2008 My First Big Year in Affiliate Marketing
It all started in early 2008
In April 2008, I was still doing ppc marketing at $20 a day budget making $10 or less a day. I was trying hard to make this one campaign work with this small budget and really didn’t have the courage to up my budget. One day I come from work frustrated and decide to just put an end to my only campaign and stop doing PPC. Not sure what happened, I decided to instead let it run for another day. I add more keywords and somehow got the courage to increase my daily budget to $50, just to see if my luck will turn around (we all live on hope.). Next morning I woke up to see I made $50 (my highest earning everrr a day) from $50 spend. Fast forward to September, I was making well over 17k+ a month.
In 2008 I saw my $100k as an affiliate. This is not my first year in affiliate marketing but certainly the BIGGEST. Congratulations to me…..hurrrrray!
What I’ve learned in this time
Doing PPC marketing for almost a year, along the way I learned a few things about myself:
1. I’m passionate about affiliate marketing but lazy at the same time (I need find a lazy affiliate marketing formula…hmmm that could my goal for 2009)…lol.
2. I’m passionate about making money but don’t crave to earn millions of dollars from affiliate marketing.
I prefer building few solid “easy to manage” campaigns bringing consistent income from month to month.
3. I really don’t like to promote shady offers. I’ve certainly tried few of those offers in the past but never went through with them.
4. I don’t like super affiliates with their hyped up products and eBooks. All they do is fill your inbox with junk followups with those junk referral links to other junk products from so called other super affiliates.
Everything you need to learn about affiliate marketing, PPC, SEO or whatever is available for free. Ever since I started, I only bought one eBook.
5. I’m also not big on following so called “industry standards” told by these ugly looking super affiliates, or going to affiliate summits and partying. I just like to do my own things and I’m really happy with that.
6. I also learned that Google keyword tool is the only tool you need to start making your first $100 a day. No need to spend your money on tools that promise to send you to the moon.
Goals for 2009
So, in 2009 my goal is to just work quietly to set foot in some more niches, creating solid campaigns which will bring return for months or even years to come. For the rest of the time, I going to chilax, update this blog and do other things (my full time job…lol).
I’ve no desire to quit my day job and do affiliate marketing full time. At least I don’t see this as goal for 2009. In few years when I need a break from my day job, I may consider.
Happy New Year!
-G
Dec 30, 2008
Thanks for your season wrap up! Best of luck to you in 09.
Post ReplyDec 30, 2008
Thanks for sharing and best of luck in 2009.
If you don’t mind, what do you do for your day job?
Post ReplyDec 30, 2008
Looks like we’re on the same page. You just hit your growth niche faster than I did (just hit it the other day).
Congrats. Feels good huh? I agree with you about just about everything you posted. No need to party with the “big” affiliates. No need to buy eBooks. The keyword tool and some imagination work just fine.
The biggest lesson I learned the hard way is a small piece of a big pie is usually much much bigger than a big piece of a small pie. I’m still not sure which one is more sustainable, but that knowledge will come in time.
Cheers to you!
Post ReplyDec 30, 2008
@Niel
Thanks Neil. I know you going to ASW. Keep us updated.
@Jimmy
Thanks. Good luck and happy new year to you as well.
I work as a lead web developer at my day job.
@Nat
I was fortunate enough to have the guidance of some good people in the beginning when I was struggling. When good things come to you, you should share them. I’m trying to do the same with my blog.
Thanks. It certainly does feel good
You’re right about aiming small and then go big. I’ve also learned to just be happy with a small piece of the pie rather than dreaming about a big piece. In affiliate marketing, a small piece can be big depending on your appetite.
Post ReplyDec 30, 2008
Hey man,
First of all. I found your blog yesterday and I have been checking like every hour for updates on my ipod rss reader. You really know your shit and I greatly appreciate you sharing your knowledge. Keep up the good work in 09.
-Toppy
Post ReplyDec 31, 2008
congratz for your 2008 and good luck for your 2009. Btw, there’re also some affiliate marketing advices for me in this article. Thank you.
Post ReplyDec 31, 2008
Awesome post. Very motivational to use new guys.
You must really like your day job. I love my current job and will leave it in a heart beat once I can achieve a constant affiliate income.
Congrats on a good year in Affiliate Marketing.
Post ReplyJan 4, 2009
Hey G,
Great post! Congrats on a great 2008, and here is to much more success in 2009!
Happy New Year!
Post ReplyJan 5, 2009
That’s an awesome testimony.
I believe I found your blog from
Post Replythe forum.
Jan 6, 2009
Very inspirational post and site. I saw your link over on Ubers site. Maybe you can enable your RSS to take emails!
Good luck in 2009, I’ll be following and hopefully learning a lot.
Mike
Post ReplyJan 7, 2009
@Mike
I’ve trying to look for he perfect theme for my blog. This is a bit broken because I had to fix the CSS to make it work with IE6. But I definitely need to get my subscribe button more visible.
-G
Post ReplyMar 5, 2009
Hi Niche,
Post ReplyI’d like to chat with you, since I am the same boat when you were frustrated.I want to start my PPC campaign, but I am no where clues to start as I have read your statement no need to go to some fancy program to take you to the moon.If you can give me hints, basic concept and you don’t have to reveal your niche or keyword as you are afraid somebody will clone you..lol.Thanks in advance Niche.Btw great works
Jun 11, 2009
Thanks for the useful info. It’s so interesting
Post ReplySep 1, 2009
Hello man.Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences.I found you through Richard Bonner’s blog.I will be very happy if you post more tips about how you made those first profits and some more of your own experiences.People like you [who share their tips and secrets]are the secrets behind our successes.Thanks again.
Post Reply