[loxly]

Lately everyone that is joining up seems to want the "Magic Bullet", whether they are an affiliate manager looking for the "big affiliates" or the affiliates looking for a fully operational business plan so they don't have to do any research.

So instead of all these separate "give me all the answers" threads I thought to myself... self, we need a magic bullet thread where all the newbs can ask their magic bullet questions and we can point them here to get the answer....

The Magic Bullet is:

WORK

There is a difference between asking questions and listening to the answers and researching your own site needs and demanding to know how others are doing everything.

How I do things may not be how you should do things, as an affiliate manager or as an affiliate. Maybe you would be great at PPC and I suck at it, maybe you can sell satellite dishes and I can sell dishes for the kitchen. Maybe you have traffic that converts ebooks and I have traffic that hates to read anything that isn't printed on paper. Maybe my managing style is perfect for my affiliates and your affiliates would hate it (I doubt that, but let's pretend ).

The point here is that there isn't an easy way to make money online. There isn't an easy way to grab affiliates and entice them to sell your products. There isn't an easy way to start a new site, datafeed or not, and make money tomorrow.

There is a way to do all of the above with hard work and patience and listening and experience and research.

Stay ahead of the pack, listen and learn, and brainstorm with the people that know what they are talking about. Ask specific questions about specific things. There are great threads going on right now with invaluable information being shared. Find them and participate instead of dropping in with general "tell me what to do to get rich" questions.

Be a part of the family and you suddenly may find the illusive magic bullet.....

[GethsemeneRose]

Bang Bang....

[Vinny O'Hare]

The people that are signing up lately are all at their wits end on how to make money online because they have been googleefected (new word alert) or they are just reading lousy looking websites about how to make money online (sorry about contributing to that one)

I just think it is more that people want to quit their jobs and stop commuting with gas prices so high as of late. People also want to make money for Christmas.

[Herb Ô¿Ô¬]

several companies are promising the moon in that they'll set you up with an instant "store" that is going to make you rich. Oh, how much would you pay for a "store" like that? Guess what -- that's what it'll cost you. Plus, we'll "advertise" for you for $XXXX per thousand visitors too!

this usually involves selling stuff for amazon.com, overstock or similar, and an online casino just for luck.

If your relatives don't buy anything you'll have very little sales. But the monthly bill goes on . . .

[simcat]

This could get a lot worse.

The real estate boom is turning into a downtrend.
What if all the 'get rich with real-estate' late night informercials turn into 'get rich with affiliate marketing' infomercials?

[Paul_Ward]

I agree Loxly - there are questions that are being asked that make me wonder why the asker ever thinks they might have any success in this. We were all newbies once and didn't (and probably still don't - or maybe that's just me) know the answers to some very simple questions.

However... some of what is being asked gives the impression that the asker sees the internet like some of my sites visitors - that it is some huge magical answer to everything. That somewhere is someone with nothing better to do than give a detailed and individual answer to every question - without considering making any money from it themselves. Just give it all away because someone asks.

That level of naiveity and dependence just doesn't seem to fit with running your own successful internet business.

[JudiMoore]

The point here is that there isn't an easy way to make money online. There isn't an easy way to grab affiliates and entice them to sell your products. There isn't an easy way to start a new site, datafeed or not, and make money tomorrow.

There is a way to do all of the above with hard work and patience and listening and experience and research.

Stay ahead of the pack, listen and learn, and brainstorm with the people that know what they are talking about. Ask specific questions about specific things. There are great threads going on right now with invaluable information being shared. Find them and participate instead of dropping in with general "tell me what to do to get rich" questions.

Excellent way to get this started ! When I see the new ones come in and ask the same old questions, it tells me that things are not that different than when I started out a few years ago. I think once we get here - to ABW - we forget that when new people find us it's because the forum is hugely successful, and Thank God for that - it means there IS somewhere to come.

When I think back to what I knew as the year 2004 started up - I didn't dare ask questions yet, because the only one I knew was How? You have to try something and figure out that it isn't working and then read here to find out what went wrong.

Long story short - whoops, too late - we do a pretty good job here of saying Hello and steering them the right direction, which Loxly recapped so beautifully. We might get tired of it, but for them it's all NEW and it's mostly dangerous. It's pretty easy to go broke without getting anywhere, just like if you opened a bar or a cafe downtown.

