re called, for responsible and discerning netizens, the first and the third scheme has no economic merit whatsoever for they do not create value for the economy, they are irresponsible schemes that prey on greed. Many countries outlawed MLM, for example, but internet law has largely lagged behind that of the physical world. As for affiliate marketing, you really have to discern the nature and value of the product you are For many of us contemplating a career in online marketing, or dreaming of striking it rich online, or simply looking to supplement our income with online ventures in our spare time, there are literally thousands of money-making offerings in the web. Most promise quick and easy profits. Take it from a person who has tried a number of these so called "make money online" schemes, there is no such thing as a free lunch. With so many seemingly attractive offers in the net, how does one separate the wheat from the chaff?

From my experience, there are three broad categories of online money-making schemes (there are more, but these three are probably the most common):

The first is what I call "chain mailing". You simply add your add to the bottom of the list, pay a certain small amount to a number of people at the top of the list, send out the list to as many people as you can, delete the top guy on the list, and wait for money to come your way.

The second is affiliate marketing. Basically you become an online promoter for a product owned by somebody else, and make a commission every time someone else buys the product through your links.

The third is in essence, online multi-level marketing (MLM). It is a variation of affiliate marketing in which the "product" you market for the owner is nothing but an offer for others to market the same "product". That is to say, there is no physical or intellectual product for consumption offered, you are merely buying a right to sell the right to others to sell the right yet to others.

Of course there is a fourth category, that of outright fraud, for which there are too many to mention. Whatever names these schemes are called, for responsible and discerning netizens, the first and the third scheme has no economic merit whatsoever for they do not create value for the economy, they are irresponsible schemes that prey on greed. Many countries outlawed MLM, for example, but internet law has largely lagged behind that of the physical world. As for affiliate marketing, you really have to discern the nature and value of the product you are m

so many seemingly attractive offers in the net, how does one separate the wheat from the chaff?

From my experience, there are three broad categories of online money-making schemes (there are more, but these three are probably the most common):

The first is what I call "chain mailing". You simply add your add to the bottom of the list, pay a certain small amount to a number of people at the top of the list, send out the list to as many people as you can, delete the top guy on the list, and wait for money to come your way.

The second is affiliate marketing. Basically you become an online promoter for a product owned by somebody else, and make a commission every time someone else buys the product through your links.

The third is in essence, online multi-level marketing (MLM). It is a variation of affiliate marketing in which the "product" you market for the owner is nothing but an offer for others to market the same "product". That is to say, there is no physical or intellectual product for consumption offered, you are merely buying a right to sell the right to others to sell the right yet to others.

Of course there is a fourth category, that of outright fraud, for which there are too many to mention. Whatever names these schemes are called, for responsible and discerning netizens, the first and the third scheme has no economic merit whatsoever for they do not create value for the economy, they are irresponsible schemes that prey on greed. Many countries outlawed MLM, for example, but internet law has largely lagged behind that of the physical world. As for affiliate marketing, you really have to discern the nature and value of the product you are

out the list to as many people as you can, delete the top guy on the list, and wait for money to come your way.

The second is affiliate marketing. Basically you become an online promoter for a product owned by somebody else, and make a commission every time someone else buys the product through your links.

The third is in essence, online multi-level marketing (MLM). It is a variation of affiliate marketing in which the "product" you market for the owner is nothing but an offer for others to market the same "product". That is to say, there is no physical or intellectual product for consumption offered, you are merely buying a right to sell the right to others to sell the right yet to others.

Of course there is a fourth category, that of outright fraud, for which there are too many to mention. Whatever names these schemes are called, for responsible and discerning netizens, the first and the third scheme has no economic merit whatsoever for they do not create value for the economy, they are irresponsible schemes that prey on greed. Many countries outlawed MLM, for example, but internet law has largely lagged behind that of the physical world. As for affiliate marketing, you really have to discern the nature and value of the product you are

which the "product" you market for the owner is nothing but an offer for others to market the same "product". That is to say, there is no physical or intellectual product for consumption offered, you are merely buying a right to sell the right to others to sell the right yet to others.

Of course there is a fourth category, that of outright fraud, for which there are too many to mention. Whatever names these schemes are called, for responsible and discerning netizens, the first and the third scheme has no economic merit whatsoever for they do not create value for the economy, they are irresponsible schemes that prey on greed. Many countries outlawed MLM, for example, but internet law has largely lagged behind that of the physical world. As for affiliate marketing, you really have to discern the nature and value of the product you are

re called, for responsible and discerning netizens, the first and the third scheme has no economic merit whatsoever for they do not create value for the economy, they are irresponsible schemes that prey on greed. Many countries outlawed MLM, for example, but internet law has largely lagged behind that of the physical world. As for affiliate marketing, you really have to discern the nature and value of the product you are marketing, for it could be MLM in disguise.

Here are three simple principles I live by for selecting the appropriate online marketing program to join:

1. There must be a viable product to sell, that is, it must be of intrinsic value to some people (of course, the more people the merrier), not merely just buying a right to sell “the right to sell". Otherwise you are aiding in perpetuating reselling rights with no real product, and eventually people down the chain will suffer, and sooner than you think. The key is: You must believe in the product.

2. There is no free lunch. The more the sales pitch focus on “no fuss”, “minimum work”, “sit back, relax, and wait for money to roll in”, etc, the more wary I would be. Of course there are bona fide business plans that also use these terms to attract the short-sighted and greedy, but one has to look beyond these claims and see what is needed from your part. The harder and smarter you work, the scheme should generate more returns for you. But not when you take off your thinking cap and just “sit back and relax”.

3. The business plan and product must commensurate with your personal values and beliefs. You cannot succeed in something you have no interest in or worse, dislike. The work must interest you. For example, if you like interacting with people, internet marketing is probably not for you.

In the final analysis, there is no shortcut to success, if you think you have found one with minimum effort needed, it is likely to be short-lived. The truly successful online entrepreneurs are people who create the products that people want, and found a way to reach these people effectively, the rest either become o