[Article originally published on: October 14th, 2017].
When you’re considering jumping into bed with affiliate marketing as a newbie, you’ll no doubt bump into ‘negative Nancies’ giving you a million and one reasons why it’s a bad idea, like:
“It’s too difficult”, “it’s expensive”, “it doesn’t work”, “the marketplace is too competitive”…
Blah, blah, blah.
They are nothing but myths, at the end of the day.
But surely those naysayers must have their reasons for talking baloney, right?
YUP, they sure do!
First of all, they don’t want you to be more successful than THEM.
And by them, I’m referring to jealous family members, friends, work collegues, and even Network Marketers (LOL), etc.
Secondly, because they failed miserably, they want you to believe that you’re gonna be a failure to.
This second group of folks basically dipped their big toe into the affiliate marketing world and threw in the towel too soon due to lack of results.
In my opinion, they’d rather come up with every excuse under the sun instead of adopting a super affiliate mindset and work ethic.
Obviously, they don’t want a life of freedom bad enough.
So in this article, I’d’ like to share 10 of the most common myths of affiliate marketing.
And also set the record straight when it comes to starting an online Biz and turning it into a full-time income, so the “excuses” can be put to bed once and for all.
Table of Contents
#1: It’s Too Damn Difficult, It Can’t be Done
If it was so difficult to make money on the web, everyone would give up and nobody would earn a single cent.
The internet would die a quick death.
TRUTH:
Building a successful business as an affiliate isn’t easy.
So by no means is it a “Get Rich Quick” concept.
BUT generating revenue is 100% doable IF you learn the ropes of internet marketing and work your socks off over a period of time.
Take the Rubik’s Cube, for example.
It seems virtually impossible to crack, right?
But dedicate enough time into fiddling with it, and it will eventually be solved.
Affiliate marketing is no different.
#2: It Doesn’t Work, It’s as Dead as a Dodo
If the business model wasn’t effective, big companies like Amazon would lose profits and simply vanish into thin air.
The same would also apply to smaller businesses online as well.
TRUTH:
Affiliate marketing is a BILLION dollar industry that keeps both companies and affiliates afloat.
There are a number of affiliates who are generating 5 – 7 figures.
I know some who are earning upwards of $10K in commissions per MONTH!
In fact, I’m an affiliate marketer myself, and I earn an income from various affiliate programs.
So yeah, it works, without a shadow of a doubt.
#3: You Need to Invest $1,000s Upfront
If it costs thousands of dollars to build an online business, I think many folks would skip the idea completely because who has that sort of cash going spare?
TRUTH:
The good news is that affiliate marketing is VERY inexpensive and it’s not even gonna cost you $100’s per month either.
In fact, you can get started for free with the basics.
And then build a successful online Biz for just a few hundred bucks per year for the essential advanced resources.
I pay less than $400 each year for the training, tools, and support I need for a profitable internet-based Biz.
Happy Days!
Wanna know how, huh?…
==> Start Your Affiliate Business For $0 Here!
#4: The Marketplace is Overcrowded
I think if the online marketplace was saturated, nobody would ever succeed at turning a few bucks or even earning a full-time income.
While it’s true that most niches are competitive, it’s not impossible for you to get a foot in the door and build a big business.
And that even a applies to THE most challenging industries, like ‘make money online‘, video gaming, health and fitness, travel, and relationships, etc.
TRUTH:
Absolutely anyone has the opportunity to build a brand on the web and become a profitable affiliate because there’s room for everyone to make money and grow.
But you must be willing to work hard if you want to achieve financial freedom.
#5: You Need All Kinds of “Geek Tech” Skills
If building an online Biz requires you to be like the mad “Doc” from ‘Back to The Future’ and a whiz kid at designing web pages using complicated coding…
Then I guess nobody would ever get started.
TRUTH:
Getting started as a newbie is incredibly easy these days.
Because, you can easily learn how to start a blog step-by-step (without needing any tech skills) if you have the right training, tools, and support at your disposal.
#6: You Don’t Need a Website
A friend of mine once said that websites are “overrated” LOL.
I guess they know very little about the internet.
People who tell you that “websites” are irrelevant, are completely WRONG because not having a website in this day and age of cyberspace would be a big mistake.
TRUTH:
Here are just 3 of the benefits of having your own website – whether it’s a blog or a squeeze page:
#1: Affiliate marketing isn’t what it used to be because gone are the days of posting raw affiliate links.
Yeah, you’ll still find some platforms like Instagram that allows an affiliate link in your BIO.
But how much longer is that gonna last for, do you reckon?
Today, it’s all about building a website for creating content and promoting links because it allows you to build your own brand.
You’ll be considered as more trustworthy than affiliates who simply just spam the web with links.
#2: Most top affiliate networks and programs will deny your application requests to promote their products/services unless you already own a website.
#3: Building a blog with plenty of high-quality content will allow you to get page 1 rankings in the top search engines like Google and drive free, targeted, and organic traffic to your site.
