Ride or die... (13)
Warning: boring personal crap below. Scroll to the bottom of the post if you want details only.
<personalcrap>
Yeah, I think it's important but no worries if you don't care;]
Little background... I have started with 'online stuff' when stuffing your page with keywords and generating butt-load of pages was enough to make money online. I didn't made much, I was more interested in learning new stuff and testing ideas. Jack of all trades, master of none - that should be my CV 
I did some web design and dev for clients, worked with agencies and in-house doing mainly SEO (including some of well known brands) and PPC (managing 0.5+mil GBP / month ). I was also doing stuff on the side, testing, freelancing, running some affiliate stuff or just fucking around for fun... Like finding some stupid legacy system for registering .co.za domains through email, where you have 3 months to pay for the domain but it's live in 24h. I guess registering 3 x total amount of live domains could rise some flags... At peak time of ALN I owned more than half of domains there and pushed gambling through their filters (what wasn't hard as whoever was coding it, had no imagination at all). Before someone angry shouts I've killed ALN - no, I did not. Maulana killed it by not listening to people who knew how to deal with networks. From each PR drop I've never lost more than 5-6% of domains (which is less than average on dropped domains) and after final wipe I still had a lot of domain left but what's the point of using a network to post to my own domains and pay for it. (PM me if you need help with securing networks).
Anyway... I had times with upper x,xxx / day from single domain or some crazy adwo campaigns with $0.05CPC on highly converting keywords. I did run gambling on adwo in countries where it wasn't allowed, did some negative PPC stuff and so on. I think I can honestly say I have some skills and experience in IM.
Now the other side of the story. Since I remember I was 'different'. Always had average end-year scores at school, but if looked on the details, it was top of the class or barely enough to pass the topic. I've been told I'm lazy, I have potential but not using it, I have attitude or problems with authority etc. Low self-esteem, being introvert and having not exactly inspiring childhood had some part in it as well. When I liked something - I didn't needed to study it. I just wanted to know more or be better at it. Example: we had a crazy physics teacher. Everyone hated him because he asked questions in such a way that forced you to really understand what you talking about. Even class nerds with highest grades from everything ware struggling to pass. I had highest scores in the school. I wasn't much interested in physics but because it pissed off everyone else - it somehow made it interesting. The same was with any activity. I didn't liked sports much. I hated running, football was boring for me but I was in sport school so had no choice. Always picked last, stuck on position no one wanted to play etc. Until I discovered basketball. I could keep running whole day, practicing shots and moves. Every year we had something like school olympics. Each year had 4-5 groups, one group called "S" had people best at sports. Fastest, strongest, pro training programs, training camps. I wasn't in it 
In fact, I've ended up with 'leftovers': overweight, almost blind, nerds that see sun light twice a year. I've convinced them to make a team and compete in basketball tournament. Everyone was laughing, including our own team. No bullying or something, just something done as a joke. We didn't won the tournament, but losing only in finals, against 2 years older "S" group, wasn't that bad at all :-) It wasn't always as fun... I had problems for disagreeing with teachers. Had problems passing some of the classes... I was too lazy to learn or just memorize some basic stuff. I couldn't force myself. I knew I'll be in trouble but I wanted to draw or read comic book or whatever. When I've tried to force myself to do something, I couldn't. I kept thinking about stuff that I wanted to do. I could have book open, I was reading it and at the same time I was day-dreaming about something else. My parents tried 'helping' me. They ware checking my homework every day, checking what was was at school and what I need to be prepared for next day. So I've started lying. Ripping off pages from my notebooks, telling them stuff I've already knew as something I need to learn so when they ask me some questions to check, I know I can answer them. Ending up breaking into teachers office to replace my official grade report with one I've made myself. So what everyone, including my parents, could think? My dad wasn't a very understanding person. Years of melting his brain with alcohol could have something to do with it... When you hear you will never achieve anything, are no good even for ditching, are lazy and wasting time for stupid things, a flash in the pan with nothing ever done to the end - you believe in it. As a child you are developing some skills and behaviors, but around that information. That's your constant. Defines everything, explains everything.
