If you had $ 500 saved and today was your first day of work as internet marketer, what would u do?

Here's my answer on the other thread (just change the $2K to $500):

Is this a hypothetical question? Or are you saying you DO have $2K and are asking what to do with it?

If it's hypothetical, ok.

If not and you DO have $2K and are asking for advice on how to spend it, then we need a lot more information. If you're just getting started and don't have any idea about what kind of business you want, then put your money away and decide on a business model (will you sell products, services or memberships?), a niche (cars, dating, etc.) and a target market (WHO will buy what you're offering?).

THEN you have to assess your skills and assets. If you know nothing about IM, then your best bet is to invest in a comprehensive course which teaches you IM from A-Z. (Don't rely on just e-books and WSOs.)

Either you need to share more info or you need to figure that information out before spending any money at all.

I recently invested $2K in Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula class (currently happening right now). But I would never have invested that much in such a specific product if I wasn't ready for it. I have a new business which hasn't launched yet. (Pre-launch happens Jan. -April and we officially launch in May.) I already have the business model, the product, and I know who my target market is and what my niche is.

So I'm ready for PLF. If I didn't know these things, PLF wouldn't be right for me.

Hope that helps!

Michelle

I believe the first thing any IMer should do is keyword research, and then market research. With your budget in mind you will need to find a market that you can make money off of. It can vary significantly depending on your budget, but certainly finding a profitable keyword has to be the first priority.

First do keyword research. Find a keyword and a product to go after. Build the site, and build the content. Spend your money on SEO/links.

I will spend my money to SEO. Make new website and spend my money there.

Well, this is a tough one because you have to think back to when you first started. Most of us didn't know anything. If I knew then what I know now, I'd get myself a domain, set up a squeeze page, open an Aweber account, and buy 2-3 good solos. Then, I'd use any remaining money to outsource some articles or videos and get them uploaded/submitted to the article directories.

Then. I'd open a WF account and submit some worthwhile posts, putting my squeeze page link in my sig after 100 or so good posts.

I might also get a Safe Swaps account (if there was any money left over) and set up a bunch of list swaps.

But, that's if you asked me now.

If you asked me on my first day, I'd probably say I'd spend it on some software that doesn't work or maybe buy a domain, redirect it to a CB product, and outsource some articles. Bum Marketing is how I started. I struggled at that for a year before I finally woke up and smelled the coffee, realizing that list building is the only consistent way to make big bucks as a marketer.

If you don't know anything about IM I'd recommend a War Room membership and then spending a month on this forum. Figure out what kind of traffic and products/services/offers you want to start with and then go from there.

The first IM ebook I ever read was Jim Cockrum's The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay. Whilst the original method outlined in The Silent Sales Machine doesn't work as well now due to changes in eBay policy it was still a great book that taught me a lot of the basic IM principles relatively quickly.

It taught me how to generate traffic relatively quickly without having an established website and without relying on Google. It taught me about the importance of an email list and how to set one up. Finally, it taught me about how to create my own product. As a complete newbie I found it really easy to follow and it helped me learn a lot.

I've just had a quick look and the updated, 2012 version of The Silent Sales Machine is just $5 dollars so that would be my first investment. Even if you are not planning to do something eBay related it gets you thinking in the right frame of mind regarding how to hold on to your customers, how to create a product or service that they will buy, how to treat them right and ultimately make more money from them.

My second investment would be Blogging To The Bank by Rob Benwell. I've just done a quick check and his website now seems to have turned into some kind of membership site so not sure where you can get just the ebook but that taught me all the basics I needed to know about setting up a blog in Wordpress. Let's say for the sake of this thread you can get yourself a copy for $20.

With these 2 ebooks you should be able to get a pretty good idea of how to build a Wordpress site, how to build a mailing list, how to create a product or service that you can sell and how to keep your customers interested.

I would then decide what niche I wanted to enter. Personally, I would choose something that I am interested in which also has a good level of demand. However, there's plenty of examples of people on this forum who operate in multiple niches so interest is not a necessity.

