If You Had To Start From Scratch With Zero Money What Would You Do?

75 replies
I wanted to know if you had to start from scratch again and did not have a single penny to invest, what would you do?

What would you do differently now that you have learned what not to do and what is working?
#money #scratch #start
  • Profile picture of the author Will Edwards
    I would reverse-engineer the successful PPC marketers and join-in.

    Will
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  • Get a job. It takes money to make money. period.
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    • Profile picture of the author JoshuaG
      I'd make a controversial blog using blogger and interact in social media daily until my site had mega traffic. Then I would monitize it some how or just sell it and start on a new project with the money I'd earned.
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    • Profile picture of the author IncomePowerBoost
      Banned
      [DELETED]
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      • Profile picture of the author NicheMayhem
        Without a single penny I think you will be hard pressed to generate any kind of result. Having your own domain and hosting IMO is essential regardless of your intentions online. Without it you are not in control of anything and will be subject to the TOS of most free blog platforms which strictly say you cannot use their services for commercial reasons.

        So starting without a single penny I would begin by offering some sort of service I could provide such as writing or graphics etc and hold out long enough to generate 6 months worth of hosting fees and enough for a few domains.

        Once that was accomplished I would create 3 or more sites based around one subject to begin to create authority around a chosen niche market. There is a difference between a niche product and a niche market. A niche product might be a dog training manual but a niche market includes the training manual, dog collars, healthy dog food, dog toys etc etc. Utilizing each area of the niche market allows you to link all your sites together and create more relevancy for the SERPS as well as more exposure and possibilities to convert each visitor with multiple products and offers.
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        Whether you think you can, or think you can't, YOU'RE RIGHT!! <~~Henry Ford

        Check out my video gigs on fiverr!
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        • Profile picture of the author petevamp
          If I had to start over with absolutely nothing. I would first create a new blogger blog and monetize it with adsense. Now I would promote affiliate products from this blog although I would do so extremely sparingly for I have lost a few google accounts trying to use bloggers high pr rank to raise the rankings to my own sites.

          Second I would also begin creating a series of lenses. This series of lenses would be my basis point for my affiliate products. Once again using their ranking to help generate some cash flow coming in.

          Once I have built up enough cash to purchase a hosting account and a domain we will be right back on track to generating enough money onlne to live off of. I know there are a few out there who use traffic exchanges to get started. However I wouldn't waste my time at all for a te for they do not convert anywhere near as good as free google search engine traffic does.

          However with out a hosting account and a domain I would be losing one of my exploits to gain search engine ranking which is from submitting software to free software directories. I would like to point this out for I used it on my affiliate marketing site and out ranked cj.com with this method for the given term I was looking to obtain. However I am still far to low on that first page to start seeing any serious visitors from my position over cj.com

          Now I do have pretty much all the software I need to create and spin my articles as well as submit them with speed so I would be ok for starting with article creations and submits. However I would lose another vital aspect which would be my ar for I use a ar that is hosted on my hosting account so the 30k subscribers I have I would need to wait till I could get an aweber account to start sending them my emails.

          I am not saying this would be a perfect plan however I would be using my blogger blog as the main source to get things going and places like hubpages eza and squidoo to build the ranking and traffic up for the blog soley. Once you are able to generate enough traffic to the blogger blog and get your first check from adsense you should have more then enough to obtain a hosting account and a domain.
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    • Profile picture of the author George Wright
      Originally Posted by drunkenmonkey View Post

      Agreed!

      Whilst acknowledging that it IS possible to make money without spending a fortune...

      ...I believe that anybody trying to start an online business in todays competitive environment...which is significantly MORE competitive now than 10 years ago...(pure fact)...

      ...anybody trying to succeed for free or with very little money to invest...being totally frank and honest...

      ...are stacking the deck against themselves.

      There is no way on god's earth it is possible to have any measurable success with no budget.

      If anybody did in TODAYS climate...it would have been an absolute up-hill struggle!

      BUT, that said...if you want success bad enough...you will find a way...simple as that.
      I really liked the part I put in red.

      George Wright
      Signature
      "The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book." Mickey Spillane
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    • Profile picture of the author Lance K
      Originally Posted by InternetMarketingIQ View Post

      Get a job. It takes money to make money. period.
      Or make a job (temporarily at least). Freelancing is a great way to generate fast cash.
      Signature
      "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
      ~ Zig Ziglar
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    • Profile picture of the author ChickenMan
      Originally Posted by InternetMarketingIQ View Post

      Get a job. It takes money to make money. period.
      Wrong. It takes something called effort
      Signature

      If money grew on trees, we'd all die from a lack of oxygen.

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      • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
        Zero money? I doubt even I could do it and make anything substantial. Sure,
        I might make a few bucks eventually, but it would be a painful journey.

        At the very least, I would start with the following, which really isn't a lot to
        spend.

        Domain - $5
        Hosting - $5 monthly ($60 for the year)
        Aweber Autoresponder Account - $19.95 a month.

        All in all, you're spending a little over $300 for the year.

        Think about this.

        That's less than $1 a day.

        Now think about what you normally buy in your day that costs MORE than
        a dollar.

        If you buy a donut and coffee, that's MORE than a dollar.

        Do without it.

        If you buy a pack of cigs...stop smoking for crying out loud. You'll save
        about $2,500 a year and you'll live longer.

        Point is, the premise that somebody has NO money to start with is BS.

        Unless you're living under a rock, homeless and starving, you have at least
        $300 for the year to spend.