Why I'm writing about all this shit and why I'm writing it here, instead of some psyho board for mindfucked adults with childhood issues?
My whole life I was struggling with stuff that for others was so easy, they didn't even notice it. I have the knowledge, skills and enough IQ to use them but somehow I'm missing, what seems to be, the easiest part. Why I'm not doing this or that? When I've found something that works and can make nice $ - why I'm not doing it? I'm starting to work on SEO for my site and 5 hours later I have 50 tabs open, video-tutorial playing, downloading new amazing software I need to learn, ebook with Japanese lessons and half way through coding some new idea I had... Sounds simple to solve, right? Organize your shit, make a project plan or just write down your tasks for the day and stick to it. I did. Many times. Over and over again. I've tried sticky notes, but I was forgetting to look at them. So I've tried sticking them to a screen and still somehow managed to not see them. Going to sleep at 2-3am, waking up at 6. Working so much but somehow with no results. Why? Because I'm a lazy fuck that has excuses. Because I can't stick to something to the end. I feel guilty for wasting another day. I want to change it. Making new lists, going through ideas, picking 1 or 2 to focus on. Another day - same result. Day after day... Just a matter of time when that blind circle ends with depression. In last act of total helplessness I'm ending up on the couch at psychiatrist's office. Few random questions, some surveys and my brain technician gives me a 'good news': it's not depression. How that's a good news? If it's not than what's wrong with me? God mode laziness - level Asian? No... It's more simple than that. Few tests and she's 100% sure - my brain is genetically fucked. Frontal lobe doesn't produce enough dopamine. Wiki: "In the brain, dopamine functions as a neurotransmitter—a chemical released by nerve cells to send signals to other nerve cells. The brain includes several distinct dopamine systems, one of which plays a major role in reward-motivated behavior. Most types of reward increase the level of dopamine in the brain, and a variety of addictive drugs increase dopamine neuronal activity." Sir, you have something called ADD. What? ADHD? No, it's ADD - same shit, but without hyperactive part. Because of that, it's often overlooked and symptoms are explained as child just being shy or lazy. Yeah... I think that rings a bell or two...
To make this long story a little less long:
My ADD is very severe and persistent. It wasn't ever treated (except my pointless drug experimentation... dopamine is responsible for delivering effects of using amphetamine, cocaine or even caffeine - yeah, all of those, and bunch of others, have jack shit effect on me) and my super resistance to drugs (I'm already over max daily dose of concerta, with no effect at all) is not helping at all. She tried a bunch of different meds, combinations and doses with no luck.
It's hard to understand if you don't have it and a lot of people think "yeah, I have the same. Sometimes I don't want to do this or I watch YT instead of working". It's not the same, believe me... Every information that comes in, seems equally important and because dopamine levels are so low, brain is chasing anything that gets a little more of it. Now try to explain to your wife, how from making a tea in the kitchen you've ended up researching on your mobile how to breed silkworms while having a blast on your daughter's swing in the garden...
\/\/\/ more in next post \/\/\/
Recently I had a wake-up call. I've been in motorcycle accident. Some small injuries, broken bones etc. but considering going 120+ head on into a car (why bother stopping, indicating or even looking when you entering traffic... 1:0 for lady drivers) There was nothing left from the bike. Broken grass, plastic and random parts shattered across two lanes. Anyway, when I got better I wanted to buy new bike and realized I can't afford one. I was stuck so much in that crazy circle that I didn't realize what was going on. All my sites slowly died, some got penalized, some ware abandoned or hosting wasn't paid etc. I've spent all my savings and have no income (except my full time job, but that is not even enough to pay the rent). So... No more room for excuses, safety nets or crying about having broken brain. I know myself and now, when I know all this shit wasn't entirely my fault, there's a chance I can overcome it. According to psychiatrist, best way to go about it 'coaching' or getting on something with people that do what I do and know about my problems. Great, but where I can find marketing experts support group? LOL That's why I've decided to start this thread.
