  |
|
|
View previous topic
::
View next topic
|
| Author |
Message |
Erin
Guest
|
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:37 am
Post subject: Not even a newbie yet - can this be done?
|
 |
|
Hello everyone
I am so new that I am not sure I even qualify as a newbie yet. I do not yet have a website, and I am not sure what my niche will be. I have read the Affiliate Masters Course by Ken Evoy and I am considering the SiteBuildIt product.
I have a zillion questions, so thanks for bearing with me. What I want to know most is this: If I work hard and follow sound advice, can I really make a decent living with a website or websites based on affiliate marketing? I am intelligent, willing to work hard, not expecting instant results and eager to learn more. The main challenges I face are that I am not super-tech-savvy and I have not yet identified a topic for a website.
Does anyone have any thoughts or advice about where I should go from here? I hope this question is not too simple for this forum and I appreciate your patience in helping out someone so new. Thank you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Debs
Joined:
16 Aug 2003
Posts:
4296
Location:
NY
|
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 1:57 am
Post subject:
|
|
|
Welcome Erin and the simple answer is yes. 
Your topic will come after research. Don't close your mind to the possibilities before by trying to pick a topic before you have researched a few.
If you have the drive, determination, and stubbornness to work through problems, the answer is a resounding yes!
You don't need tech savvy with SBi, that's one of its best features. It is an excellent product to get you going fast, with no tech knowledge about building websites, or marketing online. It also offers a wealth of great information to teach you the steps which you can apply later to non-Sbi sites.
Keep asking questions, do read the forum posts and then dive in!
Debs
_________________
Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!" |
|
| Back to top |
  |
|
Erin
Guest
|
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 2:05 am
Post subject:
|
|
|
Thank you so much for the warm welcome Debs. I am truly excited about getting started, and I'm so glad I found this forum. It's a bit overwhelming to try to take in so much information, but I am reading as much as I can as quickly as I can.
I thought perhaps I wasn't ready for the SBI product yet, but it sounds like that would be my next step. Thank you again for your welcome and your advice! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
onlineleben
Joined:
01 Aug 2003
Posts:
208
Location:
Germany and the World
|
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 9:14 am
Post subject: Re: Not even a newbie yet - can this be done?
|
|
|
| Erin wrote: | | The main challenges I face ... and I have not yet identified a topic for a website. |
Since you already have read the Affiliate masters Course, you know how to dig for keywords and develop site concepts. When I started with my first site, i had lots of ideas and nothing was really doable (is that a real word?). Anyway, after being introduced to Kens Sitesell products ( I started with MYSS) and the Affiliate Masters Course, I realized that the best way to start is with a theme you are familiar with. this couold be cooking, gardening, something about your hometown, state or anything else. Have a look eg at wordtracker and subscribe for the top 500 search phrases (I think it is free). Check if anything in there is of your interest and if you have something to say about it or can develop content around that specific keyword/topic.
Its all hard work in the beginning, then comes the fun when the site is online, hard work again to get it into/ to keep it in the Searchengines, and very enjoyable when the first sale is made.
Good luck and let us know about the progress you make.
_________________
Explore The Most Up to Date Site About How to Succeed with Adwords! |
|
| Back to top |
 |
|
Erin
Guest
|
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:02 pm
Post subject:
|
|
|
Thank you, onlinleben. I will go to wordtracker and do what you recommend.
One of the things I am concerned about is that all of the topics I am interested in are so broad and so popular. I am not sure how to find a narrow niche within one of these topics.
I'm sure that doing some research will help - I'll report back when I have found some options.
Thank you again for your help. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dvdgator54
Guest
|
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2004 5:58 pm
Post subject: making money
|
|
|
You can make pretty good money with affiliate programs. I am not getting rich but I am supplimenting my income some.
-------------------------------- [Deleted - Moderator] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AllanGardyne
Site Admin
Joined:
02 Jul 2003
Posts:
6326
Location:
by the beach, Australia
|
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 1:32 am
Post subject: Re: Not even a newbie yet - can this be done?
|
|
|
| Erin wrote: | | The main challenges I face are that I am not super-tech-savvy and I have not yet identified a topic for a website. |
Super-tech-savvy? I've been earning a good living from affiliate programs since 1998 and I'm STILL not super-tech-savvy and probably never will be!
When I started, all I knew about computers was how to use one as a glorified typewriter.
I built my first web site by reading an article in a computer magazine about basic HTML. I must admit, though, I fiddled about for months and wasted an enormous amount of time.
You don't have to get everything right. You don't have to be perfect. I'm constantly amazed at how many mistakes I make and still earn a good living. You may be launching a business, but compared with the offline world, it's a remarkably cheap business to set up, so you can make mistakes, learn from them, and keep improving, one little step at a time.
When you're starting, it looks scarier from the outside looking in than it does from the inside, when you've started doing stuff. Then it all starts to fall into place.
You're on the right track starting with the Affiliate Masters Course.
I'd strongly advise you to go back and read the Affiliate Masters Course again, and spend quite a while thinking about all the advice in it.
Because the niches you're interested are too large, re-read the advice about slicing and dicing niches into smaller sections.
Can you earn a living at this stuff? I wish I could promise you that but it's really up to you. There's no boss - except you - breathing down your neck.
Site Build It! builds sites that work
for ANY small business. See the proof...
http://makemy.sitesell.com/results |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Erin
Guest
|
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 2:58 pm
Post subject:
|
|
|
Thank you, Allan, for all of the advice and encouragement. I appreciate that you took the time to write and tell me that "super-tech-savvy" does not have to be one of my personal attributes in order to succeed.
