Sixth Anniversary Of Nothing

Hard to believe that a year has passed since I wrote this post, but it still holds true so worth bumping back to the front of my blog.

5th 6th Anniversary Of Nothing

Most people have dates indelibly etched in their memory, both personal and professional, in affiliate marketing circles it is often the first sale or the first cheque (check) however the date that sticks in my mind is 15th May 2002 this was the last day I drew a complete blank, no sales or leads, no residual income, absolutely nothing no transactions what so ever. Looking back the next day wasn’t much better a $2.88 (it was all $ on CJ then) from some long forgotten merchant on Commission Junction and after advertising May 2002 actually made a loss.

I don’t know when the significance of this date came to me, possibly a couple of months later when I realised there were earnings every day since May 15th and since then it has always been there spurring me on, no way do I want another day where the tumble weeds rattle and roll though my websites.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing, a total roller coaster ride, there have been numerous days where I have made a loss Christmas Day 2004 springs to mind, someone had hit the casino hard making me a loss of about £500 however it all came back with a few more £££ on Boxing Day.

How the industry has evolved in the subsequent years, in 2002 I was working with just four networks, CJ, Tradedoubler, DGM and Affiliate Window plus Amazon, now I’m unsure how many networks and independents I am signed up with.

I have evolved too, five years ago I had a scatter gun approach, if a new merchant launched up went the links and quiet often nothing, now I’m more interested in promoting a handful of quality merchants, who I hope appreciate my efforts, to hundreds of merchants and many networks I wont even register as an active affiliate, the only scattergun stuff I do these days is on my totally neglected freebie site.

Don’t get me wrong, in no way do I consider my self a super affiliate in any way shape or form but my advice to anyone just starting out is, don’t spread yourself too thin, select four or five merchants that you are going to make a special effort for (this is your A list) and build a business around them, don’t be frightened of change, ease back if a merchant stops performing, push harder when conversions are flying, keep your eyes and ears open you may pick up a gem from an industry event or forum that you never even considered, test the water cautiously with new affiliations before deciding to push the boat out and promote to the A list and if you come across a turkey drop it, what works for someone else may not work for you.

Above all have fun and try to avoid ‘nothing days’.