I came across yet another website devoted to someones "true" testimonies. This one claimed to have made more money than any of the other gurus out there. The website seemed nice, except for one problem, it was one really really long page, and the content was repeated several times. After all the hype, and testimonies, and repitiveness, at the end it was the same as any other of the ten gurus out there. Buy my product, and I'll show you how you can make more money than ever before. Somewhere in this content were the words, work hard, and success doesnt happen overnight. Towards the end, he went on to claim that he will show you how to make a website and have it running in two days. Anyone knows, you cant make a quality site in two days, and not expect it to die away. This "guru" contradicts himself more than once. Once again, I believe someone is trying to cash in on the old "I'll show you how to make a ton of money, by only working 20 minutes a day on your business." Its kind of funny, he says youll be up and running in 2 days, then all you have to do is work 20 minutes a day. He goes on to talk about replication. Well, ok, correct me if Im mistaken, but even THAT takes more than 20 minutes a day to do. I dont where these people are getting off saying that all you have to do is buy this product, and you will gain knowledge of everything you need to know about affiliate marketing. 20 minutes a day? It takes me 10 alone to get into the files :cwl: For those of that are new, and are hypnotized by that type of advertising, ask anyone in here as well, it takes a long time to build a successful program. You can replicate upon replication, but if the original copy is flawed, so will the rest. I am not really in a position as of yet to give advice, but if I could, I'd say this, 20 minutes a day is not enough to run a business. Dont forget what this is, a business. Would you devote 20 minutes a day if you owned a bakery, and expect all the bread to be baked, all the pies to be done, and serve your customers in that time? What would happen? Before the bread was even done baking, youd be out of business. I say this, dont be the baker devoting 20 minutes a day to your business. Be the one that finds the best materials and devotes all his time to baking his bread. What pops out of the oven will only get better over time.

Good post! Yeah, I have been there buying ebooks and little programs that promise to do miracles for me but the bottom line is this: There is no easy way to make it in this industry!

One of the things that Google Reps at WebmasterWorld's conferece in Vegas couple of weeks ago talked about was Google's focus on rewarding good quality sites, heavy on UNIQUE content and banning template based websites. My advice to any newbies out there is to stay away from those type of programs. They cost $120 and up and there are not going to get you anywhere.

The best thing to do if you are a newbie is to ask questions from other people that has proven themselves in this industry and grow relationships into mentoring. Our focus here is to create such type of community. Post all your questions!

Thanks for the reply,

I am still new to this so far. I mean, I've done my share of failing and getting back up again. The reason I would fail is because I'd give up two weeks into another project. Not this time. My ideas have evolved since those days. I have found more information, as well as more resources. Each step builds on the other. Reason I wrote that is because many of these gurus are making so much money on the fact that this is still new to the average person. I am 24, and I didnt know what an affiliate program was until I was 22. Yep, 2 years ago, a little behind on the power curve. Thats why I feel it is necessary to add a new type of atmosphere to this field. And thats what keeps me coming back here to revsource. I believe what can be created through a few websites, and creativity, can become more than what some of these people are trying to persuade you to think what it is. I believe if you nurture a new webmaster, you will reap what you have sewn. If you let them die, you die along with him. For example, someone does click your link through lets say clixgalore. I believe they pay 5% of whatever your referrals bring in. Thats fine. But if you have 1000 people a day signing up, and not knowing what to do, thats 1000 people you have lost not only a nice potential paycheck, but a potential to plant a new seed. One that may grow bigger than the seed you are planting. Logic says, you got 2 big seeds, the bigger the harvest. Thats the concept of my website, cliche as it may seem, yet simple, I believe it will work. Its like going to Walmart. They can open thier doors a thousand times a day, but once your in, customer service is the next big issue. You dont serve the customer, they dont serve you, and they are gone forever. Why is Walmart so big and successful? They nurture the customer, and keep the loyal customers coming back. Remember, it is cheaper to keep a customer, than to gain one.

Excellent write up concerning the all to often – Get Rich Quick Schemes”

To say its all content and traffic is only discussing a portion of the issue.

This business does take time to learn, but there really are system setups that take you only 20 minutes a day to maintain, and you can have a site up within 1-2 days. Where some people leave off is investment. When I found and customized technology to work for me as opposed to working long hours to accomplish the same task I finally got it!

At a certain point you really need to let the technology do its job and simplify your life. I have tutored many people on how to best utilize what’s been developed and or customized to meet the affiliate marketing business. What I find shocking is how people will gladly pay $30-150 for a get rich quick scheme, but when I have quoted my price for software and 1to1 live tutoring sessions people start to balk.

Its my opinion most people have the dream of getting rich on the Internet without walking into this door thinking, “I am starting a Business”. As with all business’ it takes capitol to start and maintain until your customers arrive to purchase what your offering. Dolling out the dollars to learn from those that are making money is going to cost a lot more than $30-150. Eyes wide open do people really they believe they will make millions by spending only $30?

I think the 30$ is the buy in rights to a dream. You can buy into hype, but the ones on the receiving end of that money know one thing, the majority of those people spending it are never going to become the competition. Remember, 97% of those people are not successful. What happens to the other 3%? Those are the ones that charge the 30$ for the 97% of the other would-be millionaires. It's a vicious cycle. Think about it, if someone had a creative bone in thier body, would they pay that money? They would have realized they could have spent that same 30$ on another couple of website names. As far as the paying money to learn thing, I think that glory days of the infomercial killed that market. Whos the guy with the greatest vitamin in the world? People like him, the real estate guy, internet treasure chest, SMC, etc. I think those are the people who give us a bad name. Everyone outside of it thinks its another scam. When the reality is, the majority of affiliate programs are FREE! And all you have to is really buy a website at a few bucks a year, and hosting. Anyone can essentially become the next big thing in this, but you wont find out how by paying someone else 30$.