After four and a half years doing it, here are my TEN COMMANDMENTS setting out how to conduct business online (in spite of recent demise of so many "high-profile dot-bombs"- ready availability to large amounts of capital, I believe, can be a big disadvantage to small/home business cyberentrepreneur):

1. Understand that technology should help you achieve your business and personal goals. It is merely a tool to move you forward with your vision: a "means to an end" to HELP and enable you, rather than being an end in itself, (or perhaps even be a disabler to "untechnos" like me). So make modern technology work to it's highest potential for you and your business. Spend time learning about various computer programmes and applications (hard though it may be for 'technically challenged'). Then "use it repeatedly , so you don't lose it!" Accept that vast majority of www. users are not "technofreaks" (like my "geek associate", Bill) and have great difficulty learning new computer procedures. Well, I certainly do (just ask Bill)!. However, by making a conscious effort and with discipline and effort habit ingrained makes it easier and easier, as your confidence grows in leaps and bounds.

2. Don't take competition for granted...and don't "knock" them. Never ever! Yes, even you "slick" Americans and we "rural little colonial hicks from on other side of world". Accept that no business can be best in every facet. The convergence of computer, media, entertainment and communications means underlying structures of computer world will change rapidly and soon... or so my "technogeek" associate, Bill (not Gates) says. The TV/computer/music center is not far away, I hear.

The net is a world wide market-place, so don't be too xenophobic (now that's a really big word, that I tried very hard to bring in). I think many Americans (and New Zealanders too) think that theirs is only country on earth in which to trade and is centre of world... and we're nearly falling off bottom near Antarctica!

However, we can all compete fairly ("fairly") against competition by transcending international boundaries on a "global level playing field" - whereby even "little guys" can take on big corporations around world (except for their massive marketing budgets, of course!) . It may mean adjusting your marketing efforts to take into account some cultural differences (like my rather 'weird' sense of humour, or different spelling - although it's same English language). Here in "Sleepy Hollow" (with one of highest unemployment rates in country) in little provincial New Zealand near bottom of world, we sell our various products around globe in response to customer needs.

3. Consolidate your business by focusing on what you do best. Don't try to be "all things" to your customer, nor try to offer too many products. Concentrate on perfecting and marketing your "best sellers" in your CORE business activities. That is area which produces most profitable results for your organization. (remember "80-20 rule" - 20% of your activities produces 80% of your results/profit and vice versa!). For us it's creative writing courses.

Now for one rather more philosophical...

4. Honour your parents, your teachers and your communities and especially your family. Family is most precious of all and strong and stable family units make for a strong and stable country. Parenting, I believe is most noble occupation of all - and parents want their children to be safe on line, so supervise them closely. Teach them responsibility in internet usage... so they don't push your telephone bill sky high (as my dear boys do - but then that's price of having and educating children - a tax on sex!). Teach your children well (as Crosby, Stills, Nash ... and Young used to sing so melodiously) and wisely. Let them learn that net is a great EDUCATION tool for present and future and they could be learning "practical skills on job" and preparing for a future technological career.

5. Do not send spam (sending masses of unsolicited e-mail) - under any circumstances. You are likely to be cut off by your server. I find it rather irritating receiving spam and simply delete all unsolicited e-mail selling products and services... and wouldn't you do likewise, because it just clutters up your mailbox?

6. Do not launch your product before market is ready for it. Test market first by doing a survey. Ask yourself: Is there a NEED for your particular product? In what way is it distinctive (and superior) to competition (world-wide, remember!)? Have all your systems in place to market it... then always remember, all products have a definite life cycle...and some are relatively short.

7. Take business of internet marketing seriously. The world online population is exploding daily and exponentially (big word, eh...but what does it mean?). I'm not sure how many people are online world-wide, but think it may be in order of 150-200 million at present and increasing daily. In addition, I "guess" there are a similar number of web sites (and many more pages) "up there in cyberspace". So competition is "pretty stiff"! As "cyber-revolution" gathers momentum, imagine if everyone is online one day? Impossible perhaps, but who knows! What will that do for your business and you? An unlimited target market for your PRODUCTS , if you are still going strong by then. VERY EXCITING!

8. Have an effective web presence. Your site should explain immediately what visitor will get for their time online. If it is not clear WHY they should stay, they'll leave before they try to find out. Therefore make your site as interesting and informative as you can. I've seen many sites, where I don't know webmaster's objective, their purpose. Are they purely for information, or trying to sell something? Make sure your site loads quickly, because people soon get tired of waiting in today's fast /instant (coffee) world.

I will take you through what doesn't work, first.

1. Blasting your ad to FFAs Avoid these with extreme prejudice. Nobody ever visits these anymore. Plus your ad is listed for only minutes.

2. Classified ads boards. These don't work either. At least not for Biz Opps Even in Yahoo! They don't work at all. Waste of time.

3. Blasting your ad to free opt in lists. Don't work. You'll get 2 to 3 responses. this wont guarantee sales. Free opt-in list work only if you use a particular method described below: http://verdeneon.net/$3_gets_$10/

4. Blasting your ad to paid opt in lists. Don't work. In order for them to work you must chose new lists, no older than a month and with under 500 subscribers. And even then you only get under 10 responses.

If you're thinking about these "1,000,000 subscriber" companies, think twice a about paying your $39.95 to these companies. These are just a bunch of useless free opt-in lists that everyone else is blasting to and not really paying to much attention to. Again you only get10-20 people per blast. It really isn't all they make it to be. It's all hype and emotional style propaganda.

5. Ezine advertising. Doesn't work. If you're submitting your classified ad to ezines, you're a complete fool. You need a top sponsor ad and you need ezines that have a large loyal following and increases in subscribers at least 100 per week. If this isn't happening, then you've wasted your time and money.

You must take in consideration that an ezine is viewed completely first few issues, then subscriber just scans issue for any relevant topics, disregarding ads completely.

Plus you need your top sponsor ad in several ezines just to break even. This can be very expensive and there are no guarantees on success of your ad campaign even on large subscriber ezines.

6. Ezine Solo ads. Don't work. Again, same as above. Veteran subscribers do not read solo ads. In fact, they are annoyed by them. Only new subscribers read solo ads, so ezine must be increasing in subscribers every week.