Associate Programs Newsletter #386

In 12 years selling stuff online, I've learned some important lessons. If you follow these rules perhaps you can succeed faster than I did...

CONTENTS:

1. 12 things I've learned in 12 years online
2. Two newsletter ads for the price of one
3. Three brilliant deals
4. Thought for today: Be careful

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1. 12 things I've learned in 12 years online
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Joanna and I will soon be off on a month-long vacation in Europe.

I've been looking back and thinking about how we got to the stage where we could take such a trip.

The main part of our vacation will be a river cruise up Europe on the Danube, Main and Rhine from Budapest to Amsterdam, with day excursions to places like Vienna along the way. We'll also spend a few days in Zurich, Prague and Paris.

Joanna made the bookings. Those of you who know Joanna won't be surprised to learn that she's chosen a luxury cruise on a brand new ship, with fine wine and fine dining all the way.

When I first began Internet marketing in 1996 (selling an ebook I wrote before I'd even heard of an "ebook") I never imagined that one day I'd make enough to pay for a European vacation. In those early days, all I was hoping for was enough to replace my earnings from a part-time job.

However, each time I achieved my goals, I set the bar a little higher.

In the 12 years I've been doing business online, I've made plenty of mistakes. Let's ignore them today.

Here are 12 of the things I reckon I got right...

   * I set goals I could believe in and measure. Simple things like aiming for 100 visitors a day, and then 200... Aiming for 1,000 subscribers and then 2,000...
  
   Some optimists have so much faith in their own ability that they're comfortable starting with a huge goal. "Aim for the stars..." and all that. I needed to work my way up to big goals, gaining confidence as I made progress. Do whatever works best for you.
  
   It's vitally important to reward yourself when you achieve each goal. You could try rewards such as a special bottle of wine, a meal at a good restaurant, a three-day weekend off with a pampering massage... whatever works for you. Just be sure to keep acknowledging that you're making progress, no matter how slow. It was a real thrill for us celebrating each milestone.
  
   Include lots of measurable steps, so you have lots of opportunities to reward yourself.

   * I hired my first part-time employee, Wally, really early, even before I was doing affiliate marketing full-time. I followed that up by hiring my first full-time employee in 1999, as soon as I was confident enough that we could manage to keep paying him.
  
   Unless you're brilliant at all facets of marketing - and even if you are - having someone to delegate tasks to is absolutely essential, I believe. It frees you up to do the things you do best. It allows you to spend time doing the things you LIKE doing.
  
   * I chose a fast-growing niche - affiliate programs - before most people knew what affiliate programs were. If you catch a wave, you can use the power of the wave to push you along, especially if you're one of the early adopters.
  
   Keep an eye on forums, blogs, newsletters, magazines and newspapers for emerging niches.
  
   * Diversify. Stuff goes wrong. Companies collapse. At first, I diversified mainly into other fast-growing niches. More recently we've branched out in several directions.
  
   Don't put all your faith in one program, one person, one company, one web host, one affiliate network or one marketing method.
  
   * We've created websites that are useful resources that have attracted thousands of links from other sites. It's impossible to calculate exactly how valuable those thousands of links have been.
  
   Most newcomer affiliates grossly underestimate the enormous value in creating a useful resource that other sites link to voluntarily.
  
   * Focus. Once you've learned how to do stuff that works, you have to put blinkers on and spend most of your working hours actually DOING stuff that works. Try imagining that you have only 30 minutes a day to spend on your business. Keep asking yourself: "What's the most effective thing I can do right now?" Then do it.
  
   You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to get everything right. But you do have to DO stuff. And it helps enormously if you remember to concentrate on revenue-generating activities.
  
   * Team up with new skills. In 2005, I teamed up with Jay Stockwell, a really smart guy who has skills I don't have. I believe I have skills he doesn't have. We've hired clever people. One of the results of this is SpeedPPC, which is still selling remarkably well a year after its launch and has received enthusiastic testimonials from leading figures in the PPC industry.
  
