3. Use your web site to augment your print catalog. We just gave one example, but here are more. Mailers, sales letters, and catalogs are expensive to print and even more costly to mail. Expand on limited space you can devote to an item in print by including many more details on your web site.

You may even be able to reduce how often you mail print materials. Replace some of your mailings with email reminders, an email newsletter, and references to your always updated web site.

4. Use a web site when you can't get distribution. For years, Kevin couldn't get his own business going because of distribution problems. No matter what he tried, cost of getting his products and services to customers was too expensive for a new, start-up business.

The Web represents a huge revolution in distribution. All kinds of services and information can be delivered to customers anywhere in world via Internet. The cost is almost free.

Look for products and services you can distribute from your web site. You many have existing products (like advice to customers) that are better delivered from your web site. There are probably a host of new things you can sell once your web site is set up.

5. Use a web site when your business is too small to market any other way. Almost everyone has gotten an idea for a business, but never followed through with it because cost of start-up was too high.

With a web site, you don't necessarily need a storefront, employees, or anything more than a home phone (and a computer, of course!).

With that comes one last reason why you need to think wisely and use a web site in your business. If you don't, your competitors will. The Web excels at giving every business person an equal chance to earn a profit -- don't throw yours away.

Once you have web site, you need something to sell. Don't have any ideas? Think about things that you have purchased online, or would like to shop for without having to physically go out and look. Household items are among best sellers on Net. Furniture, small appliances, electronics, and accessories for home are all easy to shop for online.

This time of year, toys are huge sellers, as well as anything that people traditionally like to give as gifts: clothing, jewelry, personal accessories, shoes, even gift certificates.

Now, most of us might not expect that lion's share of online transactions come from business-to-business sales, but they do. Expert services make up a big chunk, plus information, office supplies, airline tickets, and a myriad of other things.

If you're a trying to cash in on business-to-business market, there are a few important things you need to do.

First, start by providing free personalized advice. Once you have a good number of customers taking advantage of that, step them up to paid consulting. Along way, you can sell related products and services.

Most people like getting information via email, but will also appreciate it if you're available by telephone as well.

Get a toll free number that shows you're serious about being available to all potential customers, and people will feel more secure knowing that you're just a phone call away.