It is certainly true that affiliate marketing can be enormously financially rewarding.  Why, then do so many wannabe affiliate marketers fail?  Perhaps the answer lies in the fact that many affiliates don’t first learn how the entire business runs.

Affiliate marketing is not as simple as an affiliate promoting a merchant’s wares through his website and getting paid for it.  It is also about knowing the market, knowing the customers, and understanding how things work.  Appealing and attractive myths about making a great fortune overnight abound. 

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While a few of these stories may well be true, the vast majority of people will fail miserably in the internet business.  They will waste time, effort and too many resources trying to pursue their dreams if they go into affiliate marketing armed with nothing but myths and fantastical notions of wealth swimming in their heads. 

Just as in any other business, there are do’s and dont’s involved, and not learning what those are is bound to result in your downfall.  So let’s explore what the most common affiliate mistakes are and perhaps dispel the myths that abound.

Mistakes to Avoid:

1. Diving right in with no clue about what you are doing and not first researching and learning the basics of how affiliate marketing works.  You need to achieve a basic understanding of the principles iinvolved in this business, then you can fine-tune your knowledge as you go along. 
2. Not selecting the right product(s) to promote.  Don’t look for a product and then try to find someone to buy it.  There may not be a market for that item or people may not be willing to pay for that information.  Look first for a pressing need people have that they are willing to spend money on to solve, then find a product that will fill that need.
3. Don’t promote just one product.  If you select only one product to promote, and that product ends up being a dud, you will have spent a lot of time and effort for nothing.
4. Don’t promote too many products.  Select a couple of products that people need or want desparately, then select 3 advertising methods to use for each one.  If you offer customers too many options, they become confused and end up making no choice.
5. Losing focus.  It is very easy, when just starting out especially, to get distracted with all the possibilities of instant success or promises of a better product.  Chose your products, set up your marketing plan, then stick with it long enough to see if it is profitable.  You may need to try different products at the beginning to find ones that work for you, but stick with each one at least 2-3 weeks to see how it does before leaping on to the next bigger and better “thing”.
6. Not tracking your results.  Use tracking codes for each product and each advertisement or method so you can see what is working and what isn’t.  Evaluate what works best and stick with those that are successful, expanding your promotional efforts.  Dump the duds and move on to another product to test.
7. Using hype versus good content.  Don’t use screaming, unrealistic headlines or stuff your sites with banners that don’t provide enough information about the product.  Provide good content, as it is important for customers to know and understand the features of a product to help them make a decision to buy.
8. Giving up too soon.  Learning the ropes and setting up an effective affiliate marketing program takes time and effort, trial and error. 

None of these 8 mistakes are difficult to avoid, nor are they big mysterious secrets known by only a few.  But many would be affiliates are doomed to fail in this business if they do not exert enough effort to understand everything involved in the industry, and if they don’t follow a step-by- step plan of action.  In reality, the way to success in any worthwhile endeavor is to follow your path with commitment and a never-give-up attitude.

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One of the major driving forces of every successful entrepreneur, whether it be in affiliate marketing or any other field, is the desire to control their own destiny.  They feel trapped, controlled, unfulfilled and underpaid as an employee.  They became fed up with rigid workplace rules, tyranical bosses, working harder than their co-workers for the same pay, and worst of all…working hard  to make someone else rich. 

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But it’s pretty scary to strike off on your own.   In fact, it takes a special kind of person to even consider such a move.  The reason so many people are starting an online business is because it is so much easier to get started than most other types of businesses…but even an affiliate marketer must possess within himself certain essential traits to achieve success.  There is a lot of competition involved in affiliate marketing, so only those who are able to rise above the norm and remain committed to their goals will stand out among the rest.
 
