You could shrink the world only so much. The descendants of Columbus used airways, seaways and linked landmasses by unimaginable engineering feats. Globalisation, as the cliché goes, made the world one small village turning international markets into a local bazaar. And then the Internet happened.

The world was squeezed into a small screen on your lap. Boundaries blurred and minds mingled. People exchanging notes across the globe discovered the value and demand for new or restricted products and services. Suddenly there was a price tag to everything—musings, dusty old books and second-hand gadgets. The market for interpersonal skills such as teaching defied geographical constraints. The battle between bulls and bears got wired to bedrooms. The industry took notice and patronised innovations that facilitated growth of the “virtual market”.

Earning opportunities exploded making stock traders out of homemakers, writers out of scribblers (better known as bloggers) and entrepreneurs out of anyone with flair to sell. Unobtrusively for some and with a bang for others, the Internet has begun generating income streams for Indians ranging from a couple of thousands to a few lakhs, chiefly through self-employment. What attracted people were minimal initial costs, convenience, reach to an incalculable customer base and the chance to experiment with products and services.

• Thousands of Indians are making millions selling products online

• Over 2 lakh active blogs by Indians earn varying sums to bloggers

• Retail investors are making over 8 lakh online transactions a day

• E-tutoring has opened new jobs and income options for teachers

Today, earnings over the Net is more than a meagre supplementary income. It figures in the career options of youngsters, has become a remunerative engagement for the retired and even a means for the physically challenged to become self-reliant. Still, the world of faceless buyers and sellers, miniscule information passages and payments by keying in secret numbers baffles and scares many. Others question the consistency and feasibility of earning opportunities advertised all over. MONEY TODAY scoured the markets, spoke to experts and gathered first hand accounts to bring you the hot money making trends on the Net. Turn over to find your place in the web of world wide wealth.