By Anna-Marie Stewart Venton

The internet can be pretty scary at times. Do you realise how easy it is to access your personal information? Your phone number, name, address? Even get driving instructions on how to get to your location (if you`re in USA)??

Did you know that www.google.com works as a telephone directory?? If you`re in USA, anybody can find you through their search engine. If you`ve got an unlisted number, this won`t apply to you:

Go type your phone number into search box in this format 555 444 1212 (no dashes or anything). It`ll bring up your full name and address, and it`ll give you 2 map links. The yahoo map will even give driving instructions on how to get to where you`re at!!

There should be a telephone icon next to your listing. If you don`t want to be listed, click on that and request to be removed from service.

This one`s for USA only, too: Free Internet Access to Public Records

Listed are over 800 state, county, city and federal (court) URL's where you can access public record information for free. http://www.crimescreen.com/linkspage.htm

Don`t think you`re outta woods just because you don`t live in United States. There are worldwide lists too. Here`s an example: http://www.hansaprint.fi/eypeng.html This one`s a combination of worldwide yellow and white pages. A lot of them will link you to maps, where anybody can see your location.

Ok, here`s another one, this one is reliant on people giving accurate info though. Do you own your own registered domain? go do a "WhoIs" here: http://www.networksolutions.com/cgi-bin/whois/whois Brings up a lot of info, huh?

So how can you stop your personal information from getting broadcast on web? Maybe you can`t, totally, but there are a few guidelines, that if followed, will make you less "available"

First things first: do a lot of research. Find out what kind of thing appeals to you most. It could be affilate programs, mlm`s or maybe you like idea of selling other peoples products for a commission etc.

There are a ton of options, and 1000 times more hype. This is why it`s so important to do as much research as you can before starting out. Sure, you can go long way round, which is how a lot of us start out, but that`s even more of a bumpy ride...hehehe

Ok, so lets say you`ve decided on where you want to start. You don`t have a product of your own, so you decide to sell other peoples information products, just as an example. Don`t make mistake that so many people do, by trying to sell something you haven`t personally tested.

Put it this way: Who would YOU prefer to buy from? Someone who knows absolutely nothing about product they`re selling? Or someone who has had firsthand experience with product they`re selling? You know it`s person number 2, right?

So test product first. Learn everything there is to know about it. If people can trust you to give an honest opinion, they`ll be back for more. Great way of getting contacts AND repeat customers.

Now you need a website. Sure, get a free site in beginning. People might not take you real serious, but at least you get to test and play around with your site until you`re ready to pay for one. Owning your own domain name adds credibility to your site, and there are plenty cheap hosts out there, so do that as soon as you feel ready.

Make a real fast-loading splash page from which to sell product. You don`t have long to catch a potential customers interest, so make it fast and interesting.

Don`t fill page with a ton of waffle. Give most important information. What can person get from using product? Why is product exactly what person needs? What is price etc. Give people a way to pay immediately, in case they REALLY like what they see, there and then.