| This is the fourth installment in this ongoing series on | | | | think that you could just throw up a few pictures |
| Internet Home Business - the basics of getting | | | | and some text on your new site and have savvy |
| started. | | | | web browsers actually throw their credit cards at |
| This time I want to address the subject of planning a | | | | you. The process of understanding SEO and how to |
| budget to get your business off the ground. There | | | | make it work for you can be daunting. There are |
| are several categories we will need to address. The | | | | some very basic things that just about anyone can |
| following list is not all-inclusive. There are a number of | | | | do to get their site somewhat "search engine |
| possible needs that may arise as you begin your | | | | friendly". However, the market is getting more |
| online journey: | | | | competitive each year. Your placement on the search |
| - cost of a designing a website (if you're going to | | | | engines can't be left to chance or poor SEO tactics. |
| blog then you can do it for free at Blogger) | | | | You will need to research and decide on whether you |
| - web hosting expense | | | | want to use a service or purchase your own |
| - opt-in email software with built-in autoresponder | | | | software. Using a service can be a big "roll of the |
| - SEO software or service to improve your website | | | | dice" and there aren't too many individuals who can |
| presence with the search engines | | | | afford them to begin with. I strongly recommend |
| - ongoing training to improve your internet marketing | | | | that you invest in an SEO software that you can |
| skills | | | | download and get free upgrades with each year. |
| - using affiliate marketing to promote and sell your | | | | Going this route will actually enhance your knowledge |
| product or service | | | | about website design and empower you to take on |
| - paid placement with Google, Yahoo and MSN to | | | | bigger projects as your confidence grows. In the |
| market your product or service | | | | short term it will translate into better results for your |
| - Adware/spyware software to protect your | | | | website. Don't try to operate your internet home |
| computer | | | | business without this investment. The cost for a |
| Once again I want to emphasize that I just want to | | | | good software will probably run you at least $200. |
| give you a general idea of what you should plan for if | | | | The better ones will offer you a free download that |
| you are going to do business online. There are a | | | | you can test drive for 30 days. If you decide to go |
| number of other possibilities that may arise as a | | | | this route please be sure to take it for a test drive |
| result of the path you choose to take. Let's begin by | | | | every day and take it through the ringer to be sure |
| briefly looking at each item I listed above... | | | | you are familiar with every aspect of the program. |
| - Cost of designing/building a website - in many cases | | | | You'll then be able to fairly evaluate if it's worth your |
| the process of creating and hosting a website can be | | | | time and money. |
| handled by the same company. Whether you choose | | | | - Ongoing training - Be sure to take advantage of |
| to combine both processes or not will depend on | | | | free subscriptions from some of the experts of |
| how much control you want to maintain over the | | | | internet marketing. Most of them are eager to share |
| details of your site. If you are extremely creative | | | | their knowledge with you and you can tap into it by |
| and you want your site to reflect this then you will | | | | trading your email address for a regular newsletter. |
| need to purchase a high caliber software like | | | | SiteProNews is a great source of information on this |
| Frontpage or Dreamweaver to create your site | | | | subject. When you find a great article simply copy |
| offline. Once that is completed you can simply upload | | | | and paste into a folder on your home computer for |
| your site to the hosting company's server. Most | | | | future reference. Set up various folders for different |
| software like Frontpage will cost upwards of $200. | | | | categories, i.e., web design, writing good content, |
| There are a number of other products that can be | | | | shopping cart service, html, etc. Your cost = $0. |
| purchased anywhere from $19.99 all the way up to | | | | - Affiliate Marketing - Whether you decide to |
| $169.99. You can get a fairly good review of these | | | | become an affiliate marketer or have someone else |
| products by searching the key phrase "web site | | | | market your product affiliate marketing is an art that |
| creation software". | | | | you should take the time to learn. As an affiliate |
| - Web Hosting expense - if you do decide to | | | | marketer, it won't cost you anything to start. |
