« Previous | Home | Next »

Start Your Own Home Internet Business with these 7 Easy Steps...

September 24, 2009

I'm going to layout for you a different way of finding a product/market/etc. and setting up shop online.

I sell one product that I physically handle (meaning box and ship). The others are either electronic (as in downloadable) or shipped by a distributor (DVDs or CDs) and I never touch the order.

What is the one product that I physically handle? Blue Glass Bottles. Yep... you read that correctly, Blue Glass Bottles.

How did I get the idea?
It comes from a book titled Zero Limits by Joe Vitale and Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len (Hawaiian Ho'oponopono master). In the book, Dr. Len says that drinking water from a blue glass bottle that you've placed in direct sunlight for over an hour will help clear problems from your life. When I read this, I said to myself, "I want a blue glass bottle". However, I couldn't find one that was big enough to make the effort worthwhile. I searched online and didn't immediately find what I was looking for. I finally found exactly what I was looking for, but I had to buy a case (12 bottles).

Being that I was already selling information products online I tried to find an easy way to sell this product online. There are businesses that will fulfill orders for me, but we're talking low volume here and it is too expensive at low volume. I decided to go the simple route and put up a web site and ship the orders myself. I knew if I sold an unexpectedly large number of bottles I could hire help or use a fulfillment service.

So I ordered a few cases of bottles. I made a web site. I used what I know about Search Engine Optimization to optimize the site. And I was in the bottle selling business.

I started getting orders! I've not paid for any advertising. My traffic comes from my blog and from search engine traffic.

No, I don't make a lot of money doing this; however it's a small regular stream of orders. It's a perfect way for someone to get comfortable running a home-based Internet Business.

I didn't even bother to try and figure out if there was a market because the startup investment was so small: a case or two of bottles, a Paypal account, and a simple web site. I figured the best test in this case was to just do it.

Here are the steps:

Identify a product. Joe Vitale is a popular author - he sells a lot of books. So I knew that I was not the only person that would want a few blue bottles. You can do the same thing by staying current with trends and new books, etc. If you find something that you want, but have some difficulty finding it, or finding it exactly like you want it, start thinking about filling that void. It may be a situation like mine where you end up packing and shipping the product yourself or you may find that you can drop-ship it from the distributor or manufacturer.

Get a PayPal account. Very simple. Just go to Paypal.com and signup for a merchant account. In my bottle example, I already had an order system in place that I plugged in, but, you can just go directly to Paypal from your order page, I show you how to do this in free course Make Money Online.

Setup a web site. You'll need to purchase a domain name, and a hosting account. You can do both at 1and1.com . These days, most hosting accounts come with a ton of features and options, but stick with the basics. You can learn about making web-sites with two more of my free courses Web Site Creation and Interactive Web Site Scripting. Working though these courses will give you enough knowledge to make a basic web site that can take orders.

Setup a Google account (if you don't have one) and setup your site in Google Webmaster Tools. See my post Google WebMaster tools for more information.

Link to your new site from your other sites (if you have any). Post some valid comments on blogs that allow you to leave a URL with your name. This will help get your site indexed by search engines.

Write some articles about your product and put them on your web site. You can create a blog if you want to and put it "under" your site (www.mysite.com/blog) or you can just add more pages to your web site manually and put an article per page. You don't have to do this, but it will help get traffic from search engines. I'm not going to go into all the whys in this post, but just trust me, it helps.
Optimize your site for Search Engines. I have a product to show you how to do this and save you a huge amount of trial and error: Search Engine Optimization Secrets Revealed.

The above 7 steps will get you going and get your feet wet. From there, you will be much more comfortable selling other peoples products as an affiliate, or selling "virtual" products that you never see, touch, or handle.

Get my Masters of Online Income DVD to learn how to tweak and master the selling process, find affiliate products, use Google Adwords to promote your product, and take your online business to the next level!

Until next time,
Fred

About the Author

Fred Black is an experienced programmer, web site developer, online business operator, systems integrator, father, husband, musician, and songwriter. Visit his Internet Business Blog at: http://www.pqInternet.com.

Tip Jar: Leave a Donation

Comments: 47, TrackBacks: 0.

Posted by Fred on September 24, 2009 | Printer-Friendly

TrackBack: http://www.pqInternet.com/Blog/mt-tb.cgi/216

Assigned Categories: Internet Business | Internet Marketing

Related Entries:

You may reprint or distribute this article as long as you leave the content and the About the Author resource box at the end intact.