Thanks, Loxly - creating a specific starting point is probably a really good idea.

[Donuts]

Originally Posted by Paul Ward

That level of naiveity and dependence just doesn't seem to fit with running your own successful internet business.

Bingo.

[Donuts]

Loxly, excellent post!

I'll add, as I have many times, when ABW members see honest effort and a desire to help others here as well, the magic bullets fly forth. Disregard either and bullets still fly, but they aren't the magic type.

[Akiva]

Hmm I guess you guys never created a mall-site with banners all over it....

[Matt McWilliams]

Rather or not you agree with their politics there is a good book by James Carville and Paul Begala called "Buck Up, Suck Up and Come Back when you Foul Up"

Interestingly the three keys to success in business, politics, and life they offer are the same as affiliate marketing (it is a business last time I checked)

Interestingly as well is that all involve your deriere (sp?)

Here are the magic bullets for Affiliate Marketing by Carville and Begala

Kick A$$
Kiss A$$
Work your A$$ off

I would add one more...

Get off your A$$

To me, this means while #3 above may be true...you need a balance and must not spend all your time sitting in front of the computer.

My 2/100 of a dollar.

[Alan Hamilton]

Lox - I echo your post and appreciate your straight shot!

As a not so new anymore member, but still in the absorbing and learning all I can stage - I have also noticed that there has been a recent increase in the "help me make money by taking time out of your day (at no cost to me) to share the secrets you worked so hard to learn" questions by many who are just coming into the forum.

For those who are new here and for those who are new to internet marketing, READ what is written in the endless educational posts in this forum, contribute to the community by offering well intended opinions, sharing your knowledge where applicable - and doing something that fewer and fewer people are doing today. R-E-A-D!!!!

If your financial future is not important enough to you to actually do that unthinkable chore, then you are not going to benefit from ABW, OR any other source of information at anything else in life!

Speaking from personal ABW experience, I can assure you that the many knowledgeable / experienced members in here are a tremendous resource of further education.

Psst.......they are also smart enough to differentiate between those who are making an effort and freeloaders. If you want success in any walk of life - then you will do what it takes,,, and it takes a lot more than sitting on your butt at a keyboard typing "gimme" questions. Now get to work and DO something to improve your life.

[UncleScooter]

We seem to have a generation of young people in the US who feel like the world owes them something. We see it every day in many ways and someone coming here and using their first post to ask the community to tell them how to make money in affiliate marketing is no different. I have gotten to where I don't even reply to most of them any longer.

[Alan Hamilton]

Originally Posted by UncleScooter

We seem to have a generation of young people in the US who feel like the world owes them something.

Scooter - Very true. I think our parents said pretty much the same thing about us. (even though I know that you are much younger than me!! )

I think every generation is basically "ME" oriented when we are young. From the time a child is born, s/he is the center of the universe to his/her parents and relatives. They get all of our attention, affection, love, protection etc. Their happiness is our first priority. We dote on them. When they have a difficult time, we jump in and make it better for them. When they are hungry, we feed them. When they get into a tight spot, we defend them or make it better for them. They become accustomed to their needs and wants being the main priority.

In pre-adult years we basically have someone doing it for us. We just go to school, have fun, maybe play some sports, eat and chase skirts or pants.

At about the time we graduate from high school, to some degree we are forced out of the "me bubble" and have to start contributing to society. The sudden reality that we are NOT the center of the universe anymore is a cold plate of reality.

Many young adults in their twenties and early thirties are still adapting to being a "part" of the world instead of being the world. We were all spoiled to some degree when we were younger because if we needed something, we just asked mom and dad, and they jumped in to help. Now we suddenly have to become a participating? contributing? part of society?? Ewwww!!!

We have to pay our own way. We are held accountable for our actions. We have to share the world with others and we have to actually contribute to our own future as well as the betterment of others.

By our mid thirties, some (note I said SOME) of us have learned that the degree of success we achieve is determined by how much we have contributed to the success of others. But in our 20's and early 30's we are still in our ME ME ME stage.

