ProgramTrader follow along (15)
Here I Come! After months of dipping into STM success stories, tips, follow alongs and advice, it's time to take action.
I've been looking for a way to create my own income stream (I currently trade stocks for a bank - very profitable, but very stressful and long hours).
MOTIVATIONS
Enjoy the Journey each day
Master a worthwhile Skill
Full financial freedom
Make lots of contacts and a few good friends in a new industry
Be part of a growth industry (more opportunities)
Wake up without an alarm clock each day (assuming I make enough to do this full time one day)
Living where I want, when I want (Luxury Homes in London, NY, South of France + as many 5* hotel suites as I desire!)
Respect: Turning upto a BBQ with alot of traders. I thought I had the best car in the driveway - until I noticed the custom Ferrari - owned by a guy who ran Poker Aff sites and had gone from zero to hero in 2 years!
AM was not my first choice, in fact the list included:
1. Information Websites - I started here and learnt that I hated the SEO part, only enjoyed content creation & site design.
2. Aff Website - I have a niche idea based on a fusion of Fancy.com and TIWIB.com. Keeping this idea for later.
3. Product creation - I can create a very good, concise trading / investing ebook. Not sure how well it would sell + lots of competition - will keep it for later.
4. Affiliate Marketing.
So why have I chosen AM?
Because of STM! I've never seen a forum so rich with info and support from The Top Players. Whenever I would get stuck with websites, it's a resource like STM I needed. Mastermind groups could have helped, but I want to hear from the TOP GUYS in the industry on a regular basis. STM has that.
I will commit to AM for 3 - 6months, then see if I decide to continue. If not, I'll build the Aff Website (site selling / linking to products on Amazon etc).
So here's my personal character analysis, the things that will help and hinder:
+VE
Very strong work ethic
Good discipline and motivation
Very creative mind - enjoy marketing
Strong desire to build a meaningful alternate income stream
I know how to handle money and scale. On a slow day I may trade $25m of stock. On a big day its $300 million.
I'm used to handling losers (losing trades are like losing campaigns) and have good Risk control.
-VE
My biggest concern is lacking consistency and time. I start the day job at 6.30am and finish between 6pm and 10pm. I have erratic time allowance for AM: 3 hours one day, nothing the next, 60mins the day after, then 4hours. Best case is a consistent 60-90 minutes a day (which I fear is not enough).
I love the new and shiny - easily get distracted and may be a month in and think "I should switch vertical / traffic source / go and build websites / create software….)
I have had problems in the past (building websites) by giving up just as I get to the monetizing stage (I'm much more interested in building than seeing the final creation through)
I'm concerned about the learning curve time: servers, tracking software, photoshop, learning coding, dealing with networks etc..)
I can spend hours trying to figure something out, or find answers online, rather than just ask the question (I hate to bother people).
I'm scared of failing / losing and can sabotage myself to avoid that happening.
I hate rejection (although it's big part of trading)
I FEAR CRITICISM, so I often wimp out to avoid it
I stand in my own way!
GAME-PLAN
Guidance:
1. Caurmen's Getting Started in 2013 - 2014 Guide.
2. Find a Mastermind group, once I know my traffic source.
3. Persuade a Super Aff, based in England to spend 2 hours showing me the ropes first hand (looking over their shoulder) in return for 2 hours of Trading / Investment coaching + a lifetime of Answers to Trading Q's.
Financials:
Budget: £20 - £30 a day to start?
1st Financial Target: £10 profit a day, within 2months of first Campaign.
Action Targets:
1. COMPLETED. Web Server. VPS Starter from Beyond Hosting, with STM discount.
2. COMPLETED. Tracking Software. Install Prosper 202.
3. HTML knowledge. Decide what to do. I have a 2 yr old version of DreamWeaver. Do not know how to use it / if to use that or learn HTML from http://www.codecademy.com/
4. Graphics Program. Will probably begin with PS Elements.
5. Community - Thank You STMers!
6. Aff Networks - I guess I should decide which Vertical to target first?
7. Traffic Source - need to do some more reading to know whats best for a newbie.
8. Vertical - more research required. No idea, but not adult and unlikely to go for dating as the good lady wouldn't be impressed! Not sure if I should be looking at 'niche' or broad here (i.e. solar panels or gaming, or somewhere in-between).
Targets for Sat 10th May:
1. Install Prosper
2. Download and Learn the basics of a graphics package by creating an Ad for my UK RealEstate eBook on my info-site
3. Learn how to make an LP (if that means learning DW or HTML, this could be a longer task)
4. Research Verticals. Choose one.
5. Research Traffic sources. Choose one.
6. Write an update on my STM Follow Along.
Thanks for sharing the Journey with Me !
Hi. Welcome. I'm from uk.. have been trading fx and indices on and off for last decade or so .. and own some reasonably large financial/stock sites and do a bit of AM. Maybe pm me and can skype if you want.
Nice plan ProgramTrader, when you will start selling that trading book, let me know, I will buy it first 
That sounds like a very good plan.
The challenge now is to take action and don't give up.
I may have repeated this many times but pretty much you can't fail in AM if you have the motivation to keep going and not getting discouraged.
UPDATE 4th May:
Prosper Installed (after help from STM'ers)
Applications filed with: A4D, Adsimilis, convert2media, AdAttraction. PM's sent to Reps.
Have you started on your LPs yet? If not, I use a programe called https://webflow.com/. It is web based and also creates responsive versions of websites so that it is correctly formatted for mobile / tablet etc
I have not, so thank you for the tip. Been all over the place, so next steps are Skype'ing the Network guys to get accepted then choosing a traffic source and vertical. Based on 'ease-of-use' to cut my teeth, looks like POF maybe the way to go, although my creative side is yearning to test out some ideas on Teespring with FB traffic.
People will tell you to goto POF.. personally.. I think it's one of the hardest places to start.. and the majority of their traffic is now mobile.
If you're going to learn a source inside out, I say start with FB as there's unlimited volume.. just stick with compliant offers till you cut your teeth..
There are definitely other options than just POF for learning, these days.
POF is great if you've got a very small budget, because you can micro-target.
It may be of interest to hear that we're about to come out with a new mobile guide for newbies!
@dynamicsoul - thank you for the wisdom - appreciated!
@caurmen - 'new mobile guide for newbies' ...... "drool"..... gimme,gimme,gimme!
Have you guys come across the 'webflow' program cooperoil mentions - just wondering if you know whether it is 'lite' enough for LPs versus raw html....
Webflow looks really nice, kinda like Macaw.
In the end there are dozens of tools that will let you do the same thing and it's up to you to find your personal preference.
Design by code, use Muse, Reflow, Macaw, Webflow, Leadpages, etc., there's no one size fits all.
@ProgramTrader: mobile guide is in my signature now! Enjoy!
Originally Posted by caurmen
A Month behind target, Progress:
MOBILE it is.... using Caurmen's mobile cookbook as my guide
Traffic:
DECISIVE
AffNetworks:
Adsimilis - approved
Convert2Media - approved
AdAttraction - approved
A4D - awaiting
Graphics: PhotoShop CC
NEXT TARGETS:
1. Pick a Vertical: Pin Submits, Dating, App Installs......??
2. Create some campaigns
GOAL DATE: 16 June
ProgramTrader, what is your Skype? i started trading verticals earlier this year, been trading options for 7 months now. < 5% DD week over week. weeklies on SPY, the Q's and VIX primarily. since i am in the states i am unable to trade OTC digitals but am looking for an avenue to do so as my next step in the trading world was wondering if we could talk shop. i have quite a bit of AM experience 7 fig years since 2011. we may be able to help each other let me know.
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