Comments and TrackBacks

Comments:

From: Cindi

I like it! Now I'll have to order a "blue bottle" so I can enjoy "blue water"! Makes me thirsty just typing this.

Posted by Cindi on September 24, 2009 1:40 PM
From: Signs Chicago

This is a good intro to how to set up an online business. It's like a framework, and the real things that will set your business on the path of success are in the details of this framework. I'm just beginning to get into affiliate marketing on the side and I'm finding that there is a lot to learn in order to understand how everything works and be successful. -Dave
Posted by Signs Chicago on September 24, 2009 2:26 PM
From: Best SEO Marketing Solutions

Making an online presence with a website i consider a first step to succeed. Then, viral marketing such as article distribution drives a lot of traffic to your site. Great advices, thanks!
Posted by Best SEO Marketing Solutions on September 24, 2009 6:38 PM
From: Ben Goss

Hi Fred...

Enjoying the posts. This one is particularly practical and down to earth. I appreciate how you weed through a lot of non-sensical and potentially irrelevant technical information to get to the gritty basics.

Keep up the good work!

Ben G
Denver, CO
Posted by Ben Goss on September 25, 2009 12:13 PM
From: Coopers Sports Picks

Excellent advice thank you for that, I think an affiliate section may be important or advertising for the home based business. who do you think is the best company to purchase a domain from? Does it even matter or are the go daddy's and domain sites of the world all the same.
Posted by Coopers Sports Picks on September 26, 2009 1:23 PM
From Fred...

Hey Coopers...
I use GoDaddy, but, if you're starting out and get a new account at 1and1.com they include 3 domain name registrations free... so after that I'd use GoDaddy.

Posted by Fred Black on September 26, 2009 1:29 PM
From: Sergei

For starting a new internet marketing business you need to have an appropriate idea of whats things should be done exactly and what not.Internet marketing if done in an proper manner. I m sure that your post will definitely be of help to many people those who are thinking of starting a new business.
Posted by Sergei on September 27, 2009 1:45 AM
From: Online Sameday Loans

There are appropriate ideas in your blog, that suggest to me set up own home internet business. That is good for me. ---- Thanks
Posted by Online Sameday Loans on September 30, 2009 6:47 AM
From: Manhattan

You neglect to mention that steps 5 and 7 can take YEARS depending on your competition. They might be "easy steps" but they're also incredibly slow moving and pretty time consuming too.
Posted by Manhattan on September 30, 2009 1:18 PM
From Fred...

Manhattan - thanks for leaving a comment, but you're wrong about the time frame and amount of work. Steps 5 and 7 CAN take a lot of time and work, but it does not have to. There's plenty of free information on this blog that can help, and more advanced information in my SEO course: Search Engine Optimization.
Posted by Fred Black on September 30, 2009 1:35 PM
From: Senna

Yes, these point are really good for business. Moreover I think that business is a very good way to earn yourself.
Posted by Senna on October 2, 2009 5:32 AM
From: Fahd

Hi Fred

Thanks alot for sharing this. I know, not all people know how to generate money online. They only know, that internet can give them 'real money' but not 'how'.

From your post, i noticed one thing, that is paypal. Yes, paypal is one of 'must-have' tools for internet markerter. Day by day, they all try to find a way so that, their paypal account will be their money making machine.

Im sure, as for you fred, your paypal account is... you get what i mean.

Im aware, online business is not only focusing on selling physical product like DVDs and glass only. Many other things like ebook, and the latest one is domain name.

anyway, what ever income stream we have, we need to have passion and determination to find it.

Enjoy life!
Posted by Fahd on October 4, 2009 9:44 PM
From: Business Mind Set

Thanks for sharing the generic tips. What I'd add is to have a good preparation on the niche you are planning to get involved into. Quite often, the business ideas that you have in mind may not be 100% unique, meaning that there are, most likely, others who are doing similar things already. But that shouldn't stop you from starting out your business journey, but it would be very useful to study on them (or often referred to as your competitors). Find out what they do, their pros and cons, then prepare your business plan BEFORE even doing anything. A solid plan sets a strong foundation; a weak plan will only bring you troubles down the road. My 2 cents.
Posted by Business Mind Set on October 5, 2009 6:08 PM
From: electrical underfloor heating

I agree that the quality, clarity of focus is one of the formulas for becoming successful at anything... when you set out to do something, you get bombarded with distractions which could prevent you from accomplishing your goals thanks.
Posted by electrical underfloor heating on October 6, 2009 1:20 AM
From: Car Rental & Car Hire Gold Coast

I am desperate to start an Internet business. However, I am also determined not to get conned, and I have been informed that they are many cons out there.
Posted by Car Rental & Car Hire Gold Coast on October 7, 2009 12:01 AM
From: Harris

Great post thanks for information I learned a lot.
Posted by Harris on October 7, 2009 2:30 AM
From: Gregory E. Nemer

Great information Fred,

I think your especially qualified to give this great advice because of your SEO abilities (#7 in your list)

You know, When I think of you I think of how you are on the top of the list for the term "Internet business" (Google's and mine)

I especially appreciate your programming and SEO advice and the things I learned from your Search Engine Optimization Secrets Revealed course.

