Knocking off the rust & trying to get back to $xx,xxx/day (37)
I am not new to AM, but have been gone for a while....well, let's just call it a sabatical for the last few years. Back in the day (circa 2006-2009), I was doing fairly well, pulling in $2k-15k/day (not every day) with consumer finance products, but got pulled back into the offline world to run a chain of Irish pubs (but I digress). I am now getting back into AM and consider myself to be very rusty and borderline noob since being out of the game for so long.
Now, here is my gameplan to getting back to $xx,xxx/day:
1) I am going to commit myself to testing/starting 10 new campaigns/month.
2) I need to re-establish and/or develop relationships with good, sharp Affiliate Managers from some of the networks recommend on this forum.
3) Commit the time, energy and resources to create solid, profitable campaigns that will scale and generate $3k-5k/day
4) Rinse and repeat.
I have found that my success in the past has been largely because of the relationships, advice and support I have received from others and I am hoping that this forum will serve as my launch platform. I will share and give back as much as I can and hope that others can learn from my mistakes and successes.
Good start, good plan, good luck!
go @tbranley!!
That sounds like a plan!
You start already advantaged since you have done it before and know it's possible.
Keep us updated how it goes.
Looking forward to hearing how you get on!
Looking forward to this one, good luck and I hope you surpass your previous highs.
Are you going to run mobile?
Welcome back to the internet grind man, best of luck getting back on your feet!
1) I am going to commit myself to testing/starting 10 new campaigns/month.
2) I need to re-establish and/or develop relationships with good, sharp Affiliate Managers from some of the networks recommend on this forum.
3) Commit the time, energy and resources to create solid, profitable campaigns that will scale and generate $3k-5k/day
4) Rinse and repeat.
Looks like a great follow along. Keep up the faith!
Originally Posted by tbranley
I agree, it def is about who you know 
Latest update:
I have five campaigns up and running so far and have developed a pretty quick, cost effective process for setting up new campaigns. It includes setting up the landing page (pre-sell or optin) and ad campaign (images, ad copy). Right now, I am only using Facebook for my ad traffic and ClickBank for my offers, as I am fairly comfortable with both of those platforms and that gives me two less things to worry about during my re-entry into AM.
The only thing I know about PHP is how to spell it, so my two favorite tools are LeadPages (optin landers) and OptmizePress (web page setup for idiots like me). It usually takes me about two hours (start to finish) to find an offer I like and get it set up as a campaign. Start-up costs for each campaign include a $10 domain (Namecheap) and $25-$50 ad spend to test campaign viability. So for around $35-$60 and a few hours work, I can test a new campaign/offer. I am revising my goal of 10 campaigns per month to 10 per WEEK! That should accelerate things and help me dig out diamonds even faster!
Hurdles/Issues/Road bumps:
Here are a few things I have found to he challenging....
1) Facebook Power editor - this thing is a nightmare to use. If someone can create a piece of INTUITIVE software that allows me to easily update and change my ads (including destination URLs) in Facebook, I will be your first customer!
2) Tracking - as we know, tracking determines success in this biz and currently, I am looking for software that will allow me to do everything in one platform. Currently, I am using three different pieces of software/reporting for link cloaking, redirecting, split test tracking and reporting. Someone told me about CPV labs and I know about Prosper202, but if anyone has suggestions about something else, let me know!
3) Time - The old saying, "time is money" is so true. I have found a few campaigns to be worthwhile and need to devote time to tweaking and split testing those, along with testing new campaigns. For the successful campaigns, I need to build out the funnel, including email autoresponders/copy. I need to figure out which aspects can be outsourced, so that I can continue to test more campaigns and accelerate my process. Oddly enough, the successful campaigns will probably slow my campaign testing process, at least initially, as I fine-tune and scale up.
Anyway, back to the grind and please share your comments, suggestions or questions. Thanks!
1) The power editor can be complex - I'd recommend getting comfortable with the spreadsheet upload if you have a lot of ads to make.
I'm not sure what you mean by change destination URLs - do you mean just during ad creation e.g. subids/optional tokens? Again, Excel + the spreadsheet + zip of image files can work wonders here.
There are a lot of platforms that offer API-level access to FB and streamline every part of the process. They are called PMDs. The cheapest are Qwaya and Adespresso as far as I am aware, not that I like either of them.