        Sorry, but I refuse to buy the "I have no money" excuse.

        Now, in addition to that $300 I spent, this is what I would do. I will simply
        outline this because there is no way to go into each thing in detail in the
        space of this post.

        1. Research and pick a niche with a HUGE demand where people spend
        money...LOTS OF MONEY.

        2. Find a product to sell to these people.

        3. Create a free report and newsletter to get these people onto my list.
        Make sure the free report has a link to the product.

        4. Setup a blog on my domain using WordPress (free) and start cranking
        out articles on that niche, putting a link to the free report in the signature
        of each article.

        5. Submit the articles to as many directories as I could to get them
        syndicated and acquire backlinks.

        6. Social network at the top social sites where people in this niche hang
        out.

        7. Make videos on the niche (Camstudio is free) and submit them to
        YouTube and other video sites, making sure you include a link to your
        free report.

        8. Write an actual review of the product and put it on my blog as well as
        submitting it to as many article directories that will accept it. Some
        directories won't accept review articles.

        9. As my list grows, I look to do JVs with other people in the same niche
        and eventually create my own product for this niche, now that I have
        the money to pay for a professional sales letter if I can't write one myself.

        10. After I start to see some money come in, I repeat the process with
        another niche, spending just the $5 on the domain since I already have
        the hosting.

        Repeat, repeat, repeat.

        Eventually, even if each niche is only bringing in a paltry $1,000 a month,
        10 of these niches has you up to 5 figures a month...6 figures a year plus.

        Is it a lot of work? Doing it this way...yes.

        But it works.

        That's what I would do.
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    • Originally Posted by InternetMarketingIQ View Post

      Get a job. It takes money to make money. period.
      And this comes from someone who's nickname is "Internet Marketing IQ"???

      I started with less than $100 bucks (basically hosting account and domain name).
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  • Profile picture of the author UltimateSolutions
    There are many free resources online to get you started. It takes time and a great deal of hard work developing a product or a service to get started. First join CJ.com or Clickbank and find a product or a service that best interests you. There are many free hosting accounts that you can apply for. It is easy to create a website and many have valuable options. Once you join and find a product or service, Learn all there is to learn about that product and or service and create a site dedicated to it. You can make money , Marketing and advertising your product and or service takes a great deal of dedication as well. There again there are many options available for free. Promote, promote, promote. There is a great deal of money to be made selling and or promoting other peoples products or services.

    You will find that creating an article or articles dedicated to your products or services can prove to be very valuable. There are hundreds of free sources online to post your articles.

    Always include revenue streams with your site as well. Adsense, clickbank, CJ.com are just a few of the most popular. Your content and advertising revenue should always match subject, Category, Keywords. etc

    (SEO) search engine optimization is an important part of your website. Google webmaster tools would be a great place to get an understanding of how it all works.
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  • Profile picture of the author George Wright
    Hi,

    I would fire up one of the many methods I've learned on making money from nothing.

    Then I'd invest that money I got out of thin air in advertising.

    Then I'd set here on the WF and talk about it.

    It takes money to make money simply isn't true. It's a myth perpatrated by those who know better, to keep "us" in line.

    George Wright
    Signature
    "The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book." Mickey Spillane
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    • Profile picture of the author Will Edwards
      Originally Posted by George Wright View Post

      Hi,

      I would fire up one of the many methods I've learned on making money from nothing.

      Then I'd invest that money I got out of thin air in advertising.

      Then I'd set here on the WF and talk about it.

      It takes money to make money simply isn't true. It's a myth perpatrated by those who know better, to keep "us" in line.

      George Wright
      Spot-on George!

      Will
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  • Profile picture of the author Rough Outline
    I started off with ziltch money. I just did article writing, still do it and it makes me good money.
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  • Profile picture of the author Luke McCormack
    I would unsubscribe from all the IM list I had joined and stick to one blueprint. Take action and persevere until success came with one system!

    Regards

    Nigel
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Chris Busa View Post

    I wanted to know if you had to start from scratch again and did not have a single penny to invest, what would you do?
    I think I'd start off with some free sites at places like Weebly, Yola and Blinkweb (not Blogspot and Squidoo and HubPages!!), using either their subdomains or a free domain-name from co.cc or whatever, until I could afford a $1 .info domain-name from GoDaddy. I'd become a Clickbank affiliate, get some review sites up with an opt-in using a free autoresponder (that would be the really painful part, because that's really not a good thing to do!), and start promoting by article marketing, writing such high quality articles that they get widely syndicated as quickly as possible. Much the same as I do now, in fact, but without spending a penny to get started.

    I'd invest in Aweber with the very first money I earn, though: that's the one thing for which having literally no start-up money is a great drawback.

    If I felt like mastering Wordpress (which I don't), I might even put up a load of Wordpress blogs on the free hosting at byethost.com (reliable hosting, no advertising, etc.)

    Originally Posted by Chris Busa View Post

    What would you do differently now that you have learned what not to do and what is working?
    I'd do surprisingly little differently from what I do now. But a lot differently from when I actually started, knowing nothing.

    I wouldn't waste any time promoting any high gravity products.

    I wouldn't waste any time promoting any products with a vendor's opt-in on the sales page.

    I wouldn't waste any time trying to promote anything without building lists, or without having a proper website of my own (which costs nothing).

    I wouldn't waste any time writing articles for other people at $50 per hour if/when I could be applying that time to my own business more profitably at an earlier stage.

