Is there an alternative way to making money online other than network marketing?
This is a question I'm asked a lot! And the answer is absolutely YES!!!
There are lots of you out there who want to make money online but don't want to get into network marketing for various reasons. Some of these reasons are perfectly understandable, and include (list not exhaustive):
The (false) belief that all network marketing companies are pyramid companies, in other words, it's all a scam.
Your not good at selling.
Your not good at recruiting.
You don't want to hassle your family and friends.
You don't have time.
You can't afford the start-up cost.
I understand all of these reasons because I felt the same before I took the plunge (I'll explain in another post at another time why these might actually NOT be valid reasons).
However, there is another
way to make money online and it's called Affiliate Marketing.
The beauty of affiliate marketing is:
There is NO requirement to build a downline.
There is NO requirement to hassle family and friends - they probably wouldn't be interested in the products anyway.
It's definitely NOT a pyramid scheme (affiliate schemes are generally accessed through tried and tested companies).
You don't have to ship products (it's all electronic and dealt with by the company).
It can all be done from a laptop or desktop computer in as little as 1-2 hours per day - although the more time you are able to dedicate the better the result will be. Some say that you can do it from your smartphone but I'd disagree - I run mine from both but I'm limited with what I can do on the smartphone even though it's a great smartphone!
There might be a start-up cost but you could choose a company that has a small fee, a free trial period, or no start-up fee.
With the right company you can scale your business VERY quickly.
So what is affiliate marketing?
If you look at the bottom section of the websites of most of the top selling online companies you will see a button for affiliate scheme. The picture on the right gives you as few examples.
An affiliate scheme is a system whereby you can promote some, or all, of the products sold by the company, and earn commission on those sales. There is more to it than that (obviously) but that's the theory in principle.
Choosing your company
There are a few essentials when it comes to choosing the company you'd like to become an affiliate with.
First you want a company that is tried and tested. You need to know that the company is reputable and is going to deliver on their promises.
Second, you need a company that is going to support favourable economics i.e. will get you a profit.
Third, I'd choose a company with an excellent training and support package so that you can learn how to be an effective affiliate marketer. Ongoing and consistent mentoring is key to your success.
Third, The founders of the system have done it themselves. They've been where you are, been on the journey, and come out smiling at the other end. You must be sure that your company owners understand where you're coming from, and what you need to succeed.
Fourth, Excellen customer support. If you have a problem you need to know you can get help to resolve it.
Five, to start with, and to avoid overwhelm, I'd choose a company that has a 'done for you' service. There's a lot to learn and implement, and to get you started quickly a 'done for you' service is a must. Remember, the goal is to get into profit as quickly as possible, and that means you need to be up an running as quickly as possible. Most of us don't have time to implement the necessary steps in a short amount of time.
So these are my five top tips if you're considering joining an affiliate scheme. I think they're worth the time, effort and money required, and it's a good way to start developing multiple income streams for your online business.
I wish you every success with whichever adffiliate company you decide to join!