2) What software are you trying to use right now? CPV Lab, Prosper202 or
It's likely that using LeadPages will limit you here, not so sure about OptimisePress - you may be able to use a tracking system fine with those landers.
3) If you need to outsource, I would suggest doing so for landing pages. Right now they appear to be a weakness that's holding you back by driving you to use LeadPages/OptimisePress, and over-complicate your tracking.
I would suggest picking a tracking system, just ONE, and learning how to use it. Then either make landers in Muse, or mockups, and consider outsourcing the HTML/CSS coding of these to someone - then all you have to do is get a handle on uploading them somewhere and incorporating tracking properly.
Good luck man
good luck!
1) Good advice. Just like anything...the more you work with it, you learn the nuances and work-arounds.
2) I am not using anything as of yet, just using some custom software and reporting from FB and CB to determine ROI. I am running 100% compliant campaigns, so it is really more about ease of tracking/reporting/split testing.
3) The problems I have found with outsourcing is communication differences, availability (different time zones) and delay in what I "have in my head to getting it on web"
OptimizePress is a fantastic WordPress plugin that helps PHP challenged guys like myself to put up landing pages very quickly and easily.
Overall, the biggest challenges I am facing is testing as many offers possible with targeted traffic. I have a couple of campaigns that have targeted traffic, at low CPC (.06-.20) and yet, I cannot get conversions. That has been frustrating and mind-boggling. I have changed up the lander, put an optin page between the offer and still haven't seen good results. I am trying not to "chase the rabbit down the hole" and just move on to different campaigns/offers, but I am also starting to wonder if there is a 'secret' formula to converting Facebook traffic (which, I am sure there is). I also know that if there are 5 good campaigns out of 100 tested, I am getting closer to my "Golden 5."
You've definitely got a good plan.
#2 is a GREAT point a lot of us overlook too often. The difference a good AM makes who finds the offers that will do well for you, gives you tips, and finds new offers for you that aren't on the network REALLY give you an advantage.
Completely agree! I am beginning to re-think my strategy and might place more importance on finding those AMs, rather than searching for the 'needle in a haystack,' testing CB offers.
Find the AMs, make an offer hitlist of 5-10 a week.
Stick with certain things like types of traffic, and offers. Then test a bunch of new traffic sources and offers, when you see potential try to make it work.
Eventually you'll have "go-to" traffic sources for testing, and ones for scaling. Then all that's left is endless testing of offers and angles!
Yeah thats it bro, dive deep build up the connections. Once you land a AM that you really trust and knows the affiliate game, not just the salesgame, you're in motion. Pick 1 vertical, try a few sources with in it and like stackman said the rest is history. My go to for mobile is inmobi, then scale options branch out to 5-6 more networks. Keep the process as simple as can be so you can keep repeating it until something big sticks for your $xx,xxx goal
One thing to check - how fast are your OptimisePress landing pages loading? You can check that through tools.pingdom.com or if you're running internationally, uptrends.com.
Landing page loading speed makes a BIG difference to conversion rates.
So it seems that most of the AMs I knew from my "old days" have moved on and need to start networking again. Using my LinkedIn and a few "under the radar" sources, but if anyone can point me in a direction or give me an intro to an AM you know and trust, that would be a big help. That seems to me my weak link right now and as I detailed in my initial post, I know that is one of the most important parts of the money stacking process!
It has been almost a month and here is the latest update. I had a good system for setting up campaigns and a few that have been successful, but ran into some issues with scaling, wrestling with FB ad approval due to a URL (I know....just get a new one and move on!) and some campaigns that had good CPC for targeted traffic, but few conversions. I was linking from my FB ads to a pre-sale page, which was really just a basic lander with a video or some other encouragement to click through to the affiliate sales page, but that wasn't working very well. So, I have decided to take a few successful campaigns - one of them in a niche I have been working for over a year - and go the route of building a list (or lists, in this case).
However, this is going to slightly change my initial gameplan, as the list-building method takes more time and resources and thus, won't allow me to test as many campaigns.
I am still working on getting connected with some top-tier, diamond sharp Affiliate Managers, but this has been slow going. I have had a few good referrals from STM members, which I am grateful and hopeful will continue (Thanks!), as that is going to be critical to my long-term success.
