What I Learned From 2007

I suppose one of the main things I learned from 2007 was that if people mess you around - cut them out of the equation. You shouldn't be too tied to a revenue stream that it prevents you from being rational, but at the same token you should be wise to think that if you just tweak a strategy you can get exponential improvements in earnings and "job"-satisfaction.

This happened with the pre-orders. Promoting pre-orders in itself isn't a bad thing - but you've got to do it properly. I moved away from PPC'ing them because I don't trust merchants and networks enough to put my interests near the top of their priorities when they've got thousands of other affiliates to look after.

Hence, I focused on gaining sales via SEO, keeping the visitors attached to my site by having competition leveraged mailing lists and a Facebook group where users can add videos, photos and comments without my involvement.

I did keep control of my blogs where all comments are moderated, but I feel the best way to grow sites is to let go some control of them and let the user push it in different directions - not all of which will be revenue generating.

I agree that overtly affiliate sites still work, but I just have a preference for content and interaction sites. Its upto you how you start or maintain your sites.

That was the main lesson I learned in 2007. Another was it pays to be sociable in the industry. In 2006 I'd rather be in a crowd of tracksuit-adorned scousers than be at a G2G - I just didn't like the industry. Now, I started going back to the G2G's and it pays - you talk to people and you can incorporate and modify their strategies into your own with positive results.

Obviously I became more sociable on this blog. I know I've been controversial, but if you believe something then stand up an say it - people will respect you for it.

I haven't used this blog necessarily to seed other sites as I've got high PR sites that I can contextually mention my new ones, but it helps other people to get to know what you do and can recommend merchants and offers when they know what your industries are. So my advice, every affiliate should blog.

I also realised that you have to be selective with who you trust -don't show all your cards to everyone. Keep a close group of 3/4 other affiliates that you can essentially "bare all" to and you know they won't copy exactly what you do - but modify it.

Getting back into the industry and working my nuts off has certainly paid dividends. But most of my sites were looking bring revenue in 2008 and not 2007, so I'm looking forward to a great year.

So thanks to everyone that made 2007 a nicely profitable and enjoyable one!

p.s. that pic is of my holiday in Alvor, Portugal.