Generally, if you want to maximize your chances of publication, avoid including affiliate links in your article. You can sometimes get away with it, if for example you include a link to a straight domain that actually forwards via your affiliate link to another web site. The publisher might not notice, as it appears to be a straightforward web site link, but I find it quite sneaky and dishonest, and I would not generally recommend it.

3. Avoid Spelling Mistakes

The sight of a spelling mistake in an article is another big turn-off for publishers. It turns what could otherwise be an acceptable article with good chances of publication, into a poor quality article that will end up in trash. Publishers are busy people - they don't have time to edit out your mistakes. But main point is that spelling mistakes leave a Very Bad Impression - it points to a lack of care on your part, and reduces credibility of information provided in article.

Take a minute to run your article through a spell checker - there's a free one online at http://www.spellcheck.net/ - before you submit it. You may be surprised at what you failed to spot.

4. Do Not Include Hype In Your Resource Box

While your resource box can include a link to your web site, it should not read like an advert. I see many resource boxes that read like over-hyped promotional material more at home on a classified ad page. Your resource box should contain some brief information about you as an author, with a link to your web page - nothing more.

A badly written, overly-promotional resource box can cause a publisher to reject your article, even if your article would otherwise have been accepted - simple reason is that such a hyped-up resource box would 'lower tone' of their publication, and turn off their readership. That's obviously not what they want to do.

Just respect your potential publishers, and keep your resource box brief and to point.

As long as you avoid these common mistakes, you are on right track, and you should see results from your article submissions greatly improve.

There is no store lease or inventory to give me away. I can do everything late at night or early in morning. I can even call in sick from my "day job" to get my web site back up with no one but those I live with any wiser. In fact, it is precisely this freedom that draws many of us to a home based business online, right?

Lastly, and some what of a counter point to #1 above, if what you are doing is enjoyable and worthwhile, then there is no need to apologize for it. In fact, your excitement about what you do can change others' negativity into something beneficial. This is a lesson in independence and self-confidence. While it is certainly important to have support and accountability with people you trust, this does not have to mean success comes only when they approve.

Sometimes people just do not understand. Not everyone lives with computers way you do. For many, business will always mean four walls and a sign outside. Your confidence and pride in what you are doing will help others to believe in you and possibly want to join you.