A New Way to Profit From Your Content-Based Website

"It's a labor of love." That's how I've always described my content-based website. Until the last year or so, what I meant is that my website paid me in love more frequently than it paid in money. And if visitor compliments and good karma paid the mortgage, that would have been fine.

I knew I enjoyed and was very good at helping others and communicating in the online world. What I needed was a way to help others online that also brought in a steady paycheck.

When I found a direct sales company to work with, this all began to change. My direct sales business quickly became my highest ? and most promising ? single stream of income.

As a website owner, you have contact with a wide variety of people. Direct selling and network marketing allow you to monetize the networks that you have created with others. And as a content-based website owner, you are an expert at the largest network the world has ever known: the Internet.

Direct sales allows you to leverage the efforts and ideas of other people, so you're no longer in business by yourself, looking at each month separately. The work you do today will benefit you for years to come. And you earn money to the degree to which you help others earn money for themselves, and that is truly a labor of love.

What to look for:

A good product.
First and foremost, you need to truly believe in what you are selling. You need to believe in the company mission and the products. Other considerations: It's ideal if the products are exclusive; and even better if the products are also consumable, so you make sales from repurchases.

A niche market.
As with everything online, you will be most successful if your products fit a niche that people go online to search for. It pays to research and anticipate social trends.

Strong online component.
Ideally, your company will allow you to make online sales. Many direct sales companies have a provision that all advertising must be "blind," meaning that you are restricted from mentioning the name of the company or its trademarks. If that's the case, make sure that the company also offers a personalized website that you can link to from your content-based site, so you don't lose your online leads. And make sure that you read the fine print of the consultant provisions, especially as it pertains to online promotions.

Many direct sales companies are now offering replicated websites so each representative can promote an individual online presence. A few direct sales companies even have shopping carts alongside these websites so you can make sales online, too, with the product dropshipped from the home office.

Relatively new company.
You want people to sign up in your downline, rather than the person down the street, it's important that the market isn't saturated.

And because you will be a long-distance support person, make sure there is team training in place ? or set it up for yourself. You don't want to have to reinvent the wheel each time you recruit someone. I have a 14-day basic training course by autoresponder, for example, that each new consultant starts receiving right away ? and our team has a very large (and growing fast) online message board for sharing ideas.

Keep in mind that the most important factor in long-term direct sales success is that everything you do be easy for your downline to duplicate.

Most direct sales and network marketing businesses thrive on word of mouth and personal relationships. Not everyone in your new downline is going to be an expert at online marketing (In fact, most of them won't be) so make sure you work the business the same way that they will. That means you'll probably want to also expand your business in your own offline community, just as your downline will ? so that you can be an effective trainer. If you can train your downline how to be financially successful, you'll become financially successful, too.

Where to Look
I found the company that I work with through a solo ezine ad, which promoted low start-up, low pressure, and a strong support team ? three factors that directly contributed to my success with the business. So it pays to keep your eyes (and mind) open when you are working online.

You can also research your options with the Direct Selling Association at http://www.dsa.org. The DSA is designed to help make sure direct sales organizations follow ethical business practices and good customer service.

When you have found the company and team that's right for you, you'll know it.

Happy hunting!

About the author:
Susie Cortright is the creator of the award-winning online magazine http://www.momscape.com as well as a team leader for a rapidly growing direct sales company. Learn about the company she chose here: http://www.momscape.com/direct-sales

---

Subconsciously Command Your Readers To Buy

Tell your readers what they are probably thinking, feeling or... Read More

Do You Know the 3 Key Strategies to Using Lead Capture Pages?

Leads are the Life Blood of any Online Home Based... Read More

Your E-Business Strategy: Is It Love ... Or Fear?

I read recently that every human thought originates from either... Read More

Getting Your Business Listed for Local Search is Just the First Step

The Public has Embraced Local Search and Want to do... Read More

SEO 101... These Tags Really Do Matter

In search of the coveted search engine traffic? Yes? Then... Read More

Internet Marketing Requires Lots of Patience!

When you first make a decision to start an Internet... Read More

Internet Marketing is Changing Right Before Your Eyes!

There's no doubt about it . . .Big changes are... Read More

Scared Of Creating Your Own Info Product?

Don't be scare off when you hear about product creation... Read More

Growing Your Business On-line: A Fresh Perspective

Rather than thinking about the web as technology, let's consider... Read More

Some Practical Guidlines for Getting Involved with Internet Marketing

This article addresses the 'how' and 'when' of getting involved... Read More

Automated Selling and Recruiting - A Simple System

Some years ago, on the recommendation of a friend, I... Read More

Internet Marketing Success Requires a Plan (Part I)

The days when you could just slap up a Website... Read More

Online Sales: 10 High Octane Online Sales Generators

Do you want to spark up sales at your website?If... Read More

The Website Marketing Strategy that Never Fails

Developing a successful web site takes more than simply building... Read More

Top Ten Steps To Prepare Yourself for Online Marketing

Still marketing through press releases, networking groups, and talks to... Read More

How To Let Your Customers Search For YOU! ? Part 3

Thank you for stopping by part 3 of the article... Read More

Reselling Resold Resale Rights

What the heck am I talking about?Let me tell you... Read More

No Marketing, No Promoting, Huge Profits

Internet business opportunities come in many flavors and varieties. Most... Read More

When is Spying on Your Competition a Complete Waste of Time?

Your brain screams "Gimme Fast", "Gimme Easy", "Do it for... Read More

Website Sales: 10 Riveting Tactics To Nail Down Instant Sales

If you learn these website sales riveting tactics, you'll be... Read More

Use Photos as Part of your Marketing Arsenal

Photos should be important parts of your marketing. The photos... Read More

Article Submitting: How To Study A Publisher?s Website

There are many websites that will host your articles on... Read More

What a Billionaire Balloonist Taught Me About Internet Marketing

Billionaire Richard Branson, the entrepreneur behind the Virgin brand, is... Read More

Nobody Knows You Yet!

It is really a small wonder why most people fail... Read More

What Great Online Advertising Really Is!

Many business people have a distorted view about the distinction... Read More

My Secret To Selling More Big Ticket Items

Many aspiring Internet marketers hear all of the talk about... Read More

10 Viral Internet Marketing Strategies That Produce A Massive Surge of Web Site Traffic and Sales

1. Start a newsletter that people can subscribe to, and... Read More

How to Make Money Online...Driving your Car.

Here's an alluring income generating strategy, that's widely adopted by... Read More

Find Your Niche - The Internet Marketers Goldmine

If you haven't heard the word 'niche' being batted around... Read More

The Seven Secrets of a High-Sales Marketer

If you want to boost your website sales to the... Read More

Internet Marketing Requires Persistence

Marketing your company online requires patience and persistence. Like every... Read More

Make Use of the Signature Line in Your Email

Think about it, how many emails do you send out... Read More

Why Real Estate Agents Need Their Own Website

It is difficult to for a real estate agent to... Read More