One Week in to the Challenge, Where Are We At?
Week One of the Super Affiliate Challenge
We thought we would write a short post about our progress so far with the challenge. Despite our extensive experience of running a business online (10 years and counting!) we have taken this challenge as if we are just starting out.
We already had a domain so we were ahead of the game there. However, the website had not been touched for several months and we were not happy with the look and feel of it. We had used our names as our brand last year but it had not gone quite as we had planned so we started afresh in January of this year.
But we now realise that we should have persevered with us as the brand! Hindsight and all that!
We have read about several people on the challenge who have struggled with choosing a theme - we sympathise! That was job number one for us and it has taken us hours of painstakingly testing theme after theme. To be honest we are still not 100% set on the theme we have chosen but we are not in the position to invest in Thrive Themes at this point, which seems to be the weapon of choice for the high flyers amongst us.
Elementor (free WP plugin), does quite well as an alternative but nowhere near as good as we would like.
We currently host our challenge website outside of WA so using SiteContent is not an option at the moment, but we will probably bring it in-house at some stage.
We already had a logo but we have revamped that and also ordered some business cards which we have never had before - quite exciting!
We also had a WA review on the site but we have pulled it to ieces and rewritten it so it now fits the bill we think. We have also written a post so we are off and running.
We have not been on Live Chat every day although we have ventured there a couple of times, which we hadn't really done before.
We also used to blog here at WA a couple of times a week, which has fallen by the wayside as we have worked on other projects recently. These update posts helps us to start to get back to being active within the community more.
So, having writtent this, it appears we are moving along quite nicely. More posts and the keyword research side to do, but many of the action points are done.
Let's get on with it - see you all in Vegas!
P.S Did you see that JerryHuang has already done his 300 sales to get to Vegas next year - what a superstar. He is definitely one to model.
Recent Comments
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It sounds like you have made some great progress. I understand all too well some of the pain points you mentioned.
I decided to go with a new website for this challenge so that it could be more focused. Before I did that, I spent some time studying Jerry's website along with that of the other super affiliates. Focus and simplicity were the two things I noticed on their sites design. So, I am hoping that is just as important if not more so than the actual theme itself.
I uses the Site Content feature. It's not perfect, at times it adds an extra step or two. Yet, it make other things easier especially when it comes to goal tracking and counting how many posts that I have in draft stage vs published.
Thanks Sondra. Yes the super affiliates do seem to have a very simplified front page with the blog hidden inside. This kinda makes sense as each blog post is visited on its own merits from both the search engines and other places that you promote the post.
I hope to meet you in Vegas. With the way this year is flying by, it will be here before we know it.
Hey, guys! Nice to read your post about your progress! As a complete newbie to affiliate marketing it's very inspiring to read posts from those who have been active for a longer time.
I got a bit of a slow start due to a minor confusion about niches. But I have now almost completed Bootcamp phase 1. I have purchased my first domain, set up my first website (www.reclaimyourfinancialfreedom.com), written my "About Johan" , posted my Private Policy-page and have today done research and found 6 keywords that relate to my audience. Now I'll take on the lesson about writing a good review.
I'm really motivated by this Super Affiliate Challenge. Another week and I hope to have catched up...
Looking forward to seeing you all in Vegas in 2020!!!
Johan
Thanks Johan for stopping by. Well done on your progress so far.
Having visited your website I would make a suggestion though.
When a person arrives at your website all they see is the huge image at the top of the page. This may stop people from scrolling down to see what else there is as you only have a small window of time to capture their attention.
It is usually best to use a theme that gives you the ability to have some content above the fold (on the screen without having to scroll).
Better to change the theme at this early stage.
Just a thought
All the best
JOn and Debbie
Thanks for your valuable feedback! Yeah, I'm with you on your thoughts. I had actually begun to think in the same direction. So it's awesome to get suggestions from people who have come further on their journey. I really appreciate your help!!! It's awesome to be part of this challenge and be in this lovely, warm-hearted community!!!! This evening I'll start searching for a better theme!
Cheers!
Johan
Just changed my theme on my website. Does this one look better? I still have tweak it....but as a base? It would be very kind of you could give me a short feedback.
Johan
Personally I would say that you have gone too much the other way now!!!!! Sorry!!
Maybe this one is a bit plain? Only my opinion of course.
Haha.... agree with you. Have changed again. But probably I'll do some more looking around. I'll finally find the correct theme. But the one I have now....is it also too plain?
I found striving for perfect affects my productivity. I would have went for Thrive and no business cards. Get them later. I started new site with Thrive. Little tougher but it fit the challenge for me. Love to see your site when done. You both will do great, just stay on path and watch out for distractions.
Take care
Bill
Hi Jon, the good news is you are moving forward. I am new to this and sometimes I spend days and it feels like I am going backwards, particulary on the teccie side. I'm not on the challenge but intend to start bootcamp in May as I have 4 months pretty much completely free. So I aim to add at least 1 post per week to my niche site and then focus on the MMO niche.
I havn't started yet becase I want to tie up some things on the niche site (a free ebook) and then be able to focus on the new site. However I was interested in your comments about brand and theme.
I have spent a good few hours coming up with a brand (and have now bought the domain) and also researching a theme (there are just so many!) as I didnt really want to be changing theme down the line. I was recommended Thrive but couldnt justify the cost upfront really although I would probably would have been happy to do so at a later date
However I have gone with Avada based on lots and lots of reviews and also some recommendations. It's on offer at the moment as they have just completed their 500,000 sale (which tells you something) and its around half price at only $39. I havn't had a chance to play with it as literally that is all I have done (brand and theme) so fingers crossed it is a good choice.
I'll be following your progess with interest. I'm sure you guys will be making a success of it and I'll be looking for tips of what did and didnt work!
Have a great weekend
Kevin
Thanks Kevin for commenting. Wishing you every success here at WA. Avada looks nice, might take a look at it in more detail - thanks for the head up.
All the best
Jon and Debbie
Hi Jonlake
I am just sitting down to compose my Wealthy Affiliate review. I was a bit slow getting started because I thought I had picked the wrong niche. When I did my keyword search I realised I had not.i found a lot of keys words to give me plenty of scope for writing content. This got me quite excited, so now I am on a roll. I am also using a website i have had for a while, but I am going to make this work.
Nice Post Jon. Seems like you are looking for perfection :) but going in the right direction
Elementor is hard work and attempted to copy the original (Thrive) not making a good job of it either
Thrive is good and comes either as a full membership option or you can buy the bits you need
Remember your name is your brand and blog wise, I only blog here when I have something valid or good to say, my wife will say I have an opinion and tourettes on most things :)
All that said, you seem to be doing ok
Thanks Dave for stopping by and thanks for your kind words. Haha, I use the excuse of tourettes when I stub my toe and a whole tirade of expletives fall out of my mouth!!!! Debbie doesn't fall for it though!!
Have a good one.
Keep up the good work, its a good feeling when you know you are moving in the right direction
In terms of progress, don't look for the 'perfect' thing, go for steady but productive, I have a reflection Sunday ( I'm not religious, its just my name for it when I look back at where I am and where I want to be)
As for the Tourettes, my issue is with incivility, and ignorance and I tend to say it loudly, invarioubly starting with What T** F****
I was using Elementor but to be honest found the new Wordpress platform much more versatile. So I’ve ditched elementor.. one less plug-in! And Kyle likes SiteContent so I’ll look at that too. Like the goal setting option a lot!
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good luck!
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