By Laura Dobbins

Whether you are new or an expert at online marketing, the goals are the same, you want to generate more sales than your competitor. But how do you stay ahead of the race when there are so many participants?

You might be surprised to learn that the one place many of us enjoy to eat - Hmm they have great burgers - has the MLM awnser your looking for.

 In order to be successful online, you need to be a "list builder pro." In other words you need to have customers who buy your service or product in order for you to generate revenue. But how can you attract people when there are so many other online associates vying for the same consumers?

You've got to think outside the box. It's not a new concept but one that gets overlooked. Here's where McDonald's comes in.

The franchise is already known for its burgers. But there are many burger chains now competing with them, so they are always seeking new ideas to stay ahead. If you have noticed, they now have coffee bars.

The Ritz Hotel recently started offering community service day trips to their lodging guests.

What these well-known corporations have clicked into are niches currently sought by their customers. It had to be a stretch for the Ritz to think about organizing a trash pickup day for people paying hefty prizes to stay at their Posh and Lovely resort. And McDonalds has always been in the business of selling burgers, what would they know about latte and such?

What these businesses do know is that they have to be open to new ideas, new methods of advertising and open to switching gears to accomodate the wants of their customers. Because if they don't their competition will.

It's the same for online marketing. You have to find new ways of selling your product, offering it to fit current consumer needs and tweeking it if necessary. Your goal is to be a "list builder pro." But you will never be at the top if you don't think outside the box.