The Amazing Bamboo Tree & Affiliate Marketing
August 4th, 2008 by 
Amit
Have you heard about the growth cycle of a bamboo tree? It’s actually quite amazing, for the first 2-3 years it grows only a few inches in height.
Then in a period of about 60 days the bamboo tree explodes to potentially 60 feet or higher!
So what’s happening during those 2-3 years where it seems the bamboo tree is not growing at all? Well, the bamboo tree is actually growing in the inside, that is, it’s building up its root structure so that it can handle the massive amount of growth it will experience during its 60 day growth spurt.
The road from a newbie affiliate to a super affiliate is just like the growth cycle of a bamboo tree.
When I first started out in this business I know NOTHING, seriously, I couldn’t even design a simple web page. I spend my first several months attempting to create a website that would get natural search engine traffic.
After busting my butt for several months I had a whopping 2 unique visitors a week to my very ugly and very poorly designed site and ZERO affiliate commissions. At that point I almost gave up, until I discovered ppc affiliate marketing.
I started with direct linking, which sounded a lot easier than it actually was. I struggled for month after month, launching campaign after campaign with NOTHING to show for it.
Looking back I realized that it was this period of time, where it seemed that nothing was happening, was when I was developing my roots, just the like the bamboo tree. I was growing on the INSIDE. Even though I was seeing no results I was building the skills and mindset that are the foundation of the multimillion dollar business I have today.
I know a lot of you are in this stage right now, where you’re growing from the inside, and you’re not seeing the results yet. It can be VERY frustrating, I know, I frequently got discouraged during this time. Honestly, the only thing that kept me going was my burning desire to quit my job.
Unfortunately most affiliates give up when they’re in the inner growth bamboo root growing stage.
If you had a bamboo tree would you stop watering it after 9 months, 12 months, or 15 months because you weren’t seeing any growth? How stupid would that be?
You see, just like a bamboo tree my seemly endless months of no results were followed by EXPLOSION growth in my affiliate business. Within 60 days my income shot up to $10k/month, and 6 month after that point I walked away from a $90k/yr job.
You have to have the faith that if you keep watering your bamboo plant (your affiliate business) you will see explosive growth. If at any time you stop watering it, it will die.
Once your business hits the explosive growth phase your life will NEVER be the same again.
bamboo tree super affiliate mindset
Posted in Super Affiliate Mindset | 
I think every affiliate has to go through these phases … kind of like an exponential curve.
I had a similar experience to you, struggled for almost a year and then it just started falling into place
Affiliates: Grow Like the Bamboo Tree…
Amit over at Super Affiliate Mindset just made a great post I wanted to share with you guys.
The Amazing ……
Eben gave this same analogy. Very, very true. I had a similar experience.
Amit,
Great post and very timely…I have been struggling with PPC and bleeding a lot of money. Its been 6 months since I ran my first campaign and I was very close to throwing in the towel, at least until I read your post now.
Am determined to keep pushing on till I find a way to be profitable.
In your early days, when you were losing money, how did you know when to cut a campaign loose? Was it at a loss of $100, $200 etc…
This is a good post and really accurately describes the process of growing an affiliate business. I actually didn’t know that that’s how bamboo trees grow. Very interesting…
really good post amit. very insirational
Amit,
Great analogy and passion in the words!
Cheers
I also think that everyone is going through this stage. Some may give out and some don’t. And they are the affiliates who really want to get into that kind of business…
I can see it myself, I earn just about 100bucks a month but that doesn’t drives me down - its enough motivation to go and build more around to get a higher income
Amit,
It is these nuggets of perspective that keep me in the game for the long haul.
The hardest thing is to find a value for your readers then move to selling.
Amit,
you are like light at the end of tunnel for me. Seriously
After your posts I want to go forward without stopping 24 hours a day. Thanks a lot 
Hey Amit,
You are the one who got me into affiliate marketing a little over a year ago, somewhere around March 2007.
Since then, I’ve busted my butt and started various projects (what a mistake!). I then realized I should focus on a single project since I was working part time in affiliate marketing (still have my 9 to 5 job).
