Forty Thousand Dollars Later

How often are you purchasing ebooks, strategy guides and software to build you IM business? Are you spending money left and right in hopes of finding the perfect internet business system? Do you have a habit of buying everything you can, hoping to find the one last piece of your profit puzzle?

If you're making investment after investment in IM direction and information, you're not alone. Countless people find themselves buying the latest and greatest new systems.

And that's totally understandable. It makes perfect sense to purchase new information and products to keep your business rolling right along. It's sane and sensible to invest in new strategy guides to stay abreast of changes in the industry and to get your hands on innovative ideas. Spending that money when you're struggling is a different story.

There's a big difference between the person who's staying on the cutting edge of new developments and the person who's spending like a madman in hopes of finding a magical solution that will turn things around.

You want to be the smart investor. You don't want to spend yourself into bankruptcy before you build a real business.

The Right Kind of Purchase

How can you avoid dumping too much cash into things you don't really need? The first step is creating a bedrock foundation for your IM business. If you strip away all of the details, tricks, options and creative new ideas from Internet marketing, it's a simple proposition.

You need to have something to sell. You must have a way to sell the product. You need a way to generate traffic to the site from which you're making that sales pitch.

That's it. All of your efforts should relate to one of those basic needs.

As such, you need to focus on building strength in all three areas. When you buy something, it must directly address one of those three foundational needs.

Before you start reaching for details, tweaks, adjustments and tricks, you need to develop your core means of making online money. Once you have the basics in place, you're going to start making money. Then you can start experimenting with new ideas and products.

Smart Foundation Building

Getting the core of your business in place doesn't require a massive investment. Here's a great approach to getting the job done.

• Learn how Internet marketing works on a holistic, big picture level. You can get that kind of perspective from someone with successful IM experience.
• Focus a great deal of effort on traffic generation. Traffic is one of the three core needs mentioned above. It's arguably the most important component. Until you have adequate traffic, you won't be able to find out if your products are attractive or if your copy is converting. You need as much traffic as you can get–and you need it quickly.
• Secure ongoing support. An ebook can be great. Instructional videos can really help. However, developing  a real relationship with a successful mentor is much more valuable than any ebook or video series. Good mentoring increases efficiency, makes it easier for you to build a foundation, and allows you to avoid common mistakes.
• Minimize your exposure. Find a way to accomplish those objectives without putting yourself at risk of substantial loss. Avoid overspending on the tools and information you need to build your business. Look for a business coaching program or mentoring arrangement that doesn't cost more than you can afford.