My first affiliate check! No Photoshop job here… Every online marketing blog is obligated to post a picture of their monthly check. Why is this so exciting? Because in order to make money on the net you have to spend money. This sucks when your blog is new and you have no readers. You also have no clue how to make money without getting taken in by all the sucker schemes. Luckily for me, I saw through the scams, did my research myself without buying bogus E-books, and limited my losses from mistakes to cents rather than dollars.
That being said, say you shell out $100; you’ll see no return for months. Maybe you make a few sales, but you don’t reach the magic $25, $50, or $100 point when the marketing company actually pays you. (That’s why Project Wonderful is so nice. You make money right away and can cash out anytime) It gives you the empty feeling of pouring money down a hole. So when you finally do get paid, assuming the check covers your costs, you no longer feel like a sucker.
This is not an article on how to do affiliate marketing. Search my site for a few clues, but I assure you I’m no expert. I’m simply a person who tried many things, all of them earning a few dollars that added up after 3 months. I will give you a few bits of advice what to look for and not look for:
- Do not pay for advice, ever. It’s free if you know where to look, or where to ask. Trial and error is best because you learn from the experience. If you are the CEO of a business and have no time to learn, then pay someone who knows what works. “Someone” being a professional you meet face to face, not some kid online working from his school library during lunch.
- If someone is sharing “a great money making idea”. It probably isn’t, though this isn’t always the case. I shared my Project Wonderful knowledge with my readers, and later had a person call me a scammer, even though there is no referral bonus from Project Wonderful.
- The real way to success is to read up on old fashioned marketing techniques around since the 1950′s.
- Avoid any digital pyramid schemes.
- Spam does not work. It makes people angry.
- Tricking people into clicking does not work either. You’re not going to retire off that penny earned.
- Sell products you can stand behind. If you wouldn’t buy or use it, move on.
- Imitate those who are successful. Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain….the…Great…er…Chow has spoken! Ignore what they are saying, and look what they are doing. I do not mean copy their ads, theme, or topics. I mean look what they are doing to generate that income, not what they tell you they are doing. Enough said, Ill save this particular topic for another post.
- Use free vouchers for Google and Yahoo. Spend this money like you earned it from a minimum wage job. Learn real fast. If you blow the entire amount without a sale, Internet marketing is not for you.
- Prepare your site/pages before you start advertising. Duh.
Damn you Turnip! We read this far, skipped over your advice, and still have no idea how much the check was for or what company it was from. OK OK, easy there fella. The check was from Shareasale for the amount of $141.15 covering November and December of last year. Subtract from that check all my advertising costs, taxes I’ve yet to pay, and any other expenses. Read about those Here and Here. I stand behind Shareasale because they offer a great service, have a great forum, and respond quickly to any questions. Now I can also say they pay on time. Yes, I know there are other companies like Neverblue and Commision Junction, but today is Shareasale’s day to shine.
Congrats on your first check. They say the first one is the hardest to get. So you are on your way.
It must be exciting to get that first check. I agree with you about Project Wonderful. It is the first program that has worked for me. Keep up with the great advice.
Congrats Turnip! I’m looking forward to my first affiliate check too. You know what, I found that even though when you tell people how to make money blogging, and you don’t charge them, they believe you must be a scam. Pity.
[...] bookmarks tagged internet marketing My First Affiliate Check saved by 9 others gnarly6154 bookmarked on 01/27/08 | [...]
Congrats on your 1st check. i know its alot of hard work to get there lol because i’ve yet to reach.
Very exciting! I just received a check from CashCrate and InboxDollars (and I’m close with Adsense). I usually try to convert these earnings to an hourly rate to make sure all this work is really worth it. In the end, it usually beats a traditional PT job so I think we are coming out ahead.
Congratulations turnip. May there be many more.
so true!
and hey! congrats for your cheque! its really an achievement to brag about.
Thanks for the kind words everyone! For me, the money earned doesn’t beat a part time job. The hours I put in make it far less than minimum wage. Right now blogging and marketing are a hobby. If I’m on the computer all day, I would be playing a game most of the time, so at least I’m getting paid to do something I enjoy.
Thanks Gary, People have a lot to say, and they know I read them. I’m a little bummed nobody complimented my new glasses and haircut in the check picture. Tell’s me I should keep the old logo.
PS. Today Commission Junction shipped out a $41.00 check to me as well. But I’m a bit angry at them for not approving me for one of their programs. So no article for them. The article will be on stupid affiliate managers who don’t read affiliate marketer’s plans for advertising their product.
I like the Outsiders reference and then mentioning Pony and Soda. I loved that book and I am surprised no one caught what you did there.
Congrats on your first check. I just started with Cash Crate and hope to see some returns soon.
lol … I love the little turnip with glasses. Congratulations
Thanks. Being from New Jersey, The Outsiders is required reading still.
Congratulation! It’s cool to get a cheque
My first check is worth $120
[...] it was smart link bait, and I’m going to reward it with a link. Second, Affiliate Confession, Turnip of Power, Sukosaki, and others are bragging about how much they make online, so I might as well show my hand [...]
Congratulations on your earnings! Keep up the hard work and your checks will continue to grow.