| Are you thinking about trying to start an internet | | | | expensive) way. |
| affiliate marketing business? Or maybe you've already | | | | 1. Don't make the costly mistake of getting pulled into |
| been working on it for a while. If you haven't already | | | | the excitement that can be created by websites full of |
| seen this, you will probably very soon start to see that | | | | pictures of huge mansions, stacks of money, multiple |
| that affiliate marketing has at least three sides to it - I | | | | luxury cars, and expensive vacation spots. |
| call them the good, the bad, and the ugly. This article | | | | Am I saying that no one ever creates that kind of |
| focuses on Part 3: The Ugly News About Affiliate | | | | lifestyle with affiliate marketing? Not even close! |
| Marketing. | | | | People actually do make millions of dollars with affiliate |
| By writing these articles, I hope to help other people | | | | marketing (I even know some of them). |
| who are interested in affiliate marketing avoid some of | | | | But, and this is a big "but," those people didn't do it |
| the costly mistakes I have made along the way to | | | | overnight, or by "just pushing a couple of computer |
| figuring it all out. By the way, don't miss the first two | | | | buttons." The people I know who have achieved |
| articles in this series. You should definitely not wind up | | | | enormous wealth in affiliate marketing have earned |
| believing that I am saying that affiliate marketing is all | | | | their wealth - they invested a lot of time and money in |
| "ugly!" | | | | their internet businesses, and they continue to do so. |
| But, I regret to say, there are some aspects of affiliate | | | | 2. Please don't believe that you can achieve "instant |
| marketing that I personally see as truly being ugly. | | | | wealth" in only minutes a day. (Well, maybe if you win |
| Specifically, I am referring to websites that promise | | | | the lottery, or suddenly inherit a ton of money - but |
| you "instant wealth," "auto-pilot income," "just copy this | | | | you're probably not expecting either of those to really |
| system," "work only a couple of hours of week," etc. I | | | | happen, are you?) I have never found an "instant |
| think these "hyped up" sales pitches are ugly because | | | | wealth" product that was even close to delivering on |
| they very often get people's hopes way up, convince | | | | all the big promises. |
| them to buy the "secret the gurus don't want you to | | | | 3. Do not look at all those "proof of earnings" images in |
| know," and then deliver information that simply will not | | | | isolation. Sure, someone may really be earning $25,000 |
| result in living the glorious visions on the sales website. | | | | or more in only a few weeks. But there's a huge |
| Even worse, in my mind, is the fact that the people | | | | missing piece here! Have you ever seen statements |
| who get their hopes up and buy these "easy instant | | | | of the expenses that went into creating those "internet |
| riches" products are many times the people who can | | | | paychecks?" What about the website development |
| least afford to lose money on an empty dream - and | | | | costs, the advertising costs, the sales copywriters who |
| who, when the promises fail to materialize, tend to | | | | wrote those wildly exciting sales pitches, the graphic |
| blame themselves for "failing." | | | | artists who created the scenes of luxurious living, etc? |
| For me, as a disabled teacher, the "ugly" started when | | | | So what am I telling you? Should you just give up on |
| I very quickly realized that, even though I had a lot of | | | | the whole affiliate marketing idea? Absolutely not! |
| life experience, a lot of formal education, and years of | | | | But please, be careful about promises of instant |
| experience as both a teacher and a learner, I was | | | | wealth, no work, "secrets," etc. There are few, if any, |
| pretty much completely taken in by several affiliate | | | | secrets or instantaneous riches in affiliate marketing. |
| marketing glitzy websites, glorious promises, and photo | | | | People who promise you those things, I'm afraid, just |
| after photo of luxurious living that, presumably, would | | | | aren't being honest with you. |
| almost immediately become my new lifestyle if I just | | | | On the other hand, I'm sure glad that I didn't give up |
| bought that product, and "pushed a couple of buttons." | | | | during the times when I was frustrated and wondering |
| Maybe you've been disappointed by some of those | | | | if I would ever get it right (yes, those moments |
| same kinds of promises, images of "guaranteed | | | | happened!). You definitely can make a lot of money |
| earnings," etc. Fortunately, on the other hand, it is | | | | with affiliate marketing - you just need to be realistic, |
| reasonably easy to avoid those affiliate marketing low | | | | and be sure that you are getting good, solid directions |
| spots. | | | | that will actually help you start collecting those affiliate |
| Here, quickly, is what I learned the hard (and | | | | marketing paychecks! |