5 Tips on How to be Successful in Affiliate Marketing
You may have noticed a couple of these blogs popping up yesterday and today, referencing Kyle's video from last year. Why the renewed interest in that one particular video? Well, aside from the fact that the information is just as good today as it was then, some of us have re-watched it as part of a group exercise. You may continue to see a few more posts on this topic, but that's great. It is never a bad thing to review, especially when the information is so good. Now, as for my own personal write-up on this, here are my 5 Tips on How to be Successful in Affiliate Marketing
People over Products
It can be easy to lose sight of exactly why we are doing this. Of course, there is usually more than one reason behindthe decision to make a site and start promoting products. Perhaps you are simply looking for a way to improve your finances with a bit of extra income. Maybe you are tying desperately to get out of a job that you don't like and figure that affiliate marketing is a great way to go. Maybe you simply love the product you are promoting and want everyone to know about it. Quite possibly, it's all of the above.
But the one thing to keep at the forfront of your efforts is the people who will be reading what you write. You may have the best products on the market available on your site, but if you are overlooking the fact that there are real people coming to you for information, then you are not going to be terribly successful.
No one likes to go to a website and be met with banners yelling "Buy! Buy! Buy!" in their faces. I don't I am sure you don't, and I am just as certain that visitors to your site don't . Your goal isn't to force products on anyone, bt rather help them find what they want.
No Leash on Your Niche
While you will most likely choose a niche that you are already interested in, or even highly passionate about, take some time to research it. Find out if there is room for it to grow. As Kyle mentions in the video above, he has never managed to exhaust a niche, but you may find that some are a little tight to move around in.
Does your niche have multiple products to review? Are there related topics that can be explored and talked about so that you are doing more than just selling? This ties in with helping people. If you can offer information beyond simply suggesting things to buy, you will be providing a greater service to your visitors.
It's a Marathon, Not a Race
You've heard this before, but it's really something to keep in mind: you are not going to make a perfect site with tons of visitors and tremendous income overnight. You are building a business. Treat it as such. Don't just slap something online and sit back waiting for the money to appear. Invest your time and effort into it. Take the right steps, follow the training, learn what you need to learn and then put it into effect.
Think cumulative gains. Look to the future and know that anything worth doing is worth doing right. Remember that every journey is made up of individual steps. Learn what you need to do, then do it. Then keep doing it. To earn money, you need to sell something. To sell something, you need someone who will buy it. To have someone buy something, from you, they need to find you. To find you, you need to make yourself visible.
The lessons at Wealthy Affiliate are structured in a way to help you reach your goals. Don't skip ahead. Don't look for shortcuts. Do the work. Reap the rewards.
I'm not going to someone in his first week of med school for an operation, are you?
Don't Worry About the Competition
When I was a baby, I remember looking at the toddlers, thinking "man, I'm not gonna bother trying to walk. They're already doing it better than I can!"
Actually, no... I didn't think that. So why would you think that way about your online business?
Yes, there are people who are ahead of you. There are people with more knowledge than you. But the great thing about knowledge is that you can learn everything they did. You can become an expert, too. And who's to say that you won't put that knowledge to better use than them?
No, don't be afraid of the competition. Be afraid for them, because they will have to deal with you soon enough.
Why We Fail
So, if this is something that anyone can do, why do people fail?
Good question.
We all deal to one degree or another with "shiny object syndrome." We get distracted. We focus on the wrong things. We start to doubt in ourselves and our ability to succeed. We get impatient. In all honesty, there are many reasons why we fail. Fortunately, there are even more reasons to succeed. You just have to decide how much you want it, then keep at it until you get it.
You can do this. The people who have succeeded are not better than you. They are not smarter than you. They just know stuff that you don't know yet. But if you want to learn, if you want to reach your dreams, the path is laid out in front of you.
You just need to walk it.
I'm on that path. I'm going to walk as far as my legs will carry me. Won't you join me?
Recent Comments
121
Thank you for writing such a thought provoking post Craig. Regarding failure, I have come to learn that you will only fail if you give up. The frustrations, setbacks and obstacles along the way that feel like failure at the time are, in fact, just part of the rich learning experience that will ultimately bring success.
Thomas Edison explained this beautifully. Edison made 1000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, "How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?" Edison replied, "I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps."
That's a great quote.
I *try* to view every "failure" as a chance to learn something. It's not always easy, but if you look hard enough, there is a positive to every negative.
