If you had to start IM from scratch again with no money how would you do it?

by Marvon
53 replies
Hi all,

What would your action plan look like if you had to start IM from scratch and had no money to invest?
#money #scratch #start
  • Profile picture of the author HJdev
    Learn how to set up a Wordpress blog and start writing/filming/developing about your passion. What do you like todo and what are you good at? Set up a newsletter form and start building a list of people that are interested about your passion as well. Thats the first step, money comes later.
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    • Profile picture of the author Marvon
      Originally Posted by HJdev View Post

      Learn how to set up a Wordpress blog and start writing/filming/developing about your passion. What do you like todo and what are you good at? Set up a newsletter form and start building a list of people that are interested about your passion as well. Thats the first step, money comes later.
      That is interesting but how would I make money with that list?
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      • Profile picture of the author HJdev
        Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

        That is interesting but how would I make money with that list?
        Promoting affiliate products related to your passion/story. For example if your passion is running, you could give reviews of related products like running shoes, heartbeat meters, running apps, ect.
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        • Profile picture of the author Marvon
          Originally Posted by HJdev View Post

          Promoting affiliate products related to your passion/story. For example if your passion is running, you could give reviews of related products like running shoes, heartbeat meters, running apps, ect.
          I know that Clickbank is a great place for information products do you know anymore networks that is simular?
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          • Profile picture of the author realnetworker
            Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

            I know that Clickbank is a great place for information products do you know anymore networks that is simular?
            JVZoo is very good too. In my book, they have actually bypassed Clickbank. Their site is more user friendly, and therefore it is easier to find what you want. I have been using their newly launched products to promote with decent success. There commissions averaged between 50 to 75%.

            As to making money in IM from scratch.... I know everyone says to start your own website, but unless you know what you are doing, that can involve a huge learning curve, getting it set up, ranked, etc. Unless you have a good coach.... and where will you get a coach for free?

            Squidoo and Hubpages are options - I used to make quite a bit of money monthly on Squidoo, but never did so well with Hubpages. A lot of people have a real business going, making good money there. Less of your work goes into making the money, since they use their own ad system, etc, to help you earn. I am no longer on Squidoo - due to the fact that I was buying backlinks for my lenses, and got kicked out :/ Lesson learned the hard way!

            ~ Ruth
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    • Profile picture of the author Freebiequeen1999
      Originally Posted by HJdev View Post

      Learn how to set up a Wordpress blog and start writing/filming/developing about your passion. What do you like todo and what are you good at? Set up a newsletter form and start building a list of people that are interested about your passion as well. Thats the first step, money comes later.

      Thank YOU. I just said the same in 2 Kindle threads


      I am beyond amazed at how many people just want to make "money money" and don't care about anything, always looking for some "niche" that they know nothing about,

      If you have some skill, hobby, passion, talent or even some specific knowledge = go with that. Or learn something and then share it or even share your "learning experience"
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  • Profile picture of the author Ben West
    I would pick something I was passionate about and stick with it. Make a blog, a website, a community. Build a name, then a business, all out of one of my favourite hobbies. It is what most IM end up doing in the end, they just spend a couple of years figuring it out first.
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    • Profile picture of the author Marvon
      Originally Posted by Ben West View Post

      I would pick something I was passionate about and stick with it. Make a blog, a website, a community. Build a name, then a business, all out of one of my favourite hobbies. It is what most IM end up doing in the end, they just spend a couple of years figuring it out first.
      This sounds amazing to make money from an actual hobby but if you had no money for a domain and hosting where would you start then?
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      • Profile picture of the author nesito29
        Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

        This sounds amazing to make money from an actual hobby but if you had no money for a domain and hosting where would you start then?
        Well.. you work like regular people I guess, or borrow money, it doesn't really matter, you can get your domain name for like 1 dollar and hosting for like $7/month, when the reason is big enough the how doesn't matter.
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        • Profile picture of the author Bryan Collins
          Originally Posted by nesito29 View Post

          Well.. you work like regular people I guess, or borrow money, it doesn't really matter, you can get your domain name for like 1 dollar and hosting for like $7/month, when the reason is big enough the how doesn't matter.
          I agree get a job so you have some scratch to buy a domain name, hosting, and an autoresponder.

          I would then setup a squeeze page at the front of my domain and then a blog on a subdomain. If I had little to no money left over to drive traffic to my squeeze page I would create a Youtube channel, a Facebook page, and a Twitter account.

