Up until this point in my budding career as an unemployed D-List Affiliate Ninja Wannabe, I haven’t really committed to implementing what I’ve learned over the last 8 months in a focused campaign to make money online. Yes I’ve made some pocket change here and there, trying out different techniques and affiliate networks, but I’ve mainly been sharpening my swords and skills in the fields of traffic generation, keyword research, web development and web design.
I’m at the point right now where I have two paths in front of me, and I need to choose one of them asap. Choice number one – get a day job and start to bring down some of our debt (not much) as well as make some loot to fund our online ventures. Choice number two – stop jerking off and start to implement what I’ve learned to make money now, so I don’t have to go back to work.
Here’s my challenge…
I have a tendency to conceptualize a money making blueprint down to the last detail, I launch with a rebel vengeance like a half empty bottle of Glen Livet playing Ninja Gaiden 2, and then loose my steam as the results are never as immediate as I would like them to be. It’s wack, and I’m getting really sick of my half-ass attempts. I know that I have enough knowledge of affiliate marketing and I’ve spent countless hours trying out different methods of generating piles of targeted traffic to a site or blog as per our August blog report, if I combine this with my ability to find high demand, low competition keywords and phrases using Wordtracker I really believe I can make some substantial commissions as long as I stay focused, and committed. I might not see results immediately, but on the other hand I might see trickles of income in the first 24 hours – If I do my research right and hone in on what my strengths are It has to work.
First I Need A Plan…
Since I don’t have adequate funds for doing some PPC experimentation or buying links, I’m going to be launching a focused campaign using as many free methods for traffic generation and promotion as humanly possible – also known as Bum Marketing. The only con with Bum Marketing is the investment of time required, but the pros are substantial especially for someone who is just starting out and doesn’t feel comfortable with dropping a couple c-notes on advertising.
I really want to encourage anyone who is reading and wants to step up their game, to follow along with the next few posts as I plan to document what is working, and what needs tweaking with hopes of creating some sort of e-course or e-book at the end of this.
Here is a brief outline of my blueprint. Feel free to write it down if you like:
- Conduct keyword research using Wordtracker or tool of choice to find a profitable niche (high demand, low competition) and compile a list of long tail keywords (10-20) to use for articles, Squidoo lenses and a review-style site which I will be driving the traffic to.
- Find 3 to 5 niche related affiliate products based on the research in step one and compile an brief, but detailed review on each product. For this I will be perusing through Clickbank, not Commission Junction and Pepperjam Network.
- Once I have the products selected and a resourceful review of each I will design a simple, but effective review-style website either using Dreamweaver or WordPress. I already have a “product review” domain name that I will be using for this campaign. If you don’t, try and find a domain based on your keyword research or simply purchase a “product review” domain to build your site on at Godaddy.com – don’t forget to use coupon codes.
- Again, from the research in step one I will write 15 articles focused around selected keyphrases, making sure to use these long-tail keywords in the article title and throughout the content. Once I have the articles written I will submit 10 of them, leaving 5 behind, to as many high traffic, high ranking article directories.
- I will create a lens or two on Squidoo and use the 5 articles I didn’t submit for the content – making sure that I use my long-tail keyphrases for the headings and within the content. Within my Squidoo lenses I will link directly to the affiliate products, as well as to the review site.
- Once I have completed steps 1 through 5 I will spend a day or two commenting on niche related blogs and forums, leaving my review site domain in the signature field – for even more targeted traffic and back links. Remember NO SPAMMING because it doesn’t work, period.
Bum Marketing Madness…
Considering this is my first time going full blown, I’m estimating it will take approximately 4-6 hours to create a functioning and aesthetically pleasing review site, about 1 hour per article, maybe less, and I’d say between 1-2 hours to build my Squidoo lens. So pretty much to complete step 1 through 5 it shouldn’t take me more than a week, providing I’m putting in 4-6 hours per day – I know it probably be more like 10-12 hours per day. The most time consuming aspect will be the review site, because I’ve never built one before and writing the articles.