I can't fix my brain or work it through to suddenly feel emotions or even be able to understand how it is to feel accomplishment or whatever it is you guys have when you get stuff done. I don't have it and it's safe to assume I never will. Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Nicolai Tesla... Yup, they all had it. It can be used as advantage and that is what I'm going to do.
Commitment. I'm flying my wife and daughter to Europe so I have more time for work and less distractions/excuses. They flying out in 9 days. I didn't get return tickets for them... I have tiny budget left. Enough to survive next 2 months and few k for campaigns. No more lies, unclear situations or convincing myself that sitting for hours at my PC means I'm working my ass off. I'm burning all the bridges, leaving no space for error. I'm pretty much fucked if I won't pull my shit together and won't have little luck on top of it. I can't quit my fulltime job, but I will do what I can to use this time as effectively as possible. My brief schedule is very simple and will focus on creating new habits and being effective.
I'll get up 30min before normal time to run or skip (exercising increases dopamine level), force myself to eat breakfast (usually lunch is my first meal of the day), go to work. After work grab something real to eat (no pizza and fast foods!) and head straight back home. Do whatever house related stuff needs to be done and get 45-60min nap. 19:00 real work starts. 15min to go through previous day tasks and add new for the day. Every time before I want to open new tab or click a link, I will need to answer simple question: is it required to get any on today's tasks done. I will paint it on the wall, write down on my hand, tattoo on my eyeballs if I need to. I'm also setting a time limit in order to stay productive - 24:30 I'm heading off to bed. With important stuff - 01:00. Alarm clock set on those times, every day. Weekends I'll give myself extra hour of sleep, everything else stays the same. Only difference would be going to my office instead of driving to work All distractions at home will also be eliminated... Consoles, games, movies, books - everything goes to the garage. No distractions and nothing else than work to do.
Maybe it's extreme but it got to a point with only two options so.... RIDE OR DIE!
Just one more thing. If you really read all that - respect and thank you.
</personalcrap>
I'm a complete noob in CPA offers. I know PPC very well (adwo, bing/yahoo) but my budget is relatively small so I don't want to go there before I'm confident I understand how this whole beast works and I can track everything. I've spent few days reading posts on STM and came to a conclusion it doesn't matter what exactly I do. I need to pick source of traffic, decide what offer I'm going to promote and go forward with it.
So here's what I've done so far:
- got beyondhosting VPS (thanks for STM discount!) - I must point this out.... They have the best customer support I've seen in my life (and I'm doing SEO for over 10years so I've used one or two providers before...). Super fast and super helpful. They even helped me with issues that ware not hosting related.
- CPVlab - installed and live
- signed up to 20+ networks, got declined on most of them (beauty of starting new adventures...) but also got few live.
- Paid $150 into 7search and started 4 campaigns in English speaking countries.
- Trying to setup tracking. It works, except conversion data. I've messed something up with postback (anyone knows how URL structure should look for revclickmedia -> cpvlab ?)
I was going to start with MaxBounty but friend recommended revclickmedia. I've talked with Kariim on skype and he helped me with setup and answered some of my noob questions. I've decided to kick off with high paying weight loss offer (I know - old SEO habit) and 7search for traffic. I know 7search doesn't have the best reputation or much room to scale but it's dead easy if you know PPC and should be good for good for learning (should I move to some cheap, high volume source?) I can't access the stats at the moment, but will post some numbers later today.