Just what are the things needed to be able to succeed in affiliate marketing?  What must you have within yourself to be able to do well in this industry?  I believe there are five essential traits you must possess, and they are:   

1. The first and most important trait you must possess is the right mind-set.  A positive attitude, with the belief that you can…and will…accomplish anything you set your mind to, is critical.  There will be plenty of others around you in the guise of friends and family who will be more than willing to dish out negative attitudes and discouraging words. 
2. The second trait you must possess is self-motivation.  If you want to get rid of your boss, you will need to have the ability to self-direct and to push yourself ahead.  You must be able to plan, set up goals and tasks, and then have the sticking power to see that you get them accomplished.
3. The third trait you must possess is the willingness to learn and be trained.  You will find yourself treading through a jungle of the unknown, which is not only scary, but also frustrating.  You must learn the tricks of the trade and be properly equipped.  The more you know, the better will be your advantages in dealing with a competitive market.
4. The fourth trait you must possess is discipline.  You will need to work everyday with all the energy you can muster.  Since you will be working from home, you cannot let outside distractions lead you astray,   Set specific work hours for yourself, then stick to them!  Leave the TV off; don’t answer every telephone call or read every text message, set certain times to return messages; and don’t start doing household chores just because you saw a mess in the kitchen.  You are at work! 
5. The fifth trait you must possess is commitment.  You must be willing to invest time and effort in your business even when you don’t see direct and immediate results.  Despite what the hype will have you believe, affiliate marketing does take time to learn, create and groom, so it is important that once you have your foot in the door of the industry to hold on and not give up.  If you are consistent and persistent, success is just around the corner, and it will find you. 

The ingredients to success in a business such as affiliate marketing are many and diverse, but the biggest key to success lies within yourself alone.  Striking out on your own is all about putting your fate into your own hands, so having the traits outlined above will help lead you on your journey to success.

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 The Internet’s fast-growing popularity over the past few years has caused radical changes in many aspects of our daily lives, especially in commerce. With everything from information, education, entertainment, and business and personal products just clicks away, it’s no wonder that more people everyday are utilizing the internet.  You don’t need to be business savvy to realize that this phenomenon can yield sky-high financial gains.  But, it is an opportunity that any entrepreneur wants to cash in on.

The beauty is that not only seasoned businessmen can make money online, but anyone with the drive to step up, learn some new skills, and then do the work can earn big bucks.  Affiliate marketing is a great way to start your online business, as you don’t need to have your own products to sell, nor do you need a high-profile and established company.  Its popularity is based on the fact that it is proven to be cost-efficient and profitable,  working effectively for both the merchant and the affiliate.

Now…a word of caution before you get too excited.  Although affiliate marketing is touted constantly as the easiest and most effective way to earn money online, it is not really as easy as it sounds.  It doesn’t happen overnight and it never happens without some serious thought and quite a bit of elbow grease!  It requires the same basics used to build any serious business, online or offline.  

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If you wish to be an affiliate marketer and make your share of internet fortunes, first you need to identify something you are particularly knowledgeable about and for which you have a strong passion…or at least an intense interest.  Focusing on a specific area you like and know well will keep your interest in the long run, you will be able to add a personal touch to your promotions, and your visitors – potential buyers – will see you as an expert in your field.  Speaking of buyers, make sure that your area of interest…your niche…has a wide following of other interested folks and that there are products or services they will want to buy.  And the more urgent this desire to buy is, the better. 

I know you are aware of the pitches that scream out how you can make massive amounts of money in just hours without a product, without a website, and without lifting a finger.  Uh-huh.  In my opinion, if you are serious about making real money online, then you absolutely need the following: a plan; the right tools, meaning a top level domain name, your own website with reliable hosting, and an autoresponder; and consistent positive action.   While good affiliate programs will provide you with excellent marketing tools, you cannot take full advantage of those materials without investing in your own web presence.

So here are your vital tools:

Vital Tool #1:  Your Plan

Think about what you want to do and where you want to go.  Write it down, using specific achievement dates and dollar amounts.  You can always add to or modify your plan as you go, but HAVE a plan, just as you would have a roadmap for a road trip.

Vital Tool #2:  Your Domain Name

Spend some time with this and find a domain name that uses key words that tell people what your website is about and that is easy to spell and remember.

Vital Tool #3: Your Own Website

The first step in any successful affiliate marketing business is building a good, credible and professional looking website. Your website is the hub of all your marketing efforts, so it must contain original, relevant and useful content, presented in an appealing way that encourages visitors to click on the links to the products and services you are promoting and make a purchase.  It does not need to be elaborate; a simple site that caters to what your prospects need can be highly effective. 

