Many so called businesses are available on ebay at ridiculously low prices, especially web sites and web marketing tools.

Whether you are buying ebooks or a dating site please remember there are no get rich quick schemes that require you just to sit back and collect money. I had a mail order business that I converted to web based in 1996 and saw the customer base rise to a regular 1500 orders a week. A hit rate of over 1million visitors a month and an increase of 3000% in turnover. I sold that business in 2001 but the work involved whilst running it was tremendously taxing ant tiome consuming.

I am not saying the opportunities are not there, they clearly are, but the buying of a website, name and template are the very beginning, the first step on a long and treacherous road.

Web marketing is a science that you have to learn and apply daily, if not hourly in order to stay ahead of the competition. Updating yur website regularly is vital and new content must be introduced at regular intervals in order to keep people returning and to bring in new visitors.

There is a website owner who bought an adult themed website on ebay some time ago for $120 or so and he is making good money. However, he tells me he has spent over £15000 on content to attract people and a further £9000 on marketing. The old adage holds good on the web as it does in "real" life: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

So before you send off that $ or £ to buy a "fully functioning website that will earn you thousands a month", sit back, think it out practically and decide whether you want to spend a lot of time developing the site and have the reources and skill to do so. You will not earn anything by buying a £2 website and sitting back.

You can learn the skills and there are many products on ebay that will ease that learning process but be aware that internet businesses are exactly the same as any other. They need direction, commitment and leadership. They require business acumen and dedication.

If you can honestly say that you have investigated the pitfalls, know the downsides and are still excited by the prospect and future hard work, then give it a go.

Dont get disillusioned after the fiirst 3 months if nothing happens, if you work hard and long, it will come goodif your site and marketing is up to scratch.

Many think that having rotating banners from affiliate links will earn them the fortune theyu want, and they just might do. But, unless people know where your site is, are directed to it by search engines or see it through your other marketing techniques then how will you get visitors who can then click through to your affiliate links?

There are so many websites out there, you have to be creative.

I hope you find the business you seek and your success is mirrored by your efforts.

Best wishes

Dennis