Build A Website and Get Your Feet Wet In Affiliate Marketing
By Vickie J. Scanlon
If you want to have a business online, you need to build a website. A
website helps to promote your products, as well as, identifies you on
the Internet. When I created my website, I went on the premise of "wanting to learn how
to do it" as I experience the essence of building my business. I realize now, that even though I learned quite
a bit, it did slow my progress down. Read on, I'll tell you want I
mean.
A Little History First
After attempting to do typing on the Internet -- you're right -- my
first newbie scam. It wasn't a true scam, because I was paid.
However, I put in long hours for very, very little pay. Does that
read green, naive newbie all over it? Yes, I'm afraid it does.
Needless to say, I gave that up and began looking for something that
would give me a viable income -- affiliate marketing was the answer.
Thus, my adventure began.
Getting a Web Host and Domain
Well, after much reading, I realized I needed to get a web host and a
domain if I was looking for a long-haul attempt at making it in
affiliate marketing. I found a pretty good web host, paid for my
domain -- And, now I was ready to build my website...
My first advise here is -- If you are inexperienced in web
construction and you want a quick presence online, I would go with a
web host that has web tools which includes Site Studio. It saves you
time, money and gets you up and moving quickly.
Building My Website
I decided to use FrontPage (with a dash of HTML) to create my website
-- in my first attempt.
Well, my first attempt was beyond words -- no one wanted to hurt my
feelings -- the website was beyond bad and the color was what I call
Medicine Yellow. But I was still in the glow, and I must say, working
with blinders on. (This was my first mistake, my knowledge was
limited -- I should have utilized Site Studio that was available to
me.)
Needless to say, my first attempt did not stay up long. I went back to work
restructuring my ugly site -- my second attempt. I changed
the color to a dark green with a base of gray. At the time it looked
good, I thought. I actually got, "you're improving" from a friend.
But somehow, it looked, well -- downtrodden.
Third restructuring came when -- after a year, I came upon an article
that stated, "if you are using Times Roman -- even though it is easy
to read, it reads amateur all over it." My first internal thought
was, "Crap, I've got to do my website over again."
So, once again, I began restructuring my site. This time around, I
decided to go with a lighter green for my website (just as well, I was
going to have to change everything anyway), revamped by Google Ads (4
times), and changed the lettering to "Arial".
By the way, it has been said that either "Georgia" or "Arial" are the
two fonts that will give your website a professional look. And you
know -- they were right. After changing from "Times Roman" to "Arial"
-- it gave my website a cleaner and more professional look.
Color as well, is important to your website -- it is part of your
total presentation of your site to prospective visitors. How
important is color -- if they don't like it, they are just a click
away from removing your site from their vision.
After all the overhauling and tweaking of my website, I believe it is
now presentable, brighter and personable to my visitors.
However, I, as well as you, should realize that you are never done
with your website. You should always be looking at ways to improve the
appearance, products, and service available to your visitors.
Becoming An Affiliate
You cannot be an affiliate marketer without affiliate products. With
that being said, you can start your journey as an affiliate marketer
by looking at the following sites for items that fit your theme and of
which you can make a commission.
Commission Junction
ClickBank
Now, don't be disappointed if some of the vendors turn you down in the
beginning -- after you have your website up for a while, you will find
that some vendors will be dropping you an email and requesting that
you sell their product for them. It's flattering, however, be sure
that you can blend it nicely into your website theme.
Getting Your Feet Wet
The water may be cold, tepid, or hot -- it depends on your skill level
when you begin your journey online (I believe my feet were in the cold
phase when I started) -- but you have to get your feet wet. Do your
research, get all your ducks in a roll, and begin your journey. If
you sit on the fence too long, you will never jump in.
Get what Internet tools you can, read all that you can, and stay
positive, even if it means you have to step away from your computer
for a day or two to regroup your thoughts.
As you can see from my experience, I jumped in, had some setbacks,
some disappoints, but also some individual triumphs. The most
important thing to remember is to close your mind to your own negative
thoughts, and the negative words of those around you. Why? They can
cripple you, and slow or even end your journey toward success.
If you know in your gut, that what you are doing will succeed -- say
nothing -- just keep on keeping on. Soon, the naysayers will be
saying something positive.
About the Author
Vickie J Scanlon -- Visit her site at: http://www.myaffiliateplace.biz
for free tools, articles, ebooks, how to info, affiliate
opportunities, utilities security software, tech accessories, travel
accessories, computers -- all geared to help the
affiliate/small business person online.