(If you have now “shut down” because  you don’t have a website…and you don’t know the first thing about building one…or about setting up a web business, for that matter…then you will wnat to check out these 26 step-by-step training videos about how to do just that.  I highly recommend them, and they are Free!) 

Vital Tool #4:  Reliable Hosting

Host your website with a hosting company that has earned a reputation for good service and reliability – do your homework before making a decision.  (Personally, I recommend Chris Farrell’s Membership site, where you can learn step-by-step how to do all this stuff, plus get free website hosting.  In fact, I am an affiliate for his site, because he is honest and straight-forward and a great teacher too.)

Vital Tool #5:  Autoresponder

Building an opt-in email list is one of the best ways to gather prospects. Offer a newsletter or an e-zine. Better yet, offer incentives to encourage people to subscribe to your newsletter.  You can present free software, access to exclusive services and other freebies that will be helpful to your prospects.  Then use your autoresponder to deliver your newsletter and to keep in touch with your subscribers.

Vital Tool #6:  Consistent Positive Action

Your first action steps will be to build your website and set up your affiliate marketing machine. Attracting people to your site is your primary goal, so the importance of driving highly targeted traffic to your website cannot be overemphasized.  This will be an ongoing part of your business, and consistent action will result in consistent results.  Remember, any successful business endeavor, even affiliate marketing, entails a great deal of hard work and persistence.  

Keep in mind, there is no quick and easy path towards success, but these are the most important of the many tools that an affiliate marketer can use to maximize earning potential. The possibilities are endless and are limited only by your imagination, creativity, resourcefulness and determination. You can always explore other ideas and adapt other strategies which you think might help you become a high rolling affiliate marketer.

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Affiliate marketing has become one of the most effective ways to advertise online. It is also one of the easiest ways for anyone with a website to make a profit online. Affiliate Marketing is an agreement between a merchant and a website owner. The website owner, or the affiliate, allows the use of their site for the promotion of the merchant’s products by linking to the merchant’s website. In exchange, the merchant pays a commission to the affiliate on all sales generated by the affiliate. Every time someone clicks on the link on the affiliate website and proceeds to make a purchase, the affiliate gets a commission. The merchant will pay the affiliate only when a customer clicks on the product link and makes a purchase.

Affiliate marketing programs are described as a win-win situation for both the merchant and the affiliate because of the pay-for-performance format. Both the merchant and the affiliate enjoy some benefits in affiliate marketing. There are many benefits on the merchant’s side. It gives the merchant a wider market in which to advertise a product or service. Affiliate marketing will give the product or service the maximum exposure that it may not get with other traditional advertising techniques. The more affiliate sites a merchant has, the higher the traffic, which can convert to sales. Affiliate marketing is the equivalent of having an army of sales people who will do the advertising and will only get a commission if a customer purchases.

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Meanwhile, since an affiliate marketing relationship is a win-win situation, the affiliate also enjoys many benefits. Foremost among these is the easy way to make a profit. The affiliate can earn by having an ad or link to the merchant’s website, which prospective customers will hopefully click and proceed to make a purchase. As soon as the customer clicks on the ad on the affiliate’s site, is redirected to the merchant’s website and goes on to buy that particular product, the affiliate earns a commission. The more referrals there are the more profit for the affiliate.

Affiliate marketing is an excellent way to earn money while at home. There are virtually no production costs. The product is already developed and proven by the merchant, and all you have to do to find as many prospects as you can that will bring in the profit for both the merchant and the affiliate. Affiliate programs are usually free to join, so affiliates do not have to worry about start-up costs. There are thousands of products and services you can choose from. You can find affiliate programs for every product under the sun. Surely, there is a product or service out there that is relevant to your website.

In addition, there is absolutely no sales experience necessary. Most affiliate programs offer excellent support when it comes to providing marketing material. The simplicity of affiliate marketing allows you to be an affiliate marketer at the least cost and the most comfort. You can even build a successful affiliate marketing business right in the convenience of your own home. In affiliate marketing, your responsibility is simply to find prospects for the merchant; you do not have to worry about inventory, order processing, and product shipping. These, along with customer service support, are the duties of the merchant.

