You know, the more people I try help with ppc affiliate marketing the more and more I realize that most people’s BIGGEST stumbling block to affiliate success is NOT : creating a landing page that converts, finding a profitable offer, optimizing their campaign for profitability or any other technical aspect of the business.
So what’s the biggest stumbling block that stops most newbie affiliates dead in their tracks?
Let me illustrate…
Let’s say I’m helping Joe with his ppc campaigns, and every time I chat with him or talk to him on the phone he tells me EXACTLY how much he has spend with on Adwords from the day he started :
“Yeah, Amit, I’ve spend $1250.36 on Adwords and I’m STILL not making a profit. What gives?” (Joe won’t mention the fact that he made over $1000 in commissions.)
or
“Amit, I’m getting really frustrated, it’s been 2 months and I’ve lost $400. This affiliate marketing stuff is just not working for me.”
or
“Amit, so what you’re saying is that you want me to LOSE $50-$100 per campaign to learn how to do this business?”
It’s funny, Joe had no problem dishing out over $100k for his college education. He didn’t go up to his professors, and say : “I’ve already lost $35k doing this college thing, and I’m just not seeing any return yet, I don’t think this college thing is for me.”
Most traditional businesses can often be in the red for years before they start making a profits. Can you imagine someone who invested $80k into a fast food franchise getting discouraged after 2 months because they’re not making a profit yet?
WAKE UP PEOPLE!
You’re NOT spending money on PPC, you’re investing into your education. An education that will cost a TINY fraction of what it costs to get a college degree or start a traditional business.
If you think that ppc affiliate marketing is a way to instant riches then please QUIT NOW. Just like any other real business, ppc affiliate marketing will require effort and financial investment (don’t EVER call it losing money).
My students that have had the most success NEVER focus on how much they were spending on Adwords, or how much money they were losing. They understand, just as I did when I started out, that they’re learning and success will come in time as long as they stay consistent.
Remember you attract what you focus on.
If you focus on how much money you’re losing, then that’s what you’ll attract more of, losing money.
Instead if you focus on how much you’re campaigns are improving (overtime as you launch more and more), how much your CTR and sales are going up, how much your ROI is improving, and how much you’re learning from the whole process, then I have no doubt you will be successful…as long as you stay consistent.
The irony of the internet… When I told my friends and family I lost money in my internet marketing business they all said “oh poor Neil he got tricked into some scam”. Then the next month when I started to make money they all asked “will they pay you?”. Now, they ask “can you teach me?”.
OK Amit, you have given some good advice on your blog, and I read it regularly. But this is the best piece of advice you have given. I guess it comes back to the same point you have made in the past, that you don’t need to monitor your campaign all day long, ie. don’t just watch how much money you have spent on adwords in the last minute.
Thanks
AWESOME post.
I specifically like this part:
“You’re NOT spending money on PPC, you’re investing into your education. An education that will cost a TINY fraction of what it costs to get a college degree or start a traditional business.”
You’re right: Most people don’t know how lucky they have it to be in this industry.. to work from home, make a killer income and have plenty of time for a social life..
hey amit, good post.
i am new at affiliate marketing and just completed my second campaign. the first campaign i ran i lost money but gained valuable experience…the second i profited.
i still have some questions about the second campaign, maybe you can help me. here are the links to them both:
http://internetbusinessdaily.net/my-first-try-at-ppc-to-cpa-affiliate-marketing/
http://internetbusinessdaily.net/second-attempt-at-ppc-affiliate-marketing/
Hey buddy,
Research has shown that people will go to a much greater length to avoid losing a dollar than they will to earn one.
I guess it’s less inertia to avoid giving something you already have (ie reactive), than to proactively go out there and make a dollar.
Real advice like this is usually just skimmed over by most people and not actually read. Good one.
Excellent post. The fact is, even seasoned affiliates always plan on losing initially. It’s not uncommon for a super-affiliate to lose tens of thousands of dollars to collect the data needed to refine a campaign and bring it profitable.
“It’s funny, Joe had no problem dishing out over $100k for his college education. He didn’t go up to his professors, and say : “I’ve already lost $35k doing this college thing, and I’m just not seeing any return yet, I don’t think this college thing is for me.””
Awesome analogy… I love it!
This is a great post Amit. Mindset is so huge, and you’ve hit it right on it’s head. I like the comparison with the college degree.