You should offer Internet Business SEO Coaching. I'd be your first customer!

Posted by Gregory E. Nemer on October 7, 2009 9:25 AM
From Fred...

Greg... Thank you!
I guess I'm hesitant to start up a coaching program because I have been so badly burned by the two I've subscribed to. I know there are some very good Internet Business coaches out there, like Terry Dean to name one, but the two I have tried in the past left me with a really bad experience. One I would have been better off just giving my monthly payment to a bum on the street and asking him for advice, the other helped me some, but then rarely answered my email or delivered all the items he promised in the initial package - plus he continues to use a video testimonial I made for him (and I paid him for a years worth of coaching up front).

Maybe one day I will start my own coaching program, but only when I've reached the point that I feel I can deliver way more value that I charge.

Posted by Fred Black on October 7, 2009 9:59 AM
From: usb wifi

thank 4 info, now I do my self 4 making money but my traffic is low, I think the traffic is most important to make money online.

Posted by usb wifi on October 7, 2009 1:06 PM
From: Hawaii condos

Actually you have showed a great way about making money online. I think many people are wasting time trying different internet money making programs, but this is the best idea i ever had. To become affiliate of a product is all worth it. Earning money online is never easy, One have to research very hard for the product he/she is promoting. Thanks for such an useful post. I will implement it for sure.
Posted by Hawaii condos on October 9, 2009 1:57 PM
From: David Adams

yes you are right, not all people know how to make money online, they just know the basic things, but those are not really enough to earn professionally, pay-pal is good too, abt 90% of online transaction goes via pay-pal.
Posted by David Adams on October 13, 2009 2:19 AM
From: Sanjeev Bhadresa

Hi

Blue glass bottles, interested product!

Out of interest, did you do any market research to see if people were searching for these bottles before creating your site?

Sanjeev
Posted by Sanjeev Bhadresa on October 13, 2009 9:40 PM
From: Pasadena

yeah well all those tips for making your own website and making money seem simple but learning how to make a website even with great help is a trial and error stage and also thinking and finding the product you want to sell will take a long time
Posted by Pasadena on October 15, 2009 4:27 PM
From: Darrell

Hey Fred

To the point on the initial part of finding a product and getting started. You know, I take it for granted, but many people don't think about Paypal, which is a good reminder tip.

I think 5, 6, 7 steps are the overall key to your internet strategy if you go after organic searches versus the pay per click etc. People need to understand and accept the fact that an internet home based business is as legit as a brick and mortar business, but they need to take it seriously and get to work.

Most people dream about doing this and that online, but often forget about the key ingredient called WORK. Daily and consistent action. In other words, ask yourself; what did I do today to move my business forward?

Writing unique quality content and posting it to article directories, making comments etc is the overall game plan to ranking in the SERP's.

Cheers
Posted by Darrell on October 15, 2009 4:38 PM
From: Courey

Making money online is a numbers game the more traffic you can drive to you site the more money you can make use sites like youtube, twitter , facebook and myspace to drive free traffic to you site. Follow trageted leads for the best results. Thanks
Posted by Courey on October 16, 2009 11:24 AM
From: Housing Grants

Great blog. But it's almost too great. Magicians never give out their tricks and with all these great tips, you're creating a lot of competition for guys like me. But that's all good, I like the competition :)
Posted by Housing Grants on October 19, 2009 3:39 PM
From: David Merrick

This is so inspirational because it's so simple! I and a lot of new internet marketers are all about selling the flashy, new gadgets and I think a lot of times we overcomplicate things. Blue bottles--it's simple, it's boring, and it's pure genius.
Posted by David Merrick on October 23, 2009 5:28 AM
From: Nursery decoration

Interesting post and well written. So much fluff out there on the net. One thing I must add - it's very important to assess how strong the competition in your niche is. By this I mean how many backlinks do the top sites in that niche have? How old are they? Knowing this will make the difference between the slow tortoise sites and faster eaners.

