© 2002 Elena Fawkner

I received an email during week from a reader of a recent article "The 10 Most Popular Myths About Running A Home-Based Business Online" (http://www.ahbbo.com op10.html). That article was, I admit, something of a vent which was long overdue and it struck a chord with many readers who wrote in to let me know that it described their experiences to a T.

One Internet-experienced reader wrote: "People ask most amazing questions, such as 'I put up a web site. When do I start getting money and where does it come from?'"

Amazing but true. I kid you not, I get emails like this all time. They're what prompted article in first place. So, in this article, rather than venting, I'll be a little more constructive and actually answer question: Just how exactly DO you make money on Internet?

1. The simplest - join an affiliate program (hell, join LOTS of affiliate programs) and spend your time and money advertising and promoting it to drive traffic to you-beaut self-replicating website every other affiliate gets. A la Amazon.com.

This is a VERY inefficient way of trying to make money online. And it will cost you a fortune before it yields a return. If it ever really does. If you're VERY lucky, you MIGHT just cover your costs.

(If you don't know what an affiliate program is, read "Affiliate Programs ... A Not THAT Easy Start To Your Own Online Business" at http://www.ahbbo.com/affiliateprograms.html.)

2. Create a content-based website, get traffic to it and use it to promote your affiliate programs. The trick here is to sign up for affiliate programs related to subject matter you choose for your website. The idea is that, by creating a content-based website, you will attract targeted REPEAT traffic, thereby increasing odds that someone will buy one of your affiliate program products. This is a MUCH better option than #1. and will save you a fortune on advertising.

3. Create a content-based website, get traffic to it and use it to sell your own products. Anything that can be delivered digitally is a good bet - software, e-books etc.

4. Do #3. above and establish your OWN affiliate program so other people can also sell your product in exchange for a commission.

= They're often hiring workers who already have skills necessary to do job.

= They're looking for experienced workers with proven track records.

= Most of them state that although position is a telecommuting position, worker must live in same area as company itself.

= Many require worker to periodically work in office, with telecommuting being an option.

'So what?', you ask... Thinking this over, you'll see that this makes sense. If company is offering a telecommuting position, then naturally they would want someone who already have skills -- training is much more difficult to do when you're at home!

Secondly... company wants experienced workers with proven track records. Again, this makes sense. With a telecommuting position it's not quite as easy to 'check up' on a worker than if he or she was physically on location. Plus employer may not even want to check up on worker; he's likely looking for someone reliable and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

And finally, many employers still prefer that worker lives in same area as company. This way if there's a reason why employer needs worker to come into office, it's no problem. Telecommuting is a benefit, not a right.

So what can you do to better your chances of getting a telecommuting position?

1. BE FLEXIBLE.