The Wealthy Affiliate Training Is Working For Me
I am happy to report that I am now earning a recurring income through affiliate marketing. The Wealthy Affiliate Training is working for me. But first, a confession.
My efforts in building my business have been sporadic. I am not going to make any excuses except to say my laziness and lack of focus have been getting the better of me. This brings me to a very critical point.
What if I worked on my plan that I had shared on these very pages, consistently? I know I would be much further ahead.
Even with my modest success, I would like to share what I have learned. You may feel on familiar ground.
For reference, my niche happens to be Make Money Online (MMO). This is highly competitive but also has a great deal of opportunity.
My posts come under three main categories. Internet Marketing Education, Reviews. and Personal Development. I'd like to elaborate a little on the sub-categories of these three areas.
Internet Marketing Education
In the first group of posts, I have written articles about the Wealthy Affiliate Training Platform. These are structured to cross-link skills needed to build an online business with specific training modules provided by Wealthy Affiliate.
The second group of posts focuses on tutorials that show how I have personally learned and continue to learn important skills to succeed.
I use affiliate links to the Wealthy Affiliate Platform where appropriate.
Reviews
There are four subcategories in Reviews. MMO Opportunities, Affiliate Networks, MLM Programs, and Scams.
Personal Development
Some of you may remember that a year ago I ran a 15-week series on each of the chapters of the iconic book by Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich. The first post was called, Think and Grow Rich, It Could Be Worth A Million Dollars To You
After I completed this series I created a parallel category on my website where the posts there mirrored the posts on Wealthy Affiliate. Instead of repeating them verbatim, which would be folly, I summarized the lessons of the chapters and added affiliate links to my blog posts on Wealthy Affiliate.
Which Posts Got The Most Clicks?
Can you guess? They were my posts on MLM Programs. It seems that all my hard work on the other categories was a waste of time since they got so little attention.
Can you guess where my focus has been when I discovered this fact? I am writing more posts on MLM programs than any other. I confess this is NOT my favorite topic. I need to be more disciplined to write more of these posts.
This means, doing a great deal of research on these companies. Figuring out keywords. And capturing appropriate graphics created for these companies, their products, and compensation plans.
However, in each of these cases, I can point out the flaws in the MLM systems and segue my readers to a better option. Affiliate Marketing.
I Learned From The Experts
If you pick any Wealthy Affiliate member in the MMO niche and study their websites, you will find that the bulk of their posts are based on reviews. MLM and others. If they can make money using this approach, why not I?
It goes beyond writing articles. These need to have quality keywords in the titles as well as the implementation of sound SEO practices.
The next step is to use Social Media, like Facebook, Pinterest, etc. to promote the articles. Finally, it is also critical to learn how to implement and use a system for Email marketing. To do Email marketing, you need a list of prospects.
After a great deal of procrastination, I signed up for the free Aweber program. It took me even more time to create an email capture form and learn how to use a freebie to entice visitors to give me their contact info.
Bootcamp
When I joined WA I completed the OEC in short order. However, I have dragged my feet in completing the Bootcamp training, Instead, I joined Kyle's Super Affiliate Challenge and didn't do a good job there.
Finally, I commenced Bootcamp But got stuck when it came to learning about using videos. Once I completed that lesson my progress improved.
Currently, I am on Phase 5, Knowing Your Audience And Catapulting Your Referrals. One of the tasks was to write a new post and ask for comments.
I wrote a review of the MLM company Nu Skin and also included an email capture form. This was very well-received by the other members of the class. Several to my surprise, filled in the email capture form because they wanted the freebie I was offering. Can you guess what that was?
An ebook of Napoleon Hills Think and Grom Rich. One person had the hard copy but wanted to have the electronic version.
The Training Treasure Trove
I cannot overestimate the training treasure trove we have here at Wealthy Affiliate. Everything I have mentioned above that I have and continue to learn, is available here. In the form, of structured training, Webinars, member training, and personal help other members are so eager to provide
Plus, we have powerful tools to help us build our businesses more efficiently and effectively. I know I have so much more to learn and this is the place to do it.
Nothing is perfect. There is always room for improvement. And if you find a source for learning skills not available here, go for it. But these are usually necessary after you are earning a decent income. There is no need to spend money outside Wealthy Affiliate until you are making enough money you can invest in this direction.
Additional Training Options
The one area I felt I needed that was not available here, was personal development. I have subscribed to a weekly coaching class that does incur a modest fee. It comes down to getting rid of bad habits and developing ones that are conducive to good business practices. This is not easy. But necessary to make the most of what Wealthy Affiliate has to offer.
Future Plans
I have learned and continue to learn from some great mentors and coaches in my life. The most important lesson was, to pick one thing you are good at and perfect it to get the results you want.
In the business we are in, we get drawn to many wonderful business-building programs. I commend those who have our interests at heart and want to help our progress. But know this. Along with offers of help come dangers to dilute our focus.
It is not how much you know that helps you succeed. It is how well you implement the little you do know that can make a difference. It is OK to broaden one's knowledge. But only after you have mastered the one thing you are currently focused on.
It is using this philosophy that I plan to continue building my online business. I know I have a long way to go. It will take following my plan, focus, and consistent action to achieve my goals.
What Are Your Plans?
Firstly, have you written them down? Do you review them regularly and measure your progress? When you come across obstacles, what do you do? It is how we overcome obstacles that decide if we are going to succeed or fail in the long run.
May I ask you this question? Is Wealthy Affiliate working for you? Please share how it is. And if isn't, why do you think that is?
I wish you much success in your affiliate marketing journey.