So there you have it. I would really like to know if any of you will be following along so I can keep track, but also if some of our more experienced readers have any suggestions or techniques I’ve missed that you’ve found works good for you – it would be much appreciated. Maybe it’s because of the network I have formed over the last little while and knowing that I have people I can bounce ideas off of directly – but I really feel confident that I can, and will make this work. No more day job for Elijah. Not today, not tomorrow.
Cheers,
Elijah
Hey Elijah, I will surely be keeping an eye on your blog and my Google Reader in the near future.
I am always interested in reading about what others are doing and whether or not they are having success or failures. It is always nice to read about the success but failures only teach us what not to do and make us that much better.
Having a plan ahead of time is a good idea. Make sure you stick with it and don’t stray off course. I haven’t had much success with article marketing, though I only have done 1 article.
I have it up on ezinearticles.com and it was only published once. But I do need to get my ass in gear and work more on the site I wrote the article for. Just recently a site like mine sold for $70k on sitepoint.com and was pulling in $4k a month.
My site has more information and is setup a lot better then the one that just sold. I just need the backlinks to it and the traffic.
I would suggest you to try out StumbleUpon for traffic. While typically it doesn’t convert, it is a good way to get your site out there. I had a small success with it for one of my sites and ended up with over 1300 visitors in 4 days.
Sure I didn’t have any sales but the traffic wasn’t even going to a page that I was trying to gather sales from. I had just written the article and wanted to test out whether or not people liked it. I Stumbled it myself, had a friend stumble it as well just to get the ball rolling and I was lucky enough to get a few thumbs up from the random people that liked the guide. I see it as 1300 more people that now know about my site even though I didnt make any money from it.
I think you are on the right path and as long as you stick with it, you will achieve your goals.
Jarrets last blog post..Who Do You Write For?
Absolutely bro. Much thanks for the insight. I’m all about social media for traffic, and I use it with every post we do on this site – it’s a great way to get traffic coming in.
I was on Skype with SuiteJ and he we were going back and forth regarding different ways to make this type of campaign work – and it will.
I just finished my keyword research, found my niche, and a few domains to get started. I don’t think I’ll be sleeping much tonight – it’s all good.
damn – 70k for one site, that’s just silly. Getting back links is crucial for PR blah blah blah.. it’s just so time consuming! Get on that bro, I’m waiting for that email “Elijah, just sold it for 8 zillion dollars, I just sent you a plane ticket.. we’re having lunch in Spain tomorrow. See you there..”
The sky’s the limit bro! As long as we all stick together and drive eachother to the top 🙂
Haha, 8 zillion dollars would surely be a nice chunk of change.
Hell instead of buying a plane ticket I’d just buy you the whole damn plane!
I do hope that you post up how the campaign goes and I wish you luck in making a profit.
Jarrets last blog post..Who Do You Write For?
“start to implement what I’ve learned to make money now”….I did the same thing..kept sharpening the swords when really they were sharp enough to move forward!
The hardest part is taking action. Best of luck man…
Fellow Canadian here (from Windsor)
Keith James Locks last blog post..Luv For My Readers And Other Bloggers #1
Windsor eh? Sweet… We should pow wow sometime. Thanks for stopping by.
I’m going to stop by your site and show some love.
You sound just like me when it comes to sitting down for a project. Analyze something to death until you are frozen.
Bcarters last blog post..An appology to Romelo at I-Tong.com
I never sleep man, so hit me up on Skype anytime if you’re taking a break around 3 or 4 am. lol.
So how did it go? Where’s the update on the late night ninja d-lister session?
Jay
Congrats on that one commitment of not getting a job. You seem to be pretty sure of what you are going to do next and since affiliate or bum marketing for that matter is still relatively new to me, may I just hold your hand and walk along with you on your journey?
Looking forward to your next report, E and by the way, will you get a night job then..:-)?
Yan
Yan Shall Blogs last blog post..How to Transfer from Blogger to WordPress?
Hi Elijah, I found you over at SuiteJ’s place, so I thought I’d check out your digs. Very nice!
