Can Affiliate Marketers make truly sustainable income?

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   DrMikeFitzpatrickposted 13 years ago

   I wonder how affiliates actually make money. If you sell Amazon books, HOW? Do you set up websites to sell others products? If so, do you all know html code to be a successful affiliate? How many products do you have to sell to make over $3,000 a month? Is your business eventually a "set-it-and-forget-it" venture? Are there any opinions on Ty Tribble's I Lead System? Tx, Dr. Mike

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      Maddie Ruudposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      There's no such thing as a "set-it-and-forget-it" affiliate marketing business.  Anyone who tells you different is, quite literally, selling something.
      
      I don't put stock in special programs that promise you secret tips or software to make you millions in your sleep, or MLM-type nonsense.  That stuff is all borderline (if not completely) unethical anyway.  Not that most people care much about that on the internet...
      
      Write good content, place relevant ads/products on it.  Repeat.

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         DrMikeFitzpatrickposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         okay, i easily follow you, but have specific questions-i write a publication about dog training, and how would i get ads that benefit myself with regards to dog stuff? in other words, place relevant ads.....how do people do that specific item? tx in advance

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   2. 89

      Marisa Wrightposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Affiliates do make money. It used to be possible right here on HubPages, by using the eBay and Amazon capsules.  You can't use the eBay capsules now unless you're already a member of the eBay affiliate program, and the Amazon program is under threat - so yes, you would have to create your own website these days.
      
      If you use Wordpress, you don't need to know HTML to set up a basic site. 
      
      
      
      It depends what level of commissions you're paid.  Some affiliate companies pay a bigger percentage than others.
      
      
      
      I don't believe it would ever be completely set and forget.  For a start, there's a big learning curve.  Unless you sign up for a good course, it's very easy to stumble around for a year or two working out what you're supposed to be doing.  And there always seem to be things that need attention - new versions of software, Google changing its algorithm, merchants changing their TOS, etc. 
      
      
      
      I've never heard of it.  The two most recommended courses are Market Samurai and Keyword Academy.  They'll teach you how to create a blog or website that will get readers, which is the most important thing.

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         DrMikeFitzpatrickposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         wonderful info, that will help both myself and others-THANK YOU!

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      2. 34

         DrMikeFitzpatrickposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         affiliate companies? if you wish to remain anoymous with your sources, i certainly can appreciate that. can you name some that may not be yours or the top tier? i am curious what they would do with a "newbie". tx

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         1. 89

            Marisa Wrightposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            If you set up your website and write some content, you shouldn't have any problems.  They don't ask to see a track record. 
            
            I wrote a Hub called "How to Monetize Blogger" which is relevant to any blog.  Check out companies like ShareASale, Affiliate Future, Linkshare.

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      3. 34

         DrMikeFitzpatrickposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         okay, i will make another attempt to figure and use wordpress. i feel the headache already.......my non-computer brain is about to get shocked. who knows, maybe i will learn what a widget is and how to use it too, that would be awesome!

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2. 74

   Richieb799posted 13 years ago

   To be successful you need guaranteed organic traffic and multiple revenue programs and sites.

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      DrMikeFitzpatrickposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      cool, i get that. any organic traffic recommendations? tx for the reply too!

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         lumberjackposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Write good content that people feel compelled to recommend to others.

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            DrMikeFitzpatrickposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            would that be an affiliate with writing skills, or a writer who affiliates? probably a bit of both, good word lumberjack, tx.

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3. 81

   sunforgedposted 13 years ago

   If amazon was your affiliate source and 3000.00 usd was your goal
   
   You would need to sell about 37,500 in gross sales in that month. Whether that's 24 plasma tvs (reduced commish rate) or 800 video games is up to you
   
   For a combination of aff programs these figures may be helpful
   
   HTML is helpful but not necessary, but if someone is expecting to make an income online using websites learning at least html should be expected
   
   no real, set and forget, but you can always try or cover obscure niches

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      carol3sanposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I believe the only way anyone can make a decent amount of money is to work very hard at it day in and day out, and by having multiple affiliate programs.  It is not at all easy the way some people would like for you to believe, and definitely not a part time job if you want to make decent money from it.

