Internet marketers sometimes have tunnel vision. I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s because of all the ebooks we’re constantly bombarded with telling us to write articles, submit them to directories, put up a blog and do some affiliate marketing. It’s like we’ve created a bunch of marketing clones. The truth is, very few people, and they are the successful ones, really use their noodle when it comes to building a business model. In this article I’m going to suggest something that you probably have never thought about. If not, I suggest that you consider it as it can lead to great profits. I’m talking about open source software. Wondering how you can make money off of something that is free? Keep reading and you’ll find out.

You don’t have to go very far to look for open source software. Open Office, which is a fantastic alternative to Microsoft Office, is probably the top of the line as far as open source software goes. And it’s absolutely free. So you’re probably wondering how the people there make any money. Well, just take a look at their web site. There is a link for monetary donations. It’s not there for show, and yes, there are many people who contribute. But let’s say you created open source software and didn’t want to rely on contributions. There is another alternative.

What you can do is create a limited version of the software. In other words, it will do most of the basic things that people would expect your software to do. However, if somebody wants to get a version of your software with all the bells and whistles, you can make that an option for a very nominal fee. If you make the fee small enough, almost all the people who use your software will most likely upgrade to the advanced version.

If you’re not a programmer or not the technical type, no problem. There is no reason why you can’t outsource the job to a programmer. Sure, you’re probably going to have to pay a pretty penny for the job, but then after that, all the money that you earn is yours. You don’t have to share it with anybody. Another option is to enter a joint venture with somebody who is a programmer. That way you incur no costs and share the profits of the software 50-50. This is always another option.

The key to this idea is simply this. It’s hard to pass up free software, especially if it’s good. Then, if people want a more full blown version, they can pay a small fee to get it. As word gets around about your software, with the Internet as large as it is, at even just a few dollars a pop, you can make quite a substantial income from your open source software.

To YOUR Success,

Steven Wagenheim

Tired of busting your behind for peanuts online? Go to my web site and find out how I earn a monthly income that exceeds 5 figures and how I can help YOU do the same. Get your free report at http://www.mysecretarticles.com/report.html