"Is it possible to make money online with no investment?," those looking to start a new internet based business often ask. Reluctantly I say "yes." I'm not at all convinced that's the answer. But if I said "no," I'd certainly have to listen to a story about someone somebody once heard of who started with a dollar and turned it into a million dollars.

But let's be real. The chances of you starting an online business with NO money and having internet marketing success are about as good as the chances of you making $20,000 in your first month of your online business.

We've all bought at least one "make money online" product. We've seen the sales letters packed with testimonials from "real" people just like you and me who made "$12,977 in my first month."." But have you EVER experienced such ridiculous immediate results with a make money online product? Unlikely. And similarly, it's unlikely that you will be able to develop a successful internet business if you have no money to invest up front.

Be prepared to at least pull out your credit card a couple of times. Here's why. In fact, here's why you WANT to pull out your credit card a few times.

Let's first look at the most common "free" way to make money online. You choose a product from Clickbank, create your hoplink, and there you have it -- you're officially an affiliate selling a product that you earn commissions from.

Unfortunately, you can't sell any of your product without promoting your affiliate link. You might promote your link using free traffic exchanges and classifieds. The most effective way to do it these days is to set up a blog, promote your product on your blog, and drive traffic to your blog through article marketing and web 2.0 tactics. All of this is free.

This process may make you a few dollars. And if you have NO money, and NO way to borrow a little money, go for it. But only do it this way until you've earned enough to change your strategy.

I just said that you may make a few dollars this way. So why was my initial proposition that the "free" method to make money online doesn't work? Because if it works at all, it takes FOREVER. And because, really, it only works in theory.

To make money online with no investment requires a tremendous amount of time. You must update your blog daily with good content. You must consistently write articles. You must submit your articles to lots of different directories. You must constantly update your web 2.0 sites. Each of these activities takes time. Together, they take SERIOUS time.

And people who are looking to make money online with no investment generally don't have all day to sit around and work on their online marketing business. More importantly, they don't have the months it takes to start seeing any money from these methods.

People searching for internet marketing success with no money upfront are often working two jobs, still not making ends meet, and can't afford to put what they make back into their online marketing business.

This is a big reason internet marketing gets such a bad rap. Those just beginning their online marketing business are sold a lie. That's why you hear so much skepticism. That's why there are so many people in the forums in their first few months with an internet based business asking "does this really work?" That's why everyone in your life laughs at you when you tell them you are trying to make money online.

And, what bothers me most, that's why so many people quit, thinking "it doesn't work." Because they aren't told that yes, you can make money online with no investment, but it's going to take months to do it.

The good news is, you can make money online -- lots of money -- without spending a lot of money. Next time, I'll share with you the things worth pulling your credit card out for if you're just starting your internet based business.