   We're also working on major new projects, including one which we think is going to be... Well, you'll have to wait and see.
  
   Consider teaming up with someone who has complementary skills.
  
   * Revenue streams. We've concentrated mainly on building long lasting streams of revenue, not just short-term dollops of cash. For example, my top-paying affiliate program pays lifetime commissions. We do PPC management which pays us monthly. We're creating a monthly membership site (in a non-Internet marketing field).
  
   Having our own affiliate program is another way we've developed a solid revenue stream.
  
   * Invest in yourself. Get the best education you possibly can in your chosen field. Online, this means studying what the winners are saying, but even more important studying what they're DOING.
  
   * Think for yourself. Trust your intuition.
  
   * Make friends. I've made wonderful friends online over the years, although I've never met most of you. I'm truly grateful for all the help you've given me. I wonder if you realize just how much you've contributed when you've sent a thoughtful little email saying something like, "Why don't you...?" or "Why didn't you...?" or "Did you know...?" or "Have you thought of...?"
  
   To everyone who's contributed to my online education, a genuine thank you!

   * Number 12 - more important than any of the others...

   Don't work so hard you kill yourself. Eat healthy food. Get sensible exercise. Get enough sleep. Take time off for friends and family.

   I have a special reason for Number 12 - next month will be the 5th anniversary of my bone marrow transplant. It seems like only yesterday that I was writing this newsletter from a hospital bed.

   I'm glad to say the ex-patient is well now and is a strong convert to the idea that we should take regular vacations to recharge our batteries.

   Take care.

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2. Two newsletter ads for the price of one
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Because we're going on vacation soon, I want to get the ad bookings for the Associate Prograns Newsletter sorted out before we leave.

To encourage you to book your ads RIGHT NOW, I'm offering a "2 ads for the price of 1" deal.

All you have to do is tell me you want the two-for-the-price-of-one deal.

I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that stopping advertising when the economy is slow is a bad idea. What you DO need to do, though, is ensure your ads are EFFECTIVE.

So when you're writing your ad, picture one typical affiliate. Write your ad with her in mind. Think about what she WANTS. Write an ad she can't resist.

Be quick for this bargain.

We never have more than three ad spots in each newsletter. If you delay you'll miss out. This is a first come, first served offer.

This is a three-day offer. I want to get this sewn up quickly before going on vacation.

Newsletter advertising details are on our autoresponder:

classads AT AssociatePrograms DOT com

(Remember: You can book 2 ads for the price of 1.)

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3. Three brilliant deals
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Here are three brilliant offers. Choose whatever best suits your goals:

* YOUR OWN PRODUCTS: Do you want to sell your own products but don't want to create them? Michael Green, a talented marketer and coach, has launched an extraordinary Money Tree Challenge which promises to show you how to realistically generate $30,000 in as little as 30 days.

That's right, $30,000.

Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Why not find out if you can do it - no risk? If you fail, you not only get a FULL refund - no questions asked. You also get to keep the 101 products that come bundled with the Money Tree Challenge.

This is a strictly limited offer. Check it now...

http://www.AssociatePrograms.com/money-tree

* EXTRA $900: Do you want an extra $900 a month? Read Derek Gehl's report about a 15-year-old girl who is generating $900 a month, working only 5 to 8 hours a month. There's potential for a lot more. She's using the same strategies that hundreds of other successful Internet entrepreneurs use. There's a special $2.95 offer.

Check it out here...

http://www.AssociatePrograms.com/15-year-old

* AFFILIATE COACHING: For the struggling affiliate, or anyone who has yet to choose a niche: Affiliate coach Dan Ho keeps getting excited emails from affiliates who are now making sales, thanks to his coaching. You'll be in really good hands if you put your trust in Dan and his partner Adam. They force you (in a friendly, helpful way) to focus on doing things that achieve sales.

Watch this new video to learn how Dan's coaching will make you make sales...

http://www.AssociatePrograms.com/training

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4. Thought for today: Be careful
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"You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there." - Yogi Berra.

All the best

Allan Gardyne