Here are some things I have done that haven't worked (put these in the category of "lessons learned at his expense"):
1) Being a lazy affiliate still doesn't work - As much as I want to think that my creative marketing ploys are so powerful and can lead the average Joe to go from looking at FB posts of his buddies at a strip club after playing a round of golf to making a purchase after clicking on my clever "The 1 Tip to Mastering XXXX," just isn't realistic.
2) Don't give up on a campaign if it is losing money - Now, I am not talking about a campaign that is bleeding out. I am talking about a campaign that is making sales and while not immediately profitable, it begs for some attention (split-testing) and has the potential to be a winner!
3) If it was easy, everyone would be doing it - I seem to have forgotten this one, during my time away. I somehow 'mis-remembered' all the hard work, testing (and testing and testing....) it took to eventually get that one or two campaigns that was making $x,xxx/day on somewhat auto-pilot. I was hoping the IM gods would welcome my return with open arms, give me free-flowing cash flow campaigns and a bright light would shine down on my path to easy profits. Well, it has not happened yet...and I am not holding my breath.
So, with that said....back to work! Hopefully, my next post will have more positive news, but if not, I will gladly share some more of my pain and misery to make you smile!
1) Being a lazy affiliate still doesn't work - As much as I want to think that my creative marketing ploys are so powerful and can lead the average Joe to go from looking at FB posts of his buddies at a strip club after playing a round of golf to making a purchase after clicking on my clever "The 1 Tip to Mastering XXXX," just isn't realistic.
2) Don't give up on a campaign if it is losing money - Now, I am not talking about a campaign that is bleeding out. I am talking about a campaign that is making sales and while not immediately profitable, it begs for some attention (split-testing) and has the potential to be a winner!
3) If it was easy, everyone would be doing it - I seem to have forgotten this one, during my time away. I somehow 'mis-remembered' all the hard work, testing (and testing and testing....) it took to eventually get that one or two campaigns that was making $x,xxx/day on somewhat auto-pilot. I was hoping the IM gods would welcome my return with open arms, give me free-flowing cash flow campaigns and a bright light would shine down on my path to easy profits. Well, it has not happened yet...and I am not holding my breath.
Thanks for that write up man I'm sure thats gonna help a tonne of people!
Good Plan and Good Luck Bro
All VITAL points. I'd say that #3 is very important too - the reason that this stuff works and we can all get very well paid doing it is that it's HARD!
Well, it is the end of the month and time for another update. It has been close to 45 days since I re-booted my entry back into AM and there have been some wins and loses. Highs and lows. Good days and bad. In other words, the life of an AM.
If I had written this post a week prior, it would have been more 'bad' news as I have not been able to get significant traction with FB traffic and converting offers, but I am not giving up on that traffic source (more on that later). However, I have made some good progress with another traffic source.....
When I first came to this forum, I kept hearing about "Mobile." Then I would talk to network AMs and they were talking about hot "mobile" offers. Now, I am dumb, but I am not stupid. So I asked more about this "Mobile" that everyone keeps talking about and the next thing I know, I am learning about mobile search and Pay Per Call. And guess what....it works! The first two campaigns I ran have been profitable (150% and 70% ROI) and aside from having to re-learn the nuances of Google Adwords, it has been pretty smooth sailing, but also a lot of work. This weekend, I am going to figure out which of the top tracking systems I should employ (
Oh yea, one last loop to close ; ) The beast that is Facebook. I am going to take some advice from a STM member and focus on some niches that typically do well with FB traffic, but I have never tried. They are a little outside of my comfort zone, but hey....so was Pay Per Call!
Just a little over a month later with my update, which is about right since I took 2 weeks off vacationing with the family and did VERY LITTLE with my biz stuff during that time. At any rate, I sold my soul to the traffic source that is mobile PPC and it has paid off....big time! As of today, I signed a deal to send calls/leads directly to a company that should NET me between $500-600/day. I still have a long way to go, in order to attain my goal and previous accomplishment of $xx,xxx/day, but it is a BIG step forward and I am very happy with my progress. I have more meetings next week and hope to add three more direct clients, which will get my business going in the direction I want it to be by the end of this calendar year.
Frankly, if I had not found this forum, I am not sure I would be this far, this fast. When I first got here, a lot of the threads talked about "mobile, mobile, mobile" and I was shaking my head, saying "what are they talking about?" Meanwhile, I was stumbling and bumbling with my FB traffic (not that there is anything wrong with that!) trying to find my mojo, before I finally decided to look into this 'mobile' thing and specifically, Pay Per Call. If you haven't tried Pay Per Call, you need to....there are some great networks here on this forum, specific to Pay Per Call and you can absolutely make money with these types of campaigns. In my opinion, it is the best opportunity for taking an affiliate-network dependent business and take it to a business model where you can build a brand and business asset value.
