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
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
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.