I started out on the net using SBI. They have a really easy website building method for non techies like me - but their internet marketing advice leaves something to be desired.
Posted by Nursery decoration on October 25, 2009 7:14 PM
From: dexter@directory submission

Hey fred really you have said very right it is very simple & typical route to do a perfect business & the most important thing is that for doing a simple home based business it doesnt need any kind of extra efforts just a URL & paypal & oh yes ,Organic SEO(excluding the ads)
Posted by dexter@directory submission on October 27, 2009 9:29 AM
From: MLM New Method

I am just starting up for the web business. I will follow these steps. I'm confident with my knowledge about the business and the right information.
Posted by MLM New Method on October 30, 2009 12:08 PM
From: Victor

These days, it's really more convenient to work at home. And this "blue bottle" is a good idea.But more interesting is how you market the product, even using blogs as a marketing tool. Very inspiring.
Posted by Victor on November 1, 2009 10:50 AM
From: Housing Grants

Great blog, but take it easy with revealing all the tricks of the trade. Save some water for the other fish in the sea :).
Posted by Housing Grants on November 2, 2009 12:29 PM
From: William King

The encouraging point in the post is "when you start looking for blue bottles and you couldn't find anything particular and you turned into a blue bottle man". Ideas don't often come to mind but when they come one must turn them into success like Fred did. People brainstorm a lot but sometimes ideas come to their mind but they don't take it into consideration. So the right person is who not only just think ideas who work on them as well.
Posted by William King on November 3, 2009 9:37 AM
From: Venice Holidays

To my mind the first step is the most important one. How many work, skills and time you will spend it the beginning will result in good or bad effect in the end.
Posted by Venice Holidays on November 3, 2009 1:52 PM
From: John

great info. good layout for starting your business. thanks for the info
Posted by John on November 6, 2009 8:58 AM
From: idebisnisweb.com

Your post is very useful for all who are studying business through the internet, thanks to you who have shared your business knowledge
Posted by idebisnisweb.com on November 7, 2009 6:14 AM
From: Gill

Thanks some useful pointers here.
Posted by Gill on November 7, 2009 7:09 PM
From: John

I'm rather curious. How exactly does drinking water from "blue glass bottles" exposed to sunlight clear problems in your life? I'm quite skeptical when it comes to these things but it doesn't mean I don't believe it.
Posted by John on November 10, 2009 12:48 PM
From Fred...

John... you have to read Joe's book "Zero Limits".
Posted by Fred Black on November 10, 2009 2:20 PM
From: Brian

Great post. I like how, with internet businesses, there will always be a new product or service to think of as it is such a rapidly changing industry.
Posted by Brian on November 11, 2009 8:12 PM
From: Online Business Cookbook

On the flip side -- The niches are getting tighter competition wise and in the US the searching is beginning to go down for many small niches as we hit maximum saturation for Internet access into US homes.
Posted by Online Business Cookbook on November 12, 2009 8:55 PM
From Fred...

I think not! The days of throwing up a web page and instantly having lots of traffic and cash are long gone... but... as I point out in my Masters of Online Income DVD, there are MORE not LESS ways to MAKE MONEY ONLINE now than ever. The internet is EXPANDING - we are nowhere near saturation!
Posted by Fred Black on November 13, 2009 9:00 AM
From: Dharma Mulya

Hello Fred,
Thanks for your information, but I still need more information about:
- Do you know how to make money online without having to use the product? Because I don't have anything to sell. In the meantime I've just started up a website, but the articles have a lot, and I already have paypal, how to make money online through my website? While I don't have products to sell.
- Do you know how I can promote other people's products through my web site? Is this way I can get the money?
- With my current condition, what should I do so I can earn money through internet business?
Posted by Dharma Mulya on November 26, 2009 4:46 AM
From Fred...

Dharma;
I explain it all in this DVD, exactly what you're asking... http://www.MastersOfOnlineIncome.com
Posted by Fred Black on November 26, 2009 8:56 AM
From: Bachrum

HI Fred,

Since I am new in internet marketing and lack of knowledge in affiliate program, I would like to start my opportunities with PPC program. do you have any reference except google adsense..?

Thanks for your response.

Note: I can't find the notification for comment subscribe, could you provide it, thanks
Posted by Bachrum on December 18, 2009 11:58 AM
From:

I really appreciate to this advertisment to get success by using this steps in online business.
Posted by on December 26, 2009 12:20 AM
From: Devon Woods

Great info Fred. This info can be used to start an internet marketing business with no money. I will have to share this one.

Thanks.

Devon
Posted by Devon Woods on December 30, 2009 4:28 PM