Dave - you've definitely got the point. I didn't expect anyone to bust out with their first site and make millions, or even thousands. I did hope that people would learn that there is more to online marketing than just reading posts and analyzing.
I've made a habit out of failing. But, in failing, I'm learning what doesn't work, and also I'm learning to tune in what does. Most people can ask me "what should I do?" and I'll have an answer for them. Not because I'm gifted, but because I've tried, crashed and burned and built myself back up.
It's reassuring to see many of you on the path to failure as well.
You'll be successful if you can keep getting up after each "failure". Affiliate marketing isn't easy. Despite what the gurus want you to think. It's a business. It requires drive. It requires work. It requires a certain "fuck you" mindset. Some of you will fail your way out of AM and back into a 9 - 5 job. That's your choice. Hopefully, some of you will stick with it and continue to fail into success.
There are some tips that will make the failures easier:
- Have a thick skin. Don't let relatives, friends, your spouse shame you into quitting. Stick it out.
- KNOW that you will meet your goals someday. Don't wish it, DO it. It'll happen.
- Question everything. Why did this campaign not convert? Why am I getting traffic from XYZ site? What can I do to increase my Quality Score? Etc.
- Think in digestible terms. If $1000 per day is too hard to conceive of, shoot for $100 per day, if that's too much then set your goal at $10 per day. But always up your goal when you near the first one. So, if your goal is currently $10 per day, and you start consistently making $8 per day, up your goal to $20 or $50 per day.
- Don't get too attached to any one site. Build an empire. Create lots of sites across lots of niches. Sure, one niche may make you the vast majority of your money, but it's always a good idea to have a fallback.
- Teach others how to fish. Nothing makes things more worthwhile than sharing what you have learned with someone else. That's why I have threads like this. It's selfish. I enjoy helping others because it makes me feel good and I learn as well.
Well, it's time for me to go to bed. Keep up the good work everyone!