By Susan Carter

I'm guessing that many of you are just like me. I'm a business person. I run a "real world" business with "real world" business services and products. But with such easy access to the Internet, I also became very interested in generating some internet-based revenue streams. After all, there's a huge prospect pool at the click of a mouse and I'd be a fool to not take advantage of it.

There's definitely opportunity in cyberspace. And there seems to be limitless programs from which to choose. Some of them are good and others are put out by people who know that "there's a sucker born every minute"--in the real world and in cyberspace. While I can't tell you what's worked for other people, I can tell you what's worked for me. This article shares with you what I've found in my personal hunt for 'opportunties' and my impressions of the ones I personally invested in. Perhaps this information will save you some of the time (and money) I spent trying to figure it all out!

Discovery #1:  Dirty little direct mail tricks have found their way to cyberspace. STAY AWAY!

Internet-surfing newbies (and even some seasoned "seekers") will sometimes be drawn into a get-rich-quick offer because it promises BIG money FAST! Please, please, PLEASE stay away from these chain letter offers and pyramid schemes. If you are asked to send cash to some name at the top of a list, duplicate the offer and send it to 100 (1,000, etc.) of your friends and associates with your name replacing that top spot (or something that sounds remotely similar to this) DON'T DO IT! Fortunately I haven't been sucked into this online scam, but -- many years ago in my desparate, cash-poor college days, I thought it was worth the gamble via a postal campaign. I'm still waiting for the first payout...A really big tip off of these going-nowhere get-rich-quick scams is that they actually  SHOW YOU THE LEGAL LANGUAGE (or refer you to a statute) to prove that it is (barely) legal. The second tip off is that these systems are based on the 'honor' system! They tell you the system works because they're trustworthy people. How trustworthy can strangers be when there's no checks and balances to make sure everyone follows the so-called program?  If you don't know exactly what you're buying or selling, chances are that there is nothing to buy or sell. You're simply skirting your way through a legal "loophole" that's, quite honestly, on very shakey ground.

Discovery #2:  Many low-cost offers have a "catch" once you sign up

One of the most popular opportunity offers on the Internet today is introduced through ads claiming you could make a few hundred dollars per day using a little 3-part marketing system that will only cost you $20.00. It sounded like a reasonable, affordable first time venture so I bought this system. Here's what I discovered: to implement the system you need to set up an autoresponder and an online credit card and check acceptance account (about another $70.00-90.00 using the services they recommend). And oh, by the way, you should have a website, which they will gladly develop for you (for free) and host for you (for a monthly fee). Certainly, you are free to clunk around on your own to find less costly payment services (which is very unlikely), and some of the available free autoresponder and web site options. However, you will be left to your own wits to figure out how to put them all together to work correctly.

For most people--especially newbies--this is VERY frustrating. If you knew how to do all of that, you would be better off promoting your OWN program. Suddenly you've paid well over $100 to become a participant of the program and you have not even placed a single ad to market the product! Disappointing.

If there's good news about this system it's that it is a real system, not a scam. It is making people money and the supporting site and materials explain how you can develop your own program using the same concept, which adds some value to this program. Yet, for me, the additional 'hidden' costs made the opportunity seem deceiving and made me angry. I decided I would rather count my initial $20 investment as a learning loss and find something else to promote to others. If my name is going to be used as the referring person for a program, I want to give people something I know won't disappoint them. Join if you want, but be aware of the hidden costs!

I continued to search for a reasonably priced system. I explored some of the matrix-based systems promoting various products but once I began reading the program descriptions, they all sounded very complicated--and many of them hold back payments until your matrix is filled or you reach a certain level. Again, for me, it was too confusing. If I earn the money, pay me. If I don't earn the money, don't pay me. I want to start an online business, not an online bank! I can't say these aren't legitimate opportunities because I opted not to join. My only caution is that, when you read the description of ANY offer, be sure to read the 'fine print' and understand the specifics of the program before you buy.

Discovery #3: The easiest 'first' online business for me was completely TURNKEY

Then I read an ad in one of the several e-zines I subscribe to--and rely on--for good information and recommendations. I clicked over to the site and began reading. It had everything I wanted in a TURNKEY program. I didn't have to have a current web site, I didn't have to sign up with other vendors, and I didn't have to figure out how to make the system work. In less than 5 minutes I was set up with a product, a web site, and automated payment processing. EVERYTHING was done for me. And the upfront cost of the program was the ONLY cost I had to pay! In fact, the entire program cost LESS than half of the 'total' package cost of that $20.00 program. This was the perfect first online business for me and it continues to be one I rely on for steady results. If you think a totally TURNKEY system with NO HIDDEN COSTS is a great online business for you, too, click here for more information. It's called the Instant Internet Cash Flow System and I highly recommend it. It's one I am happy to be associated with and I promise you won't be disappointed!

Discovery #4: Multiple streams of income are better than one!

As soon as I finally experienced the rewards of a successful program, I wanted to learn more. The Internet is here to stay and I want to be a part of it with a growing online business that will bring me financial security. Just like my offline business, it makes sense to invest in acquiring multiple streams of income, rather than bank everything on just one product/service. To accomplish this,  I purchased four internet marketing courses over a time period of six months. Each one of them outlines the types of products that sell well on the internet, the pros and cons of affiliate programs as a revenue stream, and how to develop your own products/services (or transition your offline business) for the internet. Two of these courses were by far the BEST I've seen and  well worth MORE than the money I paid.