This is the demographic of some of the new ABW members who introduce themselves by immediately telling us what s/he wants instead of being part of the focus group. They are still into their ME world - so they contribute nothing while expecting others to gimme gimme gimme. (like you said: the world owes them something.) CONTRIBUTING is a concept that so many people of all ages struggle with because they never took the plunge or made the effort to do it on their own.

Originally Posted by UncleScooter

I have gotten to where I don't even reply to most of them any longer.

I feel your pain Scooter. I probably would follow the same path of not replying if it were not that I always keep in mind that I was that way when I was young, as we all are. I grew out of it because I came to understand that if I brought something to the table for others, shared wisdom, contributed to society and gave of myself, that I would progress too. So I feel a need to advise the "me" crowd in the hope that at some future point - "some" of them may understand the benefit of being contributors to society.

History always repeats itself, and the generational passing of the torch will always include those of us who are now more experienced in life teaching others how to turn "me" into "we". Teach your children well.......


That is my sermon for this Sunday!!! (exiting the pulpit and heading to the bake sale in the vestibule)

[loxly]

Alan I agree with some of your post, but I wasn't spoiled and neither were the people I grew up with and I never expected the world to be handed to me. The recent generation does indeed have a more prevelant attitude to that effect. I see it also in PMs and IMs from folks in other countries, again, they think that because I am in the US and am already in the industry, I must have the magic answers to make them money and I owe it to them to take hours out of my day to explain it to them step by step.

Again, I go WAY out of my way to help people that are eager to learn, but I don't coddle and hand feed people that want it all spoon fed and don't want to learn or work, but just want it done for them, for free....

[Alan Hamilton]

I agree Lox - that is why I say that this is the demographic of "many" who introduce themselves here. Not all children are ME motivated, but many are.

There are always exceptions.

[netnow22]

Originally Posted by simcat

The real estate boom is turning into a downtrend.

No, its up 5% last month! Which is good for me because i am taking my home inspection test in two weeks.

[Eathan]

I honestly don't mind the questions. It's the complaints when the answer isn't to their liking that bug me.

Like Loxly, and I'd like to think most other affiliates, I don't have a magic bullet. I've helped build a seven figure a year affiliate company, built an eight figure a year affiliate program, recruited thousands of productive affiliates and had months where over $5 million in commission checks went out to mostly happy affiliates, but I've also had years where my total gross income was under $10k, had many many many sub $1 commission days (and not just in the early years either), I've written thousands if not millions of lines of unproductive code, built affiliate programs that failed, built affiliate programs that never launched, had clients vanish with their checkbooks in tow, had to take an employer to the employment board, had a few others I should have, have been interviewed by the FBI and the DOJ about things out of my hands and have struggled with the best of 'em. Hell I once even did SEO in exchange for snowboards!

I've been doing this for 10 years and would like to think that if a magic bullet existed, I would've found it by now. I haven't.

As far as I can tell, getting a lot of traffic that converts really well is the best recipe for success online. It's getting there that's the trick. Work smart, work hard, put in more hours than you ever thought possible, read everything, learn from your mistakes, accept advice, be thankful for hard advice, embrace the struggle and you might get there - no guarantees of course...

[Rexanne]

Originally Posted by Eathan

I honestly don't mind the questions. It's the complaints when the answer isn't to their liking that bug me.

Like Loxly, and I'd like to think most other affiliates, I don't have a magic bullet. I've helped build a seven figure a year affiliate company, built an eight figure a year affiliate program, recruited thousands of productive affiliates and had months where over $5 million in commission checks went out to mostly happy affiliates, but I've also had years where my total gross income was under $10k, had many many many sub $1 commission days (and not just in the early years either), I've written thousands if not millions of lines of unproductive code, built affiliate programs that failed, built affiliate programs that never launched, had clients vanish with their checkbooks in tow, had to take an employer to the employment board, had a few others I should have, have been interviewed by the FBI and the DOJ about things out of my hands and have struggled with the best of 'em. Hell I once even did SEO in exchange for snowboards!

I've been doing this for 10 years and would like to think that if a magic bullet existed, I would've found it by now. I haven't.

As far as I can tell, getting a lot of traffic that converts really well is the best recipe for success online. It's getting there that's the trick. Work smart, work hard, put in more hours than you ever thought possible, read everything, learn from your mistakes, accept advice, be thankful for hard advice, embrace the struggle and you might get there - no guarantees of course...