Because of the global reach of the internet, you can easily find thousands of prospects. You can intensify your advertising campaign by exploiting more aggressive and productive strategies such as viral marketing. By attracting more prospects, you also maximize your potential to earn. Another benefit of an affiliate marketer is the minimal risk involved. If the product you are advertising is not making money then you can dump it and choose another. There are no long-term binding contracts tying you to products that are not making enough money.

All the same, the best benefit of being an affiliate marketer is the opportunity to increase your income; and you can make a profit even if affiliate marketing is only a sideline business. With your own affiliate business, you can easily earn extra income, although you do have to exert effort and use your imagination to maximize your earning potential. Indeed, affiliate marketing is one of the simplest and most effective business opportunities on the web today.

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There are several different types of affiliate marketing, differentiated by the methods used and the ways in which affiliates are paid.  The most basic affiliate marketing programs, however, fall under two categories:  Pay-Per-Click (PPC), and Pay-Per-Performance (PPP).

Pay Per Click (PPC) 

PPC is the most popular type of affiliate marketing for affiliates with small websites, and it is likely the easiest way for affiliates to earn income.  With this affiliate marketing method, the merchant pays his affiliate whenever a visitor is referred to his site, meaning that someone clicks through the merchant’s banner or text ads.  The affiliate gets paid, usually a fixed amount, even if the referred visitor does not purchase anything from the merchant’s site.  With this method the typical fees for PPC affiliate programs are small, usually not exceeding a dollar or so for every click.

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Pay Per Performance (PPP)

PPP affiliate marketing is the most popular method among merchants, as well as being the most lucrative method for the affiliates.  With this method of affiliate program, the merchant only pays the affiliate when his referral results in an action—when the referred visitor actually buys something from the merchant’s site or becomes a lead.  This translates into considerable savings for the merchant,  and it becomes very lucrative for the dedicated affiliate, as commissions in PPP affiliate marketing can be in the range of 15% to 20% of the actual product sales.

Pay-Per-Performance affiliate marketing can be further classified into two popular types:  Pay-Per-Sale (PPS) and Pay-Per-Lead (PPL).

Pay Per Sale (PPS)

In a pay-per-sale method of affiliate marketing, the merchant pays the affiliate a fee when the referred visitor to the merchant’s site actually buys something from the merchant’s site.  Affiliates are usually paid on a commission basis, although some merchants will opt to pay a fixed fee.  But whatever the basis of the fee, it is nearly always higher than the fee paid to affiliates in a pay-per-click affiliate program.

Pay Per Lead (PPL)

The pay-per-lead method of affiliate marketing is a slight variation of the PPS type, most often used by insurance and finance companies, or other companies which rely on leads for their company to grow.  In this type of affiliate marketing, the affiliate is paid when a referred visitor to the merchant’s site completes an application or other form related to the business of the company.  Compensation for this method of affiliate marketing is based on a fixed fee, approximating that of the fixed fee in the PPS type.

Other types of affiliate marketing are based on the depth of an affiliate network, and thus are classified as single-tier, two-tier, and multi-tier affiliate marketing.  

Single-Tier, Two-Tier, and Multi-Tier Affiliate Marketing

These types of affiliate marketing are based on the different levels, or tiers, in the affiliate network, and payments are made based on those tiers.  In a single-tier affiliate marketing program, the affiliates are only paid based on the direct sales or traffic referred to the merchant.  The methods we outlined previously, i.e., PPC, PPP, PPS and PPL, all fall into the single-tier classification.

There are two primary compensation methods that are associated with affiliate marketing:

CPA (Cost per Action) – This is based on the advertisement generating enough interest that the clicker actually buys or registers at the site. 

CPS (Cost per Sale) – This is based strictly on sales.  The affiliate is paid if the clicker actually purchases something on the advertised site.  Since the cost-per-sale system has very little or no risk at all for either party, it is the preferred method.

