| One of the great things about the internet is that | | | | Remember to use a logical approach when |
| things change so quickly. This is good as it allows | | | | evaluating your options - the key areas to look at |
| new marketers to take advantage of novel | | | | are; the company; the pay plan; the product; the |
| trends and new developments. On the other hand | | | | level of admin; the sales methods available and |
| of course, if you don't respond quickly to new | | | | the cost - both start up and running. If this is your |
| market conditions, your business - and income - | | | | first business then try to start off with an |
| can be adversely affected. That's why you need | | | | opportunity that will provide you with residual |
| to have multiple streams of income - so that if | | | | income. Concentrate on only one business at a |
| your current top earner disappears off Google's | | | | time. Work this until you get it to an acceptable |
| radar or one of your many competitors | | | | level where it is growing without too much time |
| introduces a new product that wipes the floor | | | | input on your part. It doesn't need to be making |
| with your best offering, you have other income | | | | thousands of dollars every month - it's easier to |
| streams to fall back on. It's just like buying stocks | | | | arrange for 5 businesses to return $1000 each |
| and shares - you want to have a diverse portfolio | | | | than it is to arrange that a single business will |
| to avoid any sudden spikes and glitches in the | | | | return $5000 a month (the law of diminishing |
| market. Or put it another way - don't put all your | | | | returns). When you are achieving consistent |
| eggs in one basket. That's all well and good, but | | | | growth month on month, pick a business |
| just where are you going to find these multiple | | | | opportunity in a different sector and repeat the |
| streams of income? Sometimes it can be difficult | | | | process. Then do it again - and again. Aim for at |
| to find even one business opportunity that's | | | | least 3 and preferably 5 solid businesses. Try to |
| worth investing your time, energy and money in. | | | | have at least 40% of your income as residual |
| The first logical place to look is the market. It's | | | | income - this is your baseline. It will probably take |
| not always easy to get hold of hard facts and | | | | at least 6 months, and possibly more, to get each |
| figures when it comes to marketing and often, | | | | business to the steady growth phase, but it's well |
| when you do get some, they are well out of | | | | worth the effort. This will provide you with a |
| date. However, the figures below show the UK | | | | diverse income which will be stable and highly |
| market percentages of directly sold goods for | | | | unlikely to be severely impacted by changes in |
| 2000, a year when the total spend in this area | | | | market conditions. If an opportunity arises in one |
| was $2 billion. These figures are sourced from the | | | | particular area you can focus on that for a period |
| UK Direct Selling Association and make interesting | | | | of time in order to maximise your profits. And if |
| reading. SERVICES 32% (telecoms, utilities) | | | | there is a downturn in an area you can always |
| PERSONAL 26% (cosmetics, fragrances, | | | | use the income from the other sectors to |
| skincare...) FAMILY 17% (Books, toys, games, | | | | weather the storm. And when you eventually |
| business aids ...) HOUSEHOLD 14% (Security, | | | | have your multiple income streams online and |
| water treatment, electrical...) WELLNESS 7% | | | | they're all working well - always be on the lookout |
| (Nutritional, diet plans, supplements) FOOD 4% | | | | for any new opportunities to add to your business |
| (Frozen & other) The size of the market may | | | | portfolio. You can never have too much of a |
| vary, and the relative positions may change - but | | | | good thing. Hamish Hayward |
| the top five above will probably be able to provide | | | | Internet Business Tips ...... |
| consistently good income streams. The obvious | | | | Discover the key criteria you must evaluate when |
| omission from the above list would be online | | | | starting your own online or offline business. Free |
| gaming, which is a relatively new phenomenon. So | | | | e-books and newsletter packed full of hints and |
| how do you get started? Simple, just pick one of | | | | tips. |
| the areas and do some background research. | | | | |