Bored of affiliate marketing. Whats next?

[hens00]

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Hello everyone

I was hoping that someone could give me some advice.

I quit my job to become a full time affiliate marketer about 10 months ago, but Im starting to get really bored of it and unsure what to do next. I didnt really know much about affiliate marketing previously, but having spent the last 10 months as a hermit, doing nothing but researching and creating affiliate campaigns for hours on end, I feel as though my interest in affiliate/internet marketing is starting to drop.

I have webpages and websites which I made many months ago which are creating me automated incomes streams, and while it is great to log in to my accounts to see how much money I have made each day, personally, I feel the whole process is getting rather tiresome and I need a new direction. Although the money is great and I have more money in the bank than I know what to do with, Im lacking a sense of satisfaction from it all.

Once you have been doing affiliate marketing for a while, I guess you learn to create your own system and then simply reapply that system to whatever niche you wish. Well for me, this system of researching and starting a new marketing campaign is getting rather tiresome. It doesnt matter what niche you choose, the ways in which you promote the niche will usually be done using the same techniques. Some campaigns will fail, and some will be successful. Either way, much of the process is the same.

Recently I had a potentially lucrative deal fall through, and as a result I am back to square one in terms of looking for a new niche to explore....but I cant be arsed. I want to branch out a little and not be stuck doing affiliate marketing all my life, and am unsure as to what route to take.

I have money to invest and a lot of time available - any suggestions? Something that involves me leaving the house would be good....

[Keith]

You can combine getting out of the house with affiliate marketing.

Set up a site about your interest / hobby / travel / sport and do lots of first hand research.

Keep you interest in a project by working on it as a Joint Venture that way if you get a bit down in the doldrums you have someone to bounce ideas off, and you are less inclined to let the project slip.

[swifty7]

Go on holiday, and forget about the internet for a while...

You could get a little part time job to keep your mind occupied. Or expand your business and employ someone so you have company all day...

With money and time, im sure the possibilities are endless, im jealous, i have no money and no time to leave my job as an affiliate manager and join ranks as an affiliate!

You can get free tickets to be in the audience of tv shows, you could start doing that and write about tv shows?

I think you just need to take some time out, and do some fun stuff for a few days, see how you feel when you return...

[Helen]

affiliate marketing should enable you to get that buzz term "live work balance". so as people have said above what do you like doing, take some time out and do it.

[ian]

Read a book (outside)

Watch some classic films (outside on your new laptop)

Compile your own top 10 'best of cd / mp3 folder' This should take a couple of days

Go for some long walks, and listen to the top 10

On your walks, research the properties you are going to buy when sellers get really desperate. Sadly, the best time to buy is when sellers are really up the creek. Cash rich companies can do well in recessions

Get a mobile broadband usb stick and do some work in the garden, at the beach, in the park. You don't have to work inside.

Get a decent camera and take up photography. There are loads of camera clubs around the UK. It would fit in with your work anywhere, read anywhere, listen anywhere philosophy.

Create a blog, 'where will I work today'. I'm sure you'd get some interest from readers seeing where you end up. Your camera would come in handy at this point to record your travels.

Learn a trade. Does your house need some work? Plastering or plumbing courses at your local college. You could probably do it in the evenings so you don't have to mix with sulking teenagers.

Learn to cook

Visit your local cricket, hockey, football club

Travel around the UK, Europe, the world. If you're going round the UK, get a camper van, drive round, see the sights, stop for a while do some work, move on. Drop in at some of the Network's offices around the UK and say hello.

Sign up for the Sunshine.co.uk 'plan a jolly' competition and get going.

