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4 Steps to Small Business Success - Move to The Next Level

Step 4 -- Build A Passive Income

Every online dream begins with one vision: you open your email inbox, and "like magic" the money comes rolling in.

It's true -- building a passive income is your key to earning more money without working harder. And while it's unlikely that you'll earn millions over night, building a passive income is a smart way to supplement what you're already earning.

So how you can build an automatic income source for your online business? Though affiliate programs are good, they're not the sole solution. Here is a selection of the more popular means of making a passive income online.

Affiliate Programs

Affiliate programs allow you to earn income by selling other people's products. There are literally thousands of affiliate programs available -- in practically any category you care to name. Whether you're interested in selling ebooks, toys, magazines, or kitchen utensils, I guarantee you'll be able to find a shop in that category with an affiliate program on offer.

When you select an affiliate program, consider these criteria:

choose a quality product that you personally believe in. You need to actually trial and purchase the product yourself. This allows you to personally buy into what's great about the product, so you can write a killer personal testimonial.

try to find products that offer higher-than-average commissions. Why work your buns off selling a 5% commission product, when you can sell one that offers 30, 40, or even 50% commissions?

if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You can investigate a company by checking them out with the Better Business Bureau in the business' native state.

The Top 10

Here are the top affiliate programs recommended by Allan Gardyne of AssociatePrograms.com:

1. Ken Evoy's products:

2. Marlon Sanders products:

3. The Insider Secrets to Marketing Your Business on the Internet by Corey Rudl

4. Declan Dunn's and Patrick Anderson's products, including: