I was having an e-versation with a woman the other day who was concerned about starting with affiliate marketing because she heard that it’s oversaturated.
When I hear people make statements like this, I wonder where or who they are getting advice from. Often times it’s from people who have tried and failed so they are quick to stamp the “It doesn’t work” label on it.
You have to be careful about who you get advice from. Yes, there are many saturated topics, but I believe there is plenty of room in affiliate marketing for those who are creative, hard-working and innovative. Watch my video below…
traffic is one of the factors of success in affiliate programs or business to make money online without traffic no visits and no view, no money and no chance of making a sale and become a good salesman.
thomas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB5Gdd4nXMw&feature=related
If you’re calling my viewpoint warped, then I don’t believe you’re fully acquainted with all aspects of affiliate marketing. I’m talking about driving traffic to aff offers via PPC (Google, Yahoo, Facebook, MySpace), PPV (Media Traffic, Traffic Vance, Lead Impact), Media Buys, squeeze pages/email lists, co-registration etc. Without any traffic, no one will make any money with aff offers. Traffic is key. And once you get traffic, you need to make sure it converts. If you’re paying for traffic, you need excellent conversions in order to achieve a Return On Investment.
The premise is, invest $1000 per day and make back $1500 or NET $500 per day. That’s 15K per month off aff marketing. Many people claim they are doing much better than this. That’s what I’m working to achieve. However, I found that to be extremely difficult— I’ve been testing different offers and different forms of traffic for over 14 months. I only had cheesy success after spending much cash, time and energy executing these campaigns. That’s why I think Affiliate Marketing sucks. It is very very difficult. But there is a way to make multiple tens of thousands per month with affiliate marketing and I will find out how.
I am a bit cranky because I get a rush from success and hate losing and failing. However, I understand that it may take 500 failures before I find success. Unfortunately the learning curve is buying strategies from gurus only to find out that they are mostly all liars making their money on the crap they sell. Their strategies look good on paper but a different story when implemented.
Now since you’ve been publishing content for 10+ years, and mentioned you’re traffic comes from Google, you’re simply getting traffic via organic search results. And you do have tons of backlinks whether you know it or not. Content scrapers hit your sites everyday and give you backlinks. So if you think someone doesn’t need backlinks to rank halfway decent on a search engine than you’re a totally mistaken. Websites with no backlinks will hardly receive traffic at all. That’s a fact. Even Google says it weighs backinks of a site to better rank a site’s serps.
Lisa, I’m just glad you’re doing well at what you’re doing and wish you 1000 years of good fortune and success!!!
I think I reacted strongly to your initial reaction. 🙂 It felt that you were calling me a liar so I got defensive. I only promote products that I use and I’ve made a living because of my credibility over the years. I got started very early so of course that gives me a huge advantage (backlinks, etc.).
Nevertheless, I have a small entrepreneurs group that meets here in my city where I’ve helped my friends get started with affiliate marketing. They have only been doing this for 2 years and they are making decent money (not full time) but they are doing quite well with AdSense and other affiliate programs. They aren’t spending money on PPC, PPV and all those things you listed. So that’s what I was saying. Sure, you CAN do those things but it’s not necessary if you want to make good money.
Now of course, they aren’t making 15K per month like you or anything close to what I’m making yet but they are happy with the progress.
I’m making good money now, but trust me it wasn’t always that way! I can tell you some stories of my first couple of years. Phew! LOL I wasn’t one of those people who made $6,000 in my first month. My first check was for $14.95 back in 1998 but you would have thought I hit a goldmine! LOL So it was slow going for me in the early days but it was enough to keep me motivated and I’m very glad I got in before it got incredibly saturated.
A lot of people don’t like affiliate marketing because it is a slow build (especially the way I’ve done it). It takes time to build trust and people to follow you. But now I can leave the country for a year and still come back to a six figure income because of the residuals I’ve built up reselling domain names and hosting, etc. So yes, it took forever but it was very much worth it to me.
As I said, I didn’t have to do a lot of the things you are talking about (PPC, PPV, etc.). A big part of that is getting backlinks and starting earlier. But my friends are proof you don’t have to invest a lot of money to make money. No, they aren’t making 15K per month, but they are bringing in more than most people after two years.
