What woman doesn't have too much to do and too little time to do it? Starting an online marketing business is a dream come true for many busy women. Never before in history have there been so many women wanting to start their own business. Statistics show there are approximately 11 million women-owned businesses in the United States alone. And this number is growing every day.

There are tons of reasons to begin a career in online marketing - and you probably know them by heart. You'd have more time with the family, and you'd be your own boss. And though information on business opportunities seems to abound, how much of that information is correct and how much is hype? And what's more, who has the time to dredge through all those opportunities looking for the perfect plan?

Unfortunately, many very capable but busy women give up before they ever get started. Rather than risk falling victim to what the U.S. Federal Trade Commission cleverly calls Dot Cons, they simply resign themselves to 'working for the man' and bury their dreams.

The internet is wide open and there are markets with little or no competition; so now is the time to stake your claim. With this in mind, here are 7 things that will speed your search for the perfect online marketing business:

1. The savvy woman should be leery of those sites that stress how little time their program will require and the speed by which you can replace your current income. There are no legitimate business opportunities where by you can earn a living in only a couple of hours a week. Online business opportunities tend to exaggerate the ease of online marketing and the convenience of shopping online. And while online marketing has a broader client base, and it is a growing, multi-billion dollar industry, this also means the internet is a highly-competitive place to succeed.

2. Don't purchase a turnkey business where all the businesses will sell the same information or products as everyone else who purchases the system; you'll be competing with hundreds to thousands of others who are attempting to sell the exact same products or services on identical, websites. It sounds good on paper, but the facts are, those with duplicate websites are your direct competitors, and they too are learning the same techniques.

3. Do find a site that has helpful free information available to you before you make a purchase. The 'make a quick buck' sites are fairly easy to spot. These sites have very little information available and consist almost entirely of links to other pages or sites. If the merchant you visit isn't interested in helping you before the sale, think how much less helpful they're likely to be afterwards.

4. Actually read the information provided free by the websites you visit. Armed with this information you will be better prepared to judge the specific points of the products and systems you assess.

5. Though some 'turnkey business products' are less than desirable, there are some businesses which give you a system or step-by-step instructions to follow, and all you have to do is research your field of interest and decide on the products you want to offer. These businesses can be a goldmine - if they provide assistance to you as you find your niche and decide on the type products you want to sell.

6. Any product or system you purchase should have at least a 60 day, money-back guarantee. 30 days is not enough to learn what you are suppose to do and then do it. And don't forget to read the fine print; some products require the package not be opened, while others require you have documentation that you tried the product and followed the steps outlined. If the guarantee has any fine print - pass on that product. Satisfaction should be 100% guaranteed.

7. And last but certainly not least is traffic. Don't fall for any online marketing plan or business opportunity that doesn't address the issue of traffic. No matter what type business you open, you must have traffic and as you will find, it will be one of the more challenging aspects of your new venture.

If you keep these 7 criteria in mind as you begin your journey into online marketing and business opportunities, you should be able to weed through the online hype in short order and find the legitimate gems.