    You actually need very, very little money to start. A few $ for a few .info domain-names helps, and enough to pay Aweber $20 per month (and the first month's only $1). You really don't need to spend money, apart from that. Spending on hosting, and on .com domain-names is completely unnecessary to start off.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lauryn
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post


      I'd invest in Aweber with the very first money I earn, though: that's the one thing for which having literally no start-up money is a great drawback.

      I'd do surprisingly little differently from what I do now. But a lot differently from when I actually started, knowing nothing.

      I wouldn't waste any time promoting any high gravity products.

      I wouldn't waste any time promoting any products with a vendor's opt-in on the sales page.


      You actually need very, very little money to start. A few $ for a few .info domain-names helps, and enough to pay Aweber $20 per month (and the first month's only $1). You really don't need to spend money, apart from that. Spending on hosting, and on .com domain-names is completely unnecessary to start off.
      So you'd start listbuilding from "day 1" of having websites?
      Signature

      I Go Hard = "Slanguage" for putting forth a lot of effort.

      Don't be an arse and try to flip something you clearly have no knowledge of against me.

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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Lauryn View Post

        So you'd start listbuilding from "day 1" of having websites?
        For the model of business that I'd want to set up, myself, yes (I'd want to do affiliate marketing of Clickbank-style products, by article marketing, because that's what I know how to do, and I know I can make a very good living from it and build up a valuable, asset-based business that way).

        I accept, of course, that there are plenty of other ways to make a living online which don't require list-building.
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        • Profile picture of the author Lauryn
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          For the model of business that I'd want to set up, myself, yes (I'd want to do affiliate marketing of Clickbank-style products, by article marketing, because that's what I know how to do, and I know I can make a very good living from it and build up a valuable, asset-based business that way).

          I accept, of course, that there are plenty of other ways to make a living online which don't require list-building.
          Maybe it's because I don't understand it, or hate ridiculous emails from a bunch of people, but I am terrified of listbuilding.

          When I say I don't understand it, I mean the "basics" of how to do so successfully and how to market without irritating subscribers.
          Signature

          I Go Hard = "Slanguage" for putting forth a lot of effort.

          Don't be an arse and try to flip something you clearly have no knowledge of against me.

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          • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
            Banned
            Originally Posted by Lauryn View Post

            Maybe it's because I don't understand it, or hate ridiculous emails from a bunch of people, but I am terrified of listbuilding.

            When I say I don't understand it, I mean the "basics" of how to do so successfully and how to market without irritating subscribers.
            I also didn't used to like receiving "ridiculous emails from a bunch of people", and that was exactly how I felt about them. I don't mind them so much now, because the worse they are, the more flattering they are (indirectly - by comparison!) about what I'm sending out myself.

            I think that - in principle - autoresponder emails shouldn't be too difficult for an article marketer to do, because what's attracting people onto your list, originally, is your articles. Your articles take them from wherever they first see an article to your website, to your opt-in, to your list, and so on. So all you have to do is write your autoresponder emails in the same "tone of voice" as you write your articles, and you're giving people "more of the same" - the kind of stuff you already know attracted them in the first place.

            For this reason, I think article marketers actually have an advantage at list-building. Of course, I say this with all the objectivity and impartiality of someone who just happens to be an article marketer.
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          • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
            Originally Posted by Lauryn View Post

            Maybe it's because I don't understand it, or hate ridiculous emails from a bunch of people, but I am terrified of listbuilding.

            When I say I don't understand it, I mean the "basics" of how to do so successfully and how to market without irritating subscribers.
            Lauryn, I can't answer for Alexa, but here's my take for what it's worth...

            The real "basic" of list building is an exchange of value. You offer your subscribers something of value. It could be knowledge, entertainment, or a heads-up about a new product or a good deal. In return, they give you something of value. They give you their attention, and some of them give you their money, whether directly via a product sale or indirectly via an affiliate commission.

            Many of the ridiculous emails you get are from people who forget that basic equation.

            You market to them without irritating them by setting expectations from the beginning, and then fulfilling those expectations. If you promise them a weekly newsletter every Thursday, with occasional mailings outside the schedule, and then you hammer them everyday with offers, you've violated their expectations.

            The same goes if you never make any kind of offer, and condition them to expect only free content. When you hit them up with an offer, no matter how good it is, you've broken the pattern.

            So go ahead and start collecting those emails. Set their expectations and honor them. Treat your list with respect and look for an honest exchange of value. You should do very well...

            Edit: I answered the phone while typing my post, and hit the submit button only to find that Alexa has answered for herself. Good answer, too...
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          • Profile picture of the author Manie Amari
            Originally Posted by Lauryn View Post

            Maybe it's because I don't understand it, or hate ridiculous emails from a bunch of people, but I am terrified of listbuilding.

            When I say I don't understand it, I mean the "basics" of how to do so successfully and how to market without irritating subscribers.
            I would suggest finding a way to overcome this fear.

            If I were you I would find a coach. Someone who is good at list building and discuss this problem with them. If they can't help find someone else who can.

            If you don't get involve with list building, then your not competing with your competitors effectively in your market and your leaving a hell lot of money on the table!


            Kindest

            Manie
            Signature

            This will NOT be up for long. Get it now whilst You still can. Btw it's FREE...
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          • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
            Originally Posted by Lauryn View Post

            When I say I don't understand it, I mean the "basics" of how to do so successfully and how to market without irritating subscribers.
            Talk to your subscribers like people. Most of the time, you won't be marketing to them. You'll be hanging out with them and being friendly.

