The internet is a useful tool, not just for information gathering, but also for earning income. While there are numerous options available, they are not all created equal. Some are legitimate while others are not; some require you to carry inventory, others do not; some have the potential for a few dollars, others could earn you thousands. The one benefit that they all offer is the opportunity to work from home earning income online.

But don’t be fooled, make money online opportunities are not “get rich quick” plans. They require work, just like everything else. The difference is that when you have an online business you have the opportunity to earn money even when you are sleeping; rather than only earning your paycheck for the exact hours you clock-in. With an online business you will still have to work, you have to learn your product or service and you have to promote and advertise your business. In the beginning, this takes time and effort but the payoff can be great. As with everything, there is a learning curve and once you learn the techniques for using the internet to market your business you will find yourself spending less time working and more time enjoying your new freedom.

Something else to keep in mind as you consider your “work from home” options is that there are work at home “jobs” and work at home “businesses.” The difference is that a job is work you do for someone else, such as medical transcription services, writing articles for others, designing websites for others, etc. With a job, you only get paid when you work.

A business is an opportunity for you to work on your own, on your time, as much or as little as you desire. You will have the ability to grow your business as much and as quickly as is comfortable for your personality and lifestyle. Business opportunities such as internet marketing give you this flexibility. Within a larger parent company, you will have access to the necessary tools to learn how to be a successful internet marketer without having to re-invent the wheel. A business model that provides extensive training and personal mentoring will help the new internet marketer learn those tools and increase their chances for success.

With so many opportunities out there, it can be confusing and overwhelming. Just be sure to look into each one carefully, ask a lot of questions and then pick the job or business that’s best for you.