Cost per Click (CPC) or Cost per Mil (CPM), basically pays the affiliate according to how many clicks the advertising on the site generates, or even by merely having the advertisement published on the website.  Because of the increased use of click fraud and other questionable tactics, which are risks to the advertiser, CPC is now rarely used for affiliate marketing. 
 
Affiliate marketing is frequently run by affiliate networks, composed of two functional bodies – the group affiliates and the group merchants.  Each has their particular function and role when it comes to affiliate marketing.  The affiliate network acts as a third party between the merchant and the associated affiliates. The network also provides the technology to deliver the merchant’s campaigns and offers and collects commission fees from the merchant, then paying the affiliates which are part of the program.  Affiliate networks often provide targeted, best-seller items and personal support to their affiliates, and they often offer sales promotions which will benefit both the network and the affiliate.

Affiliate marketing is a beneficial situation for both the merchant and the affiliate.  If they work together, they create definite advantages to both sides.  Besides the fact that it makes sense, it is an easy and relatively inexpensive way for an affiliate marketer to start a business, and she can be up and running within a matter of days.  The next thing to consider is…..how to get traffic and make your offer stand out from all the others!

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Affiliate marketing is a cooperative effort between merchants (the retailers) and an affiliate (the “publisher”).  It is basically a form of revenue sharing or commission based advertising.  An affiliate is compensated by the merchant for every visitor, subscriber and/or customer provided through his efforts.

The compensation to an affiliate is either through a pay-per-click (PPC) program (the affiliate receives money every time an advertisement is clicked), or through a pay-per-sale (PPS) program (the affiliate receives commission every time a posted advertisement on their site generates an actual sale or subscription.)  Generally, the PPS program (also called cost-per-sale, or CPS) is the most tried and trusted form of affiliate marketing.

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The merchant is any internet site owner who chooses to capitalize on performance based marketing in order to take advantage of the numerous benefits of such a program.  The merchant’s role is to manage and operate the affiliate program, creating advertising websites, support systems and payment plans which will attract interested affiliates.  It is the merchant who decides how much he is willing to pay for each sale that results from a visitor sent from an affiliate.

Finding a good affiliate fit for their merchandise is key to generating income for both parties.  In turn, due to the affiliates’ efforts, the merchant has access to markets and customers without him spending valuable research time. 

The affiliate marketer also receives numerous benefits.  The affiliate marketer is an internet site owner who promotes one or more merchants and their affiliate programs.  With sufficient dedication and follow-through in building his business, these programs can generate a full-time income for the affiliate.

The affiliate should have an understanding of what the commission will be, how the payment method works, and the time and requirments involved in fulfilling the contract.  The affiliate also must understand which merchandise their user base will be most interested in, assuring that products are targeted and are a good match for them, whether it be products or informational sites.

I hope this gives you a better understanding of this popular online marketing method, as it paves the way for Part 2, coming up next.
 

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The internet offers so many cost effective and highly efficient ways for companies to market and sell their products online that it can be very confusing for the beginner!  One of my favorites – and the easiest for those just starting out in internet marketing - is a method called “Affiliated Marketing”.   Affiliate marketing programs have reached an all-time high level of popularity among internet marketers today.   But why is that? 

Well, primarily it is because affiliate marketing can work so well for both the merchants and the affiliates.    The merchant can use multiple resources to advertise their products at a lower cost, and the affiliates are afforded an easy, low-cost way of earning online profits.

Affiliate marketing is an all-encompassing term that refers to a type of on-line revenue sharing program involving advertising and selling.  It has been utilized offline for ages, but online it dates back to late 1994, when many e-commerce sites started employing the system with phenomenal results.  Today, affiliate marketing is a very serious player within e-commerce strategy.

Just as affiliate marketing has grown in popularity since that time, so has the status and the perception of affiliate marketing changed.  It is now considered as a main source of profits and revenues, rather than merely being considered an alternate method for merchants to advertise their products, or as a source of extra income for internet marketers.

But if you’re like me, especially if you’re just starting to explore methods of making an online income, several questions have popped into your mind.   Some of them might be:   What exactly is affiliate marketing?  How does it differ from internet marketing in general?  Are all affiliate marketing programs the same?  Do all affiliate marketing programs offer the same benefits?   Do some programs work better than others?  If they are different in some ways, then what type of program will work best for me?

