"I learn something new every week - do you?"

Well that's how I started this article in 2003, after my very first successful year online, as a full-time affiliate marketer.

Whilst each year following continues to throw up new challenges, there are still several ways of 'doing things right', that can improve your chances of success this year, whatever line of business you are in.

So what follows are essential tips to help you do just that.

So let's begin with an obvious tip, shall we.

1. Plan

Plan what work you're going to do, and stick to the plan.

A plan could consist of a set of daily activities - reply to your emails, visit a forum or two, create more content for your site - or it could consist of a set of activities you want to complete in a given month.

Whatever techniques or strategies you use, make sure you plan what you're going to do first.

2. Try not to rely on one income source

Try not to rely on one source of income, or one website, or even one marketing strategy (only using Google AdWords, or only writing articles for example).

I have been relying on getting free visitors from my natural listings on Google for far too long. And now, due to recent changes in the way Google works, this strategy is failing.
Do you rely too much on Google, or a particular marketing strategy?

And what would happen if this strategy suddenly stopped working?

Make sure you put some alternative strategies in place, some alternative pillars of income, if you like.

3. Commit to learning

Commit to continuing to learn on a regular basis.

You can do this via an online forum, via a free ebook or website, or you can buy a suitable internet marketing product/service from a source that you trust and respect.

You can even find your favourite source of free articles and read the latest every week.

4. 'Your attitude is everything'

Your attitude to success (and failure) is all important.

There are plenty of ways to succeed online, as you may well know; ultimately, however, what you do is not as important, as *how* you do it.

I'm talking about your attitude. A positive attitude, combined with persistence, and a willingness to keep on learning, will seriously improve your chances of success.

Here are a few pointers, to turn around your attitude, should it be necessary:

"Whether you think you can or can't, you're right!" - Henry Ford

"Stop wasting time on things you're not passionate about." - Phil Wiley from ozemedia.com

"Successful people KNOW the best way to ensure *their* success is by helping other people become successful... You earn money *only* through satisfying the needs and wants of *others*" - Boris Vene and Nikola Grubisa from TheMillionaireMind.com

(Note: after reading that statement I decided to create a helpful guide to buying digital cameras, for one of my affiliate sites. It helped both my visitors, who had a helpful guide to what is a somewhat confusing purchase, and it helped my business (via Google adsense advertising).)

"The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing." - John Wesley Powell

Etc.

Get your attitude right, simple as that.

5. Continue doing things right

The tips below are some that featured in the original version of this article. Basically, if you get things right once then make sure you keep on doing them right.

6. Get right to the point with your website.

What is it's main purpose? What is it's secondary purpose?

7. Spend time on activities that make you money.

If you don't know what activities these are, then find out.

8. Words still matter on the web.

Learn to write copy that is both clear and helpful to your site visitor, written with your voice, AND that the search engines like.

9. Backup your work

Backup your work on a regular basis.

This is a very easy thing to state, but a very difficult thing to implement. We all know that we should backup our files, our mailing lists, our databases, our websites, but how many of us do it!

So this tip applies to everyone, including me.

Again, backup your work.

Don't just nod your head in agreement - do it!

Okay, that's enough.

It's now over to you to integrate these successful tips and strategies into your business life.

Keep learning, keep using the right tools, and keep persevering, and you will succeed online.

Wishing you your most profitable year, yet.