[Cheapdvds]

if u have cash to invest why not try becoming a retailer

[brussell78]

WOW! What a position to be in.....too much money and time to know what to do with!
As mentioned - Take some time out and spend some of that well earned cash. To be in your position within 10months of going full time sounds like you slogged it out and well done for doing so. Instead of playing the safe route (churning out the same but for different niches') could you not try moving into areas which hold more interest? (again people have mentioned this). If not, find a new hobby and work with that? (double bonus of new hobby and new enthusiasm)
Either that, or employ someone to work on churning out more, reap the rewards, retire to a desert island and bask in your rewards for your hard work.
Another option is you could assist newbie affs in getting to where you are. I know, being fairly new to this, that any help from established players is worth its weight in gold!! Not being handfed but nurtured along the way would be appreciated without doubt, and you'd feel good inside for helping 'noobs' out, and making other peoples lives happier, even just by a little - or a lot!!
Either way, life's too short so make the most of it and do anything you can to not feel bored!!

[Barry]

Its sad to say but I feel I have reached the same position in my work/life.

I used to love getting up and working on my next website and really find it a buzz when I made sales off a new site.

Now, it bores me to tears and my addiction with computers just seems to keep me endlessly at the computer just reading forums, kicking around, and making new sites with my 'hit and miss' methods.


I particularly love the mentioned idea of perhaps making a blog with pictures of where I could work with a broadband dongle. Sounds a great idea. Or combining a new hobby with a new site.

I think the problem with me is that computers used to be my hobby - and now my hobby has become work I have no hobbies left.

I also am seriously thinking of getting an office and banning the internet from my house after 8pm so I can 'get a life!'

Ta

[Stellar]

You could always become a consultant and work with merchants, networks, other affiliates etc. If you have devised a system that works, then you may be a valuable resource to others. That will get you out of the house and meeting new people. Perhaps that might bring the passion back?

Or, if you have strong web design/development skills, you could try and win some freelance work. Again, it will get you out of the house talking to new people, which is always good.

Both options obviously give you another stream of income as well :tup

[Fruit_and_Veg]

I think seperating the house from work is important - what about hiring a desk in an office to work (deskshare or whatever it's called), then you work with other people and keep your home as a home. I've worked from home for about 18 months and know how you feel, it can melt your mind after a while.

What about stepping it up abit. Affiliate sites can be boring, why not create a new site that isn't just an affiliate site but a service or something which has it's own income stream. Something that requires a great idea not just affiliate links to make money/gain traffic. A big site where you need to hire a designer, a programmer, a marketer, etc. project manage the whole thing and then end up running the next big thing. Push yourself to do more than setting up a wordpress blog and whacking on widgets and adsense (not suggesting that's all you do but you get the idea )

[mainlime]

If money's not an issue how about doing some voluntary or charity work? Even a couple of hours a week could get you out the house, mixing with people and making a difference.

[hens00]

I think the problem with me is that computers used to be my hobby - and now my hobby has become work I have no hobbies left.

Snap.

Going out and forgetting about the internet and having some fun seems like an obvious choice. All I have been doing is working and I seem to have forgotten how to have any fun - just ask my girlfriend.

Having reread my original post, I think my problem is not entirely with affiliate marketing, but the situation I am in - stuck at home alone staring at a computer screen, waiting for the girlfriend to get in from work so I can talk to her about 'my day at work', going to bed, repeat next day.

Maybe I should have posted this in the mylifeisabitboring.com forum.

Perhaps Barry, we could start an Affiliate Hermit blog together.

[sussexrob]

i can relate to OP and Barry

My site main site does well, but im in the process of setting up as a merchant

I actually miss the buzz of it all. will only be small scale at first, so leaves room for AM but seeing where it goes.

Rob

[hens00]

Some folks have mentioned the possibility of moving into a office. Now this is an idea that excites me and it is something I have wanted to do for a while. The trouble is finding other people to share with. I dont want to rent an office space with just me in it!

Have been looking for other self employed folk who may be interested. Trouble is I cant find anyone in my area.

If anyone lives in the Northampton area and interested in sharing an office of some sort, then feel free to PM me.

[aaclapham]

Its definately a case of "get a hobby".

In two weeks I finish work (woohoo) and I am going to set a deadline of 5 hours a day, and thats it. That way I will be motivated to get the work done, and then its relax time. Bike rides, swimming, reading, gardening, and coffee mornings with all the single mothers :tup