A message appears saying: "The file hal.dll is missing or corrupt. Windows can not start." Well you know that 95% of computer glitches are solved by a simple reboot, so click…oops, can't click, no Windows. Ok then, you reset, and you think you are sure to be OK when reboot completes.

Wrong! The same error message appears "The file hal.dll is missing or corrupt. Windows can not start." How is it possible for one measly file to kill your system?

DISASTER…What to do now? Phone your tech friend and ask his advice. He tells you bad news. You are obliged to re-install Windows from original disc! Oh My God! Will I lose all my programs and data? Yes, you will have to re- install all your programs. No your data may be safe, but only if you don't have to reformat your hard disc.

But, your friend asks, I hope you have all your backups.

DO YOU, because that is key to saving your business. You know that in today's business world, 95% of your business information is stored on your computer. This applies not only to online businesses, but also to offline ones. In this paperless society of ours, business people are printing less and less of all their transactions.

Think hard. Where heck did I hide my original Windows disc? Really, are you organized enough that you can easily find your original installation discs, along with code numbers they need to re-install.

You own some programs you downloaded off Net, but they are stored on your hard drive. Are they backed up? When is last time you backed up your data, lifeblood of your business.

What backup system do you use? Do you use old- fashioned tape systems, or do you backup to CD or DVD? Whichever one you use, key is that your backups must be frequent enough to keep you out of major trouble.

Program backups do not have to be constantly repeated like Data does. Programs do not change, unless you downloaded an update. Then your update must be saved on your hard drive, and also backed up.

Ok, so no product costs, no shipping costs, no payment processor costs, and so on. So what is so hard about being a successful affiliate.

Glad you asked! Your first step should be to make a marketing plan, or as I call it, a 'decision plan'. How many of us really make a complete marketing plan. (Not me!) I know we sh ould, but mine never completed. This is where you decide what niche, or specialtiy you want to 'major' in.

Why don't I just be in 'affiliate marketing'? you ask. Wow, talk about shooting yourself in foot before you get off ground. It's TOO competitive, don't you know! Also too general, maybe too vague, all over map so to speak.

So how come it's good enough for Best Affiliate Products but too much for you? Firstly, I must mention that I do have other niche markets, and some in both planning and preparation stages. I do heed my own advise. Secondly, someone has to protect you and lead you down best path to success. I don't want you to experience all pain I went through.

This is why it's important to associate Affiliate Marketing with Niche Markets. By focusing on one topic, you magnify your chance of success many times over. Doesn't matter if niche is small or large, but you must align your thinking in this direction.

The niche can be huge, such as Auctions or EBay, and you will find a good market there. The EBay sales may be huge, but competion for affiliate products is not excessive at all.

Take another huge Niche (specialty) such as Health. Now this competition is ferocious. Personally, I would not touch it, even though a lot of people do well with it. Why fight an uphill battle just to get started, when you can surely find ot her prospective niches.

The solution is to find smaller niches of "in demand" products. Here we go again, you say. More speeches on what to do, but HOW do we do this? And how do we do this successfully, when everyone else is also looking for answer.