Affiliate marketing can be a rewarding career – yes career. Some people make a good living by becoming good at affiliate marketing. However, before you go rushing out to start a career in affiliate marketing, be sure you are right for the job.
That is one of the most important keys – it is a job and like any other job, you either have the skills (or can learn them) and you have the attributes (or you can develop them – much harder).
From my observations, and from trying my own hand at it, affiliate marketing is not for everyone. There are several key areas that must be addressed.
Time: You need to be able to devote a lot of time, and the better you become, the more time it can take.
Dedication: You have to stick with it although having said that, you have to know when to move on with each affiliate program you run.
Organization: Don’t think you can get away with just one affiliate site. Some of the top affiliate earners are running 2-300 sites or more.
A Good Eye: The final attribute is to have that good eye for finding the best paying affiliate programs – not so much highest, but top as in good conversion rates.
Colin from FeedFlare is a good example. He is now making good money despite a humble start. With forty plus web sites and growing he is finding the time component difficult.
From my perspective, I find it hard to dedicate myself or my time. I am very much an instant now type person. With affiliate marketing, you build a site and work your SEO and article marketing to achieve a good search ranking.
For me, I want the good ranking yesterday and so tend to rush things. From my one attempt, I achieved a ranking of 15, page two of the results, two days later it was 95, page 10. I obviously overdid it and got a Google ping. It has climbed back to 33rd a few days ago but is on the drift out again.
My forte of course is writing, not marketing. Others can do the web design, the SEO, the marketing and the like. I am happy to spend my days researching and writing.
I have left the most important aspect to last. Desire. Desire to succeed, desire to make money and the desire to bury yourself – at least initially.
My problem is that I don’t have the desire to make ‘big’ money as in $10k a month. I would be happy to earn around the $1k each month. That is sort of no man’s land in affiliate marketing.
If you want to get into affiliate marketing, don’t think of it as easy money. It takes time and effort to succeed. Colin is a good example of someone who has dedicated both and is succeeding.
For me, I will stick to article writing and ghost writing. One day I will get to my target of $1K per month.
Thanks Les. The funny thing is, I am just getting fired up too. Time will tell where this goes I guess.
Hi,
Its great post.
I never thought Affiliated marketing as career.
Thanks for the information.
Hi les,
This is nice article, you give support and information, thanks.
It is hard work, especially at first, and you have to know what you are doing. I have two suggestions. First, join the Warrior Forum (free). This is a forum where Internet marketers hang out and exchange information. It is excellent you need to be there because the members have much to teach you. It is all free.
Affiliate marketing is different because it’s not your product you’re selling so I think that affects how you approach it.
Hi,
Affiliate is somewhat different from normal marketing.
Its just not selling your product but also related to brand building.
Thanks for sharing wonderful information.