Sorry if I cam across snippy but I was reacting strongly to some of your statements because you made it seem like the ONLY way to make money is to do the things you mentioned and it’s simply not true. Anywho, have a good one and I think we’re on the same page now. 🙂
Affiliate marketing SUCKS bigtime! I’ve bought and implemented dozens of “super affiliate” strategies and they all suck ass. Even an affiliate manager said 98% of affiliates lose money trying to make money. No wonder so called gurus and super affiliates all sell some kind of crap product, that’s the only way they can make money. Create a business around the next sucker. Maybe I should package a turd, hype it up, and put a guarantee sticker on it and throw it on clickbank. Also, who wants to spend hours and hours setting up websites, paying for articles, creating articles and spending money on creating backlinks for a site that may make $50 per month? Now I understand, if you keep throwing enormous amounts of energy at a site then you may be able to make a full time income in a few years. I’ll stick to my 15K per month consulting gig and leave the 6 figure affiliate incomes to liars and programmers. Question, if you needed to make NET 10 to 15K per month using the internet, and only have 60 days, what would you do? If anybody answers this question you’re selling crap. Anybody that knows this answer is not going to show you what they are doing. Period. Good luck suckers!
Who wants to spend hours you ask? I do and have. I happen to enjoy this but I don’t pay for articles or buy backlinks. I don’t need to because my sites get free traffic from Google. You have a very warped, incorrect view of affiliate marketing. There are many people out here like myself making a nice living and most don’t do any of what you mentioned. I don’t know who or what gave you the impression you have to do some of these things but it’s far from the truth. Buying backlinks is all but worthless and anyone who tells you that works is lying.
I had a huge advantage because I’ve been doing this since 1998 so traffic for me was not the challenge is it is for people today. Nevertheless, if like to write, help people and can find a niche that works for you anyone can still succeed today.
You make 15K per month consulting, great! You found something that works for you and that’s super. Sounds like you’re successful. That’s really what it’s all about. Nothing like having a business that works on autopilot and I love it! And you’re right, anyone that says they make 15K in 60 days is probably lying. Took me years to make this income because it takes time to build content, traffic and loyalty.
You sound angry for a person making so much money, but it sounds like you found what works so that’s great. *Smile* Have you ever thought about the fact some people would never do what you do because they aren’t good at it? That’s the beauty of life. You find what works for you and excel. But to say you have to push crap to make money with affiliate marketing is wrong, wrong, wrong. No one gets rich overnight and this is not for everyone. Just like what you do is not for everyone. No need to get harsh.
Hi Jonathan, I believe what you are asking about is the same thing. Infopreneurs as Ken / SiteSell talks about IS affiliate marketing. Nevertheless you can combine affiliate marketing with anything. So if you wanted a site that sold ebay products, your own products and did some affiliate marketing and Google AdSense, you could do all the above.
Hi Lisa,
Quick question, I’ve been watching a lot of your videos, and think I will start with SiteBuildIt, however I want to know, can you do both a Infopreneur combined with affiliate marketing business, or do you have to clearly define one strategy or another.
Thanks in advance,
Jonathan
Hi,
Nice presentation and very impressive. The fact that more and more people are searching the web for answers coupled with the amount of attrition amongst affiliates, continues to make affiliate marketing an incredible opportunity.
Competition means there is money to be made. Wherever there is a ton of money to be made, there will be competition. Unfortunately not everyone is cut out for the kind of work that goes into competing successfully.
Great site and great commentary,
Nando
Nando’s last blog post..The #1 Reason Why People Won’t Buy From You…
Hey Lisa and thanks for that. You are so right about having a site(s) that is unique and valued. As mentioned there are a ton of people looking for information and products which is all good. BUT, more importantly, there are a ton of NEW people getting online EVERYDAY. A new wave of customers that anyone who is serious about Affiliate Marketing should be taking a hard look at. And lastly, if there are cynical people out there who don’t even want to try AM, for whatever reason, then all the more room for those who do…:) Take care and thanks again.
Lyle
lyle robinson’s last blog post..Attention People Of Earth: We Have Destroyed The Internet.
I am in the process of developing my own products to sell. I think this will afford me more creative control, a better ROI and more satisfaction with sales.
People tend to derive a concept around an affiliate marketing product and might back themselves into a corner that way.
