Resist the Temptation
As I add content to my websites and include more affiliate links, I've found a time waster that's even more insidious than Facebook. It gets especially bad once you start making sales: the urge to keep checking your affiliate stats.
I'm in multiple affiliate programs, so that means logging into each one and poking around. It's sort of like playing the slot machine: will I "win" and find a new sale? As a doctor of psychology, I know the power of random reinforcement. It's what makes Las Vegas so profitable, and it's also a great motivator when you see those three jackpot symbols in a row in the form of a new sale.
Unfortunately, when you're just starting out, the "lose" pulls will outnumber the wins. That's fine because you're building your business, and things will pick up, but it causes you to lose valuable time. Every minute you spend checking your accounts could be better turned toward adding more content and promoting your site.
Thankfully, I already learned this when I started my ebook business. I used to compulsively look at my Amazon and Nook sales until I realized that the little burst of excitement at seeing the numbers increase wasn't worth the time it took. Now I check maybe once a week, or even less frequently.
I still check my new website stats and links more often than I should, but I'm getting better. My biggest obstacle in my new business is time, so I force myself to focus on what has the biggest return. The money/sales will be there, whether I look or not. They look even more impressive when I wait a few days and see them as a chunk. In the meantime, I'm busily working on my websites to make sure that chunk keeps growing.
Recent Comments
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Good points. Glad to hear you are doing well with your affiliate programs. I agree, it is important to focus on actually doing the tasks that add to our bottom line. ~ Jude
In this business, until you can afford to delegate, use of time is one of the most precious things you can actually control.
Thank You, I have an inkling that this is good advice for me although I'm not in the money-making level yet, -- learning, learning. Here time management is also important, there is so much ---- I have to keep focusing. Thanks for the reminder. Blessed Christmas and New Year to you and yours. Jakoba
Sometimes we have to be tough and spend our time on where it is needed rather than being a curious cat.