for thee ambitious; how long till you saw an average livable income

11 years ago

It took me a couple years, and I've lost it all and rebuilt it (lost around 50k in value of adsense websites) Took far less time to rebuild it (8-12 months)

1 Thing I would recommend to anyone starting is really pay attention to cashflow.

Have a few projects in the pipeline. I didn't diversify so when penguin hit I lost it all. Learned from that.

Make sure you first focus on cashflow positive projects, even if it's just working to offset your investments in longer projects. If you can focus on 1-2 cashflow positive projects for X hours a week, then focus on 1-2 medium projects, these will become cashflow positive in say 3-6 months. Also focus on 1 big project, which will start making cash (and hopefully LOTS of it) in 6-12 months (things like large authority sites that may take a while to build up)

I used to jump all over then place then I really started paying attention to cashflow, watching my spend and focusing on simply making more than I was spending while working on my long term projects but still ensuring I had short term income.

This is how I paid my way through college doing IM and haven't had a job since

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Steve Garratt

11 years ago

It took me a full 24 months before I hit $3k/m. The first 12 months was full time work then I had to get a job for cash flow. I almost hit $7k one month then Panda/Penguin hit and I went back down to $3k/m. Just crawling my way out of that now.

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rmolina88

11 years ago

Took me a little over 2 years.

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Alexa Smith

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by IMDESTROYER

what i am trying to find here is how long it took some of you to make an average income around like 3K - 5K monthly.

I earned almost nothing at all in my first three months and certainly nowhere near a "living wage" in my fourth.

In my fifth month I made over $3k, and I think just over $3.5k in my sixth month. (And never made less than that again).

Originally Posted by IMDESTROYER

at what rate where you launching projects a year.

I threw away and ignored almost everything I'd done in my first couple of months, because almost all of it (apart from the learning process itself, of course) was a complete waste of time. I'd based almost everything I'd done, initially, on misunderstandings and misinformation. It was very lucky for me, with hindsight, that I didn't persist any further with any of that, because I'd never have earned anything worth talking about at all until I abandoned it. I made almost every mistake it's possible for a newbie affiliate marketer to make. And then some.

Originally Posted by IMDESTROYER

and how many hours a day were you putting in? i put in about 5 - 7 hours

Yes, I did about about the same, when I started. (I do more, now).

I wouldn't be able to work simultaneously on such different projects as you. I do one thing, and I do it well and repeatedly. It builds up my business nicely and does involve some niche-diversification, too, as I go along (though not quite as much as I'd like).

I don't like "outsourcing" in general. It's a skill-set all of its own, and it isn't easy, or trivial. It's much easier to outsource things you do know how to do yourself, than things you don't, of course. Outsourcing delays and interrupts education. In the long run, I think it's better to do things on your own: you learn a lot more, that way, and you're less dependent on others.

I'm not trying to be "modest", saying that I was very lucky at the start (or 2-3 months later, anyway): I was genuinely very lucky.

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Globy

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

I earned almost nothing at all in my first three months and certainly nowhere near a "living wage" in my fourth.

In my fifth month I made over $3k, and I think just over $3.5k in my sixth month. (And never made less than that again).

I threw away and ignored almost everything I'd done in my first couple of months, because almost all of it (apart from the learning process itself, of course) was a complete waste of time. I'd based almost everything I'd done, initially, on misunderstandings and misinformation. It was very lucky for me, with hindsight, that I didn't persist any further with any of that, because I'd never have earned anything worth talking about at all until I abandoned it. I made almost every mistake it's possible for a newbie affiliate marketer to make. And then some.

Yes, I did about about the same, when I started. (I do more, now).

I wouldn't be able to work simultaneously on such different projects as you. I do one thing, and I do it well and repeatedly. It builds up my business nicely and does involve some niche-diversification, too, as I go along (though not quite as much as I'd like).

I don't like "outsourcing" in general. It's a skill-set all of its own, and it isn't easy, or trivial. It's much easier to outsource things you do know how to do yourself, than things you don't, of course. Outsourcing delays and interrupts education. In the long run, I think it's better to do things on your own: you learn a lot more, that way, and you're less dependent on others.

I'm not trying to be "modest", saying that I was very lucky at the start (or 2-3 months later, anyway): I was genuinely very lucky.

Amazing! Just Amazing!
3,5K after only 3,5 months, is just unbelievable!

One question. Do you focus on one revenue stream, or you try multiple things?
Which one is your highest earner ?

Thank you for sharing!

Thanks
1 reply

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Alexa Smith Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by ozanK

It's been four years since I've been involved in IM and I haven't passed the 2K per mo mark... Damn Alexa, what have I been doing wrong?

Probably nothing at all. Which is probably why you've probably done better than probably about 95% of people who "go into IM". Probably.

Originally Posted by Globy

Amazing! Just Amazing!
3,5K after only 3,5 months, is just unbelievable!

No, after nearer 5 months (of working about 30 hours per week) ... it's not as great as it sounds, works out at less than minimum wage, you know, if you calculate it that way! Not realistic, I know, because the income then continues and grows, but "just saying": all these things are relative and interpretative, and so on.

