If You HAD to Start Over - What would you do Different???

[beryas]

What I would do different would be quit trying to listen to guru's. They are not going to tell you what you need to know. Instead just go ahead and jump into it after learning the basics because most of the time in business you learn from mistakes a lot better than you do from reading about mistakes.

[yanamk]

I would concetrate on search engine optimization from the start. Probably set on more occurate and more organized site navigation...

There is always a room for improvement and whenever you think you know enough to make a living, there is always something new learn and improve.

Originally Posted by beryas

What I would do different would be quit trying to listen to guru's. They are not going to tell you what you need to know. Instead just go ahead and jump into it after learning the basics because most of the time in business you learn from mistakes a lot better than you do from reading about mistakes.

I definitely agree with this. There is nothing better then getting your feet wet and learning by the mistakes.

[PR10Tony]

I read all the posts on this thread and found two interesting recurring themes...

1) Those that have been in affiliate marketing for what sounds like a relatively long time can reflect back and say they would have analyzed things much less before taking some concrete action.

2) Those that are self-professed newbies say they need to do more research before acting.

I can relate to the newbies. That's me. I'm living that right now. I've been reading and researching for 3 months and my work has been more on educating myself on this industry, tips, potholes, etc... and planning than on actual concrete steps. Not that I haven't taken any steps. I bought my domain, set up my hosting, downloaded Wordpress, subscribed to AWeber, and set up an AdWords account. I've learned a ton and feel pretty well educated - in theory, at least - on not only the basics, but even some advanced areas. Where I struggle is: “When do I know enough?” There's so much information out there. Some good and some bad. Some free and some offering riches for a mere $19.99. Once you get on half-a-dozen autoresponder lists, your email inbox is filled every day and the information is intoxicating...addicting. I imagine a few other newbies out there probably think this sounds like them.

All I can say is that I took 2 pages of notes from this thread alone and the best one is the note that has a star next to it and says, "Stop procrastinating and act! Do something."

So starting this week, I'm going to ignore the guru autoresponder offers, stop reading all the affiliate marketing RSS blog feeds, decide on a couple niches, find some attractive offers, sign up with the merchants or networks, and start the real work of building a content-rich site. Then I'll actually have a site and some offers to market. I'll move from being an information junkie to a bona fide affiliate marketer.

If anyone has any advice or next steps specific to where I am in my own journey, please do share. I think it's still on topic.

Thanks, Tony

[Linda Buquet]

Good luck on making your move Tony! Sounds like for you the timing is right.

My only suggestion would be don't pick a couple niches for starters. Pick just one and really work it until the lightbulb turns on and you start making some money. I think it's easier to start if you don't have your efforts and attention splintered in more than one niche. After you get some hands on and start making things work, you can decide if you want to spread out and do more than one niche. But many say their biggest challenge was getting too distracted and they would have been better off focusing all their energy on one site/niche.

[jasoncme]

If i had to start over. instead of building multiple websites I'd want to do affiliate marketing. I think the payoff s better this way although a nice looking website never hurts. i can be a part of the whole if done right. and I'd like to also do CPA & figure how to make blogs that work with automatic content and updating.

[Leads of Scale]

I would have certainly concentrated more on picking a niche early on in my affiliate career and going after it as opposed to trying a little of everything.

[ja1myn]

Would have learned a lot more about internet marketing before I bought a PR4 web directory for $400.

[Leszek Krzywon]

Maybe I would have learned much more before starting action... Today I'm thinking, learning/studying from these, who know much more than me, that's the most important. And then applying these information.

[jennifer888]

PR10Tony's comment was spot on for me. I have spent my whole life "preparing" and "educating" myself to start something when all I have really done is procrastinate. As a fellow newbie, I am committed to succeed this time around. I am getting up between 4-5am to get a jump start on my day by adding content and generating more traffic!

[gaz2306]

I tend to want things moving now.
All this waiting around and building my business slowly really annoyed me.
It took about 2 years for me to realise that these things take time.
I did go back and start again, disassociated myself with everything I did and the past and start afresh using all the knowledge I have aquired.
I now build and promote my own websites and look to get them to google page 1, this is the only way that is cost effective and earns a substatial income.

Any newbies take care, slow down, riches don't come overnight and can take months. Just don't lose faith like I did.