Is Affiliate Marketing Dead?
Hi Affiliates,
Hi Team :-)
Listen, I haven't blogged for a while here on WA. Instead, I've asked a bunch of questions, specifically because I felt (and still somewhat feel) that my blog isn't performing as it should be. But I didn't share that much. Sorry!
Good Things Happen Eventually
However, just recently two things happened that boosted my motivation to new heights, and I thought it would be good to let you guys know. Here we go:
- I was accepted by a link building agency who sends me very well written, unique articles for my blog and then pays me(!) to publish them on my blog. That way, I have earned my first 40 bucks from my blog. Nice! (Lauren has written a guide on that topic here which I followed!)
- Just two weeks ago I received an email from Amazon with a fair warning that half of my application period passed by without making sufficient sales. I was disappointed and a bit scared that I wouldn't be able to make it and that I would have to re-apply and then recreate all my affiliate links from scratch. Just today -tadaaa- I got the legendary "Amazon.com Associates program - your application approved" email! How great is that!? Looking into my account I saw that I actually made 4 sales so far, totalling at USD 11.29.
So after all I have earned roughly USD 50 from my blog so far. Obviously, that does not even closely compensate the work I've put into this journey so far nor does it cover my expenses for WA, tools and outsourcing, but it shows me that this thing can actually work! In terms of scaling there is still a long way ahead, but I'll eventually get there!
Bottom Line
If I can work the system you can too! No, affiliate marketing isn't dead! It just needs you to be patient!!!
Cheers,
chris
Recent Comments
15
So if I understand correctly in 1. you are filling your site with links to sites which are clearly desperate for backlinks and are probably very low authority sites. In long terms, this is ruining your own authority. Are you sure this is the right way to do?
Hey j! I don't think "filling" is the right word here. I am very careful about that, and I am certainly not spamming random links around my blog. I don't know if you've read Lauren's training. It's certainly not something you want to base your entire blog on, but it's certainly ONE way to earn a few bucks, especially when you're just starting out...
Not sure what you mean by spamming, I did not mention this.
I think the filling is the right word, but it does not matter, the meaning is obvious. I did read her training and she has collected them 76 so far. This is filling as I see it, she is making the business out of it, but for how long this is the question.
Linking to low authority sites is a bad strategy as you disperse your own authority and in long terms ruin your chances for a better ranking, this is the way of digging a hole under your own site, and sinking deeper and deeper. This is not ONE way, this is a bad way. You may think you are earning, but in long terms you might be loosing. Read my comment there if you care.
Choose which "guides" to follow, this is all what I can tell you.
90% of Affiliate Marketing sales come from 10% of affiliate marketers. It takes a long time to build a brand and reach the audience to grow properly.
To expedite your process make sure you are not just writing content and waiting on Google. Find out where you niche market hangs out and go spend time with them. If it is sailing then go to reddit, quora, facebook groups and places like that and become a valuable member of the community.
Once people recognize you as giving great advice and as an expert then you can start sending them to your blog for references.
That will help you get more early sales if you are not doing this already.
Hope this helps.
Cheers!
Glad to hear it!!!!! If you can make 4 sales....you can make 4000 sales! Keep going and don't stop. :-)
Thanks Philip.
As you know from my comment under your video and our PM history: Your advice and your video How Long Does It Take To Rank And Get Traffic? [worst case scenario!] played a big role in keeping me motivated and getting to this point. That's also true for Nathaniell, who helped me a lot!
Thanks guys, I won't forget that and will keep pushing. Let me know in case there is something I can help you with in return :-)
chris
No problem man, that's what we are here for! That is what makes WA such a great place - if it wasn't for that there would be no way for us to connect like that! :-)
If you need anything then let me know!!
See more comments
Hi Chris, Yeah, patience can be a killer because sometimes it's easy to maintain. Other times, it may as well be the enemy. I too have received that little note from Amazon about lack of activity, but the way I see it... It will all fall into place eventually. Congrats on making the $$ you've made so far. It can only get better from here.
Forward and onward.