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There has been much talk and a great deal of advice over the years relating to working from home. A lot of people are doing it and more than a few are earning their income entirely from their home based business.

Business Opportunity magazines, circulars and periodicals are jam-packed with advertisements and "job offers", all designed to entice people into this ever expanding arena.

And why not? After all, the idea of working from home is the ultimate goal of millions of people who would otherwise either be faced with a humdrum existence working for somebody else, or for various reasons are unemployed.

There is no doubt that running a home based business can be a very worthwhile enterprise - but it can lead to frustration and even financial ruin if not approached in the right way.

Here are some pointers to get you started on your quest to start making money with a home based business.

* choose a subject that you are interested in. Don't be tempted to jump onto something just because you've heard that someone else has had success with it. MLM programs are an example of this. They can be a source of great wealth to some, but a burden to others. Those who succeed usually do so because they have a natural "talent" for recruiting and making sales, whereas the vast majority of people who get sucked into this type of business find it very difficult to make headway simply because they lack confidence or stamina to make this business work. An exception would be if you find a sponsor who will help you to getstarted. You need to interview prospective sponsors to ensure they have the "Right Stuff".

* turn yourself into an authority or expert on your chosen subject by doing some research. Use a research tool such as Google Answers to find information that will help you to expand your knowledge.

* decide what audience you are going to target. This is vital because knowing your audience will help you to tailor your product or service to that particular group. For example, if you are going to create an information product, such as a how-to guide, then you might consider packaging this in digital format to be delivered over the internet. Or, if your product is more tangible, you would need to consider whether it can be shipped internationally, nationally or only within your immediate locality.

* if you are not interested in creating your own product then look out for in-demand products or services that you feel you can promote. Join their affiliate program. Find out as much as you can about the company, the products and commission structure. Do they have any testimonials? Is there a support center? Find out what other affiliates think of the program.

* write your own promotional material or hire a competent professional to do it for you. What you are aiming at is uniqueness. If you are promoting your own products, then this should not be too difficult to do. If you are an affiliate for another person's product, then you will need to come up with something original. Bear in mind that if the product is popular there will already be hundreds of affiliates promoting it. They will probably be using generic ads provided by the company. By creating your own material, you put yourself at an avantage over everyone else.

* get yourself online and build a web site. Buy a domain name and host your site through a professional hosting company. There are hundreds available. Having your own internet presence will help you in more ways than one. It will give you a base from which you can build. It can be used to establish a list of prospects that you can advertise to.

* offer your visitors something for free in exchange for their contact details (first name and email address). Follow up with them on a regular basis. Offer more free resources. Promote money-making products and services. Offer help and support.I personally recommend that you build a site where your visitors can find information on the topic that interests them. By providing the content they are looking for, you help to build trust. When a visitor starts to trust you they will feel more comfortable about buying from you or from a company you recommend.

And, of course, you make money.

So get started right now. Research your subject and target audience. Create your own product or become an affiliate for a company that has a proven track record. Create your own promotional material. Build a simple, functional web site. Be prepared for the long term.