"I saw this neat whatever. Do you think I can make money selling it?"

"I like idea of multiple income streams. How do I do this?"

"I haven't much time. What's easiest way to start?"

"If I read this book and follow plan in it, will I do okay?"

You can't make significant bucks selling "whatever" without a site that works. The same is true of building multiple income streams. As to time, if you haven't got it, there's no place to start, easy or otherwise.

The Real Challenge

The last question above is one toughest to answer. Say a fellow buys a book, then reads it. Assuming it offers a good approach, can he expect to succeed with plan suggested?

Possibly, but there's a point here that is being ignored. Infoproducts explaining how to succeed on Web are generally sold with implication that this product makes it easy to succeed. But is it so?

A bit of common sense brings a definitive answer quickly. First, if it was easy to succeed online, anybody could do so. Second, there's a difference between reading about an idea and implementing it.

Implementing Even A Simple Idea May Not Be Easy

I love Joe Robson's book, "Make Your Words Sell." (Click here for my review. It's best approach I've seen to producing great ad copy for Web. I've read it four times now, made voluminous notes, and have produced half a dozen pages seeking to follow Joe's methods. I haven't got it yet. And I am not likely to get it soon. I did not expect otherwise.

Suppose you took Geometry in high school. Suppose you really understood it, that you even got an A. Does this mean you are prepared to teach subject? Not at all. It only means you have essential tools with which to continue your study of mathematics. Further, if you do continue, you will learn even more about Geometry.

There is no book, teacher, or consultant that can provide you with experience required to build a successful online business. Quite contrary. You'll need to understand contents of many books. You'll want all quality input you can get. And all must be internalized so that you can effectively implement what you have learned.

The Wrong Question

Next, they may buy into a package containing a strategy for growing a particular online business. And some such programs do provide what is needed. Yet failure is more likely than success.

Why Success Eludes Many

A common cause of failure comes from a lack of understanding about what it takes to do much of anything. LEARNING is required. There's WORK to be done. And you'll need to SELL successfully.

These are "stop" words for many. They feel they know enough now that further learning should not be required. They are not keen on work. And idea of selling is somehow abhorrent. "Learn," "work," and "sell" stop such people dead in their tracks. Success is denied, online and offline.

Yet essence of any business is selling. And there's work to be done behind scenes to keep business operating smoothly. What's more, there is a continuing flow of things to be learned in order to keep up with times and ahead of your competition.

A Different Look At Selling

Selling is what business is all about. Profits come only from sales. Without an effective sales effort, profits will not amount to much.

But you may be looking at this word in a limited way. Selling doesn't necessarily mean stalking Ford showroom floor or peddling encyclopedias door to door.

Think about most things you buy. How are they "sold" to you? Often indirectly. Here's an example.

How Your Local Hardware Store Sells Like Crazy

After entering store, chances are you wander about, checking out this and that, collect a few items, then pay and leave. Just exactly who "sold" you anything? And how did they do so?

Simple. The store owner has stocked his shelves with products you and his other customers need. And he's gone to some length to make it easy for you to find what you are looking for. What he's done is "offer" you products he is selling.

One more element is required, but it can hardly be called selling.

If you can't figure which of two pipe wrenches to buy, a clerk will be happy to explain difference between them so you can make an informed decision. This isn't a salesperson in action. This is a representative of store owner helping you make best choice.