5. One of best advertising mediums out there is ezine advertising (which is why I receive so many of these bogus "joint venture" proposals). Understand though that person writing and publishing an ezine that accepts paid advertising from third parties is running a *business*. True, some publishers will accept free ads from subscribers but they are usually just starting out and offering free ads is a good way to generate new subscribers. As a result, their subscriber numbers are pretty low (only a few hundred or a couple of thousand at best) and so result will probably be disappointing unless it's an extremely targeted list. So, if you want to get your message to a large, targeted group of prospects, ezine advertising is your best bet. But be prepared to pay.

Contrary to what many people apparently believe, running an online business is hard work. It's not a simple matter of slapping up a website, posting a few free classified ads, submitting your URL to free search engines and then turning your computer on in morning to find an inbox overflowing with orders that came in overnight while you were sleeping. This is a MYTH perpetuated by authors (and VERY hard-working authors, I might add) of those so-called "secret sites" memberships and "insider secrets" marketing courses. They make their money by selling you FANTASY that it's possible to make money online without working (or that you don't have to spend money to make money).

Running an online business requires an enormous time commitment initially just to create a useful website and just as much (if not more) of a commitment to maintain it, create new content, develop products, publish a newsletter and basically do all marketing things that ANY business must do to grow, whether online or off.

So, next time you're looking for ways to market your product or opportunity without spending a dime, think about who you're approaching. If it's a free classified ad site, fine. But if it's someone just like you trying to make a living with a business of their own, ask yourself: What's in it for them to promote your product for free? Consider how you would feel if you had invested two years of blood, sweat and tears building a business in your town only to have people walk into your office expecting you to help them market your product for free. It just ain't gonna happen unless there's something in it for them. The same is true online. Don't make mistake of thinking that someone's online business is just a hobby and that they're there for sole purpose of helping you make a success of your business. They're not. They may be helpful, they may offer advice and encouragement but, when all is said and done, they're in business, just like you. Bottom line: you have to pay your way in this life and that includes online.

There is a lot of advice on internet on how you should run your business. You'll hear one thing one day about how to "improve" your products and marketing, and next day you'll hear something entirely opposite on how to "improve" your business. It can be incredibly confusing.

Here's what I suggest:

1) Find out what works and what doesn't work for you, your company, and your products. Not everything works for everyone everywhere.

2) Read what comes across your computer screen and see if it fits in with your business plan and your personality. You know your own vision and goals better than anyone else does. If what you read makes sense, it comes from someone you trust, and it "feels right" for you, then put advice to work.

3) If something is already working for you, and someone comes along to tell you how you can "improve" it, make slight changes and test it if you feel advice is sound.

Don't fall victim to drastically changing what you are offering to your loyal customers - products and services they've come to expect and enjoy. Don't abandon what's working just for sake of "improvement." In long run it may cost you time, money, and customers.