To make money you must have visitors or traffic. This involves marketing. You don't necessarily need your own website or product at first. You could drive traffic to an existing website and earn commissions on sales.
Next you must convince visitors to buy. This involves selling. The ratio of buyers to visitors is usually low. If you attract 100 visitors @ say 50 cents each but sell only 1% (1 in 100), then your marketing cost is $50 a sale! Marketing and selling are the two critical skills in any business. Choose a niche market that you know something about and ideally, one that you're passionate about. This way you'll have a competitive edge and be more believable. Then clients are more likely to believe you and buy from you.
However this is just one part of the story.
First, do your research
Hold it! Knowing what people want is important. However knowing what people will pay good money for is is vital. Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Look for existing income streams.
So search your selected keyword phrases on Google. Study the first two search results and all the advertisements on the right. These are all paid listings. No ads usually means that this is either an undeveloped market or even no
market at all. Research the same keyword searches on eBay.com. Again, you're looking for active markets of real buyers and sellers. Next review the products in your potential niche marketplace, what's selling and what's not. Checkout any "review sites" comparing different products. Now try to definea niche within this existing market in which you can specialize and set yourself apart.
How can you add value? For example, a niche market review site could be a great first eBusiness for you. You provide a consumer service that compares the pros and cons of each product. Just make sure you offer unbiased advice; don't just promote high-commission products. Stay current and revise your judgments as products change. Become an affiliate for all of your review products and so earn a commission whatever your prospect decides.
This is just one illustration of an e-business. Your goal is to provide a value added service over what's already out there and to set yourself up as the leader in your chosen niche market. Then buyers will seek you out. Get educated and good luck!
