Are you a frustrated internet marketer? Do you spend countless hours and dollars trying one thing after another in order to market your product or an affiliate program or two? Then it's very likely that you, at some point, have become a citizen of nation of Frustration.

No one is born an internet marketer.Eveyone starts somewhere. For vast majority of us creating another dot.com company or developing a totally new marketing idea or even an original product just isn't in cards. A very small percentage of very creative people do accomplish these things. Fortunately though for rest of us, "internet marketing for dummies" crowd, we don't have to rely on such sparks of genius in order to make a very respectable living online.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing at all wrong with creating your own product. In fact, it's great if you can! There are abundunt sources on net to assist you in doing so if that is your desire. On other side of coin though, there are thousands and thousands of existing products and services that we can market for a share of profits. The question is what? and how?

There are so many exaggerated offers that bombard us every day. I'm probably no different than you in that I'm deluged daily with insane claims and ridiculous, obviously false but never-the-less enticing, promises.

When I first became "hooked" on financial potential of internet I was consumed with desire and exploding with one potential idea after another none of which I had a clue as to how they could be successfully implemented. Naturally I jumped into first thing that looked exciting. After a few weeks of not making any money or not even getting any responses, I jumped to next great idea still believing in my heart that my desire for serious income was only a few clicks and a few weeks away. Keep in mind, at that time, I was a complete newbie.

Fast forward about a year. I'm still struggling. I still believe but now I'm really starting to get frustrated. I happen accross many of same people I met a year ago who, like me, are hopping from one opportunity to another yet never committing long enough to make anything really work. Just like me they hadn't constructed proper foundation nor given success a fair chance, time wise. Yes, it can be brutal when you finally realize this about yourself but, I can tell you, it's beginning of your way out.

As a business owner, you already know how important it is for your customers to feel safe about doing business with you. After all, if a customer even suspects he may not receive everything he was promised, then chances are he's taking his business elsewhere. So to prevent that you offer guarantees, secure payment methods, prompt customer service, and more. You do whatever it takes to show each customer that you are sincere and trustworthy.

But what steps do you take to protect yourself and your livelihood?

Too many business owners spend all their time worrying about their customers' security without thinking of their own, even though small companies must often deal with customer fraud, non-paying clients, and more.

Just as you've taken steps to ensure that your customers are satisfied with their buying experience, so should you feel comfortable and secure by taking a few precautions of your own.

1. Get Everything in Writing

Written contracts are not just for helping customers understand what they can expect to receive for their money, they are about laying down ground rules for your business relationship. When these guidelines are in writing, nothing is left up for a debate or becomes a misunderstanding.

Both parties can be assured that their interests are being protected and both should have a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities in event that something goes awry.

A good example would be if you sold a toy which a parent returned six months later because it was broken. Without a contract in writing specifying time limits and conditions of your return policy, you might end up with an ongoing battle wit customer which could result in lost business and even lawsuits.