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Frustrated

 
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rylblu59
Just Joined
Just Joined


Joined: 23 Aug 2004
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 1:59 pm    Post subject: Frustrated Reply with quote

Hi all, I'm the new guy. I have to admit I joined the forum out of frustration. I've spent the last 2 and a half years studying graphic design and web design. I've built affiliate sites which is what I'm most interested in but other than doing a little bit of local graphic work I've been unsucessful. The time and money I've put into this is nothing short of embarassing. I hate to sound negative, I'm an optomistic type of person that's why I've hung in there this long. I've ordered from Rosalind Gardner, Jim Edwards, Phil Wiley and more. I believe they know what they're talking about and feel I've done a reasonably good job at following the instructions but I haven't been able to turn the corner yet. Thanks in advance for your help. Dave
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silke247
Enthusiast
Enthusiast


Joined: 23 Aug 2004
Posts: 35
Location: My home!

PostPosted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 7:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

These "gurus" you have been reading may have been successful, but that doesn't neccesarily mean they can teach anyone else how to do it.

You need to join a proper company that has an affiliate program with a good structure that puts you under a mentor and leader, and you need a duplicatable action plan to follow.

Example - I write an ebook and sell it to you. If you never become a "super affiliate" yourself then it doesn't matter to me, I already have your money.

I have an affiliate program - you join for me for free - I make no money - I have to give you a good training program - an ongoing training program - to make sure you are successful, so I can be successful.

The best market leaders are just that - LEADERS - they don't just write books.


Silke
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Vishal P. Rao
Forum Admin
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Joined: 02 May 2004
Posts: 106

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 5:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the forum Very Happy You first need to identify what you love doing most. Graphic designing or creating affiliate sites. Please understand, while creating affiliate site is relatively easy, driving traffic to it can be a full-time experience. So if you enjoy marketing (looking for link partners, exchanging links, adding good content to your site), then go for it.

However, if you love designing sites (since you spent 2 years in learning graphic and web designing), then identify a niche and cater to it. When I say indentify a niche, I mean target a narrow audience. Like designing sites for lawyers or doctors. You may further streamline your niche. Like Pediatricians, etc. Just an example.

If you fail to target a specific niche then your chances of success becomes very slim as the Net is becoming increasingly competitive day by day.

Best wishes,

Vishal P. Rao
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rylblu59
Just Joined
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Joined: 23 Aug 2004
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 12:46 pm    Post subject: Thanks Reply with quote

Thanks Vishal and Silke, I really like the Affiliate thing the most. I enjoy doing my own thing. I put up a tripod site to use as a resume http://daverwilson.tripod.com that has some samples on it including an affiliate site I built focusing on online website builders. I 've been using an adwords campaign that's been doing pretty well about 1 in 7 click through to the affiliate but not doing well in regards to sales. I know some adjustments need to be made. I've recently started building a website that pertains to sailing, sailboats basically a nautical theme. That may be too wide of a niche. I have researched some keywords trying to find a high demand and low supply but I'm having trouble finding a specific area to pinpoint. Feel free to view the resume site and give me any pointers you may have. I need to find out what I'm doing wrong. Thanks again, Dave
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silke247
Enthusiast
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Joined: 23 Aug 2004
Posts: 35
Location: My home!

PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 4:18 pm    Post subject: Niche marketing vs Multiple Income Streams Reply with quote

I was in a conversation on the ListGenesis forum a while back and the topic of niche marketing vs Multiple Incomes came up.

It might be appropriate to share my post here:

The answer my Group have found to work best - for us - is to have multiple income streams - if you sell everything you hit every corner of every market! Something for everyone, everything for someone.

This is almost the opposite from the current trend in finding a "niche", but that method is just getting press these days (this month?) because of the general public hearing about something that most of us have known about for years.
There is nothing new about Niche marketing - look at how long Avon has been going - selling makeup to housewives.

(As Steve said on the MSH forum, "aren't you getting sick of the glut of Nicheology ads you see everywhere"? )

A lot of newbies and people from this generation think they have discovered Niche Marketing for themselves.

(A bit like the dozens of BAs for MDT you see because the newbies are the first person to discover "this great site that gives you free targetted traffic - I got 200 hits in 2 days!" The fact that they join as affiliate id number 3500 should indicate to them that there are a good few people there before them!)

(Similarly this generation of Martial Arts students with their UFC and KFC contests who think they invented cross training mixed arts contests. Boxing v karate v wrestling v Judo matches have been going on for decades. And Bruce Lee spent most of the 60s trying to spread the message that everyone should cross train and test it all out in all-out sparring. But that's another discussion for another day.)

Personally I sell wellness products and telecom products, alongside cleaning products and information products, as well as several other streams. We even sell pet vitamins!
So whatever you want to buy, you can find it from my site, and whatever you want to sell, you can find it from my site.

It takes a bit longer, and takes a lot more people, but it makes a lot more money.


Silke
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Gobala Krishnan
Pro
Pro


Joined: 17 Jun 2004
Posts: 58
Location: Malaysia

PostPosted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 9:56 am    Post subject: Re: Thanks Reply with quote

rylblu59 wrote:
Thanks Vishal and Silke, I really like the Affiliate thing the most. I enjoy doing my own thing. I put up a tripod site to use as a resume http://daverwilson.tripod.com that has some samples on it including an affiliate site I built focusing on online website builders. I 've been using an adwords campaign that's been doing pretty well about 1 in 7 click through to the affiliate but not doing well in regards to sales. I know some adjustments need to be made. I've recently started building a website that pertains to sailing, sailboats basically a nautical theme. That may be too wide of a niche. I have researched some keywords trying to find a high demand and low supply but I'm having trouble finding a specific area to pinpoint. Feel free to view the resume site and give me any pointers you may have. I need to find out what I'm doing wrong. Thanks again, Dave


Hi,

I am not an expert yet, but i believe you're looking for practical advice, and this is what i have:

1) Your USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is not clear enough. Make it stand out from the rest of the text.

2) If your adwords CTR is 14% as you say (1 out of 7), that is already very high. Perhaps your vistiors find the Adwords as the most outstanding / interesting thing on your site.

3) You might have too many merchants, I get confused on what to click on. When i got to your page I see so many choices, when I am really looking for only one. Now i have the task of going through all before i make up my mind. The problem is I don't have time, or I am just plain lazy Confused

I think it's better if you choose 2 merchants and recommend them consistently. It would be better if you can recommend them IN your text so there is a natural flow. Comparisons would be better.

4) Maybe narrow it down to Business Website Builder or Personal Website Builder, not both. Then create more content on either one, with specific product recommendation. Sort of like... a short review on the chosen product. In other words, i think you site is informative but it doesn't "sell".

5) I promoted these once using AdWords, and I find these keywords to be effective (getting sales):

a) "build your own website" and variants for personal website builders
b) "turnkey e-commerce website" and variants for Business website builders.

Of course your experience may be different.

6) To be honest your design needs a lot of work. Using CSS and standard layouts will make it look better.

On a personal note, Dave, dont give up. I am sure you will make a decent affiliate income soon. It might be sooner than you think.
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