In an earlier article, I wrote about some of our real-life experiences trying to start up an online business. We have sold eBooks, homeschool curriculum, and even home-study courses with online business how to lessons. And we have learned a lot about what works and what does not work.

In fact, the first eBook we ever sold was called Raising Leaders, Not Followers. My wife wrote it for homeschoolers to help them train their kids in specific character qualities. When she first asked me about it, I was honest with her. I said, “Well, it is a good idea, but not really a hot topic. I am not really sure you are going to sell to many.” Would you believe she proved me totally wrong? My wife had netted a little over $11,000 in about three weeks’ time. That was our first lesson in internet marketing 101.

So not bad for a our first eBook product. So then she came right behind it with a book for Christmas. And she said, “Honey, I am thinking about doing an eBook on preparing your heart for Christmas because everyone runs up on the day and they are just demoralized. Christmas comes and goes, and people are not really prepared. After they tear open their gifts, people are like, what do we do next?”

I said, “That is a wonderful idea, but with all the free stuff on the internet for Christmas, I do not see how you are going to sell anything. You got lucky with the first one. That was a fluke. But this one, you would be lucky to sell 5 copies.” I was a very supportive husband, right? Well, she proved me wrong again. She sold over $2,200 the first month with that Christmas book. Imagine getting a $2,200 Christmas bonus every year. That is what we do. My wife created it 3 or 4 years ago. We roll it out every Christmas, and every Christmas, we get a $2200 to $2500 bonus.

Do you see what I mean? I will admit that I may not be the brightest bulb, but seeing my wife hit two home runs on the internet without any business or marketing training convinced me. I started thinking I could do it, too. I could start an internet business.

My opportunity arrived out of the blue with a Ford F-150 pickup truck I owned. My youngest daughter had been driving it. One day at softball practice with her high school team, one of her friends said, “Gentry, is that your truck on fire?” Would you believe there were 20 foot flames shooting out of her engine?

Turns out Ford had recalled the cruise control switch in this particular model. And I could see why. Once we got the fire put out, we could see that the truck was totaled. I called Ford, but all they could do was apologize. It seems they had notified me of the recall by sending me a notice to my previous address in Texas. But we lived in Idaho.

I decided to start an online business, so I put up a little website that said, “My truck caught on fire.” I had pictures of the truck, and I opened up the hood and showed how all the engine compartment was burned up and all the wires were burned up. I said, “Why don’t you help me while I help you? I’m going to give you all this free internet marketing stuff. Graphics package. Some software. eBooks. Marketing tips.” All this stuff I had compiled and got free off the internet. I compiled it into a product and sold it for like $47. And I made $5,470 in the first 9 days.

I hope what you are seeing from these real-life examples is that you can succeed on the internet. Seriously! All you need is a little online business ho to and you can begin making a profit.

Stephen Beck can show you online business set up steps and how to make your first $1000 on the internet. Grab a FREE link to his webinar replay, where Stephen shows you everything you should do: http://www.youronlinebasics.com/go.html.