This post originally appeared on the Affiliate Marketing Blog by Shawn Collins

No Need for Speed in Affiliate Marketing

I just finished up No Need for Speed: A Beginner’s Guide to the Joy of Running by John Bingham, and it occurred to me how running parallels affiliate marketing.

There are lots of folks that enter affiliate marketing the dollar signs in their eyes. They’ve been sold on the “get rich quick” daydream. And that sort of overnight success is just as rational as somebody who started jogging yesterday and thinks they will complete a marathon next week.

It’s funny. When I told people I was starting to run, many of them asked when I would run my first marathon. I explained how I was excited to complete my first 5k, and then another in the future, and I’d keep setting goals along the way.

Just the same, new affiliates aren’t going to be millionaires next year, unless they get lucky on PowerBall.

As John Bingham touched on in the chapter, “Basic Truths about Racing,” the race isn’t about the winner. Most runners aren’t going to ever win a marathon, or even be close enough to the front of the pack to see the winner break the ribbon.

Most runners won’t even win their local 5k, but if they enjoy what they’re doing, they’ve won. There is no specific timeline or benchmark for success in affiliate marketing or running.

“When it’s over, that’s the only question any of us need to ask. Did we do our best? Did we line up prepared to do our best, however we defined “best” that day? One day, our “best” may mean running as hard and as fast as we can. Another day, our “best” may mean running slowly with a friend who needs encouragement. On still another day, our “best” may mean simply savoring the experience of the run.”

When I started as an affiliate in 1997, I was ecstatic to get my first few bucks. Then I was paying the bill for cable… then cable and phone. I kept trying and learning and getting better at what I was doing. Eventually, I was supporting my family with those commission checks.

My advice to is challenge yourself and focus on setting a new PR (personal record) as often as you can. It’s not a race to the front of the pack. It’s a race to your own realistic finish line of success. Each time you get there, you’ve won.

This post originally appeared on the Affiliate Marketing Blog by Shawn Collins

Affiliate Summit East 2009 Video Recap

Highlights from Affiliate Summit East 2009, where more than 3,000 affiliate marketers got together to network and learn in New York City on August 9-11, 2009.

Video: Affiliate Summit East 2009 Recap

This post originally appeared on the Affiliate Marketing Blog by Shawn Collins

Meet the New buy.at Logo, Same as the Old buy.at Logo

The buy.at red and white logo is back after a brief hiatus. AOL has settled on a streamlined set of key brands, and the Platform-A brand is being retired.

This move includes the return of the buy.at red and white logo.

buy.at will continue to operate within the AOL Advertising division, which includes leveraging AOL’s performance-based properties and advertiser relationships.

So I would ask that you please forget this image of me ever existed.

Not because I am intensely riding a tricycle, but because I’m wearing an outdated version of the buy.at logo.

This post originally appeared on the Affiliate Marketing Blog by Shawn Collins

Cute, Ruthless Lead Collection Technique

There was a flyer stuffed in my mailbox last night. Well actually, two flyers stapled together.

It was a personalized marketing effort from a couple of girls who are 10 years old who have a startup in the neighborhood – a dog walking business.

The pitch was a little rough – why would they add in by hand that they are “10 years old”? Is that really a big selling point? Maybe there are some 9 year old competitors about to launch an ad campaign?

But also, they’re both classmates of my oldest daughter, and they’re apparently trying to swoop in and take one of her jobs. Harsh.

This post originally appeared on the Affiliate Marketing Blog by Shawn Collins

Affiliate Fatblogging: Introducing FatShawn.com

This post marks the final affiliate fatblogging post on the Affiliate Tip blog. The fatblogging posts now have a new home at FatShawn.com.

FatShawn.com is a new site chronicling the journey of fat to fit with all of the setbacks and victories.

As you may imagine, FatShawn.com is an affiliate site, and I will be experimenting with various ways to monetize it.

So, if you’re interested in hearing about working towards 5k’s, new sneakers, health trends, gadgets related to getting fit, and those sorts of things, come on over to the new blog.

Video: Introducing Fat Shawn