            Then, when you have a marketing message, you won't just be some marketer. You'll be their friend.
            Signature
            "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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            • Profile picture of the author RashmiP
              If I would have zero money, I would start typing and transcribing job from my home. This will cost me nothing except my computer and typing skills. But I will earn a handsome income with these jobs with my knowledge and skills.
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              • Profile picture of the author Matthew Iannotti
                Originally Posted by RashmiP View Post

                If I would have zero money, I would start typing and transcribing job from my home. This will cost me nothing except my computer and typing skills. But I will earn a handsome income with these jobs with my knowledge and skills.

                Why not just start emailing businesses and offer to do a free article with distribution? After they see your worth they may pay you a few hundred a month to keep you around.

                All you need is a simple website, a computer, and the internet.

                Say you pay 3 bucks a month for hosting. You can get a good 1-800 number with a professional recording and directory for 12 bucks a month.

                Where else could you start a legit biz for 15 bucks a month?
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        • Profile picture of the author StuartWooster
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          For the model of business that I'd want to set up, myself, yes (I'd want to do affiliate marketing of Clickbank-style products, by article marketing, because that's what I know how to do, and I know I can make a very good living from it and build up a valuable, asset-based business that way).

          I accept, of course, that there are plenty of other ways to make a living online which don't require list-building.
          Many interviews I have read have asked questions such as "If you could go back to the point of starting your site and tell yourself something, what would it be?"

          Typically the internet marketer being interviewed replies with "Start an Email list from day one!"
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  • Profile picture of the author Lauryn
    Article Marketing, SEO studying and writing on content sites like Demand to generate money.
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    I Go Hard = "Slanguage" for putting forth a lot of effort.

    Don't be an arse and try to flip something you clearly have no knowledge of against me.

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    • Profile picture of the author theory expert
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye View Post

      Find some hot CPA offers and promote them with offline flyers.

      Seriously.
      Better than that, find people with a following and advertising knowlege and have them promote your CPA
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  • This can be done. Ive actually done it. 6 years ago I only had 100 bucks in my account...found a good selling affiliate program..promoted it with adwords and ysm...I was making about 400/ week.

    Then I instantly quit my job and used that money to invest in other online ventures.

    Today (since things have changed a little bit since the google cash days and since I have developed a lot more skills)..Id do it a little different.

    I would start off writing articles for other people (using a rentacoder or elance account)...save the money I earned and invest it in more costly online ventures, like creating ebooks, writing sales copy and selling stuff through clickbank or a number of other things that "cost" a little money to do.

    If you truly have nothing to start out with I would start by reading all the FREE information and suggestions on this forum. I would educate the heck out of myself.

    The more you know about what you are doing the easier it is to do.

    I think the biggest mistake newbies make is not making educated decisions on their investments.

    For example: If I promote a program through adwords I know for a fact if its going to sell based on the sales copy and the competition and cpc. Im able to make an educated decision BEFORE I invest one dime.

    Or If I create my own product the same applies.

    This is the biggest problem I see with newbies. They read a book, do what it tells them and cross their fingers hoping it works and 90% of the time they are flushing money down the drain because they didnt make a calculated investment.

    Learn to calculate your risk, and profit margin based on either your knowledge experience or both and you cant fail.

    Diversify HEAVILY.

    I have 10 LOW risk high gain projects going at any given time. If only one works...Im making big money..if they all fail I have lost little.

    But before you do any of the above invest in educated. 90% of this asset (education) can be found free and if you chose the RIGHT mentors (trustworthy) youll have made a good investment of your time.

    Just dont make the newbie mistake of bouncing around blindly from sales pitch to sales p[itch throwing good money after bad. Thats how you end up spinning your wheels.

    So...put yourself in a position (educate yourself) so that you can understand your market, your competition. Calculate your risk and gain.

    THEN Pick out 10 money making methods that are low risk high gain and each day spend about 30 minutes on each. Ive been doing this for years and my business is build on this method.

    I have had a few crash and burn. Some have died out some have grown. There have been many ups and downs. But I have also made a lot of money.

    And you can rest assure if one died out today because of some google slap or something else All my eggs are not in one basket.

    But if I lost everything today, I know I could at least make a few hundred a day writing articles for other people or writing sales copy. My family ant gonna starve.

    And thats another thing. Learn a SKILL. Thats something money cant buy and it will keep food in your belly
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    If I had zero money I'd get a job. While you can make money without spending any, it takes longer and you will eventually have to waste a lot of time retooling your business or you'll limit your income potential.

    So I get a job and earn enough to pay for a domain name, hosting, and an autoresponder. I'd also keep working that job until I was making as much online as from the job so I had some money to invest in things as needed.

    Then I'd decide what market I wanted to start off in. I'd create my first commercial product, then write a few free reports. I'd distribute some free reports to ebook directories and sites like Scribd to get some links and traffic. I'd set up a couple reports on squeeze pages to build my mailing list. All the free reports would sell my commercial product.

    I'd build some content for the site and SEO the heck out of it to get organic traffic. I'd buy some traffic via PPC and I'd encourage people to link to my site by offering them a reward for doing so. I quickly built hundreds of links to my first site this way. I'd give review copies of my commercial product to as many legit newsletter publishers as I could find, and offer them 50-75% commissions for reviewing my product.