The more content you create, the more traffic Google sends to your blog.
Visitors = Commissions. KA-CHING!
But how or where do you get a site?
That’s easy…
==> Build a Free Website in Just 30 Seconds Here!
#7: Becoming a Successful Affiliate Takes Years
I think some folks confuse affiliate marketing with “MLM” (aka Network Marketing).
They assume it will take 5 to 10 years or more to become highly successful.
So this type of time-frame thinking also prevents people from leaving the starting blocks because they want QUICK success NOW!
TRUTH:
Affiliate marketing does take time to get off the ground.
But the good news is that as a blogger, you can generate a full-time income in 12 – 18 MONTHS (not years) if you commit yourself.
In my experience as a digital marketer and an ex-network marketer, affiliate marketing isn’t only more lucrative than MLM.
But financial freedom can also be accomplished a hell of a lot faster than MLM.
AM ROCKS!
MLM SUCKS!
#JustSayin’ LOL.
#8: The Successful Affiliates Just Got Lucky
How many times have you heard that success is always down to sheer “luck”?
It’s just Bullcrap, at the end of the day.
In my opinion, luck is for the people who play the lotto and leave their lives to chance.
You know, the ones who aren’t willing to work to make success happen.
Yeah, you might come across the odd affiliate who struck gold one-time with a lucky campaign.
But it’s so uncommon.
TRUTH:
Every successful affiliate has learned the craft, has had multiple failures, and also fully dedicates him or herself to the journey – making sacrifices along the way.
Success is never an easy path, and folks don’t become successful overnight by pure accident.
If you wanna make a ton of money, you must be prepared to work, invest time, and experience a few failures here n’ there.
I guess the harder you work, the luckier you get.
And whilst on the subject of “getting lucky”, see the Wealthy Affiliate Bootcamp to learn how you can qualify for a free trip to Sin City every year!
YUP, Las Vegas, baby!
#9: It’s Not What You Know, It’s Who You Know
I’m guessing you’ve also heard this term on numerous occasions as well.
Some people assume that if they don’t know anyone who is successful that they can piggyback off, then the chances are they will never become successful.
I especially think the term is used by lazy people who can’t be bothered to learn or do the donkey work.
TRUTH:
If you thoroughly search the web, you can find the right mentor who will teach you all there is to know about building a profitable online biz.
In this world, you should never expect anyone to do the work on your behalf and put you on the fast track to success.
Because, they won’t do it (unless you pay them). If you want to be profitable, it’s all on you to make it happen.
So find a mentor, but become self-made because it’s the best way.
#10: You Must be a Ruthless Sales Person
Being a successful affiliate isn’t about being some sleazy slimeball who walks all over people to make as many sales and commissions as possible…
Leave that to Network Marketers and peeps in the corporate sales executive world LOL.
TRUTH:
Building a profitable online business is all about leading with HELPFUL content and following with product or service recommendations.
You will make a lot more money by being friendly and helpful than you would from ramming sales jargon down people’s throats and using forceful manipulation strategies.
Bring VALUE to the table and watch your commissions stack up.
Wrapping it up on affiliate marketing myths…
There are many myths when it comes to affiliate marketing.
And no doubt people will invent new ones for trying to justify their reasons for not starting up a web-based business and also discouraging you at the same time.
My advice to you is to ignore all the bullsh*t online that comes from the lazy folks, and just dive right into building an online Biz because any doubts you have will vanish.
Yeah, affiliate marketing is hard work.
But when you have access to the right mentors, training, tools, and support – you’ll be on your way to earning a full-time income, and looking back at all those myths to have a right old giggle.
==> Ignore BS Myths – Become a Successful Affiliate Marketer Here!
Class dismissed!
Your Friend, Neil 😀
If you have any questions or thoughts that you’d like to share with us on the myths of affiliate marketing, we’d love to hear your comments below…
Word up on that. The net is full of scams and con artists, it’s not safe.
To be honest, the web is turning into a ghost as these myths surprisingly are always there and as long as they exist they’re going to keep people from reaching their full potential, as there are no solutions, just myths. That’s my opinion.
Indeed, there are far too many fraudsters who need to do one!
But if folks are willing to believe in all that “get-rich-quick” mumbo jumbo, the scam artists will continue to churn out so-called money-making products.
I guess myths are tied in with scams, but it’s mostly affiliate marketers who have tried and given up too soon.
If you stick a pin in the myths and work your ass off, you can build a successful online business.
Yes I couldn’t agree more. There are a lot of myths out there but I myself have been doing affiliate marketing and have been able to make sales from my page.
I think this way of business could be very successful for a lot of people who are interested in working from home and having their own schedule. Thank you for the post.
Good on ya, Chris!
It just goes to prove that taking “action” is the key to success – despite what the naysayers invent.
Indeed, it’s all about folks taking that first tiny step.