There is always a certain evolution to how things develop over time. If you are trying to learn a new skill, then you start as a beginner and then gradually evolve (with hard work) into an expert.

 

The same kind of evolution is true with online success. Everyone starts out in one place and then can evolved to higher and higher levels of competency and income.

 

It is very important to not get stuck at a particular level of evolution because the results you want may require you to evolve to the next level first. You don't want to be stuck in the "Stone Age" of marketing.

 

I like to think of 4 different levels or "Ages" of online marketing success.

 

1. List Builder

 

The first level of success online is that of being a List Builder. When you first start out, you should be focusing your efforts on building an audience of people who Know, Like, and Trust you. This is the surest path to long-term success. You are getting people to join your audience and start receiving your message.

 

2. Engagement and Trust Builder

 

As your list starts to grow, you need to keep building it, but you also have to evolve to the next level. You need to start working on building engagement and trust. It isn't enough to just get people to join your list, you also have to get them to open your emails, read what you write, and trust that you are an authority who want to help them. This requires new skills that you have to learn.

 

3. Affiliate Marketer / Network Marketer

 

As you build your engaged and trusting audience, you now need to evolve into figuring out how to make offers to your list without losing the trust you have built.

 

You need to find products that actually hep people solve their problems and not just pitch programs that don't work. You need to learn how to write those recommendations so they sound like they are coming from someone who cares and not like a salesperson.

 

This is the first stage where you can start to make consistent income by recommending other people's programs to your audience.

 

4. Product Owner & Creator

 

If you want more consistent income than can be had by promoting other people's products, then you need to create your own products. This is the next level of evolution of an online business owner.

 

When you create your own products, then you can get other affiliates to help you promote them, which can multiply your earnings and impact.

 

The problem that most beginners have is that they don't understand that you have to go through the first two stages of evolution before you can be an effective affiliate or network marketer. They want to skip right to the stage where they start making consistent income. However, skipping stages of evolution doesn't work. They don't have the asset of a responsive audience to help them at Stage 3. They haven't built up the trust and experience needed to be successful.

 

Please don't try to go against nature and skip the stages of evolution. Focus on building your list and engaging with that list before you start trying to sell.

 

Let me know if you want help building your list. I am here for you.