So you'd like to start publishing special reports and ebooks to use as marketing tools and to sell as products. But you have no budget to get this new venture going. Here's a tip to help you get up and running at no cost.

The traditional route to publishing digital products is to purchase software designed specifically for creating PDFs, such as Adobe Acrobat.

But there is another option that won't cost you a dime. Use free PDF-making software available on the web.

If you don't mind seeing a few ads every time you create a PDF, I recommend using PDF995. You can download their free software at http://www.pdf995.com and use it to create PDF formats of all your ebooks and special reports, or any other files that you'd like to convert to PDF format.

Once you have installed the free software, you simply print the documents you would like to convert, and select PDF995 as the destination printer. And, voila! Your file has been converted.

Be sure to also download their PDF Edit and Signature software to take advantage of their editing and security functions. I have been using PDF995 for months and I love it. It is simple and easy to use, and best of all, it doesn't cost a dime!

(C) 2005 Debbie LaChusa

Debbie LaChusa

Debbie LaChusa is a marketing veteran with 20 years in the business. After 13 years in the advertising and marketing agency business, Debbie founded DLC Marketing, Inc., a marketing consulting and coaching business. Her goal? To give entrepreneurs and small business owners affordable access to the same high-level strategic marketing and advertising expertise that typically only large companies with big budgets can afford.

Debbie's commitment to making marketing expertise accessible to small business also led her to pursue speaking engagements and teaching. She has spoken at meetings and conventions across the United States and in Canada. She also is on the faculty of Wellcoaches Corporation, where she teaches wellness coach trainees around the world how to successfully market their new coaching practices.

Debbie has written and self-published two marketing workbooks, "A Step-by-Step Marketing Guide" and "A Step-by-Step Marketing Guide for Your Fitness Business" which have sold copies worldwide. Her advice is also featured in Entrepreneur Magazine's "How to Start a Personal Training Business," part of the magazine's Business Start-Up Series. And she is a contributor to the San Diego Business Journal.

Debbie created The 10stepmarketing? System to provide small business owners, coaches, consultants and other independent professionals with all the tools they need to market themselves.

This simple, step-by-step system, features an easy-to-use question-and-answer format that walks business owners through every step they need to take to develop and implement their own marketing plan designed to achieve the success they desire and deserve.

On a more personal note, Debbie LaChusa is a fraternal twin. In 2004 she launched Twin Connections, a web site that celebrates the unique and mysterious bond shared by twins. She collects twin stories and hopes to compile them into a book.