So, you think that you would like to start your own business online? But, you don't know how to build a website and you don't have the cash to hire someone to do it for you. Therefore no website...no online business, right?

Wrong.

You still have options for building your own online business without a website.

The likely best option for your own online business, without a website is affiliate marketing. Affiliate marketing allows a new online marketer to sell online without having your own product to sell. To begin selling online you can register with an affiliate marketing program; these are operated by a merchant or retailer. You then choose the products that you would like to promote. As an affiliate you are paid a commission by the merchant after someone whom you have referred, has purchased an item from the merchant.

It is typically quite simple to become an affiliate and it is usually free. Despite this, people are often wary to become an affiliate marketer. People are often hesitant because they have no web site or marketing skills.

It is a common thought that affiliate marketing can be done without a website. An individual can begin promoting affiliate products without a website and there are many ways this can be done. Many affiliate marketing strategies can lead to success without a website. These strategies are email marketing offline promoting, ebook and article publishing, ezine publishing, blogging and social marketing.

Offline Marketing

Affiliate products can be marketed by means that were once considered "traditional" marketing methods. These methods include classified ads, brochures, and flyers. Classified ads may be more appealing because they have a wider range of an audience.

Create Your Own Ebook

If you are a writer or aspire to be one, creating and writing your own ebook would be an excellent way for you to promote affiliate products without a website. Your best bet with an ebook would be for the tone to not be overly promotional, use your ebook to inform on a topic. However, be sure to draw a connection between the topic of your ebook and the affiliate product that you are promoting. You also have the flexibility to add text or banner ads to the end of your ebook and then link to the affiliate product merchant's website.

Ezines

Ezines are digital magazines or newsletters that focus on a particular subject. You can use ezines to promote or link to an affiliate product. If you do have a website, your ezine articles could also be content for your website. Without a website you can submit your ezine articles to sites that host ezines like goarticles.com, ezinearticles.com, and others. You can find more ezine sites through a simple search on a search engine.

Discussion Groups and Social Marketing Venues

Online discussion groups are great for promoting affiliate products, without or without a website. Chat rooms, message boards, forums or social sites, like myspace.com or facebook.com can have topic areas or groups that relate to your products. On these sites you can find people who may be interested in the products that you are promoting.

As you can see, one does not really need a website to start marketing affiliate programs. However becoming truly successful in affiliate marketing without a website is more difficult. Having a website isn't required for entering most affiliate programs. It is recommended that you at least plan to have your own website in the future. A website creates many advantages with your marketing affiliate programs. It can provide you with a place to do your own promotion of a variety of affiliate products. It also provides you with a place to market your own products.

To get started in affiliate marketing you certainly do not need your own website. You can learn the basics of marketing affiliate products with out a site. Down the road with some marketing experience under your belt, a website will increase your affiliate marketing opportunities.