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I twittered a few weeks back that affiliate marketing (or any Internet marketing for that matter) is a lot like weight loss.
Tons of people has it as a goal, the majority won’t do the work it takes to achieve it and those who are in shape often have their figure chalked up to “good genes”.
Many people looking to lose weight are looking for the magic pill or the latest fad diet or five minute workout that will help them achieve their goal of looking good in a bathing suit this summer.
The obvious and definite path to weight loss - eating a bit smarter and being more active over a long period of time - is often overlooked in favor of the constant search for the quick and easy fix.
Many would be affiliate marketers looking to make a lot of money are searching for that awesome algorithmic loophole, latest fad social media site or e-book promising to show them how to make 20,000 dollars per month in five minutes per day.
The obvious and definite path to affiliate marketing success - reading quality information that one should then test for effectiveness along with working diligently to develop links, branding and presence to a quality site - is often overlooked in favor of the constant search for the quick and easy fix.
Listen up folks - there is no quick and easy fix to long term success in either weight loss or affiliate marketing. There are no silver bullets in affiliate marketing. Looking for them wastes time, wastes money and potentially wastes opportunities which you might never be faced with again.
Additionally, while running an Internet business certainly has less overhead than a brick and mortar shop, it isn’t free if you want to truly be professional. You are going to have to spend some money to make some.
The only way to achieve financial success with affiliate marketing is to stay focused and work hard and spend your time working on the things that matter.
Tomorrow will be the fourth post in the Reasons you fail at affiliate marketing series which focuses on what I heard referred to once as “Analysis Paralysis”.
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My experience has shown me that for myself it is much easier to lose weight than become successful at affiliate marketing, and both take allot of work.
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I agree with you. There’s a building a business and there’s making a quick buck. The quick fix diet pills tend to resemble the latter. Some try to build a business on the quick buck route and it can work but it’s pretty risky. I know some folks making a good living on the quick fixes, but they tend to be the minority :)
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Another awesome article Rae. As you know I’ve recently been blogging some of your articles. I actually saw this one come up in my feedreader about a week ago and wanted to blog it, but when I clicked it wasn’t’ there so I guess Google reader picked up your preview or something.
Anyway I can really relate to this one and see the silver bullet problem come up all the time at my affiliate forum.
So I’ll be blogging this one but can’t decide if I’ll blog this as a standalone or blog about the whole series. I guess once I start typing I’ll figure it out. ;-)
Look forward to the rest of the series and I hope you’ve read some of my blogs about you and know how much I LOVE your viewpoints and writing style!
Your Fan ;-) Linda Buquet
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This is definitely a great commentary, not only as it relates to affiliate marketing (or weight loss, for that matter), but all aspects of our lives. WE WANT IT ALL AND WE WANT IT NOW! Most just aren’t willing to do the hard work (or any of the work) required to actually get there. Unfortunately those “now, now, now…” demands and ridiculous expectations never produce the desired results. The ultimate outcome being, more often than not, epic failure.
I’ve talked to thousands of people that have been suckered into every Internet marketing scheme you can possibly imagine…some of whom have risked everything they own to buy into “the next big thing…” only to find out it’s a gigantic hoax and/or that they haven’t the will, time or even ability to actually comprehend what is involved in becoming a successful affiliate marketer.
They just took the word of the sweaty, headset wearing, “rah-rah” presenter on stage or on screen screaming, “I’ve made millions with an Internet business that practically runs itself…AND YOU CAN, TOO!” Uh, hello…gullible and naive people of the world, there’s no business - online or otherwise- that “runs itself” or WE’D ALL BE DOING IT.
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I have friend like this. He has been in affiliate marketing for over 10 years now.. and has next to nothing to show for it. Sure he has a few sites that have domain age on their side… but then again they are old and untouched. I have re-optimized his sites (a few) on more than one occasion and some of the sites are nearly impossible to get ranked on reasonable keeywords because the site has been static for so long. Decide what you are doing, and grind it out. There are not enough miracle ideas to make us all rich.
Nice analogy. I’m just now turning the corner on affiliate marketing and staying focused with a long-term plan. I know look back and wish I could have the 1000+ hours I wasted looking for quick answers.