So many people responded when I wrote about tele-commuting a few weeks ago, that I wanted to follow up with some above-board opportunities that you can start working on right now.

A few key methods stand out and there are dozens more. If you have a suggestion that has personally worked for you, please send it over in e-mail for a future column.

Two key methods are to:
1: Build a product line and promote it online
2: Find an affiliate product line you believe in and promote it online.

Both of these methods will work more quickly when you build a list of people who follow you or who are in line with your interests. This can happen on Facebook or Twitter or Linked In, etc.

Key success factors with these pathways include:
#1: Focus on the audience. Who wants your products? Whether you are choosing to create a series of articles or sell someone else’s products, get to know your customer.

#2: Create or promote something you personally believe in, have checked out, feel good about, or otherwise can sanction.

#3: Build trust with people who believe in you.

#4: Don’t spam or create gobs of search-engine-optimized junk that does not provide a service, give advice, offer insight, or provide helpful information. It’s very tempting when you wade through the affiliate marketing text on the internet to buy into the junk method of re-posting other people’s stuff. Now, it is a good idea to post links to other people’s stuff, but make sure it is good stuff.

#5: To create your own product line, get clear on something that is needed in your world. Build a series of PDF file reports; audio files; and then compile Powerpoint files or image files with the audio files to make DVD or video instructions of your product.

It is so much easier than everyone makes out! Most people are very aware and bright on at least a few topics. So choose a topic you feel very good about and go for it.

Get the word out strategically and consistently.

If you don’t feel confident about building a product, choose someone else’s product to promote. Here is an example of how I integrated affiliate marketing into my web site with (what I believe to be) ethics and integrity.

What I did was to build a weekly e-mail list where people can find work from home job listings. So many people resonated with that desire, that I went ahead and created a new blog of the listings a week after they publish.

You can pull products from anywhere! My friend Astrid has started a new line of products that she believes strongly about. They are homewares from another country (www.fleurdelishomewares.com) and she has amassed some at home to show customers who want to order them, too. It is a very specific niche and Astrid has excellent home decor taste.

To get started on defining your affiliate business, here are some steps:

Step 1: Go to Link Share and get an affiliate account. It’s free.
http://www.affiliateshoppingsignup.com. It gives you access to products from 500 stores.

Step 2: Create a web site or blog where you can post your recommendations. I used blogspot for my creation “Jobs for Busy Moms,” because it is connected to Amazon.com and that made for some enjoyable linking with ease.

Step 3: Choose things you want to promote. If you don’t like any of the 500 stores at Link Share, you might like something on Clickbank, a site where affiliates sign up for free to hundreds of download-able products.

For me, I started a job listing for moms who need jobs but want to keep being a mom fully & wholly. This comes from my heart. Then I allowed advertisements to show up on the right hand side of the blog. I’m OK with that because I like to feed my kids every day, and such.

Step 4: Get the word out about your site. Blog about it. E-mail friends links to your recommendations. You can post articles that are related at www.Ezinearticles.com, ideamarketers.com, or any of hundreds of article sites. If you want to think big about it, there is a site called Traffic Geyser but it costs $99 a month. You can test it for one-month for free. Then you can take your articles and movies (they show you how to make a movie with powerpoint and a phone call) and share with the world. You can also post on mom sites and send information to friends about things that you believe in.

There are many, many opportunities and lots of web sites on this topic. Beware of anyone who wants you to pay for a list of opportunities. The site Rat Race Rebellion contains some good nuggets. You can e-mail me for more information, too, if you like. I steer clear of anything that feels or smells like a scam. I’ve left off so many options, but you can also get paid to post articles; answer surveys; and mturk via Amazon.com has some odd pay for clicking opportunities.

Good luck!