Let's face it. If you are new to network marketing and are just getting started with an online business, GOOD FOR YOU!  You have made an excellent decision. But, sooner or later, you will pass from the newbie Euphoric and Full Of Starry-Eyed Hope stage and will most likely enter into the next stage, which is Dazed and Bewildered!

Where do I start? How do I make money being a network marketer? Will I make any money? Those are loaded questions, my friend.

The sign-up was easy, the prepackaged website looks cool... but now what? If you are like most new network marketers, your affiliate page will sit there attracting flies, unless you educate yourself and find out how to drive traffic to it.

There's a hitch though, and this is a fact you cannot afford to ignore. Here it is:

People are NOT interested in your affiliate program.

"Wha? That's harsh!" you say? But it IS a harsh reality. They would probably be much MORE interested in finding out where you got that nifty Snuggie, and how you work that Slap Chop while feeling toasty warm wearing it! No. Seriously.

Once you realize this, and that successful internet marketers are NOT peddling their programs to people who are uninterested, then, and only then, will you begin to see success from your efforts in an online marketing business.

So what do I do then, you ask? Well, I mentioned it earlier, but I'll reiterate. You must educate yourself, or drown in the ocean of online opportunities out there. Do a search on MLM or network marketing and you'll see the competition. Yikes.

Believe me, I spent 6 years trying to market online with pretty much dismal results. There were a couple of affiliate programs which I failed miserably with. The memories of them still sting, as does my family's strange idea of entertainment in ribbing me about them.  It wasn't the program -- I just didn't have a clue how to market!

The business I had the most success with was one for dorm supplies online. The idea was great, the website was awesome -- 'cause I made it :) -- but because my partner and I didn't learn the science of marketing online, we spent more than we ever made. Finally, we just pulled the plug.

The upside to these hard lessons was that I realized that there was no way I could succeed at this without learning what successful marketers do. Without learning to earn, I may as well open the front door of my house and throw handfuls of cash into the wind.

The thing is -- I really believe that the internet offers an opportunity for success like no other. The potential is staggering.  Just be smart about it, learn how to market properly, work at it consistently, and success will find YOU!