Totally, Utterly discouraged and frustrated...

Hello,
I was in your shoes many years back.
Here is what I did to get the ball rolling.
I was doing everything online,then one day I decided to meet in
person people that were doing the same thing as me.
The people that I met were from all levels to advanced.
They were more than happy to share secrets that they would never have told me
via email.
My key was to get my name out there and to use viral products.
I hope this will help you in some way.

Andie,

So what promotional methods are you using?

I find the quickest way to start making money as an affiliate is to target buyer keyword for hot selling products. Tell us a little more about what you're doing and we'll try to set you on the right track.

Andy it sounds like you are at the point where many people throw in the towel and say the heck with it, I'll just do what the average joe does. (Although I sense you are not saying that YOU will). From what I hear from you, success is just around the bend if you keep at it.

I'm sure you've heard of the saying: I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore! Well thank goodness for being mad because if we don't get mad about it, if we don't get frustrated about it, it's almost impossible to get to the top.

I've always believed that the more one burns with a desire to succeed, the more they will achieve. Napoleon Hill said it best when he said: "What The Mind Can Conceive It Can Achieve" Sounds to me that you are on your way to achieve great success which brings us to the warriors forum. When you take a look around here you can see nothing BUT success.

Just the last couple of days I've been in the forum I've seen many many people who is succeeding online. I'm sure many of them felt similar to what you are feeling right now. I guess what I'm trying to say is whatever your situation is right now don't allow ANYTHING stop you from achieving what you set out to do.

You'll find what you need here as far as how to do just about anything you want. All you need to do is have your plan and be persistent. Just don't give up. You may be so close to that first big success. You ARE in the right place. Just don't give up!

Hope that help some

klinvie

Hey Andie,

We've all been there. It does pass.

The thing that will probably help you most right now is putting together a solid plan.

Even if the plan is very simple, i.e

1 - split test your current product with an alternative and do everything you can to drive traffic to test which converts better.

You can use article marketing, blog commenting, directory submissions, free press releases etc. to get links and traffic.

I think if you focus right down to that level and you track your links, see where the traffic comes from, see which traffic converts best with which product - you can do more of what works, split test different products and keep growing that small system.

You probably already know this, but most of the revenue from a customer is NOT on that first sale anyway, so make sure you have a system/backend in place - otherwise you're leaving 90% of your potential revenue on the table anyway.

If you can be bothered to write some good articles, you could also offer them (slightly rewritten so that you don't give others the exact same thing) with PLR and make some sales that way for the same effort.

Right now though, I'd say get focused, test your product - you KNOW it can sell, so keep that in mind and get busy making the next sale.

If after all your testing and work you decide it's not worth it - you'll at least have a site with enough links and traffic to sell and pick a niche you can get excited about.

For now though, anything you can do to build your skills and experience in getting and converting traffic will only help in the short and long term.

Andy

Andie, have you tried AdSense instead of affiliates? Its much easier to get the ball rolling. I've been in the SEO game for a few years now and purchased many ebooks, dvds, pdf's etc all which promise the earth but dont deliver. If you are not afraid of hard work then no doubt you may have heard of John (Xfactor's) AdSense Masters course. There is an initial investment but compared to the rip-off stuff thats out there, this course is for newbies as well as advanced SEOs. The method is simple and straightforward. there is a thread here whic outlines everything but the eBook is just easier as it gives you a step by step process. I can relate to the situation you're in, I had to leave work to look after my kids and have to start all over again. Read the feedback and take action.

I wish you every success.
Zaheer

By the way, I'm in no way affiliated with the product I mention above, but just been around the block enough times to know whats genuine and whats total hype and fluff! Ive had success with the methods that are mentioned so can vouch that they work, just trying to work towards that kind of income level! lol

If the 150 hops were from your blog - then you might want to test putting up adsense / cpa offers instead of the clickbank link.

Listjoe, Listdotcom will work for internet marketing related products and my guess is that both these listbuilders are not that effective as when it was launched.

Irrespective of all that, don't worry, all of us have those days for frustration - move away from your computer, relax a bit and start working again.

"Starting an online business" is, unfortunately, not an answer to being unemployed.

Yes, it can be quite inexpensive -- once you know how.

But it takes time and opportunity to learn how. You need to have the freedom to fail, because that is where you will learn.

And this is why starting an online business is not an answer to unemployment. Because people who are unemployed need something that isn't going to fail.

Shifting from an employee mindset to an entrepreneurial mindset generally take a bit of time for most people. (One of the mindsets is this understanding of the requirement of having the luxury to fail.)

Steady income (from ANY job) can provide you with that freedom, that luxury, of being able to fail. Because it tends to be more steady and more reliable than self-employment income. At least at first.

You'd truly be amazed, I think, to know how many of the "successful" online business folks you see here also have some sort of regular job. (It's also, usually, a far better place to get medical insurance from...)

You say you are determined to not return to life in a cubicle. But are you willing to do it for a short period of time in order to get your online biz on a solid footing, first?

Just my few cents'

Live JoyFully!

Judy

Hi Andie...congrats on the few sales you have made so far. Most people never even get that.

Seriously.

It's my experience that when you can make a $100 you can make a $1000. And when you can make a $1000...well you get the point.

Now obviously you have a viable product to offer otherwise no one would of purchased it from you. So you're in the black there.

Now you just have to focus on two things.

#1) You need to get it into your noggin that everyone who makes a living online has gone through the very same emotional roller coaster you're going through right now. Do you know how many times I sat up late at night gnawing my fingers to the bone worrying about making more sales to feed my 6 kids? I spent plenty of sleepless nights just pouring through this forum and others looking for the solution that would bring in enough sales for me to be able to feed my family with. But understand what you are going through right now is a right of passage. You're at the precise point where most people quit their Internet aspirations and go back to the cubicle life. So just stay persistent to your dream and you'll get through this passage one way or the other. You might earn some battle scars along the way though. Wear them with pride when you do get them.

#2) You just need to get more eyeballs over to your offer. You already know a percentage of people will purchase it when they see it. So now your main job is to get more people to see it. I personally suggest you take some time and build a network up via the social networks. I get close to 125,000 unique visitors a year from my interactions on Twitter and StartUp. Sharpen your marketing and interaction skills there and you will go a long way towards getting the traffic you need to be able to support your family with. Plus the traffic will be free and you can use 100% of the proceeds from the sales you make to pay your bills with. Which I am guessing is pretty important to you at this time tight?

Again Andie...congrats on the sales! Now go out and get some more!!

Sorry to come across gruff, but Im growing tiresome of seeing so many members complain of not making a fortune in their first month and then whinging about it.

Online business is no different to traditional business. It takes a lot of time and hard work.

You dont just press a magic button and money comes out your cd drive.

You're welcome Andie, just don't be disheartened, the majority of IMers have started like this. Very few people make money from the outset, its pure trial and error. You've done well to make some sales from Affilaites, I've never managed to do this, so you're alreay a step ahead.

With regards to AdSense, it could eb a variety of things that aremtn making you money. PM or email me your URL and I'll try and take a look for you.

Good luck

I by no means at want to discourage you, but if the UE is running out then that kind kind of stress is going to kill you, go find something to pull in "some kind" of an income in the mean time and dedicate a certain part of your day to building your business.

I second the motion on affiliate marketing as well as finding a group of people you can plug into to help you out.

Hi Andie,

sorry for the misspell on your name.(Andie, not Andy. Must pay better attention

To your Great success!

klinvie