2 Years in Wealthy Affiliate

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Just recently, I got a dedication badge announcing I have been a member in Wealthy Affiliate for 2 years. I can't believe how time flies!

Let's look back and see how I ended up in Wealthy Affiliate in the first place.

How I Found Wealthy Affiliate

I found Wealthy Affiliate the same way as many others, I think. I found another make money online opportunity, something in which you test some software and get paid for that. I googled if that program works, and I found a blog by a Wealthy Affiliate member.

I suppose, this is why WA members who promote Wealthy Affiliate write so many reviews on other MMO programs. :D This blogger also mentioned on his post "his number one recommendation" for making money online, which was Wealhty Affiliate, of course. I got curious, and started googling Wealthy Affiliate instead of the program I found in the first place.

I decided to give Wealthy Affiliate a try, because it seemed like there was no risk as I could try it 7 days for free.

I Was a Total Newbie When I Started.

I was very overwhelmed when I joined Wealthy Affiliate. I was wondering if all the profiles with pictures of their faces were real people. I had zero experience with online marketing, and I didn't even know what affiliate marketing means when I joined.

But I soon found out what the name of the game is, as I started the training. It was clear to me I wanted to join premium, so I did.

My first website was a poker site. I can't say I worked very hard during my first year in Wealthy Affiliate; I had health problems and I didn't have energy to work on my site. I also realized the poker niche was not right for me after all.

On May last year, I changed my niche and started my unicorn website. I'm proud to say I have been able to write on my unicorn site consistently for almost a year now. I have published at least one post a week. At the moment, my goal is to publish 2 to 3 posts a week.

I have 85 published posts on my unicorn website now. Not all my posts are optimal or converting blog posts. But I get better and better as I learn more.

The Next Step

I have Google Adsense on my site, and some affiliate links. My traffic has grown a lot recently. I've been thinking how to actually profit from the growing traffic. I'm starting to think affiliate links are not the optimal way to do that in my niche.

I don't enjoy writing product reviews very much, and the products I promote are not the kind of products that actually need reviews. They are products you want people to impulse buy. And if people buy them, why would I want to give most of the profit to someone else?

Only recently I found out what dropshipping is. Earlier, I thought affiliate marketing is the only way to sell products without having to store them yourself. Well, it's not.

Now I have decided to start my own online shop on my website. I already have free traffic on my site, so I could as well take an advantage of it.

I have noticed there are not many unicorn themed affiliate sites, but there are many unicorn themed online shops. Now I see why; it's simply MUCH more profitable to sell unicorn themed products yourself, than getting pocket money by affiliate marketing someone else's shop.

I'm planning to have a flex store with both dropshipping products and my own print-on-demand products.

Recently, I've been studying e-commerce enthusiastically. I must admit I only published one blog post on my site last week, because I've been so excited about studying e-commerce.

But I will keep blogging on my site; it's a way to get free traffic and also promote my own products.

Now I understand I'm also interested in creating my own products instead of just promoting or selling someone else's products. With print-on demand, it is possible to create your own products without a risk. I'm spying on unicorn shirts and mugs that sell well, and I'm getting so many ideas how to make BETTER products myself. Because I can easily think of much better products; many popular shirt designs are not actually that great or original.

I feel like the entrepreneur and marketer inside me is really coming to life! Before, I thought I just want to make money writing (which I still do, because I have always loved writing). But recently, I have found a new side of myself. I realized I'm also really interested in researching what kind of products sell, and how to make maximum profit with this kind of products.

So yes, I will definitely continue in WA, taking advantage of the amazing resources and hosting here. But in the future, I will focus more on e-commerce instead of affiliate marketing.

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Recent Comments

41

Hi, I am following the exact footsteps as yours. I will be entering my 1 year with WA next month and only started seriously 6 months ago.

I have published 40 articles and have been told with 6 months and 40 articles, I will gain more authority and more traffic.

Based on your experience, is this correct?

Marc

Marc,

Yes, I think it is correct. But actually for me, the biggest improvement has happened after my website was 10 months old. That's when Google trusts your website 100%. My posts have been ranking better, and my traffic has grown exponentially after reaching the 10 month maark.

Hi, very happy to hear that. I am also happy to share what I have learnt about selling my own products if you are keen. Marc.

Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary here at Wealthy Affiliate.

Andy.

Two questions please
1. Do you wish it had been clearer to you earlier that e-commerce should have been your first path
2. Does your income now reflect your efforts?
Thanks Trevor

Thanks for the questions!

1. I wish I'd found out sooner about dropshipping, but I think everything I've learned so far has been beneficial to my progress. Even the mistakes I've made. In fact, I believe making mistakes is essential for becoming successful later.

2. My income now certainly doesn't reflect my efforts! I've made my first sales, but that's it. But I'm well aware it can take close to 100 posts before you even start getting real traffic, and you can't get income without traffic.

However, I'm not worried, because recently my traffic has grown exponentially as I'm getting close to 100 posts. And now I'm going to put my efforts to e-commerce instead of affiliate marketing.

Brilliant and well done. Continued success
Best Wishes
Trevor

Thank you, Trevor! I wish you success as well.

Well done and keep going.

Thank you!

Pleasure

Congrats 🎉

I’ll bet it feels good to be free of the job and earning your living online. 👍

Thank you!

I'm not earning my living online yet, though. But I don't have a job either, so I'm free to work on my online business without distractions.

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