Comments on: [Cheat Sheet] "…But I'm Also A Client!" Become a Better Affiliate by Buying What You Sell

By: Ken

Ken — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:31:05 +0000

Andy – This and all of the cheat sheets has been such a wealth of information. It does make a lot of sense to go through the entire purchase process and then to actually use the product. I wish that all internet marketers followed your advice.

Keep up the great work!

By: Roy Randolph

Roy Randolph — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:54:28 +0000

You know Affiliate marketing is like Real Estate sales and really sales in general. 20% of the Real Estate Agents will sell 80% of the homes.

Andy what I really like what you have said is really boils down to integrity, if you strive for integrity, along with relationships with customers, that relationship will be what will get you that one sale, but the integrity is what will keep them coming back for more.
Thus the reason I continue to support StomperNet.

Good Stuff Andy!

By: Larry

Larry — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:17:42 +0000

Mohsin, I need to disagree with you here on the point that affiliate selling is undesirable because we are only “helping other giant businesses grow rather than ourselves own a business.”

Isn’t an affiliate’s ultimate goal the same as the merchant’s? Don’t you want your affiliate business (yes, it IS a business!) to become a “giant” one, too? It seems to me that we’re looking at a classic “win/win situation” here. Isn’t that really what ALL business is about? I sell something to you, I make money (and some pretty BIG businesses are affiliate businesses!). You buy something from me that you want or need. Everyone’s happy.

(If not, that’s what refunds are for!)

By: Tommie

Tommie — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:29:09 +0000

This is a great article!

You can also use a free screen capture program called CamStudio. I used it for a good while until I was comfortable with doing screen captures, then I purchased Camtasia(which is excellent).

I have actually used this techique before, but it was not planned. I also did not have a step by step plan of action to do it like you layed it out.

It does work and I better do some more of it. I never really thought that was the real reason I did well with that product because it was something I was using and I thought very highly of it.

By: Paul Simister

Paul Simister — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:20:39 +0000

Thanks Will and everyone else expressing support for my thoughts.

It inspired me to write a longer rant on my Online Profits blog.

I really do think that it is self defeating and I give examples where my own greed has kicked in, I’ve spent money on stuff that I wasn’t connected to, haven’t used and now it forms a block.

There must be many more like me.

By: Jason - SEO Derby - Brooks

Jason - SEO Derby - Brooks — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:28:08 +0000

Points about the IM market ring true. It seems that the same group of promoters all jump on the same launches and pretty much say the same thing every time. I actually lose respect for the ‘gurus’ that do this and have come off of one or two mailing lists of IM marketers I used to follow.

IMO the Stompernet guys like Dan Thies are the ones to watch.

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:56:40 +0000

Right on! Putting yourself in the seat as a customer is definitely a plus.
The problem with affiliate marketing these days is that most beginners are running on zero resources and can’t afford the products. Therefore they have little knowledge of their wares.

Good cheat sheet.

By: Phil Wright

Phil Wright — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:11:05 +0000

Hi Andy
Yes I totally agree with this and although I have been “looking through the window” at internet marketing for a couple of years I have finally stoped procrastianting and have just purchased my first domain, I now have a good idea of where to go for good genuine, relevant stuff with you guys and have also heard Liz Tomey and Rosalind Gardner echo the same thoughts!

It’s Like riding a motorcycle – how can you teach someone to ride if you don’t know yourself!! Thanks for all the info you keep giving to us, even if it’s not relevant to me at the stage in my internet marketing career I’m at it’s ALWAYS really interesting stuff you give us.
Thank You!
Phil (UK)

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:02:19 +0000

I would add something to this, in that its a lot easier, more fun and more interesting to take something you are really interested in and to create an affiliate site around that. Once you’re into the area of hobbies and interests, there are lots of chances to get sticky visitors if your content is good enough.

…and you won’t get bored regenerating the same old rubbish about the same old gadgets that everyone else is reviewing !

So especially for those starting out, I would avoid the apparent impressiveness of insurance, gadgets, loans etc. and go for something that’s a hobby. If you can’t help yourself and go into the gift market, at least choose something where it involves a persistent interest or a possible repeat purchase where someone might come back to your site if its good enough.

By: Janet Helft

Janet Helft — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:47:18 +0000

Great article – thanks! I think people are now much more aware of affiliate marketing and are becoming immune to it in the same way as banner ads are now ignored. The key point about the trusted advisor role is in sticking to products where you have a level of authority in your niche. A quality review of a product within a relevant article is much more powerful than an isolated affiliate link or banner ad. That’s how successful review sites and authoritative bloggers make their money.
Janet Helft
Author of ‘Social Media Marketing in 30 Minutes a Day available from http://www.thirtyminutemarketing.com