basics of internet marketing:
Internet Marketing comes in many different forms so before I give you an overview, I probably should give you my definition as to what "Internet Marketing" means to me.
To me, Internet Marketing simply means that you are involved in some sort of online activity that produces income. Now, there are many who might disagree with my definition but that's ok, this is my site, not theirs. ;- )
There are literally hundreds (thousands, probably) of different ways to make money online and that's where some of the problem starts. Too many choices lead many to take no action at all but if you're reading this, I hope you find a way to overcome "information overload" as the only way to find success in anything, is to take the first step.
Below, you'll find just a few (of the many) ways to make money online from the comfort of your own home and a short description of each. It is not my intent to teach you any particular strategy but to open your eyes as to what is possible. After that, you'll need to do solid research to know which course of action is best suited for you and then you'll have to take action and keep on taking action until your goals are achieved.
Affiliate Marketing
Depending on who you talk to, Affiliate Marketing is either a great (and profitable) business model or it's akin to selling snake oil (yeah, I'm dating myself a bit).
In truth, there is nothing slimy at all with Affiliate Marketing but there are some who have tainted this industry by conducting themselves in a variety of very unprofessional manners.
At its core, Affiliate Marketing is simply the act of being a commissioned sales person, a business strategy that has been used for many, many years.
In fact, many large companies, like Amazon.com largely depend on their affiliates (they call them "associates") to promote their site. Even companies like BestBuy, Home Depot and Wal Mart offer affiliate programs and the list goes on and on.
While there are countless courses offering affiliate marketing training, I'd probably recommend Ewen Chia's Secret Affiliate Weapon 2.0 as a good place to start. I'm not saying it's the "be-all-end-all" solution but it is solid information and the asking price makes it a very good value.
Another great (and free) Affiliate Marketing Training resource is AffiliateXFiles.com
Affiliate X Files is a blog dedicated to bringing time-tested affiliate marketing tactics to anyone looking to build a solid affiliate marketing business that stands the test of time. You'll find a variety of videos, articles and affiliate marketing resources to help you get started right.
Content Publishing
The internet is referred to as the "Information Super Highway" and for good reason, it's the place that most of us turn to when we're looking for some sort of information. So, if you have knowledge of a particular topic and enjoy writing, you can create a website or blog for the sole intent of distributing that content to the masses.
This model can be monetized a number of different ways with the "easiest" way being the use of Google's Adsense ad-serving program. Basically, you just agree to share some of your site/blog space and show Google Ads in that space.
If someone clicks on one of the ads, they are taken to the advertiser's website and Google will collect a fee from the advertiser. Part of that revenue is shared with the web publisher (ie you) that generated the "click."
In addition to Adsense, you can monetize your website/blog by the selling of paid links, paid banner ad hosting, through affiliate programs, and any number of other ways.
Information Marketing
This is similar to Content Publishing but instead of the content being free, it is only available to paying customers. Most marketers are using this model to sell ebooks (electronic books) but you can also charge a monthly fee for ongoing content by way of creating a membership site.
Information marketing can be very lucrative as the margins are so high. Plus, if you start your own affiliate program, you can get affiliates out there promoting your site/product 24/7.
Freelancing
Now, some may not consider Freelancing a form of Internet Marketing but like I said earlier, it's my site. ;- )
Freelancers of all sorts are working from home and making a living doing so. Whether you are a writer, a photographer, a musician or have any number of other skills, there is probably a freelance market that specializes in your area of speciality.
Many sites, like NeedAnArticle.com hire content writers to write articles, blog posts and press releases. Other sites, like istockphoto.com pay royalties to photographers who allow their work to be sold on their site. The list goes on and on!
To get you started, you might check out the following two websites to get an idea for what kind of work is being requested:
The first is Elance and the second is Get A Freelancer. There are many others so if you have a unique specialty, do some research on your favorite search engine. Odds are you'll find someone requesting the type of work you do.