          I would start posting videos to Youtube by creating powerpoint slides or by using the creative commons. I would then post those videos on the Facebook page, and then I would tweet them out.

          The more videos you can churn out the more traffic you will start to see. Once the traffic starts to gain momentum the more subscribers will come on board.

          Once you get subscribers start posting to the blog and send out email blasts to your subscribers leading them back to the blog post. On the posts you could have affiliate offers, adsense, your own product etc..

          Good luck!
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          • Profile picture of the author Marvon
            Originally Posted by Bryan Collins View Post

            I agree get a job so you have some scratch to buy a domain name, hosting, and an autoresponder.

            I would then setup a squeeze page at the front of my domain and then a blog on a subdomain. If I had little to no money left over to drive traffic to my squeeze page I would create a Youtube channel, a Facebook page, and a Twitter account.

            I would start posting videos to Youtube by creating powerpoint slides or by using the creative commons. I would then post those videos on the Facebook page, and then I would tweet them out.

            The more videos you can churn out the more traffic you will start to see. Once the traffic starts to gain momentum the more subscribers will come on board.

            Once you get subscribers start posting to the blog and send out email blasts to your subscribers leading them back to the blog post. On the posts you could have affiliate offers, adsense, your own product etc..

            Good luck!
            This is great advice I will put this into action.
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      • Profile picture of the author richpeasant
        Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

        This sounds amazing to make money from an
        actual hobby but if you had no money for a domain and hosting where
        would you start then?
        One well known marketer suggested going and raking some leaves.

        However, starting with $100 is a good suggestion which has been made
        here before many times.

        Using blogger without a domain name is another idea, then once you have
        a few dollars do a re-direct to the blog. Then go from there.

        And remember, there is no internet marketing 'governing body' you need
        approval from. Try your own thing and go with your gut.

        I usually come here when I have a problem (not for approval) and there are
        lots of ideas to read.

        I wish you the best. You are in good company here.

        It's said that once someone is born they stop thinking for themselves.
        I think people stop thinking for themselves once they enter internet
        marketing
        - Anon
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      • Profile picture of the author Highway55
        Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

        This sounds amazing to make money from an actual hobby but if you had no money for a domain and hosting where would you start then?
        If you don't have money for a domain and hosting you can always stand on the sidewalk with a sign for a day to get the $13 needed for a domain and a year's worth of hosting.
        Signature



        $1 'Set-it And Forget-it' IM Email Series
        With A Multiple Sales Conversion Guarantee!

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  • Profile picture of the author sonofGod
    Below are some easy ways you can do to make money online. . You don't need a lot of money for this but it will obviously involve you spending more of your time instead.

    1. Paid Surveys

    There are actually a lot of companies out there who will pay people to fill up survey forms. You can earn anywhere from $1 to $50 per survey. Answering surveys for money is one good way to earn side income the easy way. Just go to Google and do a search

    2. Write For Blogs

    There are a few requirements however such as
    Excellent English writing skills
    Knowledgeable in at least one niche (marketing, games, health, entertainment, web design/development, etc.) Don't worry about this part because you can go to Youtube and Google to search and learn about anything.

    HubPages – multi-niched directory where you can write articles and share Adsense earning.
    Squidoo – same with HubPages, has over 1 million users sharing Adsense revenue.

    4.) Free Article Directories

    This is one of the most common and effective ways to market products online for free and make money. The internet marketer will write articles about products that they want to promote and make money from and then publish them across the large article directories. Each article will contain a link to a product for sale within the body, placed strategically. If the article is written very well it will prompt the visitor that see the article to click the link and hopefully buy the product which will generate some money for you

    These are just a few places that I can think about off the top of my head. Hope that helps
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    • Profile picture of the author Marvon
      Originally Posted by sonofGod View Post

      Below are some easy ways you can do to make money online. . You don't need a lot of money for this but it will obviously involve you spending more of your time instead.

      1. Paid Surveys

      There are actually a lot of companies out there who will pay people to fill up survey forms. You can earn anywhere from $1 to $50 per survey. Answering surveys for money is one good way to earn side income the easy way. Just go to Google and do a search

      2. Write For Blogs

      There are a few requirements however such as
      Excellent English writing skills
      Knowledgeable in at least one niche (marketing, games, health, entertainment, web design/development, etc.) Don't worry about this part because you can go to Youtube and Google to search and learn about anything.