Follow along with me over the next 12 weeks, and each week I will post an article which explores one of the various aspects of affiliate marketing in detail.  I want to help clear up any areas of confusion for you and help you to decide if affiliate marketing is for you. 

With so many ways to make money online, it is important to do some research and explore several options so you can select the right business model for you.  What we do to make a living, or to just bring in some extra cash,  should be fun and challenging as well as profitable!

Make it easy on yourself and  subscribe to receive this series directly via RSS feed.  And please don’t make this a one-way street…your comments and suggestions are always welcome!

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I’ll bet you’ve thought about starting your own internet business at some stage … most people have.  We’ve all seen how people make incredible amounts of money, seemingly from ‘nothing’, and it all takes place in cyberspace - no big office space to rent, no staff to hire (and fire), no fleet of vehicles, just one person and their PC.

It’s usually about the dream of working for yourself and having the wonderful freedom to make money wherever you are whenever you want.  If you have ever thought about starting your own online business, don’t waste another minute.  Make your New Year resolution that you will finally make a start with your home internet business. And if you have started already, make 2010 the year it really takes off.

There’s an easy way to do this, and it’s happening right now … but you have to get in quick! You need to check out the New Year Giveaway right now.

A Giveaway event is a great way to launch your online career.

 Here’s how they work:

# A host sets up and advertises a Giveaway event – in this case the host’s name is Paul Teague

# Existing Internet Marketers sign up and add their ‘gifts’ to the Giveaway … these are usually e-books, software packages, audios or videos

# When the Giveaway opens, members (like you) sign up and get access for free

# The gifts are available free of charge to regular members, all they have to do is sign up to a Marketer’s mailing list to gain access

# As well as getting some high quality training materials, members also get to make connections with established marketers who can guide them to web success.

To see how it works, sign-up free by clicking this link:  New Year Giveaway

It really is as good as it sounds, and don’t think for one minute that because products are offered free, that they are of a low quality. Marketers offer some of their best products in these Giveaways.

Why?

Because they know that if they make contacts with people at the beginning of their web careers, they will stay with them and learn from them long after the first free gift has been downloaded.

It’s a win-win situation, which is why they’re called ‘Joint Ventures’ or ‘JVs’ … everybody wins.

So, let this be one New Year resolution that you don’t break.

Sign up free right here, and let this be the year you start your own home internet business.  I wish you every success.

By the way, Paul Teague asked me to mention that he is offering free access to his Giveaway training website at http://www.first-jv-coach.com

These memberships are free only until January 15, 2010, so get in fast before he pulls the offer!

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One of my favorite Gary Larson cartoons is the one with the cardboard cutouts of a hillbilly family on the lawn of their mountain shack. The caption reads: The Fake McCoys.

The term “Real McCoy” most likely comes from a railway invention by Elijah McCoy that automatically dripped oil to critical parts of the train instead of having to stop and let the oilman do it manually.

Even though Elijah applied for and was granted a US Patent, there were many imitators. But none of them were as good as the “Real McCoy”.

How about you and your company? Are you the Real McCoy?

Or are you trying to be something you’re not? Are you trying to imitate your competition instead of being yourself?

I see far too many small companies trying to look like big companies. I see big companies doing their best to come across as a small-town company. There are old enterprises attempting to look fresh and new, while brand new ones are trying to appear well established.

All of these efforts burn up time, energy and resources. They rarely work well-if they work at all.

People like to do business with people they like. And they like people who are like themselves. They don’t really do business with a company-they do business with the people IN that company.

Buyers today are savvy. They have more choices than ever before. And they can tell-at least at some level-whether or not the company and the people in it are congruent. They seek out, resonate with and tend to be loyal to companies that are authentic.

It’s not only a good thing to do, it’s good business.

Your uniqueness and the things you’re best at doing are all part of your differentiating position. It’s who you are-your identity. It’s what people can relate to. If there’s anything false, made up or covered over, your prospects will sense it. And they won’t even be able to tell you why they didn’t buy.

