The term free is a ubiquitous marketing term. Widely used because of its inherent appeal to most consumers, the term is equally as widespread in online marketing. In fact, everybody loves to get free stuff, even it the “free” stuff is totally worthless; somehow the idea that I got it for “FREE” assuages our disappointment in the end result.

But here’s my beef with the “free” thing as far as successful online marketing goes.

Initially, as a new marketer, or “newbie,” free is probably the best route to take. After all, the vast majority of new online marketers have no clue of what it takes to make money on the Internet. Like most advertising, the positive spin that “anyone can make money”, “kill your Day Job”, “make a 5 figure income in 30 days” appeals to our sense of greed and the general malaise that most people experience when it comes to working hard anymore.

And therein lies the rub.

You see, after the initial euphoria of starting an online marketing business passes, most folks begin to realize that a lot, if not most, of what they heard and bought into about making money online is hype. Free this and free that in the end aren’t all that free. Everything, and I mean everything has a cost.

Take traffic generation for example. Free traffic methods are extremely costly in terms of time. So if you value your time and can afford it, Pay Per Click and other paid traffic methods are not only more efficient, but actually less costly in the long term; assuming you know what you’re doing.

Another example is Article Writing. Writing articles, especially the number of articles you need to drive significant traffic to a landing or sales page is very time consuming; and that’ if you can write decent 300 word articles and are disciplined enough to produce 3 articles a day. Most folks are not and so, the buy into the hype, figure out how much time and energy it really takes and they quit. (This is the same for offline businesses too!)

Successful online marketers realize that they are creating a business. Business require an infusion of capital to succeed. Even for the most meager online business, there are costs for domain, hosting, auto-responders. Furthermore, if you’re totally new, you’ll need training, tools to automate your processes, etc.

So, if you find yourself at the crossroads of decision to go forward or of becoming another online marketing failure ask yourself: What have I invested in my business. If sweat equity is the only answer, perhaps you need to revisit why you started in the first place.

Asking this critical question is one of the pitfalls that many new marketers fail to avoid. They have no clear cut written statement of why they are even in business. And to say, “I want to make money” is not enough.

My success online is due to both my dedication to disciplining myself to do the hard stuff and largely to my investing in tools and knowledge that took my business to the next level. Did I make mistakes? Of course and I still do, but I realize that you only get out what you put in.

Here are my product recommendations. I own all these products and use them in some form or fashion every day not simply because the systems and process work, but also because they help me discipline myself to a pattern of success. Ready, here they are:

Instant PayDay Formula
Google Cash Sniper
Commission Ritual

If you are new (less than 365 days as an online marketer) these tools will take you to the next level in 30 days or less, simply by following the blueprint. Why reinvent the wheel? It’s not necessary.

Don’t let this 4 letter word FREE turn your business into S#%T.