By Stephen Bucaro

When starting a Web business, most people choose a topic for their Web site and then look for products and affiliate programs related to that topic. In this article, I suggest searching for a group of related affiliate programs first, then designing your Web site around those programs.

There are many affiliate directories and affiliate network Web sites where you can search for best programs. For this example, I use Commission Junction http://www.jc.com This affiliate network site provides a vast amount of searchable information on over 1200 affiliate programs.

On Commission Junction's front page, click on link "Search all advertisers". This will take you to a page with a drop down list where you can select a category. In order to search information on Commission Junction, you must be a member, but membership is free. After you login to Commission Junction, go to bottom of page to "Find Advertisers & links". Here you can get a list of all advertisers, search advertisers by keyword, or browse for advertisers.

© 2002 Elena Fawkner

If you're looking for a way to make money from home and you've been online for any length of time you will have quickly become aware of preponderance of business opportunity sites and ads for many and varied business opportunities.

In particular, you've probably been bowled over by all promises of fabulous internet riches that can be yours, if you only join so-and-so's innovative new groundfloor opportunity that everybody who is anybody wants in on.

This week I received an email from a subscriber asking for my opinion on a particular business opportunity. She was asking what I "really thought" about it because she had been "burned so many times in past I just don't know who to trust". Sound familiar?

I've received several emails like this over recent months from people who have been dudded by charlatans who seem to come out of woodwork at mere whiff of a victim, er ... prospect. This latest one though got me wondering exactly why it is that so many people seem to be looking to make a profit from promoting or participating in someone else's business opportunity or product rather than creating their own, using their own ingenuity. And this applies not only to scams but to legitimate business opportunities (yes, they DO exist). After all, no matter how legitimate opportunity, at least some of your hard work and effort is going to benefit someone else.

Now, admittedly, promoting someone else's product (such as by way of affiliate programs) is a good way to get started in your online career, but it's not going to make you really serious money. By "serious" I mean sufficient money to represent a worthwhile return on investment of time and effort you must expend to earn significant commission income. By spending same amount of time and effort promoting your OWN business, your return must necessarily be much greater. After all, you keep 100% of profits for same work!

Why is it that some people, let alone those who have already been burned, keep looking for someone else to deliver answer to their prayers rather than creating it for themselves? Or worse, give up entirely? I'd be willing to bet that, for a goodly proportion, answer is "I don't have any products of my own to sell" or "I don't have any good ideas" or "I don't know where to start".

Now, it may be that you're just dabbling with idea of an online business and, for you, promoting a few affiliate programs while you gradually get more involved is a good place for you to be right now. Many of us started out doing exactly that. But for those of you who are ready to get into this in a serious way, have you thought about doing it for yourself? Why not let go of idea there is a perfect opportunity out there with your name on it if only you can find it, and instead devote your time and your energy to creating it using your own brainpower?

I believe, absolutely and without equivocation, that ANYONE can make money with their own business. The key is to make sure that what you choose for your business is something you are passionate about. If you are passionate about what you do, your natural enthusiasm and motivation will lead you to develop ways to exploit that passion in a way that can generate income.