| purchase a website builder and later upload to a web | | | | Anyone who has an affiliate program will gladly let |
| hosting service here again you have a number of | | | | you promote their product. It's a win-win situation for |
| choices. Each one will differ slightly from the other. | | | | them. Your only cost is the method of advertising |
| They will average about $4.99 per month. I have | | | | you choose to promote this product. As a result your |
| used 2 services in particular: iPowerweb and Sitesell. | | | | costs will vary depending on how good you are. |
| The are at extreme opposites of the spectrum as | | | | Some folks will have already built up a sizeable list |
| far as costs are concerned. For about $4.99 a month | | | | then can email to and be able to create great sales |
| you get a lot of bang for your buck with iPowerweb. | | | | copy for a targeted audience and your affiliate |
| They actually provide both website design and | | | | product. In this case their advertising cost is zero. If |
| hosting. So if you have already spent a fair amount | | | | you plan on using paid placement then it becomes a |
| on a website builder then you'll actually find them to | | | | lot riskier depending on your skill level. As a rule, I |
| be very reliable. However, if you are totally new to | | | | would say that you should plan on making at least $3 |
| this whole "internet and websites" thing but you are | | | | for every dollar you spend on paid placement. Some |
| 110% committed to making your mark on the | | | | might say $2/$1 would be good enough. How much |
| internet then I highly recommend you take a look at | | | | you'll spend each month depends on how deep your |
| Sitesell. The service will run you about $300 a year. | | | | pockets are and your ability to convert your traffic. |
| To truly understand the value they offer at this price | | | | The higher the conversion rate the more you can |
| you really do need to visit their site. It is the most | | | | afford to spend. If you have a product you want to |
| comprehensive and user friendly system on the | | | | submit to an Affiliate Network to let any marketer |
| market. This service has been specifically designed | | | | promote for you then you'll need to consider the |
| with those in mind who are serious about making | | | | set-up fees ($20-40) and the commission you willing |
| money from their website but don't want to learn all | | | | to pay on each sale. As a rule you should pay out |
| the "techie" stuff in order to start and run an online | | | | 60% of your sale price to attract the top affiliate |
| business. | | | | marketers. |
| - Opt-in email software with built in autoresponder - | | | | - Paid Placement - Before venturing into this arena |
| There are only two that I can confidently | | | | (which has been a very effective one for me), you |
| recommend for this part of your business; one is | | | | will definitely need to educate yourself. Although |
| offered at $19.95 from Aweber and the other runs | | | | Google's AdWords tutorial is a good tool it doesn't go |
| about $17.95 a month and is offered by | | | | far enough. You should definitely invest in a training |
| GetResponse. They both offer pretty much the | | | | material like "The Definitive Guide to Google |
| same thing and provide excellent customer service | | | | AdWords" by Perry Marshall. I would consider this the |
| along with a great product. Both of these companies | | | | AdWords bible of internet marketers. I believe you |
| offer a complete email marketing tool for your | | | | can still download this ebook for under $100. Take |
| business. This service is a must if you plan on | | | | my word - it is worth every dollar. |
| maximizing your sales. At some point you may want | | | | - Adware/Spyware - Last but not least, take every |
| to use your own email/autoresponder which runs | | | | precaution to add additional protection to your |
| from your hard drive and in that case there is a | | | | computer. A good program will cost you less that |
| product called Mailloop that is very high tech and | | | | $40. |
| offers pretty much the same thing. the price tag is | | | | So there you have it. I'll let you do the math to get |
| about $200. The only difference is that you actually | | | | your exact numbers but if you're serious about |
| own the software instead of renting it each month. I | | | | making money online then you need to be prepared. |
| would only recommend this option once your | | | | Once again, this is not an all inclusive list, but it gives a |
| business actually takes off and you've built up a head | | | | fair representation of what you should be prepared |
| of steam. | | | | to spend to run a successful online business. |
| - SEO Software/Service - I certainly hope you didn't | | | | |