Once I had chosen my niche I would do some keyword research (to ensure enough people are searching for this niche) and check the stats of some niche products on ClickBank (to ensure that people are willing to pay for products in this niche).

If the research showed my niche was a good one I would then invest in a domain name, some hosting, an email autoresponder and some quality PLR articles that cover the subject. That will probably set you back around $100 ($50 for the domain name, hosting and an email autoresponder - $50 for the PLR).

I would then re-write all this PLR fully, add my own twist to it so that it was 100% unique to me and use it to create blog posts and email followups. The PLR element is not necessary - you can write the content from scratch. However, I personally find re-writing is a lot quicker than writing from scratch so if you are looking to kick start your first blog and mailing list it really helps.

After that I would create my own product. To do this I would buy a few more quality PLR ebooks and reports on the topic (another $50) and read through them all. I would jot down the main points, make these the main points for my product and then do my own research around each point. Make sure this product is excellent quality and priced very competitively as this is your main source of income.

Next I would get some good graphics designed for your product and the blog. I've always found GFX-1 (formerly known as Planet Divinity) very good. That will set you back around $100.

Once all the above is set up I would promote the product through the blog and email list. I would continue to update the blog and email list with fresh content and start to do SEO work on the blog.

I would then approach lots of potential affiliates with large mailing lists and see if they were willing to promote my product. Make sure they are getting a good deal out of it. Offer them 75% and an exclusive price for their subscribers. If you get a few bites your first few sales should start rolling in off your affiliates and then as your blog gains rank and traffic you should start getting more consistent sales from that.

Phew...that was a long one.

The total cost of all the above would be $275:
- Invest in The Silent Sales Machine Hiding on eBay = $5
- Invest in Blogging To the Bank = Assume $20
- Invest in domain name, hosting and email autoresponder = $50 per month
- Invest in PLR articles, reports and ebooks = $100
- Invest in Graphics = $100

Depending how quickly you needed the sales I would then do either of the options below:

1) Need Quick Sales:- I would invest in $49 in Perry Marshall's The Definitive Guide to Google AdWords, learn how to use Adwords from this book and invest the remaining $176 in an Adwords campaign. I haven't used Adwords for years but when I did Perry's book really helped.

2) Don't Need Quick Sales:- I would invest $79.95 in the Genesis theme with a child theme from Studiopress and install it on your blog. This isn't an essential purchase but gives you a professional looking blog without the full cost of getting a custom designed site. I would then spend $67 a month on Submit Your Article to boost and automate your SEO efforts and keep the remaining $78.05 in your pocket.

Hope this helps,

Tom

I would build a bunch of affiliate sites for physical products (Amazon, Walmart...)

Seriously, here's what I'd advise you to do assuming it's your
FIRST day as an Internet Marketer...

Turn off the computer.

Put the $500 in the bank (ready to invest later once you've
got a decent plan for moving forward).

Go to a place that inspires you...

Ask yourself: What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?

Once you know what you're great at, then choose a business
model and niche that allows you to maximize your strengths.

That'll make everything you do thereafter more effective.

Dedicated to mutual success,

Shaun

If I didn't know a thing about IM and I had $500 to invest...

I would buy an already established site. $500 won't get you much, but it will get you a site that is getting some traffic and (hopefully) some revenue.

Next, I would really take a look at how that site is constructed, what is working for it and how you can improve it, because being able to make decisions on actual data is a lot more effective than theories.

Finally, I would do one of two things, if I thought the site had room for growth or ways to improve, I improve it. Once I had gotten that site to a good place, I would use those principles to build another site using what I found to have worked.

Are we supposed to be treating this as though it is a newbie with $500 that does not have any knowledge about Internet Marketing? If that's the case, then, as a newbie, I would spend the first bit of that $500 on getting membership to the War Room and E1kad. That way, I could get all the information I needed without spending money on unnecessary products.

Then, I would purchase a domain and web hosting for my online portfolio. After that, the rest of my money would go into whatever moneymaking tactic I would be trying. Considering some things I'm trying my hand at right now, I would probably spend the rest of that money on purchasing domains and learning how to monetize it.

Yeah, I think that would be a decent start with $500 as a newbie.

