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Andrew is preparing to embark on his 1st affiliate marketing adventure!

Andrew

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Type
Role CEO, Director, Partner or Executive
Member Since 14/04/2008
Status Offline

Biography

Hi All,

I can’t really call myself an affiliate let alone a CEO but there isn’t a “beginner” category. I’ve been itching to get stuck in to this affiliate marketing thing ever since I stumbled across it almost a year ago.

 

What have I been doing since then? Well I’ve been thinking a lot, brainstorming niches, researching software, thinking about potential merchants to promote, marketing strategies, and I’ve had loads of great ideas, none of which I can implement due to not having a clue how to actually turn them into reality.

  

Having got off my arse and set up my first site I now make a little over £8k a month!!! I work part-time between 10-16 hours a week and earn more than most people working full-time jobs! How? Well I’m currently putting the finishing touches to my e-book, “something for nothing”, showing how you can do it too!! Read on…

 

Ok, I’m not going to write an e-book (in fact I’ve never read one) and I don’t make any money online… I still haven’t done anything. Despite actually being able to picture my very own sites in my head, with loads of ideas for features (which I don’t even know are possible right now) I’m right where I’m started… What’s stopping me? The VAST competition out there… Whenever I think of something I’d actually enjoy doing loads of people have already been there, done that, and already got a HUGE head-start on the likes of little me.

 

In my affiliate marketing journey to date I’ve earned NOTHING, spent about £50 on domains (see below if you’re interested in my “light-bulb moments”), and far too much time reading about it and thinking rather than just jumping in, trying it out and giving it a go.

 

Why am I here? To meet like-minded people, do a bit of networking and make some friends along the way. I don’t know about you but I don’t find too many people in the “real world” that actually know what affiliate marketing is, let alone share an interest in it. So if you fancy a chat about blogging, designing websites, graphic design, starting up in the affiliate world, or just about anything affiliate related leave a comment here or write on my wall (or whatever it's called) J

 

 

For anyone interested and not yet asleep here’s my "gathering dust" domain portfolio and the ideas behind them:

 

Kakiboo.com & Kakiboo.co.uk – I bought this for no other reason than it was available, sounds good, and I think is quite brand-able. For what though I don’t know?!

 

GadgetZone.org – Don’t know what possessed me to purchase this one… Seemed like a good idea at the time considering the .com, .co.uk and .net versions aren’t in use but then I found out it’s extremely hard to make it in the super-competitive hi-tech market (although I haven’t tried). I might still give it a bash one day – they say blog about something you’re interested in, it is certainly interesting. Perhaps I should pick a particular niche within the hi-tech area to focus on?

 

Blogonomics.co.uk – Perhaps yet another trials and tribulations of an affiliate beginner blog? Perhaps not? To be honest I’m fascinated with design and usability ever since the internet was born. It’s a good domain seeing as I want to target the UK market primarily and the .com, .net and .org versions aren’t in use. Again, a very competitive area to get into but then if I enjoy talking writing about it why shouldn’t I? I think it’s a memorable name and a brand-able one too.

 

WorldOfWindsor.com – Where? It’s where the Queen lives don’t you know? And hoards of people visit from all over the World for THAT very reason. The idea was to produce a local guide to what’s on in and around Windsor so people could make the most of their visit with reviews of pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants and other local attractions… Sort of like a mini-lastminute.com? Think of all that free food I could get! Already we’re coming up to the peak season for tourism (again) and still this domain just sits there gathering dust.

 

UnlawfulBankCharges.com – Can you believe I bought this way back in January 2007 and did nothing with it!? I came across an interesting article about unlawful bank charges (in the UK) and after quite a bit of research managed to claim back over £2k. I bought the domain and never got round to do anything with it even though the research I did would’ve made perfect content for the site. I could’ve had loads of hits when the whole “scandal” went main-stream a few months later… Every major newspaper, every UK TV channel with a news program covered the subject and documentaries were made about it. A prime .com domain as well! Slowly, slowly, catch the monkey? More like slowly, slowly, missed the bloody boat! J

 

I have also got some other great ideas which I’m not going to write here just yet but watch this space – I think one of them certainly has the potential to be BIG.

 

What about you? Have you got any interesting stories? Perhaps had some ideas and went and bought a nice domain only to have done nothing with it? If you’re a beginner like myself but actually managed to get a site started I’d be happy to do a review… Perhaps I’ll start up Blogonomics and put the reviews on there?

Blogonomics

Blogonomics
Specialisms Broadband, Finance, Travel, Entertainment & Music, Electrical Goods, Computers, Gifts & Gadgets, Gaming, Fashion, Food & Drink and Mobile Phones
Verticals SEO (Organic)
Territories UK
Job Title CEO

Company Description

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2 comments: Expand All | Collapse All
  • Comment added by careybaird on 23/04/2008 18:53:37
    User avatar
    I am new to this world myself, but I believe I can offer you some advice about your domains. I fell into the same trap of having some ideas, buying domains and never doing anything with them - I have a lot more than you!

    I realised recently that this initial idea phase is very important, and its not just about having a lightbulb moment and then building a site. You have to do your research - are there enough people going to look for what your offering? What is the competition like? What keywords can you optimise for? and most important, how can i make money off it? (i have a site that gets tons of traffic but no real income).

    So think carefully about your domains, and don't be afraid to drop those ideas and start again (holding on to bad ideas will hold you back).

    Another bit of advice comes from GTD i think (GTD = Getting Things Done, a book). Reduce your ideas down to what you can handle (I recommend one website/idea) and put the rest on a "someday/maybe" list that you come back to every few weeks.

    Don't spread yourself too thin.

    Good luck and I hope you do well!
  • Comment added by Andrew on 15/04/2008 02:03:21 Deleted
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