      HubPages - multi-niched directory where you can write articles and share Adsense earning.
      Squidoo - same with HubPages, has over 1 million users sharing Adsense revenue.

      4.) Free Article Directories

      This is one of the most common and effective ways to market products online for free and make money. The internet marketer will write articles about products that they want to promote and make money from and then publish them across the large article directories. Each article will contain a link to a product for sale within the body, placed strategically. If the article is written very well it will prompt the visitor that see the article to click the link and hopefully buy the product which will generate some money for you

      These are just a few places that I can think about off the top of my head. Hope that helps
      Great stuff thanks for sharing.

      Do you know anymore places where you could write articles and get paid?
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      • Profile picture of the author @tjr
        Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

        Great stuff thanks for sharing.

        Do you know anymore places where you could write articles and get paid?
        Constant-Content

        Iwriter

        Ineedarticles

        Textbroker

        To name a few. Now are they worth writing for? That's a matter of talent and circumstance...
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  • Profile picture of the author Miguelito203
    Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

    Hi all,

    What would your action plan look like if you had to start IM from scratch and had no money to invest?
    Nowadays, I'd recommend that someone have some money (at least $100 USD) to start. At the very least, you're going to have to buy a training program of some kind in order to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to make some money. When it comes to using free, promotional platforms, they've just become more and more strict over the years in terms of what you can promote, how many links you can use and all that stuff.

    Joey
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  • Profile picture of the author dreamingeyes
    I am not very much experience about your question too. But I have some idea and working on that. BlurbWiki
    This is my first site and I am working on it by adding up articles then I share them with facebook, g+. I also have posted links on web-directories and now a days try to post on forums and get backlinks. I have approved account from info links and will soon be approved from adsense too. Hence I am travelling towards success and IM. I hope you can do it too. Not very tough : )
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    • Profile picture of the author Marvon
      Originally Posted by dreamingeyes View Post

      I am not very much experience about your question too. But I have some idea and working on that. BlurbWiki
      This is my first site and I am working on it by adding up articles then I share them with facebook, g+. I also have posted links on web-directories and now a days try to post on forums and get backlinks. I have approved account from info links and will soon be approved from adsense too. Hence I am travelling towards success and IM. I hope you can do it too. Not very tough : )
      Thanks for sharing

      How do you plan to bring traffic SEO, social media or Paid advertisement?
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    • Profile picture of the author Peter Lee
      Nothing!! I would be honest with myself. If I do not have a single cent or if I choose not to spend a single cent and still like to start IM from scratch, I could not and would not do it. But on the other hand since I know what to expect when I restart my IM all over again I would simply do ONLY List Building since I know it works. I would expect to spend a minimum amount of money monthly for:

      An Autoreponder. ($19/mth)...this cost will increase as your list grows
      A Web Hosting Account.($10/mth)
      Domain name. ($10/year)

      Then I would need to have a budget of some more money perhaps at least $100/mth to grow my list using paid traffic (solo ads, funnel clicks purchase). Of course I could do away with this expense if I want to, and focus entirely on free traffic to grow my list. But since I'm restarting my business I know for a fact that that would be a bad decision as it would take much much longer to grow my list and therefore delay making money for me which would have its own set of demotivating factors working against me.

      So I would just budget for myself for at least $200 per month to restart my business. After all having decided to restart my IM just implies that I have failed before and would have to do things differently even realizing that spending more money than before is needed if I want to succeed in my business.
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      • Profile picture of the author Marvon
        Originally Posted by Peter Lee View Post

        Nothing!! I'd would be honest with myself. If I do not have a single cent or if I choose not to spend a single cent and still like to start IM from scratch, I could not and would not do it. But on the other hand since I know what to expect when I restart my IM all over again I would simply do ONLY List Building since I know it works. I would expect to spend a minimum amount of money monthly for:

        An Autoreponder. ($19/mth)...this cost will increase as your list grows
        A Web Hosting Account.($10/mth)
        Domain name. ($10/year)

        Then I would need to have a budget of some more money perhaps at least $100/mth to grow my list using paid traffic (solo ads, funnel clicks purchase). Of course I could do away with this expense if I want to, and focus entirely on free traffic to grow my list. But since I'm restarting my business I know for a fact that that would be a bad decision as it would take much much longer to grow my list and therefore delay making money for me which would have its own set of demotivating factors working against me.

