Never before has there been such a frenzy to start a home- based business. This is in large part due to growing number of opportunities that are cropping up each day. If you're looking for a way to work from home there's a veritable smorgasbord of businesses to choose from.

But what's hot today are Internet-related businesses. Whether you've already got a business and want to take it online, or if you're looking to make money with some kind of Internet business, you are not alone. People who don't even own computers want to get in on what's being deemed, "The Internet Revolution!"

We've all heard stories of entrepreneurs going from "rags to riches" because of Internet. Who wouldn't want to be part of that? The opportunity exists for all of us to make money online, but problem lies in knowing how to do it.

Michael Fallacara, President of United Publishing Group, recognized need for direction in way of online businesses and knew he'd found a niche for his company. "I wanted to give people an all-inclusive way to make money on Internet," he explains.

Michael is no stranger to ways of entrepreneur. Years ago he left a lucrative career as an executive chef in a major hotel chain to start his own business. But, first, he tested waters with a few ideas while still working full-time.

He'd seen enough infomercials to know business of selling information had great income potential, so he and his wife found out what was selling and then put together their own version of an instruction manual on how to start a home-based business.

"It took us about six months to create it and by time we were finished we had a 40-page manual that we sold for $39.95," remembers Michael who saw immediate success. "We placed ads in paper, then put our money back into new ads and in six months we were advertising in 1,000 newspapers, spending over $10,000 a month on ads, but making over double that."

This first attempt at his own business was a success and Michael says it's what he needed to give him courage to try new things, "This experience motivated me to leave my job and create my own products."

He started United Publishing Group (UPG) because he preferred creating products instead of just selling them. "We developed Business ToolBox, which offers information software programs and eventually we grew to create Internet-related software programs, which we call our Ecommerce ToolBox," says Michael.

"Many people know they want to make money with Internet; we give them ways to do that," says Michael, explaining who UPG is targeting with their products. "The Ecommerce ToolBox is for anyone who wants to tap into Ecommerce revolution. They don't have to have a web site, but if they do, they're looking to turn it into an income-generating site."

One of products found in Ecommerce ToolBox is online ad mall, WebAd Wizard. According to Michael, these aren't same old tools you'll find for Internet entrepreneurs. He prides himself on unique and innovative products that put small and home-based businesses on equal footing with larger companies.

The WebAd Wizard sets up a web site that is likened to business section of yellow pages, or in other cases, classified section of a newspaper. It allows anyone to run a high-profit ad web site. It's ready to use, entirely automated and can be customized for anything. The best part, according to many users of this program, is you don't have to hire anyone for technical aspects. It's all done via browser, which means software is set up to instruct you how to create your own ad mall.

In effect, these online ad malls become trading posts for people with products to sell or businesses to promote, depending on how its been customized. For example, Harry Shields, a Florida-based business owner, has three online ad malls:

http://www.leisuresales.net,

http://www.horsessentials.com and

http://www.cattlemallplex.com

On each of these sites, he's determined focus, which determines who will advertise on it.

One walks into a department store and has experience of “five senses” contact. You get smell of store , leather and lace, you can see in 3d products as they are arranged on racks. The sounds of cash registers, clerk intercom announcements, “clean up in aisle 5”, smooth touch and feel of garments and their particular fragrances. You can even get a taste of environment or some special cuisine that might be on promotion that day.

None of these things are present online via a website. Of course you can have sounds, music, flash intros and maybe even 3d renditions of products. But these things seem to distract prospects online and tend to drive them off to more simple sceneries. Do you know how long it takes for a site with these special effects to load?

So how do you market to prospects online? Million dollar question. First you have to figure out who is online, what are they doing online, what are they looking for, what do they want and how do you place yourself in front of them? Unlike main street you have to put yourself in way of your potential customers instead of throwing open your doors and waiting for them to walk through.