Fantastic! It's great to hear how well things have gone.
Originally Posted by tbranley
Pay per call is a great vertical to get your AM biz back strong. It's a vertical that's just getting started and you'll be at the forefront.
Originally Posted by tbranley
@tbranley
Thanks for the share, man!
It looks like I'm following your success path very closely. So, I launched my first AdWords + PPCall campaign the past week. Half way through, I decided to test some budget settings. But, I forgot to reset it back down. Google definitely didn't forget. I blew through my normal daily budget in one and half hours. The irony is that I recently became Google Partner Certified because of my 9-5 job. But AM moves to a different rhythm. It's like being a long distance runner trying to jump in the 100m dash.
The direct deal route intrigues me. But, I have the impression that you moved away from that. Was it too much risk dealing with individual clients? Was it too much hassle and time compared to working with a network?
Originally Posted by mr zoom
UPDATE: Here is my new follow along
Is pay call business only developed in US and CA? Or any european country it also ?
This thread really peaked my interest in PayPerCall. Good Job Man!
On this last day of June, 2016 - two years since I made this post - I thought it would be fitting to update my progress.
Well, it definitely took a few months to "knock off the rust," and boy do things change FAST in affiliate marketing. Returning to AM after a 5 year absence was like starting all over again, but I fully embraced it, unlike my first run from 2006-2009. One thing that hadn't changed is that relationships are still the core to my success. From AMs, to friends in the biz, other guys I met who had left and come back or even guys who had recently started in affiliate marketing. They all contributed to where I am today. Which brings me to my update.
I started off in pay per call, which was a great place to start. I ran a few PPCall offers for more than a year, but they both died off for different reason and over the last 6 months, I just haven't been testing any new PPCall offers. I have expanded into lead gen and running offers in verticals and geos I had never tested before. I have experimented with and learned more traffic sources than I ever would have expected. Primarily, because FB was such a bitch - lost my FB account after $500k spend and learned the hard way that FB doesnt care about White/Gray/Black...they will ban you without reason or logic.
I can honestly say, I would not be where I am today without joining forces with JV partners. It's not for everyone, but it fits my business model and more importantly, my lifestyle. For those who have been defrauded, scammed, guru'd, et al: I can tell you there are, in fact, good people out there in AM. However, you have to kiss a lot of frogs and I have a lot of experience (and warts to prove it) at this point in my career, so it has definitely been easier to filter out the pretenders from the performers and locate the trustworthy among the charlatans.
After two years, what do I believe are the most important keys to success?
1) If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. Don't quit. Just remember that every day you are in this game, someone else leaves and you have an opportunity to get to that next rung up the ladder. Failure only gets you closer to success. The more mistakes, the better (although, it doesn't feel that way!). Making mistakes and trying things that don't work help me get better/faster at putting things back together when things break/fail.
2) Network, network, network. Every. Single. Day. Find people who are at your same level of experience. Find a few who are at a level where you want to be and find a few who you can help along the way. Your network can start off like a small planted tree that needs water, sunlight and attention. If you take care of it, it will grow big and strong and bear fruit that will provide for you over the course of your career.
3) Execution trumps ideas. I can't stress this enough. I have talked to more guys who have great ideas - some of which I have employed with great success - that don't execute on them and thus, never enjoy the prosperity they deserve. Be like Nike and just do it!
So, I know what you are thinking....
"Are you back to $xx,xxx/day?"
Well, I don't like to kiss and tell....unless of course, it's a frog. But, I will say this....I am right where I want to be. My current goal is to do $1,000,000 in affiliate marketing. Will I get there? Of course! Now, it's just a matter of how long it will take.
This forum has also served as a great resource - both for information and meeting other like-minded marketers. Big thanks to STM! If I can be of help to anyone, don't hesitate to ask. Game on!
Hey @tbranley,
Out of curiosity regarding PayPerCall...did you notice a big change in that vertical recently, hence the change? i.e. - it being more difficult to roll out, more competition? or was it more related to the types of offers/opportunities out there?
Congrats on coming back to the industry and moving forward towards your ultimate goal!
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