        So I would just budget for myself for at least $200 per month to restart my business. After all having decided to restart my IM just implies that I have failed before and would have to do things differently even realizing that spending more money than before is needed if I want to succeed in my business.
        Thanks for sharing

        Where would you recommend buying traffic to build a list?
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        • Profile picture of the author Peter Lee
          Go to Facebook and search for people selling solo ads, funnel clicks. Join these FB Groups (search for buy/sell testimonials) and search for clickbanking partners too. These are your paid traffic resources. They work but cost some money. How fast you want to grow your list depends on how much budget you have although clickbank is a good way to grow your list with reduced spending.

          Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

          Thanks for sharing

          Where would you recommend buying traffic to build a list?
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  • Profile picture of the author DeadRooster
    Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

    Hi all,

    What would your action plan look like if you had to start IM from scratch and had no money to invest?

    Here's exactly what I would do:

    STEP 1: Create a digital product--either an ebook or a video (you can do this part for free).

    STEP 2: Find something to sell on eBay, start collecting cans or offer to mow a lawn or two until I got a hold of about $100.

    STEP 3: Get a domain name and web hosting.

    STEP 4: Utilize a free or $1 trial for a good autoresponder service.

    STEP 5: Use the left-over money to promote your product and build a list.

    Here's what I would definitely NOT do:

    Take most (broke) people's advice and spend 6-months building a blog and filling it with original content (although, realistically, it will take a LOT longer than that) and try to do everything for free until you start getting enough traffic to eke out that $100 so you can do what I suggested above.

    Seriously, think about what I'm saying here. It will save you a lot of time. And, time is more valuable than money. You can always get more money, but you can never get more time.

    Even if you completely fail at my recommendation, at least you found out you're not cut out for this business in a few days instead of wasting months of your life to find out.

    There's nothing wrong with building a blog, I think that's a great idea to enhance your business once you get some money rolling in, but I wouldn't start with one as a plan to make money.
    Signature
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    • Profile picture of the author Marvon
      Originally Posted by DeadRooster View Post

      Here's exactly what I would do:

      STEP 1: Create a digital product--either an ebook or a video (you can do this part for free).

      STEP 2: Find something to sell on eBay, start collecting cans or offer to mow a lawn or two until I got a hold of about $100.

      STEP 3: Get a domain name and web hosting.

      STEP 4: Utilize a free or $1 trial for a good autoresponder service.

      STEP 5: Use the left-over money to promote your product and build a list.

      Here's what I would definitely NOT do:

      Take most (broke) people's advice and spend 6-months building a blog and filling it with original content (although, realistically, it will take a LOT longer than that) and try to do everything for free until you start getting enough traffic to eke out that $100 so you can do what I suggested above.

      Seriously, think about what I'm saying here. It will save you a lot of time. And, time is more valuable than money. You can always get more money, but you can never get more time.

      Even if you completely fail at my recommendation, at least you found out you're not cut out for this business in a few days instead of wasting months of your life to find out.

      There's nothing wrong with building a blog, I think that's a great idea to enhance your business once you get some money rolling in, but I wouldn't start with one as a plan to make money.
      Great stuff man thanks for sharing.

      List building seems to be a popular choice to go.
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  • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

    Hi all,

    What would your action plan look like if you had to start IM from scratch and had no money to invest?
    I'd start a thread about it on the warrior forum, asking what to do,
    rather than using the search feature to find the other hundred times it's been asked already.
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    • Profile picture of the author salegurus
      Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

      I'd start a thread about it on the warrior forum, asking what to do,
      rather than using the search feature to find the other hundred times it's been asked already.
      I don't get why people are so fixated by this question either...
      But as you've mentioned we are subjugated to it on what seems to be a weekly bases...

      I have come to the conclusion that people don't use the search button because they beleive that THEIR question is so unique and insightful that there is zero possibility that anyone else could have come up with it (Just a theory)...
      Signature
      Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.

      ― George Carlin
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      • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
        Banned
        Originally Posted by salegurus View Post



        I have come to the conclusion that people don't use the search button because they beleive that THEIR question is so unique and insightful that there is zero possibility that anyone else could have come up with it (Just a theory)...
        I think it's more to do with sig file exposure myself.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nicole Sakoman
    Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

    Hi all,

    What would your action plan look like if you had to start IM from scratch and had no money to invest?
    If by no $ you mean absolute 0... then I would suggest offering some services on micro job sites like freelancer, fiverr, odesk... many people are afraid that they have nothing to offer... but they just didn't revealed what they have... You'll find out that you can relatively quickley earn $20 - $40 that will give you an opportunity to get hosting, domain and autoresponder to start with business...

