New to internet marketing? On a tight budget? All the gurus telling you to buy their stuff?
Wait!
There is a goldmine of free products and information on the world wide web. So before you buy anything expensive, look for the free stuff. The simplest approach is to use a search engine like Google or Yahoo. Just search for: free fill-in-the-blank; for example: free website builder.
The only problem with this approach is your time. You have to do the searches, then you have to try out whatever comes up to find out if it is what you are looking for. On the other hand, you can’t beat the price.
Begin Planning with free business plan software
I’ve made a point about using planning as a step-by-step how-to guide for developing your business so here is where you can get a free business plan template and a free pdf guide book bundled with it from planware.org.
"… Free-Plan registration is completely free and there are no strings attached ! You will not be added to any email list as a result of registering. Check our privacy policy at <www.planware.org/privacy.htm>.
To register, simply e-mail <freeplan@planware.org> quoting within its body the serial number displayed in the table/box located in the middle of the first page of the Free-Plan Template file (FREE-PLAN_TEMPLATE.DOC).
You will be e-mailed back a password with simple instructions to unprotect the Template. Once unprotected, you are licensed to use it as an outline structure & guide for your business plan. It can be freely modified and there are no restrictions on how and where you distribute your completed plan based on the Template. (A little mention would be nice <g> but that is at your complete discretion)."
Freeplan is comprehensive so don’t feel like you have to do everything that is suggested. Start with a Short Plan. The idea is to familiarize yourself with the elements of a business plan and use those parts that are most relevant to you personally. Let me know what you think of it.
I try to keep in mind that a plan is nothing, but planning is everything – in other words, plans are meant to be revised as you get new ideas and information, and as your knowledge and skills grow.
More Free Stuff Later
From time to time, I’ll point out places where you can find other items that are both free and useful. Please add any suggestions of your own.
PS You don’t have to be a beginner/newbie to make good use of free stuff!