There is no shortage of job opportunities, from the high powered executive jobs to cleaning the windows in the very offices where the high earners ply their trades. One thing that most jobs DO have in common is that they have to answer to the 'bossman'.

I personally, was absolutely inspired by the idea of not having to answer to anyone ever again to make a living, when setting out to set up my first home business. The idea of working my own hours, spending time in the gym or with my kids if and when I pleased set me on a course of non-stop searching until I found the perfect online home business.

There are always the basic issues that almost everyone encounters in starting a new home business. Like deciding on what kind of business you want to start up.

Here are five important steps to follow to get started with internet marketing and for you to market your products or services from your own home.

1. Choose whether you want to start off with marketing your own products or become an affiliate marketer, as I am, which means marketing other peoples products for a commission.

2. Whether you start off with your own product or choose to market others you absolutely need to get your own website which includes domain name and web hosting.

3. Choose at least two or three internet marketing methods and incorporate these strategies into your business on a daily basis. Some examples are Article Marketing, Email Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation, and Blogging.

4. Budget your money wisely. You may not be a one week wonder nor an overnight success. Give your online business at least one year to work out and set out your funds accordingly. It took me over 5 years to make a significant profit and 6 years to make Internet Marketing a full-time job. Don't blow your entire marketing budget on a one-shot media blitz. If it fails you will plummet into despair and more than likely give up.

5. Be persistent! You MUST do something positive for your business every single day if you want to succeed. Marketers use the Rule of Seven. Prospects must see or hear your message seven times before they consider buying. That means you need to get your message out their consistently. You will be surprised how much traffic you can drum up if you just KEEP AT IT.

In conclusion, getting set up is only a beginning. The real power comes from the marketing of your business. After all, a website is only a blip on the vast screen of the world wide web unless you drive visitors to make sales or signups for your affiliate services.

I can take my laptop anywhere in the world and continue to make a full-time income whether that is lying on a beach somewhere in the Bahamas or in a ski chalet in the Alps.

Can you envisage yourself doing this? Are you prepared to promise never to give up until you achieve your online goals?

You too can make this dream a reality but you must do the right things to make any progress at all. The above 5 points should at the very least set you on the right track.