    If you do have now $20 then you can get:

    -hosting - usually a middle plan from HostGator, that supports unlimited websites
    (now, some people will say don't get hostgator because of this, this and that)
    I suggest getting it from them, because you have good support from them, you can easily find coupons on google... if you find something bad with them, you can easily change hosting, and go somewhere else... however if you try to find immediately the best one, that will keep you out of action, and you'll be searching perfect hosting for the next 2 months

    -domain - NameCheap or Godaddy... everything from above applies for this one also

    -autoresponder- mailchimp... because it offers free for less than 500 subs
    (it can be any other hosting as long as it's free for now...)

    Make squeeze page and wordpress blog, put booth in WF signature.
    Make a optin form on your blog on the top and sidebar, find some free PLR ebooks/videos/software, and give it in exchange for email address (the same thing applies for booth wordpress blog optin form and squeeze page).
    Load your emails with interesting tips/tricks and put affiliate offers from clickbank/jvzoo etc. (most of mails to sell someone's product you can find on site of product under "affiliates" tab)

    Post interesting stuff on WF, but don't spam...

    That's roughly your free business!

    Nicole (:
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    • Profile picture of the author Marvon
      Originally Posted by Nicole Sakoman View Post

      If by no $ you mean absolute 0... then I would suggest offering some services on micro job sites like freelancer, fiverr, odesk... many people are afraid that they have nothing to offer... but they just didn't revealed what they have... You'll find out that you can relatively quickley earn $20 - $40 that will give you an opportunity to get hosting, domain and autoresponder to start with business...

      If you do have now $20 then you can get:

      -hosting - usually a middle plan from HostGator, that supports unlimited websites
      (now, some people will say don't get hostgator because of this, this and that)
      I suggest getting it from them, because you have good support from them, you can easily find coupons on google... if you find something bad with them, you can easily change hosting, and go somewhere else... however if you try to find immediately the best one, that will keep you out of action, and you'll be searching perfect hosting for the next 2 months

      -domain - NameCheap or Godaddy... everything from above applies for this one also

      -autoresponder- mailchimp... because it offers free for less than 500 subs
      (it can be any other hosting as long as it's free for now...)

      Make squeeze page and wordpress blog, put booth in WF signature.
      Make a optin form on your blog on the top and sidebar, find some free PLR ebooks/videos/software, and give it in exchange for email address (the same thing applies for booth wordpress blog optin form and squeeze page).
      Load your emails with interesting tips/tricks and put affiliate offers from clickbank/jvzoo etc. (most of mails to sell someone's product you can find on site of product under "affiliates" tab)

      Post interesting stuff on WF, but don't spam...

      That's roughly your free business!

      Nicole (:
      Great share! This seems like a perfect way to get started
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  • Profile picture of the author kursat
    I would have probably build my list earlier from a free autoresponder. Then go into product creation and do what I do right now, which is web design. I could have spent more time learning PHP at the beginning, so that is one thing I would do it earlier than later in my career.
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    • Profile picture of the author Marvon
      Originally Posted by kursat View Post

      I would have probably build my list earlier from a free autoresponder. Then go into product creation and do what I do right now, which is web design. I could have spent more time learning PHP at the beginning, so that is one thing I would do it earlier than later in my career.
      I had an idea earlier about starting an webdesign business but I have no clue where to start and where to get clients. Got any more advice on the subject?
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      • Profile picture of the author kursat
        Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

        I had an idea earlier about starting an webdesign business but I have no clue where to start and where to get clients. Got any more advice on the subject?

        There are a lot of paid and free resources. I actually started learning all from free services because I could not afford the courses. The whole design business involves a lot of different sub businesses so even if you learned just photoshop or html, you can get started. I am happy to answer any questions you might have, just PM me or contact me at my links on my signature. All the best.
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  • Profile picture of the author Yordi van Dijk
    I would have build my list way earlier, and at the same time branding myself as a blogger and after I have build up some trust with my readers, I would start selling ebooks or video courses with a paid membership section at the end of the sales funnel.
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  • Profile picture of the author discrat
    Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

    Hi all,

    What would your action plan look like if you had to start IM from scratch and had no money to invest?
    Hey Marvon,
    NOT over- emphasizing on trying to form my own Online properties with incessantly producing a lot of Blogs.