    In the meantime I'd be working on a second product to tie in with the first. I repeat the process for this product, plus offer it to my mailing list and those who bought the first product.

    There's more, but I have to run. Wife wants me to do a little repair work. By that point though, I should be making enough to have several options open to me.
    Signature

    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel44
    I personally would start article writing and forum posting then get a couple of niche sites online. I would go from there and expand, eventually outsource my niche campaigns
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    • Profile picture of the author stacyman
      Originally Posted by Daniel44 View Post

      I personally would start article writing and forum posting then get a couple of niche sites online. I would go from there and expand, eventually outsource my niche campaigns
      I agree with this.

      I started article marketing and then later came to this forum asking questions. I was surprised to see how many visits I got to my website from my forum signature.

      The article marketing and forum posting helped me get an old affiliate website of mine to #1 in Google for "Instant T1 Prices". It also appears on the first and second page for some other keywords as well. The problem is I'm getting no traffic from Google because no one is really searching for those keywords.

      So then I got the idea that I needed to find a new affiliate program to promote. So here's what I'm doing now.

      I found a really good affiliate program, got a really good squeeze page, got an auto-responder set up and created a new forum signature promoting my new affiliate program.

      Now my task is to help people by writing informative articles and posting in forums. Actually, I'm not very good at writing articles myself, so I outsource that part. Sometimes you have to go through a few writers to find one you like. If you can write your own articles, even better.

      Hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author BradBergeron
    I would probably freelance until I gained enough money to buy a domain and cheap hosting. You need a little bit of capital to get going with online ventures, but thankfully not hundreds of thousands of dollars like you do for an offline business
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  • Profile picture of the author rmolina88
    I started with zero dollars doing my own article marketing, but I was targeting really bad keywords for my niche.

    I'd go back and do the proper keyword research first. That would have saved me the first 3 months I wasted.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marhelper
    I honestly would not change much as it is all a process and that process is as important as anything, especially when it comes to long term success.
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  • I'd start by developing a marketing plan and go from there. You can't start with no money, but you can start with very little money. Find someone to follow that is successful and that makes sense to you. There are some wonderful internet mentors, but some absolute crooks as well. Do your homework.
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  • Profile picture of the author macchiavelli
    If I had to start with zero money online, I would definetly start out with writing articles and selling them.

    Or to get some fast sales work a bit on yahoo answers, even tho' it wouldnt produce much revenue, it would be a start.

    But definetly I would write articles daily and sell or submit them myself.
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  • Profile picture of the author macadamian
    TALK ...less

    LISTEN....loudly
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  • Profile picture of the author JackPowers
    I would get a job in an SEO firm, as an intern if nessecary, then go to as many conventions I could to learn from the best.

    Then I would offer services (writing, submission, backlinking) to others and use that money to invest in some subscriptions.

    Then go to work at creating affiliate sites promoted trough a mix of article marketing and SEO longterm. I'd flip those affiliate sites which failed and build on those that succeeded.

    Also, I would work A LOT more and outsource where I could.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris30K
    get a part time job......invest in domains or cpc advertising
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    Chic Fil A > McDonald's

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  • Profile picture of the author Matthew Iannotti
    You will not succeed, until you want it as bad as the need to breath.
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    • Profile picture of the author Manie Amari
      Originally Posted by EfitnessNYC View Post

      You will not succeed, until you want it as bad as the need to breath.
      Great quote! I'v heard this some where but can't remember.:confused:

      I think when your mindset changes into this way you take loads of action and find a way.


      Kindest


      Manie
      Signature

      This will NOT be up for long. Get it now whilst You still can. Btw it's FREE...
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      • Profile picture of the author Matthew Iannotti
        Originally Posted by Manie Amari View Post

        Great quote! I'v heard this some where but can't remember.:confused:

        I think when your mindset changes into this way you take loads of action and find a way.


        Kindest


        Manie

        Here: (It's not my video by the way remove if this breaks any forum rules..)

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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Jordan
    I'll write product reviews using Xomba and be an affiliate marketer for Amazon. This works for me and I have not spent a single $ for it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Big Al
    Me ... I'd learn a skill that was an important part of the IM equation (or could be).

    Get good at that skill (eg. article writing, copywriting, Wordpress blogs, Camtasia, Webinars, Membership sites etc) and offer my services as a freelancer.

    Then I'd start to leverage that knowledge by creating products and teaching others.

    The I'd start to leverage that product and teaching experiences somemore ...

    And then I'd leverage that .... (you get the idea).

    In my opinion it's very easy to get into IM without ever developing a real skill which allows you to provide value to others. When I mean a real skill ... to become an expert and know that subject. To pass that 'Oprah' test where you'd happily go on her show and tell the world that you are a "....[insert skill] expert"

    Al
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  • Profile picture of the author MassiveMarketer
    I start with something free and available out there. Be resourceful and work my way back. Get Google Adsense up & runnng, learn with every step I take and make sure I don't make the same mistake again.
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    • Profile picture of the author Hanz
      I'd sell my comic book collections on eBay first off, sell my statues and busts and other collectibles too. That would net me a few thousand at the least in total. Then I'd probably do one of several things:

      -Buy a quality WSO which has been endorsed by reputable members as a legit product which produces results and follow the plan to a T.

      -Take my own advice and create PLR in the hottest and most in-demand niches, adding in quality original graphics and top notch content which people can use for their own purposes or sell to their list. Do this and expand my own list at the same time.

      -Do freelancing in the areas of design and writing. Build up a good rep which would lead to more work for more money.