So in December 2007 I would start what would be my “main project” to this day. From January to May 2008, I almost didn’t make any money out of it. But in June I made $2,500. In July, I made a little over $6,600. And while we’re just at the very beginning of August, I’m headed for over $9,000.
Yesterday I have asked my boss to work 4 days a week instead of 5 so I could work more in affiliate marketing. Hopefully I will be able to take a whole year off, starting next December.
If all goes well I may not have to go back to working in that tiny cubicle again…
I think I’m gonna go out and buy an Bamboo tree.
Thanks Amit.
You are such an inspiration Amit and all you guys who’s up there. Same as Ronald, I’ve been shedding out money to learn PPC. I try to earn money using other way so I could leverage the money for PPC.
Hey Amit,
Just what I need, a little inspiration to keep me going. I’m really glad that I found your site, I’m still struggling
but, when you see the statistics, this should ring a bell.
100’s of millions of buyers are searching for products and services everyday, you just have to give them what they want, there is no reason why this can’t be us.
Let me tell you, it’s tough, trying to make affiliate marketing work. I’m moving out of my comfort zone and have started out sourcing some of my work, which saves me lots of time and frustration. I just can’t wait, and I know that one day I will kick the DAY JOB, if you don’t quit
Cheers,
Jim
That’s the right keyword on the nail, FAITH!
Faith is being sure of things we hope for and certain of things we do not see.
I like that concept Amit of growing in the inside… that is the spiritual law working in us for good or bad.
When are you coming out with the second e-book?
Amit,
Great article in concept, but the execution is horrible in terms of grammar and spelling. I would not use whoever you outsourced this to again. Or at least make sure they speak good English and proofread their text before posting.
I didn’t know that’s how a bamboo tree grows but fits perfectly with my affiliate marketing growth. Nicely put Amit. I guess most of us go through the struggling stage. I guess It wasn’t me alone. My story is similar.
I never thought I will be making $10,000 profits someday but looking back, all the struggle was worth it. My inspiration was your blog and similar blogs of other marketers. Makes you wonder if they can do it, so can you and that’s what keep you going.
Amit, I would definitely like to meet you someday. With your blog you have kept so many of us going. Your blog is a big part of my success today.
gee
niche-affiliate-marketing.com
Thanks Amit. I needed that.
The Amazing Bamboo Tree & Affiliate Marketing
By Amit
Hi Amit,
I can feel the roots setting in now! Thanks for the uplifting and insightful comments. I reiterate all the positives that have been previously put in by other responders. Your blog is one of the ones I find that do not waste my time and I appreciate that!( except for your views on the latest badman movie..hum). However, one can’t be blamed for their passions.Take care and may your bamboo tree live long and prosper.
P.S. .. Where did that last comment from? Murray
Right on Amit!
My first venture online, I wasted 6 months of my life thinking I was going to be a millionaire and I failed miserably! To date I’ve spent over $15,000 on it and made back like $1,500.
Anyways, that FAILED venture taught me EVERYTHING I know, I ended up becoming really strong in natural search, web 2.0, etc… and today I’ve built a great business all thanks to that first failed venture…
That’s exactly why I set-up my “Iwillfight.com” website
NEVER GIVE UP!!!
Great post,
Anik Singal
And when the panda bear named Google comes and chomps you down, realize it’s part of the process and continue to grow.
Thanks for yet another inspirational post, Amit. Sometimes I read too much of the ‘how to do affiliate marketing’ kind of things, which I think is more of an excuse to avoid actually DOING the affiliate marketing! So it’s nice to keep reading things from you that inspire (and make me want to ACT!) as well as educate.
And thanks to JustinM for his Google Panda comment. I spit out my tea laughing.
It’s like Winston Churchill said, “Never give up….never!”
just about a good time for some motivational words. i didn’t know the bamboo plant grows that way. coming from asia and literally seen bamboo plants half of my life, your research is an eye opener. all i hear all the time from old folks back home is that - “a person has to be as pliable as the bamboo tree so he or she may get thru all the hardships we call life,” or something like that.
Great post Amit….Very inspirational.I needed that.Thanks
so what happened in those 60 days that your income shot up to 10K? That is the interesting part!