    I would have scaled it down some more, and focus on just a few.


    - Robert Andrew
    Signature

    Nothing to see here including a Sig so just move on :)

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    • Profile picture of the author slammer81
      Originally Posted by discrat View Post

      Hey Marvon,
      NOT over- emphasizing on trying to form my own Online properties with incessantly producing a lot of Blogs.

      I would have scaled it down some more, and focus on just a few.


      - Robert Andrew
      So Discrat - you are saying you spread yourself too thin in hindsight?
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  • Profile picture of the author BradCarroll
    I would offer a service to online marketers (or in today's climate, current marketers and wannabes). I'd learn while I earned, and use the money to support my IM endeavors. I would need that money because I'd be trying out paid traffic as soon as possible. SEO traffic is great for ROI if you do it right, but it just doesn't scale like paid traffic does.
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    • Profile picture of the author OnlineStoreHelp
      The assumption is I know what I know now. If that was the case, here is what I would do differently.

      Learn Drupal: I use wordpress a lot but I really think Drupal is a more powerful platform but with a larger learning curve. As much as I want to learn more on it, its hard to justify the time.

      Learn email marketing first - I still think its one of the most effective ways to market.

      Build a product around my background - Instead of learning all the new things, I could have sold products to people in the industry I left with a lot of credibility.

      Partner with someone in my industry right away. Having someone you have to report in with and work with is a great way of actually getting things don't quickly.

      Take an HTML and CSS class right away (free, online or book) to get a better knowledge of web design. I waited to long to really learn the ins and outs.

      If I had todays tools back then:

      Run a kickstarter for one of my products to gauge interest, get feedback and pay for the initial manufacturing outlay.

      Start my Youtube channel and start recording myself right away. I have gained weight in the last couple years and I don't like how I look on Camera right now which makes me shy away.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dmitrius
        There is a way to start quickly if you have no money, no list, no name and no product. You don't even need a WP, hosting or anything else.

        Just run a free hangout webinar where you sell something (f.ex. a serie of paid live webinars on the topic or some expensive services).

        If you don't have money, you should invest what you have - all your time and energy in it. Post announcements about your webinar everywhere you can. Then add some share buttons. You can expect to get 5-10 listeners online. So you can make 1-2 sales for $297-$497. Then you reinvest etc.

        Even if you don't succeed the very first time you can try again and again.

        P.S. I recommend this not because I train people selling with webinars = )) but because that's what I did when I started IM in my country 3 years ago. And that's what I'm doing right now when I exactly have to restart my IM from scratch again in a new market (Russian infomarket right now is getting down very quickly, you know).

        Cheers,
        Dmitry
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  • Profile picture of the author Slade556
    If you have no money to invest, not even $10 - $20 (which, come on, is really not that much!), then you could start a blog on a free platform. You could do affiliate marketing or try and monetize your blog best way you can (however, since it's a free platform ,you'd be very limited)
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  • Profile picture of the author RealCasher
    I would skip the PTC, Hyips, Forex, Stock trading and even Adsense years! and go directly to Affiliation & Marketing.

    But everything has a reason, without trial and error, you can't be succesful.. I mean if I didn't start by adsense, and making basic html sites and building a knowledge about domain names, hostings.... building an online stamina. How can I persist as an affiliate?

    If someone comes directly to an upper level (affiliate) he will be overwhelmed and confused, and he'll quit IM. (They say 97% fail on IM, maybe it's true.)
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  • I'd essentially do the same things that I did, but better in terms of certain specifics. These are the things that I'd do:

    • Since I'm based in a developing country with very minimal gainful employment and business oppurtunities for persons with disabilities like me (I'm completely blind) -- I'd first sell my services in microjob sites so as to cover my family's day-to-day expenses and save up on some money to scale up what I'm doing;

    • Since I can tap competitive manpower resources where I'm based, and also since I want to focus on providing valuable B2B (business to business) services and handle 15 or so corporate and SME clients at a time -- I'd target players in B2B and B2C markets, specifically those that operate in industries where I have specialized expertise in and those that want the unique value I can offer;

    • Set up a site, social media pages and content materials that effectively show the unique value that I can provide my target customers;

