My 12 Biggest Mitsakes in 12 YearsNadeem Azam

Nadeem Azam“Nadeem Azam has been involved in Affiliate Marketing since before the Internet was invented. He’s actually 75 years old but only looks about 14. He’ll be sharing his secrets to eternal youth as well as some amazing insights into the AM. This is a must-see session, learn from someone who has been there, seen it, done it and bought the t-shirt.”Kieron Donoghue, here.org.uk, 16 September, 20092

3

4

5

6Azam Marketing

7AimSave you 50,000 hours

8

9

10Will save you having to resort to this . . .

Successful people learn from mistakes.If we learn from other people’s mistakes, even better!11

Recently started in the affiliate game? . . .Don’t be a plonker Like this guy Or this guy12

13Even the best of us make mistakes…

1997 - Mistake 1Lack of Clear Vision“I’ll set-up beautiful websites, link to books on Amazon.com and Books.com and make money.”14

15“Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies” by James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras Determine what the Core Purpose of your business is Remind yourself of that Core Purpose every single week Don’t let anything get in the way of pursuing your aims Stick to your Core Values and retain your integrity Be willing to adapt to changing circumstances

Determine what the Core Purpose of your business is

Remind yourself of that Core Purpose every single week

Don’t let anything get in the way of pursuing your aims

Stick to your Core Values and retain your integrity

Be willing to adapt to changing circumstances

1998 - Mistake 2Doing Too Many Different ThingsUmpteen websites: books, computer games, videos, CDsToo many marketing strategies: SEO, PPC, email, offline16

17“A jack of all trades is master of none” 1. Specialise in no more than three marketing disciplinesSEM is now no longer something that can be picked up in a week. PPC is becoming more complex by the day and it takes years to become proficientBecome an expert on SEO, PPC, social media, m-commerce, email marketing, domaining?2. If build websites, then specialise in one or two types of websites or subject areasYour competitors have spent thousands of hours building cashback and comparison shopping scriptsSpecialise in voucher codes, cashback or content? If content, build the UK’s leading site on hatha yoga or what to do in Colchester?Hard enough to succeed in one of the most ruthlessly competitive arenas in the history of humankind; don’t make harder by fighting battle on too many fronts like this poor strategist . . .

1999 - Mistake 3Promoting Advertisers Paying Low Commissions3% on the sale of a £9 CD or DVD is 27p! And it’s not easy to sell one CD or DVD.One of these costs 50p 18

Focus on high ticket items: broadband internet, mobile phones, insurance, utility supplies19

20Digital products and services usually pay higher CPAs: software downloads, eBooks, datingNetworks with digital products: oneNetworkDirect, RevenueWire, Clickbank and Click2Sell. Also traditional networks like CJ, TD and AWRegistry Mechanic via oneNetworkDirect paying 50% commission on £30 sale = £15. To earn £15 on the Play.com affiliate program, which pays 2% commission, you’d have to sell over 30 DVDs!

21Prioritise companies that pay residual incomeResidual income v. linear income: www.azam.net/residual-incomePaid on Results UK network has several ‘Customer Base’ programs which pay recurring commissionsUSA networks paying recurring commissions include the likes of Commission RiverAlso many independent web hosting, dating and telecoms programs

2000 - Mistake 422Not having the right toolsNo internet connection at home, used free subdomain services, relied upon free web hosting

23Just like a plumber or carpenter, the superior the tools, the easier and quicker it will be for you to produce the best results Sell your TV, cooker and your washing machine if you have to; they are less important than having the best tools for your business Powerful PC Superfast internet connection Two monitors Quality webhosting Top notch software- Memorable domain names

Powerful PC

Superfast internet connection

Two monitors

Quality webhosting

Top notch software

2001 - Mistake 5Lack of Automation and DelegationNot make sufficient use of tools and software to save timeDoing everything myself24

25Time is moneyAutomate your websites as much as possibleBuy the best scripts, tools and subscriptions you can affordFreeware at Downloads.com and Tucows.comScripts at ResourceIndex.com, Hotscripts.com, ScriptSearch.com

2002 - Mistake 6Communications OverloadSpending half the day answering emails, helping people on IM and chatting on the phone26

27Developing a reputation for always being available for everybody will not make you succeed in businessFocus on ROI generating communicationsUse autoresponders, canned responses, voicemailSet-up detailed FAQs on your websites to help your customersRefer your website visitors to customer support of the merchant(s) you are promoting

28Biggest time-waster is emailAuto-receive emails in Outlook once every three hoursSet Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin to send notifications once a day‘Bells & Whistles for Outlook’ww.emailaddressmanager.com/outlook-bells.html‘Phrase Express’www.phraseexpress.com

2003 – Mistake 7Pfaffing about on non-work related websitesWasting time on unproductive sites29

30Watching funny YouTube videos, looking at pictures of people’s parties on Facebook or telling friends what you had for breakfast via Twitter will not help your succeed in businessAvoid playing games. Internet marketing is essentially playing games with real money!Monitor your activity online with software such as TimeSprite.com

2004 - Mistake 8Believing and trusting everybodyAffiliate Managers: “Content sites are the way to go”31

32Have to step back from the situation and make an independent evaluationThe most effective to make money in affiliate marketing are usually not discussed on the forums, in magazines or at mainstream conferences!Cut through the rubbishFind a mentor

2005 – Mistake 9Not being quick off the markEvolve or dieSmall businesses have massive disadvantages over big businesses; the major advantage they have is ability to react quickly to changing circumstances33

34Read obsessively about your areas of expertiseAttend industry conferencesStudy what the Americans are up to – they are often aheadKeep an eagle eye on others in your fieldIf you spot any potential opportunities (a) mull over it (b) strategiseIf the opportunity is a good one, go into it all guns ablazing

2006 – Mistake 1035Not Publicising Websites or BusinessQuietly getting on with the job without making a song and dance about things

36Most affiliates are too web-obsessedGet exposure for your websites and business in newspapers, magazines, radio and TVLocal newspapers and radio are hungry for contentFind contact details at www.mediauk.comDragons’ Den Online: www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden/pitches

2007 – Mistake 1137Not Asking and Looking for MoreNot asking for higher commissions, voucher codes, competition prizes, etc.Focusing on mainstream UK networks

38Advertisers often see affiliates as a “cheap” way to generate sales. Sometimes significant mark-ups on many products, yet affiliates receive measly commissionsMediaPost.com, 28 July, 2009: “Big online ad networks have an average profit margin of 45%”Affiliate networks typically earn 20% to 30% of the commission value on sales you generate.Insist on higher commissions!

39Many programs are on multiple networks. Seek network with:- highest commission most reliable tracking longest cookie period fastest payment best serviceYou can increase your income by 20% + for delivering the same number of leads/sales

most reliable tracking

longest cookie period

fastest payment

best service

40Ask for higher tiers, tenancy fees, CPC, CPM

Finally…41MY biggest Mistake everNever let anybody video you without your permission when you are with AffiliateFuture in Barbados . . .

42

Any questions?43

TomorrowThe Affiliate Sales Kit - Writing Killer Proposals and Selling Yourself To MerchantsTime: 17:15 – 18:00Room: Platinum 444

Further informationWebsite: www.azam.netBlog: www.azam.infoEmail: nadeem@azam.net45