Cheers.
Edwin
Recent Comments
71
Hi Edwin,
Thanks for sharing your journey and the things you have learned along the way.
Also, congratulations on getting recurring commissions.
Between Kyle's training, the community, and particularly Partha's training, I would say WA is working for me.
I spend 90% of my time writing in my niche with the hope that it will pay off in a few months.
I also subscribe to Medium Daily Digest (free) and many of their articles help me in the way of personal development (the article I read today was on the dark truth of confidence.)
Lynn
Hi Lynn,
So kind of you to write. Thanks for your good wishes. It was heartening to hear a little about your progress. Keep up the good work.
Edwin
Good to hear from you Edwin and glad you are seeing progress. I think we started WA about the same time, the latter part of 2018.
You have progressed ahead of me and that is good.
I lost interest for awhile, and that always means stop and find your way- It means self -assessment- are you in the right place, are you doing enough- what do you need to do differently- do you have enough interest to pick up speed and move forward-- all these things had to find answers.
I actually had to expand my niche--I know writing about pets seems trite to you and probably others, but not if you expand to include the bond between man and animal, and then if you expand from the dog, cat thing to all other types of pets, and then expand to areas like service dogs and their ability to fill service jobs that give humans difficulty. Finally, relating to what has been in the news lately.
My second movement was to write a book, and as I got into that, I found my excitement growing as I worked to the finish. Actually, I have another book already jelling in my head. I'm already working on the historical background.
I'm not too worried about making a lot of money with the website, I feel like that may be closer than before. I have been struggling to make ends meet for so long, I actually don't know what it would feel like to be out of debt. I relate somewhat to the young artists in LaBoheme
I think I will see progress this next year. I feel good about the changes. I'm also building my e-mail list. Will have to look into Aweber next year.
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for writing and sharing your progress too. I know what it is like to wonder if what we are doing will ever work. That is normal.
I think that pets are a great niche. There are many affiliate programs for pet food and pet accessories. Perhaps even for pet trainers and pet health issues. Have you tried using the WA Affiliate Program tool to search? It is clear that pets are your passion so please do not give up on creating an affiliate business based on pets.
Regarding debt, I have a tale to tell based on two occasions I had been mired in debt and what I did to get out. If it is OK with you can I share this via PM?
I wish you all the best in writing and publishing your book. Do what keeps you excited and the money will come along.
Cheers.
Edwin
Hi Edwin, I haven't seen you in a long time! Good to see you back here.
I am working hard but I can't say that affiliate marketing is a strong income for me, not even a small extra income. I make more money with my private online classes which is why I'm focusing on that and on writing platforms to achieve my financial independence.
Affiliate marketing seems to take longer than just 6 months, or even a year. Well, I've been at it for 2 years now. I think that perhaps I should focus on MLMs too, but I hate that topic. I find it booooring and repetitive (come on, all those companies are the same) ;-) and I don't know why it gets so much traffic. But perhaps I should open myself up to it a little more.
Hi Christine,
I do have not been spending time on WA except to access my website to write posts and to check up on my referrals. Glad to connect with you again.
Although I am making a recurring income, I also have ways to go before it becomes a living wage. Fortunately, I also have other streams of income to support me while I work on my website.
Let me give you a secret on writing MLM reviews. I followed Jay Neil's advice and created a content template. I use the same headings on all the reviews. Even some of the same advice. I just change the content related to the company. It is boring stuff. This is the way to make it palatable.
Remember that there are millions of people failing in MLM and searching for hints regarding their company. That is one of the reasons why it is easier to get views this way.
It is definitely not a panacea. Because like anything else, when you get referrals, there is no guarantee that they will upgrade to Premium., And even then, no guarantee that they will stay. Hence, this requires a lot of effort to keep writing.
What motivates me is that the person who signed me up here is doing very well that way. And so do others. Besides the posts, a lot of effort is necessary to promote them on Social Media as well as engage in discussions on MLM boards in a discrete way. Plus, email marketing. I have just started email marketing and have ways to go here.
I wish you much success in whatever you do. Never give up.
Cheers.
Edwin
Thanks for the tips, Edwin! I'll keep it in mind. A template sounds like a good idea. I've noticed that reviews on other people's websites mostly look the same and begin with the same or similar introductions. I guess that a template saves us a lot of time. Yesterday I wrote a review of a publishing company, something I find more interesting. But I guess that I could look into MLMs ...
Thanks for sharing so much about your journey. You've learned so much about both the process and yourself, and I believe that many can learn from the experiences you've shared.
I do hope that one day you'll get to work on a site topic you enjoy more, but you did find something which pays the bills and that's great!!
Hi Jeannine,
Thanks so much for your kind comments. You must have read my mind. I have started a new website to do just what you suggested. It is about life lessons learned.
Although I have published it, I am not promoting it yet as I am working on the details.
You can find it in my profile under my name, If you click it, you will see a message saying, "nothing found". Ignore that and click the menu at the top, " About This Site". Eventually, I will make this the static home page.
By the way, I did request reviews through the WA Site Comments section and received some great reviews. If you decide to check out this post, I'd appreciate it if you left a comment too. I will be happy to reciprocate.
All the best to you Jeannine.
Edwin
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Lovely post Edwin. Thanks for sharing your journey. I have been lazy too but due to my lack of writing skills. I need to take some inspiration and try and get used to writing, need to get through the training and I realise it's only the prospect of writing that is stopping me :).
Thanks again. Much appreciated.
Hi Ragunathan,
Glad my post resonated with you. Thanks for your kind comments.
All the best to you.
Edwin