In order to make money online many people jump right in before they have a plan. You know that to be a rocket scientist, a doctor, a brick layer, a construction worker, an office worker, a teacher there are prerequisites, things you must learn, before you can be successful, you don’t just jump right in unprepared.

It should be the same for the Internet marketing industry. Although, there are unsavory people out there who’d have you believe it’s a “walk in the park” and requires no more than the belief that you can just do it.

Of course, I’ll have to admit, it is not a lot of work compared to what you have to put up with in the working world punching a clock being a subordinate to someone who does not have your interests in mind, but there are still rules you have to follow and dangers you must avoid to actually make Internet marketing work for you.

The majority of people will not make a dime online, and yet there are others who will make more in one month than most people make in a whole year. Why do you think that is?

My answer begins with the age-old chicken or egg question, “what comes first the chicken or the egg”? Personally I vote for, well never mind, each argument you or I make comes back to the same old conclusion - I have no clue and I don’t think many of us do either.

But one thing I do have a clue about and know for sure is that to make money online you must first have passion for the company products and/or service of any Internet business from which you expect to make money.

Passion in this situation simply means that you’ve researched and like the company and products or services. Only after then will you be able to translate that like (or passion) into the education, excitement and work that usually accompany passion.

I will have to say that many online entrepreneurs are so good at what they do that they ignore passion because they can sell anything. But I’m concerned about those of you who are not so knowledgeable at working an online business successfully.

Now, I’m not trying to have everyone believe that passion is the only thing necessary. Because to be successful you must also have a good website, good marketing, widespread advertising, company support, effective keywords, and etc. Those things are often learned from the company you join - but sidestep passion and you reduce your chances for success dramatically.

It only makes sense, that if you have no passion for the company and the products and services provided by that company, again, you won’t be motivated to do the work you are being taught.

Internet marketing work is typically not all that difficult or take that much time but it does take motivation caused by passion to get you off and running with a sustained effort so that you won’t stumble.

You have a great resource in the Internet search engines to search about the Internet Marketing industry for business opportunities - use it!

Your research should lead you to a company that you like and have confidence in. It should be solid, founded on great principles, and easy to understand with great products and services that are sell-able for which you can have passion. If you don’t find it move on. There are many companies out there, and you will eventually find the right opportunity containing the attributes identified above.

Comments like, “well, that one sounds good” and “the compensation plan is excellent so I guess I’ll start that business” does not sound like a decision based on anything near passion. And remember when you hear that an Internet “guru” does that, don’t be tempted, because as I said earlier they are experienced and can sell just about anything, without being passionate about the company products and services.

Note: By the way it should be your goal to get to the point where you can sell about anything online. That end skill and goal is a worthy one indeed.

Remember, there are other steps you must make before you step into Internet Marketing, but if you don’t first find the right company products and services to be passionate about, all of those other steps may just cause you a lot of frustration instead of bringing you great success.

Not being passionate about a company and products and services that has market proof that it will sell is a pitfall you simply must avoid.

Lewis Keller is a member of Maverick Money Makers, a private society that teaches members how to build a six-figure a month business on the internet. If you want to make money online, find out how to join the society before it’s too late at http://www.internetmoneymakingclub.com

Social networking sites have become a major online fad with both young people and professionals alike. These sites are also commonly referred to as Web 2.0 sites and are mainly used to socialize over the internet. Various forms of social networking sites include; forums, blogs, discussion boards, bookmarking sites and the ever popular Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. These social networking sites have members who are all interested one common thing - socializing.

Social sites have mushroomed in the recent years which now offer users a variety of new utilities. The most popular sites provide features like picture upload, broadcast messages, comments, video or audio upload, status updates, etc. There are also other social networking sites that help members to conduct discussions on various issues through their discussion boards. In addition, there are some sites like Squidoo that allows their users to make a quick buck in the form of affiliate revenues.

For the affiliate marketer, social networking sites are a great platform for gaining and maintaining new relationships. Although, the majority of affiliate marketers today are unaware that these sites can be utilized for generating new sales and building their sub-affiliate database, the successful affiliate marketer who is aware, generates a comfortable living offering affiliate products via social networking sites.

Before you decide to use social sites for generating affiliate revenue, or conduct affiliate marketing work, you must do your due diligence and read the sites terms and conditions for membership. Since different sites have different terms and conditions, it is very important that you are fully aware of them before conducting activities like affiliate marketing. For example, there are social networking sites that allow you to add a direct link to the program or product, whereas there are some who do not even allow you to link to your personal website or blog. There are even sites that wont allow you to send links via messages, for sites that are directly or indirectly linked with a product sale.

There is also the option of joining forums and discussion boards, where instead of directly pasting your sales pitch, you can join the discussions and provide good, relevant content and feedback and then try to slowly push in your passive sales pitch. For instance your signature can contain elements that can give a little idea about the products or the services that you are marketing. So, as the number of posts increase, the more your advertisement can possibly be viewed.

6 Tips for Social Affiliate Marketing Success:

1. Sign Up. Become a member of social sites that you know other affiliate marketers might use. Do not overlook any of them until you have given them each a chance.

2. Do Not Sell. Do not push your product or service on to new friends of these sites. Provide the information subtly and see who bites first and then make the sale. These sites are about socializing and networking, fill your pipeline first before you saturate your community with your product solution.

3. Link, Link, Link. Add your affiliate link or website link everywhere you are allowed. All these sites have places for you to add your bio, other information and on topics that interest you.

4. Socialize. Just do not sign up and hope people will find you. You have to find people and engage them with a fun, positive attitude and by providing relevant content that your friends may find valuable.

5. Be Consistent. Be active on these sites daily. Do not work hard one day and then skip the next two. Stay active, stay seen.

6. Become Popular. These social networking sites are simply an information popularity contest, who has got more and who has got better. People buy from people they know and trust — become that person.

Social networking sites are an excellent arena for meeting new people and making new sales. They can provide a huge boost in income if used in a prudent manner.

Steven M. Lewis is an Internet Success Planner & Online Business Developer. Learn proven Internet marketing tips that will help you build and grow a profitable online business. For marketing tips you need to know, visit: http://www.stevensmarketingtips.com