      These are some good steps I could take. There are more.
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  • Profile picture of the author santoris
    If no money, just use the free stuff to build your website.

    Free domain, free hosting, free auto responder(500 subscriber only).

    I think most the problem is on the traffic.
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    • Profile picture of the author jliftness
      I would definitely start a blog...And drive traffic with the intent of building a nice list...I would use the free things like Youtube and all of the other video and article sites....Google keywords is free so you can figure out what phrases will work well to drive visitors to your videos and articles.....Convert then to a list from there....

      Then you can get them to like you by delivering a ton of free content that helps them get closer to their goal....Then the final piece is your paid product....
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    • Profile picture of the author Silas Hart
      I'd probably do some black hat, yet victimless, stuff until I had enough mone to do what I needed to do. Knowing what I know now, it's a direct path. I know that if I went completely broke and lost everything (which would be nearly impossible) I could restart my business with about $2,000.
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    • Profile picture of the author keith88
      Make good friends with article marketing but you really don't have much to work with and test. You some money to start out.
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  • Profile picture of the author twelveo
    if i had zero money, i would really start working for money first.
    because everything you do online won't pay you until some time later.
    so yup, get instant money by doing jobs, to feed myself.
    with more money, do everything else like what everyone's saying here.

    this is a good post, because it explores the different ideas of starting with little or no money. Thanks !
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  • Profile picture of the author Intrepreneur
    Build a website that helps people conquer a problem.

    Find the people with the problem on Twitter and start networking with them.

    Being polite and all that too.. no big massive ugly salesletter to give them a bad opinion. Just something that looks normal and inviting.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lauryn
    Thanks guys.

    I'll be reading some list building material I found recently and I'll start working on listbuilding right away -- as well as product creation.
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    I Go Hard = "Slanguage" for putting forth a lot of effort.

    Don't be an arse and try to flip something you clearly have no knowledge of against me.

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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Ho
    I'd offer some form of service like design or writing and when I've got a decent sum say about a few hundred I'd go into adsense.
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    • Profile picture of the author swilliams09
      Originally Posted by Paul Ho View Post

      I'd offer some form of service like design or writing and when I've got a decent sum say about a few hundred I'd go into adsense.

      This is what I've done. I started a service based business for other warriors, it's actually taken off and is growing so I haven't been persuing IM like I wanted to. After a few more months, I'll be in a better financial position to take some chances on other IM techniques. If you have a skill, sell that first.
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  • Profile picture of the author SuperStu
    Hi all, some great posts here for relative new comers.

    Thanks and keep it up.
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  • Profile picture of the author elise
    I think having some money is always best, but it's still possible to profit without any.

    I would set up some landing pages using a free wordpress blog or blogger blog (or even squidoo) and then start writing articles like mad. Promote in formus, social media, etc. I guess it would be general bum marketing. Effective is some ways, but obviously in the long term it would be better to invest in a real website and other tools such as list building software.
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  • Profile picture of the author willyboy104
    Interesting responses here, if I was to start again with no money, assuming I had some knowledge and skills which I could capitalise on I would offer these skills whilst undercutting the competitors to ensure I would create a large enough custom as quickly as possible.

    With this money, let's say $50-$100 I would purchase a domain name & hosting, a high quality PLR Product with a sales page and all the graphics/content you would need to get going and set up my first website.

    I would then create a blog on the same website as the main site and another directory with the sales page in. I would add my own banners to the blog and add the articles.

    I would then submit the articles to ezine articles for a sudden burst of traffic, rewriting the titles I would then submit these to the top 10 (in my opinion) other article directories.

    Assuming I have already added all the essential plugins such as Google Analytics, Google sitemaps, All in one SEO, Homepage excerpts plugin and the rest. I would continue writing articles, perhaps double what I received when purchasing the PLR and repeat the previous step.

    Having gained a good amount of traffic by now, I should of been able to test whether this converted on my blog to a sale. If not I would tweak, and repeat.

    Adding a couple of other marketing strategies in to the mix and tweaking my campaign I would be guaranteed to see a result one day...as they say persistance is the key to success.
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    • Profile picture of the author Doug Wakefield
      Funny this thread comes up. I am actually doing this now (well before and after this post anyways :p).

      I have resources available, so I will use them. If I didn't have these resources I would work to them ASAP.

      I will be using Hosting and a domain (hostgator) and an autoresponder (Aweber). I will also be spending another $20 as well later on. Add to that the creation of an E-Junkie account to handle the processing which is $5 5 days after I prepare the launch, but free initially.

      I am a capable writer, more than able to whip up a bunch of articles about any topic (fumbling through research when needed). So I will create my income stream with a writing basis. Something that is easily handled by me to start, but just as easily outsourced later on as well.

      I am actually in need of some fast cash, so a blog and waiting for Ezine Article traffic will not do. So I am going to be using this forum to get some fast cash.

      I don't really have time to set up and run a service right now in the prime of my J.O.B. season, so ghostwriting won't do. But instead of that I plan to create some PLR packs to sell off.

      Step one involves picking a few niches to create the content for. I've been around the block a while now, so this isn't hard. A quick scan of Clickbank, a few CPA networks, and the news sites gives me plenty of options. I also am an expert in another niche making it easy to write about and a natural choice. Even if it takes me an hour per article (which is the pace of the first pack, btw) it is important to have nothing short of quality. I may not be aiming for perfection, but I am aiming to make people very happy.

