I get asked time and time again about what tools I use to run my online business so I figured it’s about time I do a post to cover exactly that.

Online marketing is truly an amazing thing if you know what you’re doing and if you have the right tools.

Too many people jump into things and find out that it’s not as easy as they think it is and not because it’s complicated, but simply because they are most likely apart of a program that probably doesn’t even work.

Just like most people, I dove into the internet, looking for a legitimate way to make money online and just like a lot of you, I was apart of many “opportunities”.

And I mean many.

Without giving up, I not only found a real way to make money online, but I also found out what tools are really needed to make it happen.

If you’re thinking that I’m talking about some type of multilevel/network marketing gig, let’s just say that I’m not a fan of them, so no, it’s not that.

I was apart of a couple in my life and I did think that was the only way to kick my 9-5 to the curb, up until I found out about a thing called affiliate marketing.

What is Affiliate Marketing?

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Rather than recruiting your aunt’s uncle’s nephew’s best friend, you are promoting actual products that real people are actually looking for.

You can sell real tangible products, digital products, and even services online and guess what?

People are not only buying, but they NEED these things.

Let’s see…

Recruit people…or give people something they actually want?

I mean, who DON’T you know that buys stuff online and most especially Amazon.com?

 

 

And if you don’t know anyone, do know that there are millions of people buying millions of products every single day and you can very much make money off of them.

I think that’s an awesome deal if you ask me.

This of course is done online and does require a lot more than just getting links and placing them on the net to make money, which leads us to our first tool

Without this, you can expect to become another statistic of failed online marketers, so please don’t fall for anything too good to be true.

The RIGHT Training

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Making money online starts with the right training.

You can literally find training on affiliate marketing anywhere online, but you can expect to be more lost than ever, and again, you will become another statistic.

Some of the training can be found for free, but all have some type of product to sell within their training and it will leave you more confused than ever.

Resulting in you spending money on a half done program designed for the owner of that product to make money, not you.

There are literally thousands of these types of programs and they are all designed the same way.

Then there are programs like the Wealthy Affiliate, that is truly the one stop training center, website creations platform, get help when you need it type site.

I can promise you that there is nothing like it out there and it is my #1 tool that I use to run my online business as it covers almost all the tools I use to run my online business, starting with my site, which is very much needed.

Every Online Marketer NEEDS a Website

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There are some that may say (gurus) that you do not need a website to make money online, but I completely disagree.

In most cases, the person telling you that is some guru or one of their affiliates that are doing nothing but trying to get you to purchase their product.

Now to do affiliate marketing, you WILL NEED a website with your own domain to even get approved with almost every affiliate program out there.

Amazon.com alone requires you to not only have a website before getting approved into their associates program, but your site needs to have a certain amount of visitors (usually over 5,000).

So do you really think you don’t need a website?

Of course you do.

Hosting

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On top of that, you need to have your domain hosted or it won’t be able to go live.

With sites like Godaddy and Namecheap, most people get confused because of the mixed reviews that people give them.

Now I personally don’t like any of them, due to the crazy renewal prices that they get you with the following year, but sometimes we just have to deal.

To have that website up and running, you are going to need some hosting.

Support & Some 1 on 1 Coaching

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This is one thing that will always help you no matter what you think, even if you’re a Mr. or Misses know it all.

Go at this whole online thing alone and you’ll quit faster than when you first started.

There is nothing better than having access to other online entrepreneurs (who know what they’re doing) that are willing to give you a hand, simply because there is no competing to get other people to signup under you.

Having all these first tools mentioned all over the place becomes a headache and is really complicated if you’re new to this.

Why Not Bundle?

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There aren’t many places to learn how to do affiliate marketing and there definitely isn’t any that offer 1 on 1 coaching as well as support, website creation, and all that good stuff besides at the Wealthy Affiliate.

Forget about getting a domain from Godaddy like I used to back in the day, I now purchase my domains directly on WA and I also get ALL my sites hosted there as well.

This is also the same reason why you don’t see people promoting this site like crazy as they are a service and not a “make money overnight” type of scheme.

As far as websites, training, and support, I get everything done on that site as there’s no need to go anywhere else.

I Did Buy This Theme

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Although not necessary, I bought my own theme just because I liked the way it looked.

I do want to mention that I did buy this after I started making money, so you can say I was just reinvesting.

But to be transparent, I had to mention that I did spend some money to get this theme along with other themes, and it cost me about $99.95 to use the Genesis platform as well as the child theme.

A Keyword Research Tool

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As far as other tools, I use a keyword research tool called Jaaxy, but there are others that are just as good.

Keyword research is very much important when it comes to SEO and getting ranked in Google, so I’m going to have to say yes, you do need a keyword research tool.

I spend $19/month to use this tool and it is very much worth the investment.

A Screenshot Tool

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You’ll be more than fine using your computers screen capture tool, but I use one called Snagit because of the cool little extra features.

Want to have some cool edges around a screenshot or some cool highlighting and arrows?

That’s what Snagit allows you to do.

Not necessary, but this is also one of the tools I use to run my online business.

This tool cost me a one time fee of $49 (can’t even remember) and it is something I use daily so I guess you can say this was a good buy.

Total Cost

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For my website and hosting along with the access to a community of online entrepreneurs, I pay a monthly membership fee of $49.

That comes with almost all of the tools I use to run my online business, so let’s just say this is very much needed.

The keyword research tool I use costs me $19 a month and that is also another tool I use daily.

Everything else was a one time fee and there are no monthly charges.

As far as total monthly fees, I pay $68 to run my online business and that is it.

Of course anyone who knows nothing about business will tell you that that’s too expensive, but for business people, that is a complete giveaway.

I used to run a bar that cost me over $5,0000 every single month just on overhead costs alone and a profit wasn’t even guaranteed.

Not to mention the crazy hours that were put into making sure things were running smoothly.

From hiring, to firing, all the way to just being there, I can tell you that it is not the best way to live.

And then you want me to pay $5,000 every single month?

No thanks, I’ll stick to my online business.

Running an Online Business Comes With Amazing Benefits

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Forget about the chump change I pay to keep my business going, there’s really more perks to this whole deal and I will do this for as long as the internet allows me to do it.

I work anywhere I want, whenever I want, as long as there’s an internet connection and of course most of my work is done at home.

My kids get to see me all the time now, compared to when I was in the Army and no one really saw me.

The income of doing business online is through the roof, simply because everyone and their mothers (literally) are shopping online and no one really knows about this whole affiliate marketing thing, which is another reason why you should at least give it a try.

With the biggest market in the world, there is no reason I can’t rack up $10,000 a month.

Remember that $68 I told You I spent to run my online business?

The return of investment (ROI) is beyond out of control and also a big no brainer deal.

Now do you see why I mention that the cost to run this whole business t is really nothing?

Conclusion

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Run YOUR OWN online business.

Without my readers asking me what tools I use to run my business, I would never really know how good I have it, so thanks for the awesome question.

These are the only tools I use to run my online business and that is it.

I hope this answers your question and I do hope that this helps you understand what I do as well as how you can do it too.

These are the only tools you need to run a real online business, so do you think it’s worth it?

Thanks for reading!

 

Want to Start Your Own Online Business? See How You Can Get Started For FREE Here!

 

– John

A Work at Home Jobs