2. One is successful just in sincere attempt to become successful.

I wrote above while in deep reflection, mulling over whether I was truly prepared to take on mammoth job of successfully launching an Internet marketing company. Having survived several start-ups of this magnitude, albeit not in cyber-world, I knew this undertaking would be one that involved much more than just plain positive thinking.

However, as part of process, I did return to my favorite "success" books, reading through them like familiar old friends. This time though, I experienced a new "awakening", not from what I discovered in books, but from what I found was sorely missing in most of them.

Please bear in mind that I believe with all my heart in statement 2. above, however, for sake of this article I will refer to "achieving success" as actual attaining of ones "goal of success".

The majority of books and other motivational materials fail to address piece of proverbial puzzle that is most often single determining factor between achieving success, or not. If this key element were included as such, infinite collections of you-can-make-it resources wouldn't be such an easy sell. The omitted "truth" would put reality of achieving success in cold hard light that it should be presented in.

This required ingredient has little to do with stuff we should think, but has everything to do with potentially high cost of "doing".

I am referring to Sacrifice. Ask almost any successful entrepreneur what sacrifices he or she has had to make and they will without hesitation tell you they paid, "a big price".

The reality of Sacrifice can include following:

Sustained periods of time when 18-hour days are norm, when one hardly knows what day of week it is because they all seem same. Days turn into weeks and weeks, months. Entire seasons pass with little notice. I often refer to this as The Fog.

Pivotal moments when one wrestles with their own mind over whether their goal and their plan were after all, valid. Self-doubt can be a success killer.

One of greatest compliments we can receive is that we are trusted.

Why begin an Internet marketing article with those sentiments? Simple, because on Internet trust is everything! I repeat, trust is everything on Internet!

Face it, we are not pressing flesh, face to face with potential customers. All we have is one very thin and very short opportunity to begin process of building trust with people. NOT starting this process is where most entrepreneurs (and most of major companies who have failed online) miss cyber-mark.

It doesn't matter whether you are selling brownies, or monster trucks. You could be writing and selling eBooks or publishing a newsletter. You could be working an MLM or promoting several affiliate programs. Regardless of your product or service, here is how you begin process of building trust with your website viewers and potential customers.

1. Credibility Right Outa Box

It all starts with credibility. If first-time trigger-happy clickers don't get feeling right away that you are someone they can trust, then you might as well save yourself your monthly dial-up fees, or just start hangin' out in chat rooms. Of course, you must also tell them what you have to offer (features/benefits) right off top, but once you capture their interest, start process of credibilizing yourself.

I use testimonials as one powerful way to do this. In second paragraph of my main website at: http://www.interniche.net, I've posted a great unsolicited testimonial. If you don't feel like clicking to see it, here 'tis: "Rick, you ooze credibility and honesty! Keep up good work! You are cream that rises to top of hype, lies, scammers, etc. Honesty in Internet marketing is becoming a prized commodity. Thanks!"

If you are in mood to click, here's a webpage where I've posted just some of my customer testimonials: http://www.interniche.net/said.html

Look, I can tell you how great my products are, but when this many customers do, it establishes a high level of credibility, and eventually trust when they do purchase my products and experience level of customer service I offer. Speaking of which . . .

2. Value - Sell a MEG but Give a GIG!