Fast Track to Monetization? Show Me the Money? Wrong!

byAMPro

275 followers

11 years ago

I just finished reading another member's blog about the appropriate time to add affiliate links to your website, which inspired me to write the following thoughts.

Going through this course is exciting, enjoyable, and frustrating, all at the same time.

Yes, FRUSTRATING.

On one hand, I want to be as thorough as possible, and make sure each step is completed in its entirety before moving on. On the other hand, I just want to know if all of this work is actually going to pay off, considering how much time and effort I'm dedicating to it. In other words - SHOW ME THE MONEY! - even if it's just a trickle.

I commend Kyle for how he divided each course into short lessons that are simple to achieve, and for adding a video to each one. Anyone can follow this. ANYONE. It isn't that difficult, it just takes lots time and effort. And that's the problem.

I keep clicking "Next Lesson" and working my way through the courses, but I also keep reaching points where I'm questioning whether my efforts are actually going to produce a return. Are you asking this question from time to time?

Here's what I keep having to remind myself...

If I were building a house with the intention of selling it when finished, and I was so anxious for potential buyers to show some interest and maybe even make a deposit, would I skip the electrical and plumbing steps just to get the interior finished and looking great?

After all, it sure would look nice, and I'll bet that would get a down payment check in my hand real fast. I mean, that's my goal, right?

WRONG!

What happens when potential buyers discover what I skipped, just to get them in the door? Poof, they're gone, just as fast as Google will be gone if they find out I'm not laying the proper groundwork with my website; That I'm not actually helping people by creating a content-rich, fully-functioning website, but focusing instead on throwing ads in my visitors' faces.

Ok, so it's time to re-focus...

I keep having to put myself in my visitor's minds, and ask what kind of content will be most useful, most helpful, etc. In other words, what kind of content is going to make them bookmark my site?

Now there's the golden question: What kind of site will my visitors need to see, in order to trigger their bookmarking desire? That feeling where they're saying "This is so good, I need to bookmark it so I'll be able to find it later."

If I create a site they want to bookmark, I'm helping them. I'm fulfilling their need. Surely, that will lead to a financial reward.

I'm actually at the affiliate stage right now, but I have doubts about whether my site has enough content. So, while signing up for affiliate networks and programs, I'm also going to continue adding content to my site so Google will see it as more useful to visitors.

I'm also more determined than ever to stick with Kyle's step-by-step method. It's there for a reason, even if I can't see the big picture while down here in the trenches.

Forging ahead,
Bart