Mistake #1 – Not willing to invest: will I still make money online?

I never quite understood why people dislike the word “investment”, especially when it’s a financial investment. In theory, if it’s an investment, it should bring some returns later.

People invariably invest two currencies – time and money – in a lot of things:

Writing this article took time as well. If we think about it, that raises one question:

If we are already sacrificing time and money for other affairs, why not do the same for a goal that will get us more of both currencies?

It’s entirely possible to make a profit online without investing a dime. Webmasters interested in monetizing their site undoubtedly would prefer that over paying large quantities of money for something they are uncertain that they will break even, at the very least.

The best way of achieving is exploiting a niche that few have succeeded in it and has a high demand, for example.

World of Tanks, a record-breaking MMO is a good example of how a niche that wasn’t explored in great proportions with no direct competition can become popular very easily.

Yet, it required plenty of financial investment.

When we search for “earn money online without investment“, the results page will often feature the examples written above and their combinations.

Paid-To-Click is normally the go-to for students and seems like an ideal starting point for those who just started to venture themselves in this field. You can get to work the minute your account is created. Only care must be taken to prevent you from getting distracted with other offers commonly shown on those sites.

Having a website isn’t required, though recommended, and that cuts a lot of grief from the equation especially if you’re like me and don’t know how to code. Freemium users can take solace knowing that Blogger and WordPress.com come to the rescue should the necessity arise.

The part that matters – the earnings – won’t be covered here in great detail. I will say that most PTC accounts reward their users with a tenth of a cent for every ad clicked, up to a full cent. You probably will want more than that, which the other possibilities are only slightly better at.

Surely someone can correct me and name an alternative that generates more profits than these but I suspect it will be something between the lines of a “private club” few have the privilege to know.

While I explain why we will also debunk a couple common myths about this ever so frequently asked question:

1 – “I should focus on earning, not spending”

Because a penny saved is a penny earned. It is true because the less you spend, the more you have. Companies adopt this strategy too by cutting down costs. We can look at the Cessna 162 case for a better illustration. It also shows that it’s not always a wise decision.

Plus there’s a limit to where you can save since that’s directly tied to how much you are already making and how much you are “forced” to spend. Conversely, there is no limit to how much you can earn online and that hinges on how many resources you already have and can allocate.

This doesn’t mean that you will automatically earn money every time you spend it, but it opens the doors to other opportunities that “free-to-play” users won’t be able to explore.

In plain words: you gotta spend money to make money. REAL money.

2 – “Companies that ask for money upfront are likely scams”

This is the biggest lie in the realm of internet marketing I’ve ever seen. When I think of it, a website comes to mind that had in the footer the following message: “…And remember folks, companies that ask for money first are scams.”

Can’t tell which site it was but the fact this message was on the footer, not on the end of a fraud related blog post, made a collision between my palm and my face inevitable.

Let’s think for a minute here: Triplestrata.com is hosted on a paid server. To get it, I had to purchase an account first and install my apps second. The host needs to know I’m serious about using their services and compensation for the assets I’m using. I pay the value agreed upon because I believe the service I’m receiving is worth the money spent.

On the other hand, through the above premise, it would mean that the company that provides hosting services for us is a scam, even though the billing cycle is being respected and you’re able to see this post. Doesn’t seem like a sound logic, does it?

Evidently, fraudulent schemes do exist. That will be the second thing you will find, after time wasting offers that provide little return. Avoiding both is possible by checking honest reviews, asking people who are able to give a neutral, unbiased opinion and using common sense before committing to something. Losing money is never good, even more so when it means funding charlatans.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission advises the following 8 steps:

1. Find—and study—the company’s track record.
2. Learn about the product.
3. Ask questions.
4. Understand any restrictions.
5. Talk to other distributors. Beware of shills.
6. Consider using a friend or adviser as a neutral sounding board, or for a gut check.
7. Take your time.
8. Think about whether this plan suits your talents and goals.

We can summarize this advice with one sentence: do your own research.

Not willing to invest – The Conclusion

In case of hosting and websites, I think most people can agree that the best ones aren’t those you can get on Blogspot. Building The TRI’s Portal took time and money, but the result, as you are able to see, is a clean, good-looking blog.

When it comes to making money online through programs, finding something worth putting down your money for is of grave importance. There’s no way around it.

In the Marathon Opening, I mentioned FOREX and Binary Options. You cannot earn any money in it unless you fund your account. Some brokers offer bonuses that stack over your deposits but you will have to fund your account first.

As with anything in life, reaching a healthy balance between opposites, in this case, spending too little and too much, can dictate whether a startup will wither and not reach its full potential or if that monetary backing will provide the much-needed boost to make its monetization possible.

What about you? Are you also a webmaster who is not willing to invest? Have you ever made money through a website or program while spending little or no investment or have you directly got one in a paid hosting service or joined a paid program?