As Emerson said so eloquently, “Who you are speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you say.”

The company that knows who they are, knows what they’re really good at and communicates that effectively-without trying to be all things to all people-is usually way ahead of the pack.

Is it easy? No, I don’t think so. But it IS easier than trying to be something you’re not.

This principle-authenticity-is the most challenging and yet perhaps the simplest of all the 10 Pillars. Much like your core values, your authentic self isn’t something to create but rather something to discover.

Be who you are-no one else is better qualified.

Most people-and most organizations-have never really thought about this. It starts with realizing that this process is worthy of some introspection.

And it requires that we answer some tough questions.

Who are we? Who are we being? How do we come across? What do we stand for? What are our core values? This goes far beyond our mission and our vision. It may be based on mission/vision, but it’s more about the culture of our organization and how that culture is showing up in our business dealings.

And this process is never complete. It demands that we get real. If we don’t, we should prepare to become real irrelevant.

If we’re diligent to the task, and honest and true to ourselves and those we serve, we can have a company that everyone will know as the Real McCoy.

Michael Angier is founder and CIO (Chief Inspiration Officer) of SuccessNet–a support network helping people and businesses grow and prosper. Get their free Resource Book ($27 value) of products, services and tools for running your business more effectively. And most of the over 150 resources are FREE to access and use. http://SuccessNetResources.com http://SuccessNet.org

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There are certain affiliate marketing myths that just won’t go away!  The major ones that come to mind are: 

1) It is so easy even a caveman can do it;

2)  You can earn money without doing anything;

3) You don’t need to spend a dime;

4) You don’t need a website or any special tools;

5) You don’t need to know anything about anything; and the best one of all is

6) You can earn huge sums of money within a matter of days…maybe even hours! 

Now…we have all fallen for one or the other of these, haven’t we?  I know I have!  For example, my computer skills were about the same as your typical caveman when I first started, and believe me, that does not make things easy!  Huge learning curve.  And the fact that I spend about 12 hours a day in front of the computer hardly qualifies as not doing anything.

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Do U skaDoogle?

I have spent several hundred dollars investing in my internet business, and I am very frugal and resisted the temptation to buy every e-book, e-course, and software program that I wanted.  Every successful entrepreneur has spent money learning the ropes, and many spend a lot of money.  Perhaps you can make money in affiliate marketing without a website, but it doesn’t make sense to me and only makes it more difficult to establish yourself.  You do need some tools…and you will need to spend a little money.  At the minimum you need a domain name, a hosting account, and an autoresponder.

As for not needing to know anything about anything…that one might be true (we can always learn what we need to know), but if you already have some computer knowledge or business knowledge or marketing skills or sales skills, it certainly makes it easier and speeds things along.  And finally – making money right away?  Well, of course that does happen, but for the average individual it takes time and a lot of effort.  From what I have seen, heard and read, the average person begins to make money after working at it for anywhere from 3 months to a couple of years.  And it usually starts as a trickle rather than a flood.

So, yes, it’s true that affiliate marking is one of the easiest ways to make money online; however, as with anything worth doing, some effort is required before you can start to see your affiliate checks rolling in!  New online entrepreneurs who enter affiliate marketing believing these myths are easily discouraged, so it is important to understand the realities and face the facts.  You wouldn’t believe these same myths are true for establishing an offline business, would you?

As to why these affiliate marketing myths persist?  It’s simple.  Those of us who even think of starting such a venture have big hopes and dreams.  We want to be in charge of our own destinies.  We want to go for the gold.  And because we think like this, we are also susceptible to believing in the impossible.  There is nothing wrong with that – in fact, it keeps us fired up and enthusiastic long after others have thrown in the towel; it helps us to achieve what others can’t or won’t do.  Just be realistic, be a little skeptical if something sounds too good to be true, and forge ahead.

You will need to invest some money, you will need to have your own website and some basic tools, you will need to apply some hard work and effort to build your affiliate marketing business, and you will need to keep learning. This business is very dynamic and it can change with lightening speed.  So seek out the truth, have confidence and faith in yourself, and  keep working on your business until you become successful and begin to earn those huge commissions.

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