Once again, my sincerest gratitude for your coaching!
I've also realized something else....
I'm not having much fun right now.
I'm too worried, actually worried, about traffic and monetization. Now I see the value in 'pick something that you're passionate about.' I am passionate about this particular niche I've just forgotten to have fun!
So, now that I have a little more direction with rankings, traffic, etc., I'm going to concentrate on my site concept and site content. It's time to become the surfer/consumer again and look at what it is that I like about similar sites, what I don't like about similar sites and see if I can come up with a twist that will make my site more unique.
I think that actually working from the mindset of being a surfer/consumer is the way to start. Then talk to other surfer/consumers to see what it is they like and don't like about what's currently out there and then provide it on my site....
An ability to juggle the many different portions of site creation is essential if I'm going to be a successful affiliate marketer. One thing that helps is I have a notebook that I carry with me everywhere. I get all of my thoughts and "ah-ha's" out of my head and into my notebook. Then I go to my computer and categorize the notes, i.e. this idea is about traffic, this idea is about content, this idea is about monetization, this idea is about... etc. Getting it out of my head and into a notebook frees up my little brain to FOCUS on what I need to focus on, when I need to focus on it.
Being too attached to one particular aspect of site creation is surely a death sentence. However, being attached to creating a quality site that provides information and service is the remedy...
Joined: 16 Aug 2003 Posts: 153 Location: Tennessee, USA
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 1:10 pm Post subject:
You made some very good points, Amadeo. I also use the 'notebook method' and have a portable file system that I organize notes by project in too
It is important to consider all aspects of a successful affiliate model, and to consistently work on your project. Some people like certain tasks better than others, and we are all different in that respect. Most people that I have met are "do it all" folks... some others choose to partner up with someone so that each can focus on the things they enjoy most or are best at. _________________ Lynn Terry
ClickNewz! Internet Marketing Blog
So I'm working on my site and content now, but I keep getting hooked by traffic generation techniques. I seem to have found a happy little medium - work on the site for a while, then investigate traffic generation for a while.
Some new things that I've discovered...
My top competitors have really poor sites. When I put myself in the mindset of a potential customer and then visit their site, I'm disappointed. I've made a list of all the stuff that I could do that would make the site more worthwhile. I've also surveyed many friends that have, at one time or another, surfed similar sites and/or bought similar products. The big questions that I ask them are:
1. Did you find what you were looking for based on what you typed into the search engine? - The general response is "not really."
2. Would you go back to this site? - Response: "no."
3. Can you remember the url? Response: "no."
4. Can you think of any urls that you've heard of that are in this market? Response: They rattle off 3-5 big players that do a lot of offline advertising.
5. What would have made visiting this site worthwhile to you? Response: I get a laundry list of answers that I quickly right down.
So, that's what I'm working on regarding my site.
Now, in looking at getting relevant external links (building my link reputation) I have some questions:
1. What's the best way to find other sites that I could ask to link to my site?
2. How should I approach them?
3. What should I expect?
I've heard that you should freely request links, but be stingy in reciprocating. That just seems weird to me, if we all did that, we'd just be a bunch of little islands out here on the internet sea.
I also suspect that each webmaster that I approach will want to know "What's in it for me?" If I were approached, I'd want to know the same thing.
So, I hope that's clear - anyone have any advice on building a good link reputation?
Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 6231 Location: by the beach, Australia
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:31 pm Post subject:
Amadeo, This discussion thread is about "finding profitable niches". Please, let's stick to that. It's almost impossible, but we try to keep the forum topics organized so that other people searching for info can find it.
If you wish to start a new topic on reciprocal links or one-way links or whatever, you're welcome to do that.
If you start a new topic and choose the subject title carefully, people who have an interest in that topic will find it easily when they're scanning the forum..
I was just following the flow of my own thinking and completely didn't realize that the topic had morphed into something that was off the subject line and mis-posted in the wrong area.....
Joined: 16 Aug 2003 Posts: 153 Location: Tennessee, USA
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 1:22 am Post subject:
I think you're on a good track with your brainstorming, Amadeo!
I'd love to respond to the link questions, so please post a link to the new thread, or at least PM me with it _________________ Lynn Terry
ClickNewz! Internet Marketing Blog
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