Newbie - Looking For Help

Hey everyone,

I've been looking for a way to make some extra money from home. I'm going through college right now and it would help to have a little cushion.

Anyway, I've been researching things for almost a year and i've been a member of CJ for about 6 months and only made about $175 total. I did that by creating a website that had links for MacMall (Largest Apple Reseller).

Even, though it was exciting to get my first CJ check, I'm wanting to get something that will pull in a minimum of $100/day. I've read countless articles, blogs, podcasts, etc, etc, but it never seems to click.

Either not enough traffic, not enough sales, or both (mostly).

While I know that most don't really want to say "this is what I do" in fear of losing their martket, I am really asking for someone to help out. I mean more than "do you research and build it" kind of help.

I'm mostly interested in Electronics/Computers and Medical stuff (in nursing school might go to med school), but when I think about those two topics none of the affiliates seem to match.

 

Hey man, I'm kinda in the same situation.....I run www.QuestionsforCops.com and it's hard to find affiliate links that really jive with what I'm trying to promote. I'm set up to sell legal advice, spy gadgets (some pretty cool stuff), and other affiliate services, but I haven't been that successful with CJ yet.....but I've only been a member for a few weeks...getting clicks, but I don't think anyone has purchased anything. I don't know if you've tried Google Adsense yet, but I'm averaging a couple bucks a day (made $10 yesterday)...so it's money for nothing...and it doesn't get any easier than that. I've read about plenty of people being successful by creating multiple sites, incorporating Adsense, and making mega bucks....but anyway....just wanted to pass this info along. Sorry it probably didn't help you much....I wish it would just fall in my lap too! But, check out my site when you get a chance, www.QuestionsforCops.com....pretty interesting stuff.

 

Yeah - i've used Adsense and made about $31 over that same time period. I've tried all kinds of ways to promote the website including word of mouth, adwords, and flyers on freshman day at my local college (given to at least 1000 freshmen) and nothing. My website is www.MyAppleFix.com. Trying to cater to those people who are apple addicts (I know they're out there), but all i'm getting on the forum right now is people signing up and trying to post crap about rx drugs or porn (thank goodness i've blocked it).

 

Looks like a cool forum....I have a big Mac buddy and I will definitely forward your site to him. I know he'll use it and will tell his buddies about it. Seriously, I think I get the most traffic by affixing business cards to gas pumps more than anything else! If you think about it....it gets the word out, if people are interested they take the card and visit your site...if not, they leave it there for free advertisement and the next person might grab it....it's definite hits to your site either way!

 

Hey I appreciate it. And that gas pump thing sounds like a neat idea

 

I'm new to this too and and to this forum will be in here a lot looking for information. There must be some seasoned affiliate marketers with good info to share. Time to dig in deeper.

 

Yeah I've been trying to do some research via this forum and learn what I can but things aren't clicking right now. I would like for someone who is successful with CJ to really teach me or walk me through the steps to ensuring at least some profit.

 

yep, everyone wants to make money.

But the "trick" to making money is delivering value. You have got to stop thinking about the mechanics and start thinking about the customer. who are they, what do they want, what can you do for them better than you competition. this is the crux of marketing.

figure all of that out... then you can get back to the mechanics of putting your offer in front of them.

 

Well, I've got the mechanics down i'd say about 65-70%. I put it that low because I'm sure others here have scripts or automation to make it easier. I can do it, but it takes some man hours haha.

My thing is that I'm having trouble finding something to blog, review, or whatever. I'm having trouble finding a niche to dive into that will allow me to monetize with adsense or CJ affiliate links.

I've thought of a couple of ideas but they would pretty much be exclusive to where I live and only profit from local businesses wanting to put their ads on it.

 

Hi Khaos,

well, you seems to have all the gifts to be able to do this, the first one is the most difficult to get, don't stop now.

I was in the exact same situation 8 months ago, I am just beginning to be happy with my commissions, and yes 2-3 times I almost gave up, it's like starting any business, you put a lot of work in the first months and don't get that much in return.

But you have to work. Stop thinking too much and just try anything you could think of, it may be the only way to find what is successful for YOU. Look at all the opportunities on CJ, many great publishers in the electronics and medical niches. Look at what they offer, think of people who may need help with something (choosing the right gaming console, knowing the side-effects of that, what are the safest places to buy this prescribed drug online...) and just try to do something useful and/or informative for your visitors; I know you can. The possibilities are endless, just try! Well, good luck, I wish you all the best for 2010!

 

Thanks! At present I've come up with 2 ideas that would lend themselves very well to adsense and CJ affiliates, but they also don't seem like they would profit too much either...

 

Yes, this is actually how I feel as well. I really can't see it any other way.

 

Yeah - I just honestly can't see how the 2 ideas i'm thinking of would make more than like $20 a month...

I wish someone who was successful would walk me through the process of finding a niche, building a site (blog, review, or whatever) around the niche, marketing it, and monetizing it. Surely some of the people on here who are making $20,000+ can spare one niche worth $50/month to be nice and teach me :-D

 

i think we are all going through the same kind of problem we do plenty of research and we confuse ourselves drop it then we come back and try something new the thing is you can make money with out a website and earn whatever you want but there is always 2 questions how to find your market niche and how to get traffic to your website or affiliate link this is the area you need to focus on more than ever because they say "it pays to advertise " but not all the time there are plenty of ways all you need is to open your mind and experiment this what help me i hope it does the same for you

ooohh well sorry cant post links

 

Ok - I think i've found a few niches and i'm about to purchase a domain and try to launch a site...we'll see what happens...

 

Hey

I thought I would give you some of my experience with CJ. I've been with CJ for my site www.MensBeanies.com for about 6 months and I have only had about 2 sales. I added my site to some clothing link sites but I think whats brought in more traffic and beginning more sales is to have sites at Twitter, Facebook and Myspace. I opened up all 3 accounts so each time I post a new beanie, it updates those sites. Then I'm adding friends and other clothing companies and my traffic seems to be building and hopefully more sales.

I hope that helps.

 

Well, I've got some ideas of marketing (backlinks, social bookmarking, seo, word of mouth, and ppc). Getting started on mine...let you guys know how it goes!

 

Well, I've got the blog up and running about (85%) where I want it to. I write 1-2 posts a day and submit to digg, twitter, technorati, and delicious.

I've also written one article and submitted to ezine.

HOWEVER, it's been up for 8 days and I've only gotten 39 visits (10 visitors). I have a slight feeling I will need 1000x that much to make any $.

Any ideas?

 

What about handing out fliers at mac meetups? Holding a contest, joining other similar niche forums and just holding conversations with other mac fans (with a link to your blog in your signature), etc.?

 

Where did you pick up on mac stuff? I have a website for that too, but this one is the one in my sig

I posted some high quality posts on a medical forum and they banned me for "being a medical professional" - they don't want people actually answering questions I guess