In this economic climate, starting your own business, whether online or off, is extremely challenging. The online industry is filled with dangers and less than ethical operators and with a failure rate exceeding 90%, there is less than a one in ten chance of making a success of your venture. Yet in a time when big corporations are tripping up, the one industry still on the up and up is the online business opportunity industry.

Jeanne Smith, a team leader with Global Resorts Network and co-founder of Successful Net Ventures and The Marketing Skills Network has discovered through her own personal training programs that too many new online business owners do not show the same degree of professionalism when they approach their online ventures as they would a brick and mortar business.

"One of the key elements missing is a structured business plan". Completing your research prior to starting your business is a vital part of the equation to success. Just having a great product and a lucrative compensation plan is not enough to ensure success. If you are completely new to the industry and are venturing into unknown territory, then you are going to need to acquire new skills and a good understanding of what you can realistically expect from your business.

The primary problem with the industry at present is that it is often a case of the blind leading the blind as many sponsors have not been adequately trained to lead teams and in turn are unable to make team leaders out of their recruits. Joining with large groups that appear to be successful because of the sheer volume of advertising seen online is often a result of many members all marketing the same generic website and utilizing the same marketing strategies, which become stale and ineffective very quickly.

Personal Branding has been shown to be a key to the success of many of my team members. Understanding that each team member has value and attaching that to the product increases the value of their business. By ensuring that you receive personal one on one training and customization of your business plan around your personal abilities, limitations and personality, you will always achieve a far higher level of success. .