The key is to research everything about the market and make sure you can establish yourself within the niche and gain some kind of competitive edge.
Excellent video!
It’s really true what you said about having a great idea and going for it!
Amy’s last blog post..Elegant Origami Wedding Flowers And Arrangements
I think the point is that unless you *really* know your stuff you are not going to make a ton of money at affiliate marketing. Its is not easy money, and just tossing up a website will not necessarily result in revenue.
I agree with what you say Lisa because I it happened to me and I tapped into a really crowded niche and now I am planning to do affiliate marketing and some days back when I was thinking about doing it I was just so crazy about the competition but now I realized that until the time I have value in my content and I have the ability to be patient then I can make money online and I am ready to beat up anyone coming in my way.
What I suggest is never think that you are less than anyone and always keep trying.
Mohammad Afaq
Mohammad Afaq’s last blog post..Greatest tool I ever found for Twitter.
I agree,
Affiliate marketing will never become oversaturated because not everyone is willing to put the work in.
I think these are the same people who want results FAST. Or they are trying to do too much at one time, get fustrated and give up everything. For me, I learned I have to focus on just a couple things at a time for my business.
Carla’s last blog post..Organic Baby & Toddler Clothes – My Little Snuggle Bug
whoops the first email was wrong it’s jo@2010yr.com
Lisa I just love you, just say anythang, ah, just anythang, anything, I jsut want hear ya talk, “smile” Oh, Oh, I really lovvvvvve the hair, Now let me see, what did you talk about? Oh yeah, yeah, Affiliate, Google Adsense, most of won’t let me play, I think it’s because I’m so new, so I’ll be working on the site and build more traffic. Great Job, Thanks Lisa
So many people just get off on giving bad advice. Years ago I tried affiliate marketing and had no idea how to do so I didn’t make much money.. now I have a nice blog with a nice number of postings so I’m going to get back into it because money is tight right now. I admit I told a few people affiliate marketing sucks.. I regret that now..
Chimica’s last blog post..Tired
Everything is saturated at some point. It comes down to who has the mindset and ability to be the best at it. It’s still much easier to start a business online with affiliate marketing vs. getting funding or a loan to start a brick and mortar business.
Zac Johnson’s last blog post..What’s on Your iPhone?
I just launched my first site less then 10 days ago. Im getting over 100 unique visitors a day now and Im not listed in the search engines yet. I submitted my site today to the major search engines and directories. All my traffic is coming from my twitter fowlers. I never used twitter before but it seems to be having a positive outcome on my SEO with links back. It would be nice to see a video on Social Networking like Twitter and your opinion on spamming. Is it spamming if you follow people that relate to your web sites content? They seem to be following back, is this spamming?
Now I don’t know the woman you have talked to but I think that surely there are some people spreading these insane rumors but I also believe that A LOT of people are coming up with these EXCUSES to not even try. It feels better to not even try than to actually try and then fail.
Mikael @ Retire Rich’s last blog post..Why Your Content will Affect Your Adsense Income
So very true, Makael!
Excellent video Lisa! I agree 100%! While some niches may be saturated with blogs and websites, few are saturated with unique and quality content.
The primary thing anyone considering starting a blog or website should be concerned with is whether they can offer unique and valuable content, because that is the pillar from which a website can grow and generate traffic and income.
ThemeGrrl’s last blog post..WordPress Hosting Providers
This is a great video!! I run a health and fitness website which is very competitive. I know that even the top websites in this industry does not interact with the users like I do. I don’t know anyone that gets significant traffic to there site that does not make money from adsence. Negative individuals should realise that its not adsence, it’s the person in the mirror.
Clinton Walker III’s last blog post..Submit your Question
Hi Lisa,
I agree with you.
It is true that there are lot of people trying to make money as affiliates but the point is that there are lot of markers, niches and sub-niches that you can get in and make money as an affiliate.
You’ll always have competitors in any market you get in, you just have to come out with an idea to beat your competitors.
For someone starting out affiliate marketing is the way to go.
Thanks,
^PV Reymond
Amen! The whole idea that internet marketing’s dead is a bold face lie lol. Granted, search engines are a bit tougher, but over the past few years internet surfing has skyrocketed! It’s almost a billion! Back in your day I think I read somewhere it was just 10,000!