If you've been riding your Facebook account in the past few days chatting with friends, looking at photos, playing flash games, or just updating your personal information, I can definitely tell you're hooked to the service. But is your online presence worth it all? It depends on how you perceive social networking.

If you like social networking just for its basic perks: instant messaging, micro-blogging, discussion boards, and photo albums - you're missing out on an opportunity of a lifetime. Even now that the two social network service giants - Facebook and Twitter - have nearly a billion total users combined, it's still not enough to account for the potential wealth you'll amass if you work your way from the bottom of the pyramid starting today.

Here are some of my tips to people who like to have fun, and at the same time, earn money from their leisure time:

1. Do a quick research on how "affiliate programs" work.

Nearly every item sold on social networking sites is on a commission basis agreement with the supplier. Only a few people buy and stock up on items they're selling - unless of course, they're artisans.

With Google's "Search from pages within your country" function, find reputable affiliate programs in your locality that gives out commissions on every successful sale or lead. Affiliate products and services vary widely, as some may even include medical services, perfumes, bags, eyewear, footwear, and gadgets. Look nearby your place if there are merchants who want to help in selling their products. Most local companies in need of affiliates with huge payouts are real estate companies or insurance companies. Do not be bashful to ask if they're accepting agents or affiliates - because they most likely are. Who doesn't want profits?

It's better to talk personally to the affiliate manager of the product you're about to sell.

2. Add "relevant" friends.

Since Facebook isn't very strict on your friend-adding activities, make as much friends/connections as you can every day until your daily limit is reached. Be patient enough to create photos: 1.) describing your product; 2.) how to order it; 3.) shipping options. Remember to only add people whom you think are worth adding because of their social status or their tier of friends - whom they can refer you to. Interact with your newly-added friends and tell them that you're pleased to meet them, so they won't confuse you as a robot.

This method can also be used on Twitter, but be warned that Twitter suspends accounts easily for suspicious activity. Be as discrete as possible whenever you add a friend. Limit your daily follows to 200, and make sure the users you're following are real people. Send a message to your new followers, and regularly tweet about stuff that's relevant to your business.

3. Read marketing tips and tricks while you're at it.

In the world of marketing, experienced tutors and their free, pragmatic tutorials are a winning lottery ticket you're sitting on. By participating in free webinars, reading online marketing journals, blogs, and as I would beg to recommend, paid tutorial services - all of these compound to your expanding marketing skills. You'll soon learn that marketing, just like any other professional field, requires practice to push the right buttons.

Good look on your selling endeavors and tune in to my other articles for safe and sound marketing tips!