If you've ever looked at a company like Vitel or Empower Network, you have probably wondered why some affiliates are able to make money online far easier than others. Today we'll show you how to establish yourself as a top sponsor in any home business this year.

The reason behind why over 90% of entrepreneurs fail isn't lack of potential. It isn't even lack of skill. For any industry, that is an incredibly high failure rate.

So if a small percentage of individuals are succeeding, how are they doing it? What 'secret' do they know that the majority of others don't?

There are a number of things you should be doing if you are looking to establish yourself as a top sponsor within any affiliate program, all of which we will run through today. The first thing a top internet marketer must do is realize that there are no guarantees. Nothing is going to change your life for you. Every top sponsor in every home business realizes this, and they aren't afraid to work hard on their business. The common trend among people who complain about a lack of results is a lack of action.

Unfortunately for most people, they overlook the first and most important step in becoming self employed.

Stop and think for a second. What would be the absolute first thing you would do if you had a great idea for a business? You'd write down a business plan, right? Then you'd rush off to get some advice and put things into motion. You should be doing a business plan with an online based company, too. Nobody else needs to see it, of course, but it will help you to get your goals down on paper and set some targets.

Remember the old saying, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Treating your business seriously means putting in a consistent effort. If most of the people who fail to earn an online income were honest with themselves, they'd admit that they let their work ethic slip considerably in their last home business program. This is why a plan is important.

Also, in order to stand out from the crowd in your chosen opportunity you need to start thinking like a leader. The best way to do this is to provide value to others who are in the same niche as you. Most people who are trying to become their own boss need help, they are struggling. Use the huge failure statistic in the industry to your advantage by helping others with useful tips and free advice. Not only does this establish your name within your chosen company, but it gets people talking about you and seeing you as a good sponsor. A lot of people join businesses under sponsors who provide little or no value despite making big promises prior to joining. Setting yourself apart from that stereotype is a great move in becoming established as a quality, trusted leader within your niche.

You don't need to get too technical, a simple blog would be a good start so people can find you in search engines. Use free marketing resources to establish your brand. Everybody has access to tools like Facebook, Twitter and Youtube yet very few affiliate marketers make the most of them.

You've probably noticed how some people seem to use social networks effortlessly whereas others spend tons of cash on e-courses to learn how to market with Facebook Ads, etc. The truth is if you know how to use social media you can do it all for free. Your blog acts as your central hub, your main job is to get visitors to your blog and seal the deal, right? Your Youtube, Twitter and Facebook page are merely extensions of this hub, so everything is linked together. []

This enables you to reach audiences in very different ways. While there are undoubtedly people searching on websites like Google for your chosen home business, or existing affiliates looking for tips and advice, you'll also find folks looking for the same type of thing on Youtube. Having a fan page on Twitter or Facebook also allows people to connect with you directly. This benefits both you and potential followers, as it allows you the opportunity to post new content to a pre-established audience while at the same time allowing them to ask you questions or get to know you.

By embedding a Youtube clip into your blog you will make it more interesting to look at, as well as increasing your video's ranking on Youtube for your targeted keywords. By having videos out there you also increase your ability to build a relationship with potential clients as well as having people on Youtube stumble across your video on autopilot. Facebook and Twitter are extremely good ways to encourage interaction and word-of-mouth advertising about your brand, too.

So as you can see, the only secret to success is to manage your time effectively. The same way you would if you started a real business.

While it is entirely possible to make money online from your own home in your spare time, you must remember that it's still a business. And business is all about relationships. Whether you're working with a company like Avon or Empower Network doesn't really matter, the same principles apply. By providing regular, free tips that actually help others you'll separate yourself from the many unhelpful individuals in the same industry. If you also make it very easy for people to find you on all the major social media platforms, your brand will grow even further.