I'm about to try my hand at affiliate marketing with a parenting blog/forum (something i'm genuinely interested in) and i was wondering if you guys who've been around the block a few times or who've had a few years in the business might be willing share anything you might have done differently, you know, if you had to start from scratch again today. I basically know very little at the moment, just starting to piece together all i need to move forward. Really appreciate anything you might want to share Thanks in advance.
What would I do differently if I were starting out today? I'd stay more focused. Do your research. Study different marketing methods. Then, once you're clear on things like how to drive visitors to your site and how to monetize your blog/forum, create a plan and stick with it. Don't allow yourself to be distracted by every "new" marketing system and idea that comes along. Good luck with your new parenting blog and forum.
I would focus my effort in building my list, and also in learning one traffic technique at the time.It is very easy to fall in the paralysis of this business, due to information overload out there.Many newcomers when they start in this business they want to do so many things at the same time, and they end up doing nothing with little success.My advice would be, take one step at the time.
I would have started creating products and building a list much sooner. I spent a bit of time doing some freelance work in a non IM related area when I left my job - I would have bypassed this and gone straight into building my own business.
I would have paid a mentor to teach me. Getting the right knowledge is where its at. Before this you just stumble around in the dark, loose time and keep being frustrated and nobody knows when you will hit,may also be never.