If I didn't know a thing about IM, I would most likely look for free ways to make money in this forum. I would start looking for a way to make money that works for me, but free because if I don't know what I'm doing it makes no sense to spend money on it.

I would probably start looking at ebooks like the one on my signature

lets say for some reason all I had was $500 here is exactly what I would do.

hosting $10 per month aweber $1 one month trial

1. create a product in a market that has a to of information products and list it on clickbank $50

2. create a free give away for optins (free)

3. begin contacting and interviewing experts in that niche to start building relationships. (free)

4. ask them to share interview with their list.

5. Spend the rest of my money on banners and solo ads if I couldn't negotiate an offer to pay with affiliate commissions.

5. cash checks

I would research on the internet to find an internet marketing training course with a good compelling free offer that would teach me how to make money online and that offered me free training to get started - would start with this and try to understand as much as possible and implement everything as instructed and only spend the money as needed ie on a domain name for a squeeze page, and autoresponder service. I would sign up for a membership site that offered free hosting as part of the service - so that would probably cost as well.

I would nt need to spend any of the $500 on the first day of work as internet marketer.

Moira

Keep it for a rainy day and START READING.

Read through each new thread here every day for the next 2 months until you know what vehicle you want to use to build your online success.

Check out some of the best blogs available and read through all their latest material:

andrewhansen.name
seobook.com
mattsmarketingblog.com
SEO Blog | SEOmoz Blog Featuring Search Engine Marketing Tactics & Strategies

Just to name a few.

Too many people in my mind think they have to spend money to make money. Ultimately when you first get started all you really need is a domain and hosting(for as little as $15 initially, then $5/month from thereafter).

With the knowledge you would have earned from reading for the next 2 months straight, you should be able to get yourself making money on your own without paying an arm and a leg for some crappy push button software that probably won't result in anything.

Josh

I would buy myself a nice TV. I am totally satisfied with how I started marketing. I didn't start up with any initial investment and look where I'm at today, almost hit $20K/month.

Join the war room. Gather friends and connections and make a throw away email account and join the biggest players in the games lists. Do as they do. List building, product creation. Slow and steady though!

Buy a domain ($10).

Set up hosting ($10/mo.)

Get an Aweber account ($1 trial).

Create a product myself or buy cheap PLR and tweak it into something good or possibly outsource the product creation. I'd lean toward the PLR option, personally.

Set up a sales page and a OTO page and a squeeze page. The sales page will list the product for $97 (or whatever) and the OTO will list it at a substantial discount ($47, for instance).

I would then buy banner ads on keyword relevant high ranking websites on a monthly basis for as little as I could manage to negotiate it down to. The traffic from the site will be sent to the squeeze page. Those who opt in are shown the OTO page--with a link to the main sales page to reinforce the fact that they're getting a discount. If the sales page is any good at all, you should get a 1% - 3% conversion rate on the OTO and a fairly high opt in rate since the traffic is targeted.

Those who buy the OTO are put on a buyer list and those who don't receive presell style emails pushing the OTO. These emails will be "soft sell" emails for the most part, interspersed with content emails.

Any funds earned through the OTO can be reinvested in more banner advertising on other keyword relevant pages/sites.

If I had 500 and knew nothing about IM I would try to research and buy a good training course that would get me on the right track right away and not waste it just trying different things since i wouldnt have any experience or idea of what to do

I know it's kinda early to tell newbies to think like this,, but,, it's by far the fastest and best way (by far) to make the most money possible,, and the answer is:

To learn and invest in all you can about product creation. Having your own products to sell is the best way to make money online. Hands down.don't blieve all this BS out there that will TRY to convince you otherwise.

There is no magic button,,, so stop looking and listening to people trying to convince you that there crap product will rain money down on you. Save your money and invest it wisely in products. Some are good and freakin' lots are garbage.

Don't let the money burn a hole in your poket trying to catch up with the latest "FAD" product that won't work by the time you buy it and try it. Learn the basic foundational techniques that will ALWAYS and FOREVER be the bottom line and starting point of all successful marketing.