I will re-read the course as you suggested. I'm working on narrowing my topic(s). Thanks again. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yaron
Joined:
13 Nov 2003
Posts:
196
Location:
New York City
|
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 9:02 pm
Post subject: Re: making money
|
|
|
Hi Erin
Welcome aboard.
First of all, I have to get something off my chest.
[Thanks, Yaron! dvdgator54 doesn't even deserve the quote!! - Moderator]
I think this post should fall under the "Blatant Ads" category, although I admit it's not that obvious until you visit the link provided.
It is not an affiliate program at all! It is some sort of an MLM or turn key business type offer, and is a different animal altogether. Proof: They require a payment to join. The link provided is an attempt to get you to join as a down-line member. It is a tracking link and was overlooked by the administrator of this forum.
There is nothing wrong with trying to get anyone to join a business opportunity, as long as you don't misrepresent what it is and try to confuse a pre-newbie in the process.
Erin,
I would recommend two other resources for learning the business of affiliate marketing:
1. A close study of Allan's SBI case studies. See http://www.associateprograms.com/search/affiliate-programs.shtml
2. James Martell's affiliate handbook. He doesn't use SBI, but his techniques can be incorporated into an SBI site. It doesn't come cheap, but in my opinion is worth the price if you can afford it. See http://www.work-at-home-net-guides.com/
Regards,
Yaron
Last edited by Yaron on Sun Jan 25, 2004 3:55 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
 |
|
AllanGardyne
Site Admin
Joined:
02 Jul 2003
Posts:
6326
Location:
by the beach, Australia
|
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2004 3:45 am
Post subject: Re: making money
|
|
|
| Yaron wrote: | | I think this post should fall under the "Blatant Ads" category, although I admit it's not that obvious until you visit the link provided. |
Thanks the research. Much appreciated.
_________________
Allan Gardyne
AssociatePrograms.com - You're here. Explore it! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Debbi
Joined:
20 Nov 2003
Posts:
259
Location:
USA
|
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 3:55 pm
Post subject:
|
|
|
I'd recommend paying for full access to Wordtracker for at least one day (or one week) to really identify the right niche (i.e. profitable and interesting to YOU). That allows you to brainstorm up to seven different themes with one account. It costs less than $10 for one day, so it's well worth the investment!
Also the SBI manager includes a keyword brainstorming tool that really helps. And although the SBI pricetag seems steep, you get everything you need to run a profitable website all in one package, so it's well worth the investment too. (Plus, it's tax-deductible!  ) If you'd like to thank Allan for hosting such a great forum and giving such great advice, I'd suggest using his link as a show of gratitude!
Just one word of warning about keyword research: Brainstorm YOUR interests OFFLINE before you research keywords online! Otherwise you can get lost in a sea of possibilities and succumb to "paralysis-by-analysis"  !
Look within yourself like the Affiliate Masters course says and brainstorm your knowledge, interests, and passions. That way, when you go to the SBI Brainstormer &/or Wordtracker, you'll have a good idea what areas to focus on BEFORE you begin! And stick to what your original brainstorming revealed! (Stay true to yourself!) It's easy to get lost in all the possibilities! Take it from someone who knows!
Good luck!
Debbi 
P.S. Wordtracker is at http://www.wordtracker.com. (I am NOT an affiliate, by the way! YET! ) [/b] |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Erin
Guest
|
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 6:47 pm
Post subject:
|
|
|
Hi Debbi, thanks for the advice. It really hit home today. I admit that I am definitely getting lost in the possibilities. I am having a hard time identifying a topic for my first website. Every time I find somethng I think is suitable, I then find many sites that have already covered the area very well. And you're right, doing a search and following all the keyword possibilities can be overwhelming.
Thanks again, I'm trying not to be paralyzed by analysis....  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Charlie
Joined:
22 Aug 2003
Posts:
3305
Location:
UK
|
Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 2:24 pm
Post subject:
|
|
|
| Erin wrote: | | I am having a hard time identifying a topic for my first website. Every time I find somethng I think is suitable, I then find many sites that have already covered the area very well. |
| Quote: | | Thanks again, I'm trying not to be paralyzed by analysis.... |
One approach that might help, is to say to yourself that the first site is going to be a self-funded learning experience (rather than a goldmine). Take the pressure off a bit.
Just a thought,
Charlie.
_________________
"Before I speak, I have something important to say."
- Groucho Marx |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yaron
Joined:
13 Nov 2003
Posts:
196
Location:
New York City
|
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2004 3:52 am
Post subject:
|
|
|
| Erin wrote: | | Every time I find somethng I think is suitable, I then find many sites that have already covered the area very well. |
Erin,
What do you mean by "many sites" here? You're almost never going to find a topic for which there are no major sites written. For that to happen you're going to have to come up with something truly original, which is extremely hard and not necessary to be successful.
You should only worry about there being many sites if, for all your major keywords:
1. Most of the top 10 search engine results (Google) belong to big, "powerful" sites with many incoming links, or,
2. search result "supply" is high, e.g. above 50,000 in Google.
If you write original content, you'll find that no site covers your area of choice in quite the same way as you.
- Yaron |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Debs
Joined:
16 Aug 2003
Posts:
4296
Location:
NY
|
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2004 4:01 am
Post subject:
|
|
|
You may also want to consider getting deeper into the niche. Pick a unique aspect of it, and see if that area would be profitable. Competing in a large themed area is near impossible, but if you take one of the areas within that theme, you are more likely to find it easier to rank well.
Debs
_________________
Learn how to turn keyphrases into quality, well-targeted articles your visitors and SE's will love with Gary Antosh's new ebook "Web Content Made Easy!" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Private Messages
Log in
