work, and how much I | | | | business off the ground for free, he gets liberal |
| paid to get the internet marketing education I now | | | | donations from me every year. |
| have. On the other hand, if I had to start all over | | | | 6. Go to and start a blog on hiking. Put links to your |
| today, knowing the things I know now, I would | | | | website on the blog and in the comments. Make at |
| borrow the money if I had to, buy domain names, | | | | least a couple of posts to the blog each week. Every |
| hire website designers, and pay for advertising. But | | | | day might be even better. If you don't know enough |
| you want to know how to do it for free. | | | | or write well enough or have enough time to write |
| So, how would someone go about creating an | | | | your own stuff, go to and get some free articles to |
| internet business using only free resources? | | | | use in your blog. |
| Before I begin listing some points, please understand | | | | 7. Join forums related to hiking, or your subject. You |
| that this is just one way in which an online business | | | | can usually put a link to your webpage in the |
| can begin. Due to all the variables involved, what | | | | signature that appears with your posts. Concentrate |
| topic you pick, how much time you can devote to it, | | | | on making sensible, helpful posts and participating in |
| and so on, there is no way to guarantee that this will | | | | rational discussions. |
| work for you. However, it is a method that HAS | | | | 8. Build a webpage about hiking gear, another about |
| worked for others, and it is a place to start. | | | | hiking trails, another about cooking outdoors. Link all |
| 1. Decide what your business is going to be about. | | | | of these to your first site and then go back to and |
| Two points here. Pick something you already know | | | | submit each of these new pages to the search |
| something about and hopefully enjoy, and then refine | | | | engines. |
| it to a smaller area of specialty. Instead of | | | | I'm not going to put a number on this one, but, when |
| "outdoors", think "hiking". Instead of hiking, think | | | | you can afford it, purchase a course on network |
| "hiking boots". If you know what you are talking | | | | marketing. It doesn't have to be expensive. Go to |
| about and enjoy the subject, it will be easier to talk | | | | and you can find some for under $20. Holly Mann |
| to people (online or in person) and transmit your | | | | puts out a decent course for $19.95 at this time. It |
| message of enjoyment to them. Also, building a | | | | won't teach you everything, but it will teach you. |
| business takes time. If you are concentrating on | | | | Dylan Loh also sells a course through ClickBank which |
| "money" and the money doesn't show up right away, | | | | outlines how to do a lot of the things mentioned in |
| you will lose interest. If you love hiking and are | | | | this article. You can get a very good course from the |
| enjoying putting up your website about hiking, talking | | | | Internet Marketing Center for over $200. It's worth |
| to people about hiking, and checking into new hiking | | | | it, but probably contains more than you need at this |
| products, you will remain interested in your business | | | | time. |
| through the build up/learning period when no money | | | | Eventually, of course, the hope is that you will begin |
| is coming in. | | | | to see some light with your internet business, and |
| 2. Find a company to host your site for free. Shop | | | | you will be able to move up. Then you can get your |
| around and compare services. At this point, since you | | | | own domain name, pay for some decent web |
| hardly know anything, you might want a web hosting | | | | hosting, get a well-designed site, and buy some |
| service that provides some sort of site builder where | | | | effective advertising. When you are making enough |
| you fill in blank areas and the service creates the | | | | money to pay for all that AND buy tickets at the |
| page. Later, when you know more and get your own | | | | movies without raising your eyebrows, you'll know |
| domain name or names, maybe you will know a bit | | | | you've made it. |