A few years ago when I decided to do business online, I was a bit in the dark. I was so excited that I didn't even take some time to learn some basic stuff. These were things I wish somebody had taught at the start beginning, but I had to learn them first hand. Here are a few things I learned as a beginner:

• The internet is loaded with scams and schemes and a lot of hype.

But there are a lot of legitimate businesses online. Making money online is just as in the offline world. To do so still requires hard work, dedication, persistence, passion and commitment.

• There is no way you can become rich “overnight.”

I used to join program after program to get a quick buck or two. This was all in vain. I was so eager to make some easy money I forgot to take a reality check. Any truly successful online business will take time to build and grow. Are you willing to stick at it for the next 3-5 years? A very good question to ask yourself.

• Visibility is part of the game.

The more visible and reliable you are, the more people will trust you. Trust is a big part of making it online. Would you spend your hard earn money with someone who is not trustworthy? It took me some time to realize and accept this fact.

• To receive you have to give.

When I first started out, all I was interested in was receiving. As I got more deeply involved, I realized that doing so was setting me up for failure. You have to give your customers and readers something in order for them to return the favor. This also took some time to sink into my thick skull.

The above are just a few things you will need to know when doing business online. With these pointers, you will at least be at a better starting point than others. Somehow I just keep thinking, what have would happen if I had known these things at the beginning?