(Quoting Ethan's whole post is worth the ridicule I'll get from SOME people in here because it all bears repeating.)

[Alan Hamilton]

Ditto Rex,

After working endless hours for 25 years, losing lots of money, making lots of money, taking risks, making mistakes, making brilliant decisions, reading, trying what I read, learning through trial and error, developing and redeveloping, then scraping the whole thing and starting from scratch again, refusing to quit, refusing to not succeed, giving all I had every day and night, I have finally figured out the Magic Bullet. Want to know what it is?

Answer: refer to the above....

[Eathan]

Awwwwwww shucks! Thanks.

[Kevin]

Damn! I've spent 4 years working my butt off looking for the magic bullet. Thanks for setting me straight... If I knew it didn't exist, I wouldn't have worked so hard to make money...

Seriously though: I don't want to say that the young'uns all think the world owes them something, but there is no arguing that the attitude is prevalant. You can see it in almost all aspects of life. Sadly, looking at the lawsuits you see daily, you'll find that the attitude isn't just held by young people however.

People (Americans in particular) seem to have forgotten that they assume an inherent risk just getting out of bed in the morning. They seem to feel that they are Equal to everyone else, and therefore should have the same success as everyone else.

Some things to ponder for those of you looking for a magic bullet for anything, much less affiliate marketing:

1.) We are CREATED equal. It stops there. You make your own breaks.

2.) You have the right to PURSUE happiness. You do not have the right to BE happy.

3.) Learn and understand the difference between a right and a privilege.

4.) There is no free lunch. Ever.

4 simple truths that everyone should know.

[Rexanne]

Nice post Noth - all good points to ponder and GET.

Here are my insights - follow your PASSION - if you're passionate about something or about a specific "niche," there will always be something to draw you back into maintaining and creating a good, working site.

I believe this applies to sales and content sites - What do you love? Create a site around that but do make sure it's something others will be interested in, too. I told this to help a friend create a web site to "reproduce" my success and he created a site "all about HIM." LMAO - Dumb sh*t - like the whole world was searching for information about HIM. DUH -

I really think the "magic bullet" is identifying a POPULAR niche that you love and that other people are searching for and by creating an ORIGINAL site around that subject/product/niche. You don't have to be a programmer or a tech genius - create the type of site YOU'D like to visit that hasn't been done 1000 times already. Even if it's just unique content in your own words or vision (whatever you can create comfortably), you stand a chance of attracting the public's attention and search engines will notice.

If the thought of learning HTML makes you , get a copy of Front Page or Dreamweaver or any HTML editor that will write the code for you so you can concentrate on what you do best.

There is also the matter of promotion. Self-promotion has never been more important than in trying to get your web site noticed, linked to and in the public's line of vision. Self-promotion is NOT self-absorption or "look how great I am!" - It's being able to get others interested in what you have to say/sell/create. False modesty will get you no where. If you believe in your site/content/niche, you'll be able to promote it with passion. Passion=ENERGY and HIGH ENERGY creates waves in the universe that get noticed. If you're not passionate about your site's focus, you won't have that high energy to encourage growth or excitement. The more issues you're passionate about, the more sites you can create.

And then you have to WORK like a dog. But if you love what you're doing, it won't seem like work.

I think building and creating web sites is a highly creative process. It can take many forms but there is an element of creativity involved. I'd bet that almost every active member at ABW has a serious creative streak - that's why we all keep coming back - we think alike and relate to each other, no matter what niche or part of the game we're playing and we're comfortable here because others see things from the same side of the brain as we do.

Start a site, take all the above posts into consideration and enjoy the creative process, whether that is writing content, building a sales site or becoming a merchant. Marketing can be creative in many ways, too. Have fun with it. Find an audience that relates to your voice or product and give that audience what they want/need/desire. The whole WWW is your stage.

[loxly]

Excellent posts and insights in this thread, just what I envisioned Rexanne is right, we all have an interesting mix of skills and highly creative whether some admit it or not is tops on the list.

Lots of brilliant, creative, unique people here

[Rexanne]

Originally Posted by loxly

Lots of brilliant, creative, unique people here

That too