3 tips for new affiliates

[Justin]

I just wrote a blog about this on my site, so Ill post it here as well.......

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Entering into the world of publishing can be a very daunting task if you’re not prepared. If you’re running a one man operation, the amount of knowledge that you need to acquire before starting up your business, is probably much bigger than you think.


There will be way more low points than high points early on, and you’ll never have enough time or money to do what you want. You’ll waste money on crappy advertising, PPC scams and bad web design. You’ll work all night long for months, wondering when your checks are going to start rolling in. You’ll probably get ripped off a few times, lose focus and want to give up. Don’t let it get to you!


You’ll probably jump for joy when you earn your first commission check. Whether it’s $20 or $15,000, you’ll know deep down that this was earned because of your own work. Congratulate yourself, and make some new goals. Don’t get complacent now. You have more work and rougher waters ahead.


Every mistake, error, misfortune and screwup becomes part of your knowledge bank, and will come in handy later on. Think of yourself as a ship sailing a straight line toward a point in the distance. Every time something goes wrong, you get off track, but eventually you get right back on the line, and continue onward with your journey. This is why this business is so exciting. One day you’re on top of the world, and the next day Google wipes out half of your site and brings you back to reality. It’s all part of the journey. With my little intro in mind, here are my top 3 tips for new publishers.

3. Set goals

Remember in 5th grade when you learned about setting goals? Yeh, it sounded corny right. You never did it. Remember in high school when you learned about setting goals? Yeh, you were too cool for it then and you never did it. Remember your business professor preaching goal setting? Of course you don’t. You were waking up in some stranger’s bed wondering where your pants are.


You’ve put goal setting off for too long. It’s time to crack down and get to work. Where do you want to be in a month, 3 months, a year, 5 years? Write all of it down, and then organize it! Make your goals fun and measurable. Most of them should be achievable, but sprinkle some BIG DREAMER goals in there as well. I always suggest that you should make your site bigger than you initially think. Most new affiliates don’t think they can compete with the big guys, so they end up going to small and they can’t expand.


Go back and rework your goals often and see where you are excelling, and where you’re falling short. Fix em up, and get back on track. Make sure you add some self improvement goals in as well. Don’t just focus on your website. If you want to lose 15 lbs in the next year, map out how your going to do it. If you want to become more intelligent, read a new book each week. Strive for continuous improvement!


2. Learn everything you can about marketing in your industry

Some affiliates jump into a certain affiliate sector and don’t know much about the industry, how the big sites are operating, and what potential they have. Take some time, at least a month, and learn everything you can about why your competitor’s sites are successful. Write everything down that they are doing! Things like search engine optimization (SEO), unique content, community based sites and unique insights give the best sites out there an edge over the competition. After you know what you’re competitor’s are doing…..read read read all you can about it. Save articles and forum posts that helped you. Print them out and put ‘em in a folder to re-read later.


Learn about the different companies that have affiliate programs in your industry. Get to know your affiliate manager very well! Affiliate managers know what works, since they get to see the best sites out there. A lot of affiliate managers also used to be affiliates themselves. They can probably give you some good insight into where to take your site. Establishing a quality relationship with them from the outset will help you more than you think.


1. Get a mentor and talk to everyone in your industry

I can’t stress this enough. I could have shaved off 3 years worth of dicking around online if I had a mentor at the start. The best way to do this, is to find a forum or community in your industry and read everything. Post a lot of questions whenever you need information and post answers when you can help.


PM the moderators or high profile guys on the forum and ask for their messenger screenname. Almost everyone who is a publisher loves to talk business. How couldn’t they? A lot of guys/gals work from home by themselves, so any interactions they can get throughout the day, is a nice break for them.


You’re gonna need some friends in the industry to help you out when you’re on a high, and you’re definitely gonna need them when you’re at your low points. When you’re on a 3 day bender because your car payment is coming and Google just slayed you, these people know what it’s like.


Bonus Tip - Staying motivated

Find something that motivates you. I get motivated by proving people wrong. I get motivated by inspirational thinkers who want to change the world. I get motivated by movies, great quotes and 2 minute clips on Youtube. Whatever it is that motivates you, use it to your advantage.


Don’t listen to what everyone around you thinks. They’ll wonder why you’re working like a nut to make $500 a month right now, but they don’t see the big picture. Family and real life friends may end up being some of your worst enemies in the short run. Friends especially. They’ll never see you for more than what you are right now. They don’t understand your drive inside. They don’t understand why you’re not working a 9-5 job like them. Don’t let em’ discourage your great idea! The reality is…. you’re probably gonna be dead in the next 60 years…. do you wanna look back and realize you gave up your great idea, your dream for someone else? Of course not!



This is your reality. Go live it!



-Justin

[PokerMaster]

Great Post!
Every word there described my affiliate journey to a T
Thanks for the reality check, there have been times when I put so much effort in and a week later I almost give up with no results, 1 month later I recheck and Im in $$.
It's important to stay focused and realistic and remember your dreams "could" come true, but you have to work them, especially in the begining.
Thanks again

[pokerforfree]

Amazing post. I am in this business only since august, and am doing this next to my 09:00 to 17:00 job as a programmer. Most nights I spent a lot of time figuring things out, writing, programming and I try to read in books and printed articles when I go to bed for at least 30 minutes.

I think that I have learned a lot in the past few months, and that's what keeps me going. My ROI is still negative, but I am starting to see some revenue here and there, which I see as very positive.

This forum has been a great lot of help as well. Articles like these drive me to success. Thanks for posting it!

Greetings,

Giorgio / Poker For Free

[kaus]

Great job. Everything you have described fits. There are a couple days a week where I feel why am I doing this? Is it even worth it? Than I have one small event go my way and it keeps you going. I know there is a light and the end of this tunnel I just need to find the switch. My friends at our weekly games raz me about it and think its a waste of time,but I know it will eventually pay off whether it be financially or a learning curve. Thanks for the encouragement

[Justin]

Thanks for the kind words fellas. I needed a little pick me up for myself, so writing this was therapeutic in a way.

-Justin

[Nick0r]

Very nice article there Justin. I think the motivation point is key, if you know what you're doing and have the drive and motivation to keep at it, chances are you will succeed.

[J S]

good read justin, and it is totally true! We spent roughly 6 months of work on creating the poker dealing ebook before we saw 1 penny of income on it.... Then we pissed away about $600 worth of advertising that was a total waste. Today - let's just say we're glad we spent the time working on it

Awesome post! This time of year it is hard to get motivated for some reason, this has lit a fire... time to go get to work.

[nordberg25]

Yeah my first commission check (in poker industry) was from party poker for $40, i had probably gone a year before that tinkering around with online casinos and poker rooms, with nothing but zeroes.

When I made that $40 I was happier than a pig in shit. It is such a small amount but at the time, I felt like I cracked the da vinci code. Sometimes getting a sale on the net feels like that.

I was so motivated after that $40 that I began to work on it daily, it wasn't overnight but after time those monthly checks were between $8k and $10k. Then the US stepped in

I always tell my working friends, there is money to be made on the internet, you just need to find something that interests you. With over 6 billion people, there is always a piece of the pie