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      1. 34

         DrMikeFitzpatrickposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         thank you Carol-i love "hard work", i do not even own a TV so can work all the time except when i cook for the family. i would not however if i could not set it at some point and forget it and walk away.

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   2. 34

      DrMikeFitzpatrickposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      thanks for the numbers break down-a language i can speak! good food for thought. you also remind me how big the video game market is too and that it dwarfs even the movie industry billions annually.

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4. 81

   Stacie Lposted 13 years ago

   I have tried affiliate programs for years..and think there way too much hype about the returns..

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   1. 34

      DrMikeFitzpatrickposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      the basis of the question. when we "settle for less, we get it". we all have so very little sand in our hour glass of life, makes sense to settle for more

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5. 96

   CMHypnoposted 13 years ago

   Aren't you the guy who was trying to sell us some 'secret formula' that would make us thousands of dollars and saying that you could coach us to become amazingly financially successful a few weeks ago and telling us how much money you made?
   
   If so, it just seems a bit strange to me why are you now asking for advice on affiliate marketing?
   
   
   http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/78867

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   1. 77

      wheelinalloverposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      CMHypno even people who know a lot can gain from listening to others. Everything anyone knows is learned either by hard knocks or from someone who has been in a certain situation. I am personally more apt to get involved with someone who asks questions than someone who doesn't.
      
      There are very few who ask themselves a question and don't stop until they have found their own answer. Most people usually get bits and pieces of information here and there and put them together to form their own opinion or their answer to a question.
      
      If I had not asked questions six months ago I would be broke and in debt up to my eyeballs with no hope for a future. The bet I became involved with turned things around for the corporation.
      
      Taking bits and pieces of information and putting them together to create a cohesive whole, then constantly asking myself and others is this going to work answered the overall question. For that bet I imagine I asked at least a few thousand questions.
      
      Now things are looking up and people are actually reading and listening to what I have to say. There is no way however I am through asking questions. No one knows everything me included, so I am always going to have questions about how to improve upon what I now have.

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      1. 96

         CMHypnoposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Oh I'm all for people asking questions - I ask questions all the time.
         
         But it just strikes me as slightly ironic that our friend was trying to sell us information on making money just recently, and now is asking questions about how to make money.
         
         It's just that there has been a long history of people on this site who pose as experts, say on SEO or getting website traffic, write hubs on the subject and then ask basic questions about the very subject that they have been writing about.
         
         Ask questions, learn first and then write hubs and open forum posts telling other people how to do it.

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   2. 34

      DrMikeFitzpatrickposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      i have zero problem with what some may consider "tough questions", you do not do what i did and be a wimp doing it. heck, i got slammed using my wife of 22 years, only marriage and kids photo whom have never known me to have to go to work and been a dad 24/7 their whole lives, so, because i made a ton "off line" doesn't mean i have made a penny on line-i also took 5 years off and did nothing but travel, play, cook, be with my wife and girls. they are older and i have decided to go back to work. because i love starting new, profitable businesses that insist on helping others profit, i never get "tired" of my work, in fact, i love it. i figure when i do figure this internet thing out, again, i can help many who wish it. thanks for the questions. if you wish to contact me directly, you can email me if you wish to discuss personal items? such as, you live within minutes of where my son lives. a successful entrpreneur in his own right working at Gieves&Hawkes. we are all successful in our own lives, making money is not synonomous with "success". it is the goal of any business however-you do not go into business to unprofitable. warren buffet the multi-billionaire still goes to work everyday. doing what you love, and getting paid for it? that is the ultimate.

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6. 56

   adamsbellposted 11 years ago

   Affiliate marketing is one of the most versatile methods of online advertising in which advertisers / clients pay affiliates  only for results / performance, like a visitor making a purchase or filling out a form, rather than paying simply to reach a particular audience.The income of the affiliate marketer is depends on down-line, its not fixed.

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