Also,, love what you do and have passion for it,, and stay focused

I would join the War Room and learn everything I could about internet marketing then I would choose a niche to dominate. I would buy a domain name for that specific niche and find relevant content for my site. Find a good hosting company to host my domain and save the rest of the money. I would also find a reputable internet marketing course to purchase for cheap and learn all the skills I need to succeed.

If I had $500 I'd go buy a new computer...

Okay now that that's out of my system. I'm going to assume this person has the basics taken care of for a year (shelter, food, clothes, ISP, utilities). Now, I'd definitely buy a War room membership. I'd put the rest of the money in the bank (not attached to a debit card, because I might see something in the WSO section that might distract me), then I'd read everything I could in the War Room Section. Once I found a plausible plan of action, I'd act on it and carry it out until I started seeing some profits. Once I started seeing some profits, if this project was something that I could duplicate, I would duplicate it.

What would I do with $500 If I was a Newbie? HOLD ON TO IT!

Well, One noticeable thing I have noticed sinc marketing online,Is that
marketing strategies have a changing pattern, What used to be the formula
now has escalated to a new level of marketing... Knowing the secret to
your market is KEY to marketing Survival...

So Save Your Money For Now,
Hang out with people that are SUCCESSFUL and you will gain the
knowledge from Successful Marketers on how you're going to be a Success in
your Business..
Following these steps will help you learn from people that are already Successful...

That has helped me,
To Your Online Success
Jeff Willett

I would definitely have a whole bunch of articles written and then get some social set up for me with those for some powerful pushes on my main keywords.

Exire pretty much sums up the core strategy for internet marketing
btw spending money on micro jobs such as fiverr will also be a great idea

I would invest my money into 3-4 micro niche websites and senuke x probably.

Another option is to spam facebook and do other things with short term potential in order to double your money.

Cheers

Since you know nothing...have nothing...

I'd suggest you go to the grocery store. Buy 3 pounds of your favorite caffeinated coffee...decaf not allowed.

Go to Ed Dale's The Challenge - Free IM Training

Do all training modules as fast as you can without sacrificing quality.

Now you know something.

Get to work....Use the rest of that $500 for a domain name, hosting, food, more coffee...you're going to need it.

Buy adsense sites, create and promote wso

This is what I would do :

1- Buy Micro Niche Finder

2- Register my profitable keywords as an exact match domain.

3- Buy related articles and post them on my sites.

4- Outsource all my off page SEO.

Just a brief summary. This would be how I approach things.

I would suggest first before you spend a cent, work out how you are going to money. Let's say you want to promote Amazon products using SEO - Something I do actually.
Then you will first want to learn about how to rank your websites in Google, and then invest in some quality tools and services which will help you do this.

It's all about picking a method and sticking with it until you have mastered it. Don't blow your money on every new shiny thing you see. Just stick with the method you have chosen and invest your money in that.

I would...

Spend 1/4 of 1 day hunting down recorded webinars...there are so many available.

Next... get a big cup of coffee, bottle of water, bottle of red whatever and make yo'self comfy at the computer with a set of headphones. Because for the next 3/4 of the day you're going to grab a notebook and pen and take as many notes as you can while absorbing as many webinars possible. But..DON'T listen to the sales pitch towards the end - otherwise you might just end up buying....webinars are really good for that . The only reason to listen to the pitch is to take notes of how compelling (or not) the pitch was so you can recreate it in your own webinar

The great thing about webinars, and the way in which good marketers use them, is to provide the solution during the presentation. The only way a webinar works is if the host provides good solid value right? Value that holds the audiences attention for the entire presentation. So what you will find is that the solution is "usually" laid out for you during the webinar - but delivered in a high speed "OMG this dude/dude-ess knows their shiznit I can hardly keep up" way, that makes you want or NEED to buy their product by the end. But, the answers are usually actually given within the webinar. A great example of this is Jason Fladlien. Love his work!

Learn, learn learn...then if you still want to invest that $500, you'll have a better understanding of where it would be best placed.

I totally agree with Shaun OReilly as well - it's so much easier to carve a business when you know what your strengths and weaknesses are and build a business around what you're good at or love.

Have Fun!
Gene.