I had my "writing skill" - on which my business was and is heavily dependent - before I ever started, and as it turned out that's quite a valuable skill to have, one way and another (well, it is for an article marketing business, anyway).

And let's not forget that I was very lucky, too. There really is always a variable but significant component of "more of less random luck" involved.

Originally Posted by Globy

One question. Do you focus on one revenue stream

I did, for about three years, before adding anything else: I focused on article marketing to sell ClickBank-type information products as an affiliate, by list-building. Then I diversified a little bit. I do Amazon as well, now (and sometimes wish I'd started it earlier). But 75%+ of my income still comes from ClickBank, every month.

If you're going to be "dependent on something", ClickBank isn't a bad thing to be dependent on, I think, for three main reasons: first, it's longer-established than Google and has paid out $2.5 Billion to its vendors/affiliates during that time, and probably isn't going anywhere; secondly, you always get paid promptly and reliably (which isn't true, sadly, throughout internet marketing); thirdly, if it does disappear tomorrow, all the vendors of all its products will still want to sell those products somewhere else and will still want their affiliates, I figure? But still, I'd like to diversify more. I do think, though, that (contrary to what most people will tell you) being an affiliate is generally a safer, better and potentially more productive activity, for many people, than being a vendor/merchant ever will be.
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Globy

11 years ago

Originally Posted by IMDESTROYER

what i am trying to find here is how long it took some of you to make an average income around like 3K - 5K monthly. Im assuming you have all moved beyond that now, but the idea here is how long did you wait and at what rate where you launching projects a year. For instance, i have 3 projects under development right now

- 1 is a content site and is being completely outsourced (i will be investing and growing this for 3 months)
- 2nd one is a campaign (list building, product reviews and e-book then email course) i am developing this one myself.
- 3rd one is a local marketing project (this will take me about 3 - 5 months, that is making the sales to the companies, working with them, raising conversions and getting them to stay and building the traffic to them etc...)

As far as outsourcing goes i plan on launching at least 3 - 5 authority sites this year. 1 (if i can fit 2 i will) campaigns and most likely 1 local marketing project (3 depending on how well the initial one goes; i can tap it into relevant markets around the area and having that backing of the first successful one it will definitely make it easier for me to get at least 1 or 2 more up).

It feels like a giant race and i'm the only competitor.

Anyways the question. How long until you saw around a consistent 3 - 5K a month? and how many hours a day were you putting in? i put in about 5 - 7 hours

Hi IMDESTROYER!

Very interesting plan, thanx for sharing.

A question. I want to do some outsourcing myself. How did you spot the VAs and are they doing everything for your "outsourced" site?
And, what is this costing you?

Thanx

Thanks
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roblawrence 11 years ago

You really should have about 6 months to a year in living expenses saved before starting ANY type of business, including online businesses.

People think it's easy money but it's not. Adsense is a great income source but it can be taken away in an instant with a Google algorithm update.

You are better off selling your knowledge in either an ebook or a membership site or training course, etc. That way, YOU control your own income and NO ONE can take that away from you!
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gilly09

11 years ago

Hi everyone,
This is really high appreciate to see your advise since you guy has alot experience of this and as the one success early, your voice is worth for me. I am newbie and try to focus with clickbank affiliate (category: cooking, health fitness) but i got NO sale, my hop link generate over 200. I also try to do some with Adsense but just got 20 buck monthly. I start 4 months with my full time (5-9 hrs each day). I am seeking your help. Thank much

Thanks
1 reply

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Alexa Smith Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by gilly09

I am newbie and try to focus with clickbank affiliate but i got NO sale, my hop link generate over 200

200 is very small number, for ClickBank. I understand that it's disappointing not to have a sale, but 200 is probably too small a number to be "judging" anything.

Originally Posted by gilly09

I am seeking your help.

You might start here: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post7110523
- Thanks
- 1 reply
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- gilly09 11 years ago
  
  Thank much Alexa, for your kindly help, that information is really great for me, i have some points same with your and already applied that, thank again ..
  
  Thanks
  
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ozanK

11 years ago

It's been four years since I've been involved in IM and I haven't passed the 2K per mo mark... Damn Alexa, what have I been doing wrong?

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atxmike

11 years ago

It took me 7 years to make $1-2k per email blast.

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Jenna619

11 years ago

For me took about 2 years and then I got past all the info overload and had a solid game plan that is pulling more and more money each and every month.

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==>CPA/PPV Campaign Spent $10 Made $585.50 <==

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dimlicht 11 years ago

I just read 'health/cooking'.
If you're doing anything on Paleo recipes you might as well invest a little on PPV.
I don't know if I'm going to get shot down for saying this but I have had quite some succes promoting clickbank dieting/recipes with PPV, just a very very simple landing page often saying ''free video" and thats it.

The paleo campaign was even easier and I think.. I still got it online somewhere.

Oh yeah. This is in dutch.
The headline is "How I lost 11 kilo's in 4 weeks".
Real results from real women -> Click Here <-

CTR on paleo and other dieting recipe keywords was over 14%
I had awesome conversions with this one until the affiliate offer got banned. LOL
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for thee ambitious; how long till you saw an average livable income

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