Saturday, December 01, 2007

Another Look at Affiliate Marketing

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I've had a struggle with the business marketing concept of affiliates. When I started the blog, on September 15, 2005, my idea of Internet marketing was to create my own products and services and sell them on the web.

My first taste of affiliate marketing came when I was researching tools for my work and to report to you about them. What I found was that the majority of sites with "tools" or "info" on the subject of monetizing your website were not the creators of those items - but they were simply marketing or representing products from another site.

Because of their shrewd SEO, I found their site before I found the original site. Does that make sense? For instance - let's say you're looking for the Nikon D80 camera. When you search for that on Google, the first few results are NOT Nikon.



Is affiliate marketing a bad business model?

I used to think that these fellows were the same as pesky circus midway peddlers trying to hawk their cheap wares by having us play a game of chance.

Well, I don't think that way anymore.

The business model is as old as the hills and we've all used it - from buying something at Kohl's to pumping a few gallons of gas. Most retailers are selling somebody else's goods. They didn't make the merchandise, but because they are savvy on distributing it - we can't knock 'em for that.

So I apologize to all the affiliate marketers I've offended. You're probably making more money than most and in an honest way.

With that said, I've been working closely with the group at Russell Brunson's Dot Com Domination in Boise, Idaho. I've followed Russell because he has learned a great deal about making money on the Internet, and he's willing to share it - much like I do here with my own findings.

And through my work with them, I've found that there is even less work involved and a higher payout for that work, than what I am currently doing.

Initially, I am working with marketing my own products. And I will be working with affiliates to help me sell those products.

Am I giving up monetizing content sites? Let's just say that I am getting it as automated as I can so I can continue my focus with this new found venture.

My first product has to do with the job search market. The website is The Resume Secret, and you can watch the progression as I add content. My product is a shocking report on what most people overlook when job hunting and is what has help land me all of my dream jobs.

In February, I'll be joining Russell in Salt Lake City with the 12 month millionaire seminar. It deals with direct marketing - another area I have little experience in - but am wide open and will be sharing details about that.

In the next few weeks, I will be upgrading my Dave Jackson website so I can post about my work and findings and will be creating a membership area where you and I can communicate and share great ideas. This will be worth joining since I've gotten most of my "brilliant" ideas from membership sites like this.

One great tip is all it takes, no?

So that's where we're at on this December 1st! I hope to put up the Christmas lights and such today - better get at it... it's already lunchtime.