Why I Love Affiliate Marketing (I’m Dreaming Bigger Now)

I haven’t been feeling the Follow Friday vibe much lately but I posted one today:

This after I received an affiliate sale notification from her program.  There’s something pretty inspiring about earning $150 in commission, wouldn’t you agree?

There’s no doubt I love what I do and make a good living at it. One of the greatest things about being an internet business entrepreneur is that there are no limits – and right now, I’m focusing in on that because I’ve decided it’s time to make more money. (And I know I can do it!)

I remember when I first started my online business.  I just wanted to make a couple hundred dollars a month.   Time and experience certainly raised my expectations.  I paid off my debts, left my day job and have enjoyed freedoms I once only dreamed of. 

If that sounds like a sales letter testimonial, I apologize   It’s not meant to – it’s what really happened for me.

What you need to understand though is that the ‘freedoms’ I’ve enjoyed – are pretty relative.  For a single mom who struggled paying the bills for more than fourteen years, just being able to pay them and not worry is a big freedom.  Add in some gadgets and fun and I felt rich!  What can I say?  I’m easy to please.

At least I have been.

Talking in real numbers, I’ve earned between $30,000 and $45,000 a year over the last three.  Less when I was focused on helping family out and more when I was more focused on building my business.  I’m not talking these numbers down – I’m proud of them!  But I know I can do better.

And now I want to.

That’s the key isn’t it?  Being an entrepreneur is about pursuing your goals and dreams. Some people dream perfectly wonderful small dreams and when they are achieved, feel fabulous.  I’ve felt great about my accomplishments so far and quite satisfied with the resulting income.

But lately, I’ve been dreaming about more.

I want to do some more things for me. I want to travel more and drive a nicer car. I want to do more to secure my financial future.

I’m driving up to Gaylord this weekend to look at a vacation house to rent for the next nine months because I’d like to split my schedule between here and there and enjoy more down time.

It sounds dreamy, doesn’t it?

I know I can make everything I want happen if I want it bad enough. With the right projects and focused attention, anything really is possible.

The only problem is that I almost seem to be dreaming at cross purposes with myself.  On one hand, I want to have more great down time in a furnished lake house on Otsego Lake.  On the other hand, to get that, I have to work harder and make more money.

Rethink that… I don’t have to work harder – I have to work smarter.

(Something @aliceseba has taught me a lot about over the years.)

Again, with an internet business – there are no limits.  My websites work for me 24 hours a day.  I wake up every morning to sales notices, both from my own products and from my recommendations for others – most of it is now very passive in nature. (I created some projects years ago and continue to earn well from them.)  If I want to make more money – I just have to create smart new projects and give older projects an artful nudge.

With my years of experience, and a mind open to how our industry is constantly changing, I know I can make my new dreams come true.

I’ve decided that between now and the end of the year I’ll put a lot of focus on affiliate marketing. Why?  Because as an affiliate, I can earn money from products I don’t have to take the time to create.

Like today, when I earned $150 from Alice.  She created the product, I just had to recommend it to my list and voila: one fourth of the cash I need for a deposit on my lake house   Now to do that again and again and again, right?

Time to Amp It Up!

I’m taking Jimmy D. Brown’s Affiliatenaire course.  I signed up a few months back when it first launched and have been tucking the lessons away in my gmail account – sounds like now is the perfect time to pull them out and put them to good use.  Jimmy always inspires me and his learning programs are easy to follow.  I’ve taken his Membernaire course in the past to learn more about running paid membership programs and have since launched two successful fixed term membership programs.

My first goal is to add $1000 to my monthly income.  Then, to reach a regular goal of $10,000 per month.

Anybody want to join me in boosting their affiliate income?  Would love to hear from those who are focusing on the same things right now.

If you liked this article, you might also enjoy:

1. We Are The Hungry Women of Internet Marketing
2. Affiliate Marketing Vs MLM
3. Overdue Link Love for Stuff You’ll Love