      I have one of these packages created already (a harder one to write for), knocking out the easy one next, leaving the last two for tomorrow. Packs are 5-10 articles by the way.

      Next step involves setting up a WSO with my offer. I plan to sell each package for about .40 an article (so $2-$4 each). I will also make a bundle of all the packs available for about .30 an article.

      The whole time I am selling, I am creating a list of buyers to offer further packs to. Modeling my PLR business after a few other successful warriors I will then continue to add to my packages and products by using my autoresponder to ask for suggestions on topics on the first few sequences (and setting it up to happen again later regularly as a reminder).

      After the first week or so is set up in the autoresponder sequence, I will then remodel a website I had set up for a ghostwriting service to handle the selling of my PLR packs. To help satisfy the WSO requirement, I will set the price to $1 an article on the website. This shouldn't take a lot of time to do as the basic framework of the site has been up for about a year as a "just in case" situation.

      Once I get my finances in check around the house (the need for the quick infusion of cash). I would then start the search to outsource some of the content creation, while expanding back into the niches I started out in a year ago... this time with product creation instead of affiliate marketing.

      I will agree that it doesn't take money to make it, but having a little to spend will help things out a bunch.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Murphy
    1) Spend VERY little time looking and a lot more time doing
    2) Learn keyword research
    3) Buy a targeted domain name to promote an affiliate product
    4) Promote the crap out of that product and NOTHING else until the site ranked #1 and was making regular, steady sales
    5) Do services to make cash
    6) Learn to outsource to not have to sit and do those services

    Learn, apply, Learn, apply.
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    • Profile picture of the author Matthew Iannotti
      Originally Posted by Mike Murphy View Post

      1) Spend VERY little time looking and a lot more time doing
      2) Learn keyword research
      3) Buy a targeted domain name to promote an affiliate product
      4) Promote the crap out of that product and NOTHING else until the site ranked #1 and was making regular, steady sales
      5) Do services to make cash
      6) Learn to outsource to not have to sit and do those services

      Learn, apply, Learn, apply.

      Mike's number 1 ...Bingo!
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      • Profile picture of the author theory expert
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Mike Murphy View Post

        1) Spend VERY little time looking and a lot more time doing
        2) Learn keyword research
        3) Buy a targeted domain name to promote an affiliate product
        4) Promote the crap out of that product and NOTHING else until the site ranked #1 and was making regular, steady sales
        5) Do services to make cash
        6) Learn to outsource to not have to sit and do those services

        Learn, apply, Learn, apply.
        Originally Posted by EfitnessNYC View Post

        Mike's number 1 ...Bingo!
        except for the zero money part.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bluewater
    I'm another of those who believes if you're not willing to invest in your business from the outset then it's probably not worth trying in the first place.

    I also don't buy the 'I have no money' line, anyone who can afford a computer and an Internet connection has enough cash to get started properly by cutting back on things they currently spend money on. Some may say, well the guy could be a down and out working from the free Internet at the library and eating at the soup kitchen - but to that I'd say starting an online business should be the least of his priorities right now.

    Of course, it can be done but waiting for adsense payment and affiliate commissions from submitting youtube vids or writing hubpages is not time efficient. Far better to get yourself out there and wash a couple of neighbours cars, or cut someones grass for $5 a time. Cut 10 lawns or wash 10 cars and you've got $50 to play with - that could last you 6 months in this business.

    First month start up costs:
    $5 for a hosting account
    $8 for a domain
    $1 (or free) list building provider

    Total $14 or less than £10.

    Affiliate marketing must have the lowest entry bar of any business I can think of. I guess that's why so many people fail.
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Bluewater View Post

      Affiliate marketing must have the lowest entry bar of any business I can think of. I guess that's why so many people fail.
      More precisely, so many people fail because while getting started is easier than just about any other business... a LOT easier... running the business and making it successful isn't any easier at all.
      Signature
      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason_Lewis
    Several great points made so far.

    Steven makes one in particular that I think should be repeated. He mentioned that to say that you 'don't have any money to spend' is probably less than truthful. Of course there are exceptions, but for the most part, most of us could get a hold of say, an extra $30/mth to start an email marketing campaign.

    It's actually that type of thinking that presents a bigger stumbling block to our success than the lack of money does.

    Most of us could make a few minor changes to our spending habits and find a way to scrape $30 together each month. It may require self discipline, certainly, but if our desire to succeed was strong enough, the discipline becomes easy.

    For instance, if the government started taxing you for oxygen and the charge was $30/mth, would your response be the same? Would you say, "Oh well, I don't have it. I guess I'll have to go without this month?" Or, would it be the first thing you set aside money for each month?

    The financial circumstances were the same in both scenarios, the only thing that changed was the desperate need to keep alive.

    Now if we decided to approach our business with that same desperate need to keep it alive and flourishing - our results would be astronomical!

    So, to say that we have 'no money' to spend, in most cases, is probably untrue.

    That being said, if I was to start over from scratch with very limited funds, I would do the one thing that just about every highly successful marketer/company does and that is - SET UP AN EMAIL MARKETING CAMPAIGN.

    I would find a niche with a starving crowd - purchase a hosting account, a domain name and set up an autoresponder account ($30/mth total) - create a valuable free offer to give away in exchange for their email address - nurture my list by over-delivering value for free and THEN recommend affiliate products that they would find useful. After my income started to materialize, I would learn effective product creation and spend a certain amount of time each day developing my own product to sell within my chosen niche.

