We’re in a recession?  Wow, you could’ve fooled me.  And I’ll bet there are thousands more out there that continue to profit day after day online.  There are dozens of reasons for this, but here are just a few important ones:

1. You have a global market.  If your local economy is lagging, you can sell to the whole world.

2. People will always buy items they need or want.  They will always find the money, so why not let them give it to you?

3. You can get started with a very small initial investment.

4. You can start part-time while keeping your day job.

5. You can work in the comfort of your own home.

As I said in my last post, I will publishing a series of videos to show you how to create a website that can make you hundreds - maybe thousands of dollars per month.  If you follow the steps I’ll be outlining, your success will only be limited by your imagination and determination to do the work.  It will require taking some action, but it won’t be overly difficult.  And with the step-by-step instructions I’ll provide, it won’t require any special technical skills.

While I’m preparing the first video and supporting documentation, there are a few things you can do to prepare.  The first is to look for a web hosting account.  When choosing an account, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. You will probably want an account that will allow you to maintain multiple websites for one low price.  One site probably won’t produce the level of income you seek.  You’ll likely want to operate several sites.

2. Some of the scripts we’ll be looking at will require the Zend optimizer.  Don’t worry if you don’t know what I’m talking about.  You don’t have to.  Just make sure the web host you’re considering has this installed.  The majority of hosts provide this.

3. Make sure the host supports PHP and allows multiple MySQL database installations.  Most hosts support PHP - even those that use the Windows operating system.  But for the scripts I’ll be demonstrating, a Linux account will probably work best. 

4. Look for a web host that provides quick and easy installation of scripts like WordPress for blogs and Joomla for membership sites.  This will make your life much simpler in the long run, and most hosts that provide this are very affordable.  This is usually provided through the hosts CPanel (their web management interface.) 

It probably won’t matter where you host your sites if they meet the criteria listed. In case you’re wondering, I host many of my sites with HostMonster.  I’ve had accounts with them for over a year, and I’ve been extremely pleased with their service.  I’ve only had to contact their support a couple of times, and they were very helpful.  I run dozens of sites on their servers that earn me money day after day.  But the choice is ultimately yours to make.  Just be sure to get an account that will grow with your business.

Next, you’ll want to begin thinking about the market you want to target.  The best way to do this is to make a list of things you’re interested in.  Also create a list of anything you’re particularly good at doing.  These lists may or may not be the same.  Don’t rush out and buy a domain name just yet because there are a few rules to keep in mind.  We’ll get into that soon enough.  For now, just begin thinking about what you’d like your site to be about.  Have some fun with it, and stay tuned for our next step.