You speak the truth! There’s only so much preparation one can do before you just have to stop and say, “Do it already!”. That’s one of my downfalls, actually. I have all these ideas in my head that I want to do online and that’s all they’ll ever be if I don’t do something about them.
Mark Sierra at MeAndMyDrum.coms last blog post..A Sure-Fire Way To Increase Your Followers On Twitter
100 percent with you on that man… We all need to support eachother and just go out there and do it, knowing that we have people we can ask if help is needed…
Unless you’re a dick and have no friends.. 🙂
I love your domain name bro.. I think it’s blogroll worthy, keep your eye out!
Hey, thanks for the link! I recently updated my theme and currently not using a blogroll. Been thinking about making a links page instead. Will plan to reciprocate when I do. Thanks again! 🙂
That’s the spirit Elijah. It’s like your own personal 30-day challenge thing. And always your own personal challenge is better than anyone else is providing, been there – done that.
I have done things like these, tho, my numbers were little bit bigger. I created around 20 niche sites in 30 days, for each I niche I wrote and hired others to write articles for me for each niche. I had 20 articles/niche 12 for article directories, and 8 for websites. I was getting for this like 2 months before. Time spent – 10hrs/day. It was a quite depressive period, but believe me man, the profit, the money you earned, just feels great. And the best feeling is that I qon my own personal Demon which is “Lazy” and lack of dedication. I completed my challenge, I earned more money than I was planning, and soon I am doing one again. You just have to be ready to get out of touch with your friends for a while, because Bum Marketing takes a lot of time.
One Tip – Analyze hard. Don’t analyze too much, because then you won’t make any money, but analyze enough. Look where your traffic comes from, look on what other people click and what do they do on your site.
Oh crap, I think I just made a blog post 😛 not a comment.
Regards,
TheMoneyac
TheMoneyacs last blog post..Enough is Enough – I quit Entrecard
Uhhh… My last comment has too many grammatical errors. Was typing fast, I hope you’ll understand what I meant there :).
TheMoneyacs last blog post..Enough is Enough – I quit Entrecard
That’s quite a story man! 20 niche sites in 30 days.. all at the ripe age of 18.. Good for you man.
Over analyzing can be a bitch sometimes.. and you’re right, going hard and overdoing it are two different things.
Thanks for stopping by!
You know, I really think the sticking together and making it happen part is going to be the recipe for success here. You’re absolutely right Elijah, we need to act like the big guys and form a close knit, powerful unit.
Go get it E! How did I miss this? I am totally slacking on my blog reading and dudes is putting out some great stuff! I KNOW you can do it, and I feel the same way, the knowledge is there, and as I talked about last week, it’s just time to really put it to work and quit actin like a sissy-boy 😉
I’ll be watching, learning, and giving you a kick in the pants when needed.
Normal Joes last blog post..IMwithJoe.com Monthly Update
It seems that many, like me, have the problem of wanting more and more information on becoming successful at this blogging thing, and then that’s all that gets done! Even if I didn’t have a day job, that would be just that much more time of reading about it instead of doing it.
It is just time to say “Action!”. And I’ll be reading on your progress…
Well, good luck man! I got a LOT of debt to pay off so I’m working a day job AND making money online…
There are a few other money making options you can always do too… oh, and outsourcing can help clear up those long hours as well. 😀
Jay
Jays last blog post..Introducing the “Elite Ninja Flipping Unit” to the Site Flipping World
I’m really looking forward to building businesses online, outsourcing, and removing myself from the equation so I can travel and see this beautiful planet while it’s still here…
Elijah,
Make it happen! You don’t want the day job, so stop acting like it. Sounds like you have a solid plan. I can relate, I have a plan that I need to get serious about as well and make it happen.
I will be checking in on you and see what’s cracking with you progress. keep it going!
Oh yeah, what is a Squidoo lense? Seems pretty important, but I have no idea was it is all about and how it can help me. I guess I will have to do some homework.
Good luck…., but if you are serious you don’t need it!
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