If you're searching for information on how to start your own online business, you'll find a lot of different advice on the 'Net.

Some people will offer you quick "business-in-a-box" solutions. Some people will try and convince you that they have the EXACT strategy that will make you tons of cash in mere seconds. And still other people will tell you that you SHOULDN'T start your own online business... everything that can be sold online is ALREADY being sold online.

The fact is, all of them are wrong. If you really want to know how to start your own online business, you need to be aware of the tried-and-true formula that has been the foundation practically every profitable business -- online OR offline!

So what's this magical formula? Well, it's actually just common sense!

You want to find a problem that people are seeking a solution for, and then create and market the product that solves that problem. It's just that simple. That way, you'll have a market that's eager to buy your product -- before you even come up with it!

The reality is, unless there are people actively searching for what you have to offer, your odds of making very many sales are extremely low.

That's why we recommend our clients do a LOT of market research before they get down to the business of creating a plan or building a web site. If you have a solution or product idea in mind, you can use research tools like Wordtracker and the Yahoo Search Marketing Keyword Tool to discover if people are actually searching for it on the Web.

Both of these tools can also help you narrow down potential markets by showing you the keywords people are typing into the search engines to find a solution to their problems. So you can discover exactly what they're looking for -- and then give it to them!

Not only that, but keyword research can also answer questions that will help you build the most effective marketing plan for your product. You can discover...

• Who is looking for this product? (What age group are they in? Are they searching for the product for themselves, or for friends or loved ones?)

• What exactly do people want this product to do? (What suffering has this problem created? What features or benefits are they seeking?)

• How will this product change their lives? (What has the problem stopped them from doing? How will their quality of life improve with this product?)

It's been proven time and time again -- if you want to start your own online business, market research is the place to start. For information on discovering profitable markets and starting a profitable niche-focused business, check out: www.MarketingTips.com/tipsltr.

If you want to be your own boss, consider starting your own work-from-home online business. Starting an Internet business is hands-down the most inexpensive and easiest way to go into business for yourself.

And because marketing your home-based business online can often be done for free, it can also be extremely lucrative!

There are a TON of ways you can make money online, and one of them's sure to be YOUR best home-based online business revenue model. Let's take a look at a few:

• Sell your own product (as opposed to someone else's). There are many advantages to developing your own product. You have total control over every aspect of the sales process -- including how it's packaged, marketed, and priced.
  
  Of course, there's a lot more work involved and higher cost, so you need to weigh your options before going ahead with this method.
  
  
• Drop ship products. This is a perfect method for you if you want to sell quality, brand-name products on your website, but don't want to deal with product-development, warehousing, packaging, or shipping!
  
  A drop-shipper is someone who handles all of that for you, freeing you to promote and grow your business. The disadvantage, however, is that you don't have control over the quality of service -- which ultimately reflects on your business!
  
  
• Sell other people's products by purchasing "reprint rights" and "master licenses." If you want to find a product to sell right away, consider purchasing the reprint or resell rights to someone else's product. You can find anything ranging from eBooks to software.
  
  If you get the resell rights to someone else's product, you sell that product for a percentage of sales. OR you can buy the reprint rights, giving you the right to reproduce unlimited copies and keep 100% of the proceeds! (These are more expensive than resell rights.)
  
  OR you can buy a master licence, which allow you to resell the rights to other people in addition to keeping 100% of your direct sale proceeds.

Whether you're developing your first home-based online business model or simply analyzing an existing business, your chief focus should be on how you're going to create income.

If you'd like to find out about more ways to make money online and market your work-from-home online business, check out our free newsletter archive. You're sure to find the best home-based online business model for YOU right now.