I spend 0 cent, and I always check my competitors website backlink to see if I missed one (free backlink)
Never said I don't buy banner ads Links don't send a lot of traffic, but 468x60 banners do and they are indexed by Google if it's in the HTML Code with a link directly to my site!
As much as it takes to reach the goal you are trying to reach, do not be a penny pincher. Remember, it takes money to make real money, if you have a goal set in mind then you need push for it and not just sit around waiting for it to come to you or for someone give it to you for free, if you do that you will only be disappointed and out of business in the long run.
Going to have to disagree with that statement... It doesn't take money to make money if you have a decent idea and are creative about it. Rather - it takes something of value to make money (and if you don't have money as that 'something of value', time usually does the trick).
I will not disagree with that, it is a good point and will work great for those that do not have a bigger budget.
I think you have to spend some advertising or marketing money to sustain your business. You can have the greatest idea in the world, get lots of buzz and traffic. Then others will copy your idea, or make a similar site/idea. What if they spend on marketing and you don't? Most household name co's do some advertising.
Like someone said above it does take money to make money true.... BUT not necessarily with businesses online. In life yes it does because you'd need money to invest. If i had an extra 100k laying around i could buy some land seel it 5 years later and make a profit of an extra 100k. But online you don't need to buy your links, nor do you need to pay for advertising really. If you have a good website with a good idea or good products and at the same time getting your link everywhere you can throughout the internet with articles directories forums etc. then that's the best free way of advertising! No need to pay anything to get a good business going online. Just patience a good idea good website and a good free marketing idea!
I don't spend anything, don't see the point when I can get traffic for free by other means. Curious to know though, how many hits does $100-$500 get you?
Yeah well I suspect that most of the people that are forced to buy links are running sites that are selling dumb products like penis pills etc, that nobody would even touch or go near. If you have a site that isn't crazy BUY THIS, BUY THIS then I think you're okay, you don't need to spend $$$ to get traffic.
Maybe i could make 20 quality links a month for free, in fact i get twice that.. however i need at least 80 links a month to 4 similar sites. While not bad sites, they dont have the linkability of a touchy feely web 2.0 site.. my sites are there to make money, and sell our product (insurance). Also im currently funding creation of tools and content that will give me more natural back links. Its kind of a time thing, if i could invest 100% of my time to just doing seo for one site i wouldnt need to spend much money. The reality is that i'll end up maintaining and marketing 4 seperate sites, there just isnt enough time to do everything myself.
Im a newbie, but due to the pr update coming up, I am jsut buying links & directory submission if I think they are a good price, dont really have a budget atm