"How do you market your Network Marketing business so yours it's perceived as different from rest of reps out there?"

In answer to her question way to be perceived as different was to set up an incentive package that was related to general theme of your affiliate or mlm progam. If you missed out on that disucssion there is a huge blog entry about that at http://www.profitspace.com/blogger.html.

What I want to do here is back up a bit...a sort of regrouping you might say and go over what to look for in affiliate programs. Affiliate programs are easiest, fastest and most inexpensive way for ANYONE, regardless of experience to earn money. What I want to do is provide you with some insight as to what to look for in a program.

Before we dive in and talk about affiliate programs I do want to say something about starting a business regardless of whether it is on or off-line. You NEED to possess passion for what it is you are doing. If you jump into something for sake of making money you are going to end up resenting it. Starting a business takes a lot of time and energy. If you are involved in something that you are passionate about and believe in then those hours don't seem so daunting. If you are in something just to make a buck...those hours are going to seem very over-whelming to point where you hate what you are doing and will soon resent business you are in.

So...with that said, if you want to start something online then look at what you are passionate about and what will juice you. From there do your research and find affiliate programs that align themselves to what you want to do.

Ok, let's look at affiliate programs ;o)

The BIG QUESTION...can you make money on-line through affiliate programs?

Answer....YES

It is totally possible to make money on-line, there are all kinds of articles and stories about people who have been successful in making money through affiliate progarms.

It has nothing to do with getting in on ground floor in a particular program. It has nothing to do with having loads of money to market your program. Yup, you are going to have to have a marketing budget, that is just cost of doing business. What it boils down to is looking for programs that:

1. provide products/services that are in demand

2. provide a recurring commission structure

3. promoting more than one program

4. having your own web site

So..let's look at each one of these and it will give you an idea as to why these four traits are important to your ebusiness.

1. Products/Services that are in demand. This is pretty obvious. If you don't have a market for your products/services then you aren't going to make any money. If you want to know if there is a market for products/services you want to sell then do your research. Look at site's like Overture.com. They have a great advertisers area that provides you with a search criteria tool. All you have to do is enter keyword that is general them of your business and it will pop up a list of words that people have used as search criteria, this will give you an idea not only of a demand, BUT it will also give you an idea as to what search terms people use for that general theme.

Another thing is to look at trends that are happening around us. Immediately what pops into my head is fact that we are getting older and are more health conscious. The health and nutrition industry is huge and it is also a trend.

Have you every heard of The Popcorn Report? It was a book written that talks about trends and where they are heading. One of things Faith mentioned was health and nutrition industry and cottage industry (home based business) was going to boom.

2. Commission Structure is key. Ummm, let me give you an example to hit this home because it truly is important.

You are promoting a hot product from one of top marketers that sells for $29.95. You will earn a commission on sale of this product of 50% (let's say it works out to about $14.00 so I don't have to strain over math here). It's a one-time sale which means after that sale is made you are having to go out and find others to buy. You are always having to work your butt off to get a "sale" for that product.

NOW...here is another example.

You are promoting an affiliate program that pays monthly, something like ProfitsVaultMonthly, then this is what happens. PVM is $29.95 per month and you earn money:

1. $20.00 PER MONTH per referral 2. You keep every penny you earn from selling products

With $29.95 product you are earning $14.00 for all your marketing efforts in getting that sale. That's a one time commission, make sale and scream "next" to find yet another buyer.

With a program that pays MONTHLY, you are earning $20 per month for that same customer, next month you earn another $20 and so on. Get two join your affiliate program and you're covering your own cost plus making a bit of a profit.

Bottom-line go for those programs within your industry that pay you a monthly residual commission. That way you are earning money from SAME customer base. If you are going to spend hard earned money marketing your program then you want to make sure that you are getting paid off those efforts EVERY MONTH...not just a one time deal.

Now, this article isn't focusing on Affiliate Marketing, but it does suggest a few effective ways for maximizing YOUR LIST building potential.

You already know that in order to be successful online, you need a list...and when I say list, I am referring to YOUR LIST. (You will see why I highlight YOUR in a sec).

Makes sense...right? I mean which would you rather have, a nice warm, accepting list of individuals with whom you have built a good relationship with and who are receptive to your recommendations?

or....

Having to continually go out and drive new traffic to your site in order to make that sale?

Think about process you go through for a second. You join an affiliate program, use their ads and place classifieds in newsletters. The link you use is sending prospects to your affiliate "page."

From there, your affiliate program gathers into "system" only those who; buy or sign up. You are only able to build a list based on those two criteria and because of that, you are missing out. You are missing out on those "others" who have been to your page and maybe aren't ready to buy, but would be if ONLY they had some additional follow up contact with you.

Even if you wanted to contact these "others," you aren't able to because your affiliate program doesn't allow you to make any changes to your (or rather their) web page. Which means that you are not able to maximize on your list building potential.

So, how do you fix this problem?

There are actually a few things you can do. First of all, let's start with your mindset. This is key. What I want you to do from here on out is always ask yourself this one key question...

"How/what must I do to add on to "MY List."

If you are using classifieds to market your affiliate program, then ask yourself that question and instead of sending prospects to your affiliate page, send them to a Report/eCourse instead. See what just happened? You have now added a name to YOUR list, instead of sending them to your page and risk chance of losing them altogether.

There is another way to help you build your list and market your programs at same time. Create a theme-based web site of your own.

I hear groans. I know one of reasons affiliate programs are so big is because they have a page for you. But let me explain why you really need a site of your own.

How many of you have been playing a little leap frog...jumping from program to program because nothing is making you money? It's ok to admit it because you aren't alone, there are 1000s of people in same boat.

Stop and think for a second effect all this jumping is having on you and your chances of making a residual income:

1. You are not focused, and

2. You are ALWAYS starting over from scratch.

Aren't you tired of that?

That is whole intent of having a site of your own. One that is based on a theme and loaded with good, quality content. One that allows you to build a list that is YOURS.

You don't have that full capability with an Affiliate Program.