Why Many Affiliates Fail

The title is ugly, but the statistics don't lie. Only 1% of people that attempt to make worthwhile money from affiliate programs actually succeed. Let's examine some of the big reasons many affiliates fail.

First, let's take a step back for a second and look at the theme and/or concept of your website. Are you really knowledgeable about the topic you've chosen? Are you extremely passionate about it? Perhaps there are thousands of web sites out there similar to yours and you thought that your site would be THE ONE to stand above the rest. Did you just choose the topic because you saw others doing it and it just seemed easy?

These are common mental blunders that affiliates have made since the inception of the affiliate program, and unfortunately they continue to do it over and over again.

Probably one of the biggest mistakes is that people believe the best way to make money from affiliate programs is to create a website with either a business/MLM or marketing theme. They figure they can just mimic the ideas and concept of an existing website and become just as successful.

Let me explain. There's absolutely nothing wrong with taking someone else's concept and trying to improve upon it in an attempt to achieve even greater success. Just make sure you use your own content and do not violate any copyright laws.

However, this only works if you have just as much interest and knowledge about the topic as the person you're pattering your site after.

Sure, there is a lot of money to be made in the Internet Marketing or Business arena, but you better have an idea or concept that will blow people out of the water and also have the drive to stick with it. Your concept better be so polished and unique that it would make marketing gurus like Allan Gardyne and Ken Evoy blush. More importantly, you have to have enough knowledge about the topic to remain focused and competitive.

You don't have to rumble with the big dogs to make the big dollars. The "big dogs" are people that have been in the industry for years, love what they do, and have already made tons of money doing it. There's no point in trying to beat them at their own game...especially when you haven't even learned the rules yourself.

I see so many "Internet Marketing Help" websites that supposedly teach people how to market and make money from their websites when the majority of these webmasters aren't making any money themselves. Trust me...I used to be one of them. :)

How many people have tried to mimic Allan Gardyne's outstanding website, AssociatePrograms.com only because they see the site is successful and they thought it would be easy to copy? Allan is such a master at his game that he makes you think it's easy.

The real secret to his success is not about it being easy or difficult. It's the fact that Allan loves what he does and he does it better than anyone in his own niche.

If you really have a passion about your topic, you could create an Allan website too. However, your Allan site doesn't necessarily have to be about affiliate programs or affiliate marketing. Maybe it would be about fishing, cars, or sports....something that you really have an interest in.

When your site is based on a topic you thoroughly enjoy and know a lot about, you'll be driven to update it frequently, be creative, and before you know it your site will evolve into something greater than you may have ever imagined.

Instead of being a copy-cat, become a copyright. Discover your passion, develop a web site about it, and join affiliate programs that compliment your passion. Your site does not have to fall into the business/MLM or marketing categories to earn revenue.

Don't get bogged down in the "how-will-I-make-money" mode. When you create a site on a concept you enjoy, your site will grow naturally, and in time, you'll discover different ways to monetize it. There are affiliate programs for almost any topic.

The best part is that it won't feel like you're working because you're having fun. You'll be motivated to develop, maintain and promote your site on a daily basis. Instead of trying to run with the "big dogs" soon you'll discover you've become the "big dog" of your own niche.

Lisa Irby is the owner of http://www.2createawebsite.com. Get the REAL FACTS about earning revenue from your website at http://www.2createawebsite.com/money.

In The News:


The Money Times

Yahoo! Gives a Dime
Motley Fool - Jul 23, 2008
s owned and operated sites saw a healthy 14% spike in marketing revenue during the period, whereas affiliate sites clocked in with a 4% decline. ...
Yahoo! Q2 profit slips, misses expectations RTT News
all 677 news articles

AMG Reports Financial and Operating Results for the Second Quarter ...
MarketWatch - Jul 23, 2008
In reporting EBITDA by segment, Affiliate expenses are allocated to a particular segment on a pro rata basis with respect to the revenue generated by that ...

EMC revenue, profit defies economic woes
NetworkWorld.com, MA - 21 hours ago
By Stephen Lawson , IDG News Service , 07/23/2008 EMC's revenue grew 18 percent in the second quarter ended June 30, a result the company attributed to ...

Wells Fargo Tower sold to affiliate of Swiss company AFIAA
Bizjournals.com, NC - 18 hours ago
And with 35 percent of the building's leases rolling over in the next 12 months, there's considerable opportunity to realize increased revenue in the next ...

Scripps Reports Second Quarter Results
CNNMoney.com (press release) - 4 hours ago
Scripps Networks advertising revenue increased 11 percent to $271 million. Affiliate fee revenue was $69.7 million, up 19 percent. ...

RTT News

Belden Announces Record Adjusted Diluted EPS of $0.97 for Second ...
CNNMoney.com (press release) - 4 hours ago
OPERATING SEGMENT INFORMATION (Unaudited) External Operating Customer Affiliate Total Income Three Months Ended June 29, 2008 Revenues Revenues Revenues ...
Yahoo! Reports Second Quarter 2008 Financial Results MarketWatch
GSI Commerce Reports Fiscal 2008 Second Quarter Operating Results PR Newswire (press release)
VMware Reports Second-Quarter 2008 Results Trading Markets (press release)
MarketWatch - CNNMoney.com (press release)all 739 news articles

Mercent Launches Mercent Retail Paid Inclusion
MarketWatch - 3 hours ago
Search Submit Pro and leading comparison shopping engines, cart-based marketplaces and affiliate programs through a common, optimized Mercent data feed ...

Senate Panel Will Probe a Tax Haven
New York Sun, United States - 11 hours ago
For example, an American company with operations in Japan can create an affiliate in the Cayman Islands and structure it so that the affiliate is earning ...

Boston Globe

VMware Q2 revenue up 54 percent, but slightly misses Street
NetworkWorld.com, MA - Jul 22, 2008
By Elizabeth Montalbano , IDG News Service , 07/22/2008 VMware reported revenue that slightly missed analyst expectations for its 2008 second quarter, ...
VMware to offer low-footprint ESX hypervisor free NetworkWorld.com
all 136 news articles

Auctions International Inc. Announces Virtual Dealership Affiliates
FOXBusiness - 20 hours ago
The additional revenue streams generated by retail affiliates will be good for the company, while at the same time providing significant savings to retail ...
affiliate revenue - Google News

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