So, you're starting out in this game, and you've probably heard these same words, "read as much as you can and find someone who can be your mentor". Nice, if you can shield yourself from myriad of distractions that float your way. Every time you access a webpage it's like, oh, you'll be needing this because of... and you might find this useful.... and wouldn't one of these save you time. Then there's always high pressure approach, "you're loosing money if you don't upgrade here” and, "someone else has just signed up ahead of you in pipeline", "what devil are you thinking"! What about, "please tell me why it is that your leaving without buying"?

All sound familiar, well if not, you're greener than I. Picture this, you're stepping out in grand fashion having read all 'how to' material you can put your hands on and champing at bit to get started. You're just about to stand up a website and you've collected a wealth of material to get your content happening. Along comes an e-mail, 'have a look at this, create a presence on web by linking your site to others; a license to print money'. Sounds good right, better check into this a bit further, and so you venture into doing some more reading. A little further along, 'At last, an easy way to write Website content in minutes, New Software Download. Gosh, I should probably check that out and see how it makes mine look.

So you want to start earning online and have invested some of your hard earned cash in a couple of online programs but have you really thought about what you are investing in.

You wouldn't simply roll off street into a real estate agency and purchase a house to rent out without looking at area first and seeing if there was a good rental market and similarly you wouldn't invest all your money into shares in just one company before looking into it first.

As any financial advisor and in fact anyone with a little common sense will tell you - you should spread risk. You do not invest all your money into high risk new venture companies or put it all into property. Similarly, if you want to make a good return you don't just leave it sitting in bank.

Earning a living online or a little extra cash is no different. You must consider all options carefully first and then only invest what you can afford to lose and SPREAD THE RISK.

You should look to put your money in a number of different online companies and investments. No I don't mean join every opportunity going and spread yourself across so many different opportunities that you don't know whether you are coming or going, but you should have a balanced portfolio of opportunities.

First you consider how much time you have to put into a new online venture. If you don't have much spare time look to invest in passive programs that require no recruitment or downline building. And yes there are some of these that work and are stable and will be around for long haul but you must be careful. Even if you are planning to promote another network marketing MLM or affiliate program you should have some form of passive program in your portfolio to build up funds.

Again when investing in passive programs spread risk. For example I have invested money into 4 passive programs, 2 fairly low risk ones, one I would class as low to medium and a higher risk opportunity for quicker returns. Number one rule - NEVER INVEST more than you can afford to lose, number two - SET YOUR GOALS. If you want to earn an additional $500 a month, then invest enough to do this but ensure you withdraw rest and do not be tempted to invest more for a bigger return. All these programs carry some risk and you should always aim to at least make your capital investment back and then just invest profits.