There typically isn’t much in way of legal paperwork to be done for an online business but before you start working at home, you should check with a lawyer or a friend who has an online business to make sure you’re not flouting any rules.

Do it

I must say that this has to be most trying steps of all. Getting your online business off ground. Deciding on and registering domain name, hosting company, designing website, setting up merchant accounts, shopping carts, uploading all pages and images, checking links….etc. Time consuming but at end of day, when everything works out, there is a tremendous level of satisfaction….knowing that doing all that enables you to work at home.

Sell it

Now that business is all set to receive orders and you’re all geared up about your new work at home business, it’s time to start selling products and services. Find ways to advertise online and offline, tie-up with partners and affiliates, get others to help you promote your business, use autoresponders, set up your newsletters, write articles, exchange links with other websites, join forums, participate in message boards and groups related to your business….etc. All in name of selling.

With lots of patience and persistence, starting your online business could be as easy and smooth as you want it to be. Just keep your focus and direction. And remember, nothing happens overnight, so, be patient and persist, and never give up.

12. Get free advertising by submitting your eBook to freebie and freeware/shareware web sites. This will increase number of people that will down- load your eBook and see your ad.

13. Make money by selling reprint rights to those that would like to sell eBook. You could also make even more money by selling master rights. This would allow other people to sell reprint rights.

14. Hold a contest on your web site so people can win your eBook. You'll get free advertising by submitting your contest ad to free contest or sweepstakes directories.

15. You will gain valuable referrals from people telling others about your eBook. Word of mouth advertising can be very effective.

16. Make money cross promoting your eBook with other people's products or services. This technique will double your marketing effort with- out spending more time and money on your part.

17. Increase your e-zine subscribers by giving away your eBook to people that subscribe to your e-zine. This will give people an incentive to subscribe. Allow your e-zine subscribers to also give it away to multiply your subscribers.

18. Give away eBook to people that join your affiliate program. This will increase number of people that sign-up. You could also create an eBook for them to use that will help them promote your product or service.

19. Give away eBook in exchange for people leaving their contact information. This will help you follow-up with prospects who buy your main product or service.

20. Offer a free eBook that contains a couple of sample chapters. If they like it, give them option of ordering full version. It would work just like a software demo or shareware.

If you don't have an ebook of your own that you can use for techniques listed above then a great resource for hundreds and hundreds of ebooks that you can give away or sell can be found at: http://69.44.170.93/free-to-sell-software-sales.htm

Chris Towland 2005