Internet marketing is more than marketing on the Internet. There's no standard definition but most people agree that it shouldn't be using the techniques of a con artist, sham salesperson, or spam king to sell unethical, shady, or shoddy products. Forget the TV commercials showing the fancy cars, expensive clothes, and huge houses.



An Internet marketer uses a variety of tools to make money online. Those tools include websites, blogs, forums, building a list, article marketing, driving traffic, social networking, book marking, and advertising.

The opportunities can be broken down into several categories:

Selling information products in a digital download format

Selling products for a commission or affiliate marketing

Selling products on auction sites like eBay, on amazon, or your own website

Selling services like web design, graphics, coding or writing

Selling advertising on a website or blog

There are hundreds, no make that thousands, of ways to make money online in these different categories. Don't think you have anything to sell? Think again. You might be a newbie to Internet marketing but you probably have lots of experience and talents. Put those attributes to work for you. Develop a product that solves a problem for people or find an affiliate product that does. If you've always been able to spot the latest trends first, put that to use by knowing what's going to be the next hot products.

Nobody online needs to know how old you are, so don't let that stop you, whether you're getting ready to retire or you're still in high school. If you are under 18 make sure you get a parent to handle the paperwork and set up the accounts, otherwise you might not get paid. You don't need any technical skills. If you don't have the programming ability to set up a website you can outsource it to those who do.

While it's helpful to have some cash to invest you don't have to have thousands of dollars. Products can be bought from a distributor and drop shipped so you don't have to tie up money and space with inventory. An Internet business can be set up on a shoestring budget. You do need a computer and Internet access. And most importantly you need the desire and belief that you will succeed.

Becoming an Internet marketer is a respectable business. It shouldn't be anything unethical. A solid reputation will increase your chances of success.