Here's a direct path to making money:
Create and sell your own information products.
There are lots of people who do not realize that they have particular knowledge that other people would be willing to pay for, and if that's the case maybe you could write a book that could make you money. Here are some examples of what I am talking about:
* You've found a way to lose weight which suits you, and you want to teach others to do the same.
* You know how to make the family budget go further.
* You know how to do craft work that you can sell in the local flea markets.
* You know how to use software such as Photoshop or Dreamweaver, and you can show others the basics.
* You know how to train Labradors, or any other breed of dog.
Those are just a few ideas ... but the sky is the limit!
Take time out to look at your interests and talents, and you'll soon discover that you actually know a quite a bit about a particular topic.
So, happens next?
Below is an overview of the entire process, but remember that most of it can be outsourced:
1) Research the market to ensure your idea is profitable. Do not create a product and then try to find someone to buy it. Instead, find a hungry market and give them a product that they're ALREADY buying.
2) Research the competition so you can develop a better product.
Once you've found that market, have a look at the competition. You do not want to put out an identical product; you want to deliver something better. And do not worry if there is a lot of competition, that just means there is a demand for the product
3) Create the product.
Now you have to create the product. Start with an outline and set your goal to write X amount of words per day and just start typing.
Quick Tip: to get an outline, download some PLR products on your topic - the outline is already done for you.
Then keep typing until you finish - do not worry about any spelling or grammar, because you can do that once you've finished.
Quick Tip: If you do not like to type, then try a voice-to-text product like Dragon Naturally Speaking. In fact, that's rather how I am writing this article!
4) Put up a website which includes an opt-in form.
Next, you need to write the sales letter that sells your eBook and upload it to a squeeze page with your autoresponder on it to get your visitors to join your list. This is important, because the money is in your list - if you can sell one you can sell them two, and so on.
5) Set up a system to sell more products on the back end. You will notice that most successful marketers will try to get you to buy an additional, more expensive product before you get to download the product you actually bought. This is typically in the form of a one time offer. So, even as you are creating your very first product, you should also be thinking about how to develop your backend sales system, ways to sell additional products to your existing customers, through email, forums, blogs or links in the products they've already purchased.
So there it is - believe me it is not too hard. It's all boils down to a simple phrase, known by successful sellers from time immemorial.
Find a hungry market and give them what they want