Thanks for the post Craig. I realized that this is a marathon. My problem is that I am a slow runner and it is never a good thing to be left behind. I however decide on this journey and I will try to keep up.
Your post is a motivational one.
Even the slowest runner can cross the finish line if they keep going! And it gives them more time to see the paths that others are taking!
Thank you, Craig, you made some great points in your blog post. I hear many people being held back by fear of their competition, I know that from experience there are people doing exactly what I am doing, but I'm still making money!
A very happy New Year to you Craig and may this be your best year ever.
Roy
Thank you very much!
I try not to worry if there are people in the same niche as me. That just shows that there is a demand for it and I know that people are diverse enough that I will be able to connect with some of them in a way that some others cannot.
Wow Craig! It sounds like you are one of Bo's new group! I am jealous! I will be following Bo, and you and Sue (I don't know who the others are yet!) and hanging on your coattails! I hope you don't mind!
You have great things in store for you this year!!
Jessica
Veronicsluv is in there too. :)
Everything is going to be shared,and we will only be using the tools and lessons offered here, so it will all be available to you.
I think 2018 is going to be great for everyone!
Right beside you all the way. I have to admit, I've been a little intimidated by all of this. I've always been proud of the fact that every thing I've set out to do, I've done. If I didn't know how to do something, I'd research it until I learned. If it was something I could tackle with my hands, I'd try it. Anything involving computers, internet, or social media was totally foreign to me. Step by step, I'm getting there. To me it's like learning to walk all over again. I'm just crawling now, but with help I'll be running soon. (Maybe I should buy stock in you tune) Lol.
Don
Craig, you watch that video all the way through, I can tell. This is the video I use in one of my email campaigns.
The ones that inspire me the most is him speaking about we need to go through the lessons and going through the live video classes.as well.
Just the same way we take the time to learn our job or going to college, building a business have the same learning curve.
Breaking down your affiliate commissions was also key to making money with your business and we need to do this.
I can watch that video every month, because is one of my arsenals, and when I get stuck this is the video that keeps me going. Thank you for posting this, my friend.
My pleasure!
There are certain lessons that are totally worth reviewing on a regular basis. We sometimes forget important things, or even become a bit lazy in how we work, so it is vital to stick to the lessons and follow precisely what is known to work.
As with all the other group member's responses to Kyle's webinar, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post Craig. Like you say, the response is all very individual and that also means that I as a reader derive something unique from reading each post. In yours, the thing that stood out most to me is a reminder that creating a successful business is a marathon not a sprint. As you say, "Don't skip ahead. Don't look for shortcuts. Do the work. Reap the rewards." I look forward to following along with you on your journey and wish you all the very best. Mark
Thank you so much. I appreciate your comment.
Yes, I think that each person will put their own spin on things, which is great. Someone else will see things that I will miss, and vice-versa.
Great review, Craig! I especially like the "No Leash on Your Niche".
I could have easily written another 5, but I wanted to stick with the instructions given to us by Prof. Bo...I didn't want to get stuck after class and have to write "I will pay attention." on the blackboard 100 times.
Hi Craig,
Thanks for some sound advice.
Sue and I have been with WA 2 1/2 years plus, but we are not where I like to be. We are not planning on quitting as that is the mail reason for failure. Yes, temporary set backs come to us all. So on we go, trying to improve the business a little every day.
Bill & Sue
As long as you keep moving forward, you're bound to reach your destination!
I hope that 2018 is a great year for you!
I think too often, people make quitting an option. I think just entertaining that, even a little, plants that bad seed. It may not sprout right away, but it will sprout.
I'm always encouraged to see people who have been around longer than I; it's just a reminder that this is doable!
Hi Veronica,
Thanks for your comments. Our growth in communications and writing has really surprised me. It is because of the WA Community and friends like you. We are truly successeding . Best wishes for great success this year.
Bill & Sue
See more comments
Hi Craig, yes, me too - you've obviously found a way to put yourself in front of us haha I seem to get a couple of notifications for each post you post. Welcomed though - I always enjoy reading what you write, so thanks for sharing your learnings here.
I am loving getting the different perspectives from everyone in the group.
Wishing you every success in the group. I look foward to following and sharing your journy in Bo's group.
Keep those mails coming haha
Gary
Ha ha! That is so awkward! You are the third person to tell me that they receive multiple notifications about what I post. I am not sure why that is happening, but I figure if WA wants to promote me, I'll take it!