Services are usually strong - especially online services. Find a niche here and you will usually succeed. But what kind of services sell? There are many kinds, but they usually don't take form of affiliate programs that thousands of others are trying to sell. But, you might argue, affiliate programs are a great deal. With very little investment, you can be up and running in a very short time.

But why should someone buy from you, something that is being hawked all over web? This is where advice of pundits comes into action. You must sell yourself first, and do something that sets you apart from others who have exactly same product or service.

Your own web site is a great start. You can have your picture there, a short bio and list your reasons for joining program. If you can sell yourself, affiliate sale is a lot easier. But to do this, you must be able to entice your visitors back. If you can get them there enough times, odds of you making a sale greatly increase.

There are a number of ways to get them to return. Content that is continually updated is a great start. If you have information of interest to them, they will come back. A guest book where you can capture their email address is a real plus. You can then notify them when content has changed, and you are building a valuable mailing list. Running a contest is also a good draw.

If you can get your visitors back for seconds, or even thirds, you have a much better chance of selling your product or services. Who knows - you might also get a lot of new visitors by "word of mouth" which is always one of strongest forms of advertising available.

4. Start an ideas notebook. As you do your research, you will be bombarded with a lot of ideas, some good, some not so good. Creating a system to keep track of those ideas will help prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and ensure nothing slips through proverbial cracks. Once your business is underway, continue to use your notebook as a repository for ideas. Make it a point to periodically review it when you find yourself in need of inspiration.

5. Talk with other entrepreneurs. Business owners are a special breed. Talk with other people who have started their own business to learn their lessons. Find out what they love about it and what are challenges. Learn what networking venues are most successful for them.

6. Set a timeline. Give yourself a deadline to stop researching and start acting. Don't allow your enthusiasm and motivation to wither.