    I understand and appreciate that there are many different marketing strategies that work well. I think this thread itself is a testament to that fact.

    However, I feel strongly that email marketing provides the most return for your efforts (you have the ability to market repeatedly to people you know have interest in your niche) and when you combine that with how relatively easy and inexpensive it is to get started and maintain, you wind up with a business strategy that every business can flourish with -Low investment - High Yield.

    So there's my take on starting from scratch. Although the strategy is important, the real catalyst for success is in your mental approach.

    Our desire to succeed is a direct indicator of how successful we will actually be.

    Just about everyone wants to be successful. We're human beings and we all have a desire to have nice things, live comfortably and enjoy life. Simply wanting to be successful doesn't separate us from the pack.

    Developing the discipline skills that it actually takes to become successful is where most of us fall off. It's so easy to hide behind things like, 'It takes money to make money,' 'I just don't have the time,' 'I can't find the proper guidance,' ect, and we wind up convincing ourselves that our lack of success is a product of extenuating circumstances beyond our control.

    The reality of it is - we simply do not want it bad enough. It isn't that important to us.

    If you're starting from scratch, my strongest suggestion would be this -

    Take a weekend and consider what you would do with your life if money was not a problem. If you could wave a magic wand and live any life you wanted, doing anything you wanted - what would it be?

    Then ask yourself what's stopping that from happening. You only get one life and you owe it to yourself to live that life on your terms.

    More then likely, a lack of money will be what's standing your way. Understanding that is amazing. In order for you to live the life you've always dreamed of - you just need to solve your money problem. In order to solve your money problem - you just need an avenue that will allow you to earn enough money to carry out your dreams.

    The great news is - you've already found that outlet. Internet Marketing can provide you with the ability to never have to worry about money again. It may take you five, six, seven years (less if you're extremely driven), but that's a small price to pay to live the life you've always dreamed about living.

    Identify your goals - Identify the obstacles standing in your way - Come up with a plan to overcome those obstacles and then - Put your plan into action.

    So many of us fail to do this and our results are indicative of that fact.

    Whether we're starting from scratch or our business is already off the ground, it's imperative to our long-term success that we identify what we truly want out of life and then tailor make our plans to achieve that.

    Once we do this, the power of our goals and the desire to meet them provides the momentum we need to propel us towards them.

    That's the real 'secret' of success.

    The level of our desire determines whether or not we allow obstacles to stand in our way and we can control the level of our desire by getting ultra-clear on what it is we want out of life and then creating an achievable plan for accomplishing that.

    No matter what stage we're at in our careers - whether we're starting from scratch or we're mid-stage - let's make sure we've taken the time to establish what it is that we want out of life and that our plan is structured to make that a reality.

    I wish you all the best. Great thread!
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  • Profile picture of the author theory expert
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Chris Busa View Post

    I wanted to know if you had to start from scratch again and did not have a single penny to invest, what would you do?

    What would you do differently now that you have learned what not to do and what is working?
    Brokering is another one. Sourcing products you know people want and contacting buyers with your cheap prices. You need zero money to be a middleman.
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris Busa
      Wow I did not expect to get the response like this

      Yeah If I were to start again I think facebook maybe the answer for me, like I said in another thread there are only 2 things you need in place to make money online...

      ...a decent offer and targeted traffic

      with over 500 million users on facebook now I think there is more than enough traffic to go around even if every single person on this forum used it as there main source of traffic.

      with a group you can basically build your own list without a auto-responder and a fan page is like making a mini site.

      then you can use the viral nature of facebook by basically having others promote your pages/groups/events ect... for you without them even knowing it.

      thats where I think I would start and btw thanks for all of your input on this thread I am sure most newbies will appreciate it.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Durham
    I would:

    A: Find a friend with a phone and internet access.
    B: Explain my dire situation to them.
    C: Ask them if I could work off it for 3-4 days...
    D: I would sell somebody a website.
    E: I would make $1500.
    F: I would get my own phone and internet, and thank my friend for helping me get through a hard time.

    Thats EXACTLY what I would do, and as George Wright says, "Have Done".
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  • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
    Can we assume we have Internet access? If so, then step-by-step.

    I'd get a FREE web site, I'd use Tripod because they just upgraded.
    I'd get a FREE Skype account and some FREE software to record Skype calls.

    I'd visit the WF and ask for the opportunity to do an INTERVIEW with a successful warrior.

    I'd write out some well thought out questions, send them to "Warrior" who agrees, give him a chance to digest and sketch out answers.

    I'd then execute the Skype call. Record it.

    Offer it UNedited for FREE to Warriors, well, I'd ask for their permission, that is, I'd want an email addy for the "audio" report.

    Find ANOTHER successful "Warrior" and repeat the process, only this time, I'd let the list have it for a small price, maybe 5 bux, offer it as a WSO, once I've sold 4-5 copies.

    Rinse and Repeat until I run out of Successful Warriors. Write a WSO about the process, and then find other Models of Success to interview.

    Start with nothing. End up with VALUE, and value can be sold pretty easily on the net.

    gjabiz



    Originally Posted by Chris Busa View Post

    I wanted to know if you had to start from scratch again and did not have a single penny to invest, what would you do?

    What would you do differently now that you have learned what not to do and what is working?
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  • Profile picture of the author Gary Pettit
    Chris...if you could afford $25 to join the private forums here on the Warrior Forum, that would diffently be your best bet. A lot of great information there as well as free products and strategies for you to try
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