Thinning Out the Affiliate Herd
Have you ever heard the phrase “spreading yourself too thin”? It is in reference to the idea that someone cannot get anything or not much done because he or she has too much to do. The idea of so much to be done can be overwhelming so the person many times just quits.
I spread myself too thin. Well, I spread my affiliate products too thin; I have endorsed so many affiliate products in the last couple of years that I cannot give a justified or quality review of any of them. I never remember which affiliates I am representing here on Ramblings. Or I have so many I just can’t think of which ones would be best for you, my readers.
Basically, I have been spreading my affiliate efforts too thin and today it stops. I’m thinning out the herd. (I’m just full of clichés today, aren’t I?)
About Affiliate Sales on RWAHM
I have too many eBooks and tools I have used over the years to help me start and run my blog in my personal library in my computer files. I firmly believe all of them work and help. But I can’t possibly recommend of them to you. I have placed my all time favorites on my WAHM Resource Page. But, honestly, I don’t expect you to click that link and blindly buy something from me, even if I am the best blogging WAHM you have ever seen. (I am right?) That resource page is there simply as a reference for you to know what I have used to get where I am. And if you end up buying something from me there, I greatly appreciate it.
But like I said, I know for a fact you guys aren’t buying from me there and anywhere I am placing my affiliate links- I have watched my Pretty Link Pro analytics and they tell me you are clicking the links but the affiliate companies are not placing money in my PayPal account. This clearly shows me that I am not telling to enough about these products.
And I don’t blame you for not buying anything from me. I don’t show you how those eBooks and tools work or solve your problems. I wouldn’t buy from me either.
Where Am I Going Wrong?
And how am I going to fix this?
I have done the number crunching. I looked on Pretty Link Pro, because it tells me how many clicks my custom links have received. I realized my readers are clicking, often. But my affiliate accounts with ProBlogger and Mom Blog SEO show barely any sales.
Below I analyze what I believe to be the issues with why I am not selling well on RWAHM.
Problem #1: Getting people to my blog, better known as traffic.
From the inception of RWAHM I looked in the wrong places to find readers. I commented and guest posted on the wrong blogs. Mostly, they were blogs for blogging or social media. I knew I was doing things wrong but that is what I knew at the time so I defaulted to where I felt comfortable.
The Fix: Interact where aspiring WAHM’s hang out, which are mom blogs and work at home blogs.
Just in the last few months I have been hanging out at places like Café Mom and Bloggy Mom. What a surprise, there are moms coming back to my site looking for information on how to start a blog and how to make money from it! I am just now seeing “targeted traffic” coming to RWAHM. I didn’t before.
I have also started to make more comments and interact with WAHM mom blogs.
Lesson Learned: Hang out where your readers hang out.
Problem #2: I am too scattered
I have too many things to sell, too little time or knowledge to promote them in detail.
The Fix: I have decided to pick about 5 products I have used and, here’s the key, still use to help me grow my blog and business. With just 5 I can concentrate on the details of how wonderful a resource is. I can give it the time and acknowledgment it deserves for helping me.
Lesson Learned: For me, selling too many products doesn’t work. I need to concentrate on just a few to make my readers’ experience better.
Problem #3: I am not telling you the benefits of these products or showing you how they have helped me.
By showing you that I was a success because I used a product, that may encourage you to purchase said product, right?
The Fix: I’ll be concentrating more on sharing the benefits of the eBooks and tools I have enjoyed. This can be done using video, reviews and text links.
Lesson Learned: I need to prove something works, not just state it.
Problem #4: I think you may not even know I am selling stuff.
On an average visit, I don’t even know that I am selling stuff. My blog is here to help you build a blog and make money from it, this includes the tools and resources I have used to get where I am at.
The Fix: I need to bring forward my favorite resources. Not in your face but you should be using these to help you succeed also.
Lesson Learned: Don’t be shy, I need to tell my readers I actually have used products that have benefited my business and you can buy them from me.
What Now?
Now, I am not just telling you this tale for simply your enjoyment and a great laugh at Allie because she sucks at selling stuff. I am telling you because I want you to succeed where I failed. You can do this.
I know what I need to do. How about you?
Next week I’ll be discussing how you can be an accomplished affiliate salesmom.
Comments
I welcome any comments on your success or failures, we learn from both. Have you been a successful salesmom?