Last evening I had a long discussion with an AffSpot member that needed a little help. This AffSpotter has been active for only a few months and was feeling a little overwhelmed with all the “do this”, “is hot now”, “do this”, “don’t do that”, advice from blogs, etc.
So, what does he do? He digs out my email and offers himself to be my own personal “Internet Marketing Slave” for the next three months so he can learn the business. Smart… Very, very smart. So I offered to chat on the phone and we talked. And we’re going to keep talking. I turned down his offer to work for nothing… With a little guidance and work on his part he’ll do just fine. He’s got skills, he’s smart, and he’s not afraid to ask for help. And although he (like nearly all in the Performance Marketing Industry) wants to build his own business he understands that this is a team sport. Everyone needs people they can ask questions of. Whether it’s just a review my site kind’ve thing or a hey how’d you do this? or what CMS do you use.
This got me to thinking about our own network of people we can call on when we’re having issues, needing to vent, etc. And if you know it or not there is a whole team of people out there that your a part of. The structure of Affiliate Marketing (in the traditional sense) is very straightforward:
Affiliate Marketer ==>OPM/AM ==> Network ==> Merchant
Affiliate Marketers have other Affiliate Marketers and many OPM/AM’s that work together thru a network to produce sales for a Merchant. There are places like AffSpot where people interact (as well as Facebook, Twitter, etc.).
We all have relationships with each of these entities. OPM/AMs, Networks, Merchants, other Affiliate Marketers. And few of us leverage these relationships. You see, it PAYS to become acquainted with the people who (in their own best interest) want you to succeed. But just like you, they’re busy people. So not everyone can reach out to everyone all the time. If you need help, you need to ask for it. If you’ve developed relationships with the real people at your favorite Network, OPM, Merchant, etc. more than likely you won’t be lost in the pile of stuff they all have to do every day. Since you have built a relationship with them you won’t be forgotten. Since you help them out when they need help they’ll help you out when your in need.
Take a little time and get to know people. People who want to help you, whose job it is to help you. You’ll be very surprised at how large a “support network” you can build for your business and how much happier you’ll be making friends in the industry.
Maybe this is the very piece your missing for your next step up in the world of Affiliate Marketing.
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