    • Do extensive market research and prospecting so as to identify the most suitable B2B and B2C players to target in my chosen industries;

    • Formulate custom sales / marketing / traffic generation / pre and post sales / upsales and tech support campaigns for each of my target prospects;

    • Cold contact each of my prospects so as to give them an attention-grabbing introduction of the custom value that I can provide them, an enticing description of how I can specifically collaborate with them so as to give them the value they want, a desirable overview of the custom plans that I formulated for them, and a compelling offer to set up a face-to-face meet-up or a phone appointment or an IM video conference so as to talk in detail about my custom proposals for them;

    • Close B2B service contracts with a paid 3-month trial agreement for finalizing SLA terms and renewable 6-month to 1-year contracts with NDAs / NCAs;

    • Provide mind-blowing results and amazing support to my existing customers so as to strengthen my strategic partnerships with them, which in turn can promote contract renewals, industry referrals, portfolio improvements, growth and expansion for my business; and

    • Continue to do market research and prospecting work so as to do the things above for my clients and to effectively grow my company...
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  • I've been doing this since 1996 or so and I would not do IM again nor would I encourage anyone to do it. I'm so burned out, I just can't code one more site (hence the use of Shopify for our sunglasses). I would tell people to use the internet as a supplement to a real world business and not just a way to sell half assed ebooks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dilip Mane
    To start IM from scratch with no money to invest upfront you first need to decide a strategy for a business model you would like to go with depending upon your knowledge about IM and skills that reinforce that knowledge.

    Whatever model you chose however, you ought to have a domain name and a hosting account to set up your online presence. So your first aim is to earn that much amount to cover these costs at least for one year. For that you have to sell your skills as a services to other businesses online.

    Then you can use your site for promoting a product or a service, either your own or someone else's. Initially, you have to take help of free traffic methods to generate income and then with substantial amount so generated you may go for paid traffic methods to scale up your sells.

    Rinse and repeat. Either within the same niche or with a different one that you are comfortable with.
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  • Profile picture of the author EPoltrack77
    Well if I was flat broke I guess I would find my market and area I want to enter, find and pick me a good quality product and maybe even write the owner and ask for a review copy so I can learn and see if its something I really want to be behind. Once all of that checks out I would direct link to the offer and shoot for my 1 or 2% conversion rate.

    As soon as I have made a sale or two and gotten paid I would invest everything back into the business and pick up a domain, hosting and a autoresponder service and go to work...

    I'd immediately start to separate myself away from what everybody else is doing which is direct linking and not providing any value up front. Just going for the sale

    Kinda a short way to live
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  • Profile picture of the author wolfmmiii
    If I had no money, I would forget about internet marketing and find a job. You need money to run a business.
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Originally Posted by Marvon View Post

    What would your action plan look like if you had to start IM from scratch and had no money to invest?
    I would start by developing a Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube presence with a Patreon campaign attached.

    I'd then offer my fans/followers/subscribers a free report with a link in the back to the sales page for a paid report.

    The initial investment from that would be hosting and a list provider. On the hosting, I'd start a blog with a podcast. And I'd upsell to a membership of some sort.

    That's a suitable starting point to gather a couple hundred a month from subscribers and patrons, and you can start developing your product line further.
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  • Profile picture of the author winnermarketing
    Without money??
    With any doubts I find a niche that passionate me, open a free blog and connect it with an
    AdSense account!!!
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  • Profile picture of the author darseypotter
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author swiftalliance
      If i were to start again, i will waste no time in making a funnel to make my own list. Think long term, not short term.

      Find a product to promote , create a landing page, connect with your list.
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  • Profile picture of the author Big Al
    I would make sure I was always learning a skill.

    Something that's valuable to others, something you can sell as a service (... if s**t hits the fan) and something that helps your business work better.

    Could be copywriting, could be driving paid traffic, could be social media. If you've a skill other people would pay for (... in addition to your business) you hedge you bets a bit too.

    Maybe I'm just too cautious!
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    I'd become an immediate freelancer. I'd exploit sites like Fiverr, Odesk, Freelancer, etc - and offer my services there. From the money that i make from that, i would start a new site, and go in some of the most obscure niches on earth - and dominate.
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    • Profile picture of the author robo916
      I'd get a job until I had some money to invest
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnGravelle
    I would work as a freelancer till I have couple of hundred bucks and then invest all in to paid traffic, only way to get back on surface in shortest time possible!
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