I think it makes sense to test out affiliate marketing first before offering your own product or service online.
Now if you have a cutting edge product, then by all means, market it first.
My reasoning for using affiliate marketing first is that it requires barely any business effort. You don't have to get a business license. You don't have to carry inventory. You don't have to worry about employees (if you wish). It allows you to work anywhere in the world. It allows you to work on your own time schedule. You also don't have to worry much about customer service. From my past experiences, this is a big plus.
So once you try out affiliate market, then you have a good idea of how you could market your own product. Think about it as a way to easily gain experience.
Imagine if you started a company. You got a sales permit, or some other license. You did some research and product development. You hired a programmer or a company to make the product. You get a patent or a copyright. You go through all of those things, and then realize that you can't bring much traffic into your site or to your product. What good is all of that time spent? You might be an expert on your product, but to succeed, you need to be an expert in marketing first. If you rely on somebody to do online marketing for you without knowing what they're doing, you're putting your greatest money making task at risk. If you have NO traffic, you'll have NO money.
For more information about affiliate marketing, I highly suggest Rosalind Gardner's Super Affiliate Handbook.
Okay, enough said.
If you feel you have enough online marketing experience, you can move to the next step...selling non-affiliated product(s) or services.
There's a variety of things you can offer.
Here's a quick list of ideas:
*Information Products
People are information seekers. You can offer a digital book (e-book) with your wealth of knowledge. Video's and audio files can also be offered. Since their digital, you make a terrific profit.
*Software
Create a useful tool (or even a tool for a tool).
*Any Product You Want
You can make your own, or sell other peoples stuff. If you want to start off selling other peoples stuff (not used:), consider dropshipping. You don't need to carry inventory. Items can be sent directly from a warehouse.
*Offer services
Products aren't the only thing you can offer. You can do consultations or coaching online.
*Site Memberships
Provide unique information or online tools
You can use credit card services like Paypal to handle the transactions. Clickbank is great for handeling digital product transactions.
For more information on making money online, review this quickstart monetization guide.
Now if you have a cutting edge product, then by all means, market it first.
My reasoning for using affiliate marketing first is that it requires barely any business effort. You don't have to get a business license. You don't have to carry inventory. You don't have to worry about employees (if you wish). It allows you to work anywhere in the world. It allows you to work on your own time schedule. You also don't have to worry much about customer service. From my past experiences, this is a big plus.
So once you try out affiliate market, then you have a good idea of how you could market your own product. Think about it as a way to easily gain experience.
Imagine if you started a company. You got a sales permit, or some other license. You did some research and product development. You hired a programmer or a company to make the product. You get a patent or a copyright. You go through all of those things, and then realize that you can't bring much traffic into your site or to your product. What good is all of that time spent? You might be an expert on your product, but to succeed, you need to be an expert in marketing first. If you rely on somebody to do online marketing for you without knowing what they're doing, you're putting your greatest money making task at risk. If you have NO traffic, you'll have NO money.
For more information about affiliate marketing, I highly suggest Rosalind Gardner's Super Affiliate Handbook.
Okay, enough said.
If you feel you have enough online marketing experience, you can move to the next step...selling non-affiliated product(s) or services.
There's a variety of things you can offer.
Here's a quick list of ideas:
*Information Products
People are information seekers. You can offer a digital book (e-book) with your wealth of knowledge. Video's and audio files can also be offered. Since their digital, you make a terrific profit.
*Software
Create a useful tool (or even a tool for a tool).
*Any Product You Want
You can make your own, or sell other peoples stuff. If you want to start off selling other peoples stuff (not used:), consider dropshipping. You don't need to carry inventory. Items can be sent directly from a warehouse.
*Offer services
Products aren't the only thing you can offer. You can do consultations or coaching online.
*Site Memberships
Provide unique information or online tools
You can use credit card services like Paypal to handle the transactions. Clickbank is great for handeling digital product transactions.
For more information on making money online, review this quickstart monetization guide.
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