Starting An Internet Business Without A Website

by Willie Crawford

One of the questions I received this week asked about starting an internet-based business without a website. This individual was very new and just wanted to know if it was possible. He wanted to know how to go about getting started. How to choose a product, etc. He wasn't ready to build a website yet. It is possible to operate an internet-based business without a website.

However, the two tend to compliment each other. Your email and advertising compaign work together with your website. The website lets your prospects get to know you better. It sort of reflects your personality. However, it is not necessary to rush out and throw together a website in order to start your own business.

If you really wanted to start an internet-based business without a website - here is how you could do it.

First of all you need a product. You can create your own, or you can sign up for an affiliate program. To create your own product you need to have specialized knowledge or expertise on some subject. Then you can create your own product. It can even be an information product - a book. If you do not have any expertise, then you are better off going with an affiliate program. The product has already been created, proven, and everything except finding the customer is done for you.

In choosing an affiliate program, try to choose something for which there is a proven demand. For example, you could offer merchant accounts to other internet marketers. Every one of the thousands of small businesses springing up every week will eventually need a merchant account. Customer convenience demands it. You could service this market without having a big website at first. You can get into this business as an affiliate with virtually no investment. How would you reach your customers without a website? Through ezine ads, through ads posted at free classifeds sites, and through reports you send out via autoresponders. Let's look at each of these.

First of all let's look at the free report. People come to the internet looking for needed information. If you can put together a report offering valuable information, people will request it. Post it to an autoresponder and you can send this report out 24 hours per day, 7 days per week automatically. The report in this case should be on how any homebased or internet-based business can easily get a merchant account. You can write this report or you can have someone else write it for you.

After you have the free report you advertise it in ezines. This type of ad should be very effective if well written. It is offering something people need, and for FREE. It's much easier to get people to respond to this type of ad than it is to get them to buy something directly from an ezine ad. When they request you free report you send it to them. Hopefully, you free report told them how to learn more or order your product - a merchant account in this case. You can also place these same ads offering a free report on the thousands of free classifieds sites scattered around the internet.

You will need to place a lot of these ads though to make many sales. You also want to mention this free report in all of your other correspondences. For example, mention it in your signature file. Also mention it in postings you make to discussion groups and discussion boards. Never pass up a chance to mention this free report at every opportunity. This is how you get qualified prospect. You will need lots of prospects to make many sales.

Once you have these qualified prospects you need to followup. After that first contact you need to send them another letter a few days later seeing if they have any questions. Explain your product again, and tell them how to order again. You need to send out at least 6 or 7 followups before you assume the customer has lost interest. Remember, the customer requested your report on this topic. This shows his interest in your product.

Now it is your job to convert this prospect to a customer. This is just a quick example of how you can operate an internet-based business without a website. However, you will eventually need to have a website. If you would like to try the very plan layed out here, you can find a good merchant account affiliate program at http://www.williecrawford.com/card.html

This firm pays $50 for each merchant account you sell. They also pay you $20 for each merchant account sold through an affiliate you sign up. There is no cost to become an affiliate. A beginner would still need to learn a lot more about selling over the internet.

Your ad copy is perhaps the most important aspect. Your ads and salesletters must make the prospect really want your product and respond emotionally to your ads. This takes practice. You can learn how to do this from good books and good courses. For specific books and courses I have read and can recommend send me a personal email me: mailto:willie@williecrawford.com?subject=help

Read all that you can get your hands on about running a business over the internet. Question everything you read too. Ask yourself if it makes sense. Take it slowly and learn the ropes first. You will soon find yourself making a little money, then gradually more.

Willie Crawford is a well-know internet marketing consultant and writer.
His website is filled with articles designed to help you succeed.
Visit http://www.williecrawford.com today!
This article may be freely used in your ezine or on your website as long as it is reproduced in it's entirety, to include this footnote and it is not altered.
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