Steps for now:
- sort out conversion tracking
- add all extra variables that can be tracked
- get few landers up
- I'm thinking if I should try logtail on bing already
- post numbers on STM
Goal: consistent $100/day in green
Numbers up to date:
| Date | Impressions | Total Clicks | CTR | Total Cost | CPC | Conv | Profit |
| 0/31/2014 | 1 | 1 | 100% | $0.35 | $0.35 | 0 | ($0.35) |
| 4/1/2014 | 381 | 8 | 2.1% | $4.74 | $0.59 | 0 | ($4.74) |
| 4/2/2014 | 2,910 | 55 | 1.89% | $30.87 | $0.56 | 0 | ($30.87) |
| 4/3/2014 | 5,323 | 83 | 1.56% | $38.02 | $0.46 | 1 | $13.98 |
| 4/4/2014 | 2,001 | 54 | 2.7% | $23.24 | $0.43 | 0 | ($23.24) |
| Total: | 10,616 | 201 | 1.9% | $97.22 | $0.48 | 1 | ($45.22) |
I think I'll try affinity as well and will look for something to test on low paying offers (any recommendations?).
Usually, I am all for people trying to take control of their lives and focusing on a task with utmost dedication, but I really hope you are not taking this "Ride or die" thing literally.
There is a healthy type of obsession and then there is an extremely unhealthy type. I do worry that you may be heading toward the latter.
Please be careful.
Don't worry. I want to get things where they suppose to be and not just move from one madness to another.
OK, normally I'd advise against 7search, but given your PPC experience I'd say sticking with conventional PPC sources is a good idea. You may want to try some Bing campaigns at long tail sooner rather than later.
My #1 recommendation, however, would be to join more networks. The more networks you have, the more access to offers you have, and the more chance you have of split-testing to something highly profitable.
Finally, I know you feel like if this doesn't work you're completely fucked - but please remember, there are nearly always options. Focus is good, and you've clearly got a lot of that, but in your situation despair could be the enemy. If for whatever reason your goal is looking like it'll take longer than you expect, don't give in, and keep looking for other approaches. Ask on STM if you think you're stuck - besides affiliate marketing, we're remarkably good at general life advice and encouragement here
Good luck, and keep us updated.
I'm going to slow down with 7search. I'm not sure if quality is there.
Bing is ready to go. I'm going to setup some new landing pages and start slowly.
Results are not impressive: $250 invested in learning, got $50 back
I'm still thinking if I shouldn't start with POF. Everyone seems to agree it's best source to start with and relatively easy to get in green with.
My plan for next few days:
- slow down 7 search
- get few landing pages up
- set bing ads live
- find few low paying offers to test
I have adwords account with some nice history, running on keep-alive mode at the moment. I'm tempted... but going to stick with bing for now.
Yeah 7search might not be best quality anymore, $200 in learning still a drop in the ocean mang, keep going.
POF is easy to get profitable, but its pretty up and down still. Its just a great platform with plenty of targeting options to get your feet wet in affiliate marketing, depending on your budget I would go mobile or adult over POF, but if you have a budget under $2000 then POF will be a better option mang keep us updated ride or die
Sorry for quiet week, I had some personal stuff to sort out.
I've hit few problems...
- Paypal decided to stop accepting my CC. It worked fine last 4 years, but recently it's screaming about verification problems and contacting with my bank. I can draw cash from ATM but can't pay with. There are funds on the account etc. so I have no idea why it's happening.
- Bing pissed me off. I've made new account, everything went ok but could not sign in (more here: http://stmforum.com/forum/showthread.php?14936-Bing-Ads). I've tried few times: different browser, different IP etc. - same result. I'm going to create clean virtual machine to check if that helps. If not - I'm out of ideas.
- No stats from 7search as I can't fund it anymore [thank you paypal!]. As soon as I sort out paypal, I will continue testing 7seach
- I'm researching what people are advertising on FB with SocialAdNinja. I'm not planning to start with FB yet (or maybe I should? I was playing with cloaking FB and it turned out to be quite easy), just looking for ideas.
To do:
- contact HSBC UK (how I love call center and people with so strong accent I'm ending up calling few times until I get someone who I can understand...) and check if there's anything on their side
- setup VM to test with Bing and for future use with FB / Adwo
- signup with POF and do a little research
- create few landers
- start sending traffic :]
Looks good so far.
Hey, any updates on this? I've read your story, very interesting, would love to hear how your journey continued....
Originally Posted by bentho
Interesting story Bro...
You might be running the wrong race here, it's a marathon not a sprint.
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