Well, here is number 3 in my “Real Affiliates” series and I can’t think of anyone better to finish off with than Chris Frost, my erstwhile dancing partner and Scouse Shimmy expert. Chris is another chap who works as an affiliate in his spare time (and does extremely well at it). There’s a rather nice picture of Chris below, which I have nicked off his Blog, Which You Can Read Here.

How did you first hear about affiliate marketing? When did you decide to try it out?
I first heard about affiliate marketing after I’d created a website that had been up and running for about 3 months. I stumbled across a newsgroup, the name I forget now, and the newsgroup in turn introduced me to A4U forum many moons ago.

I first learned about affiliate links when I was browsing an A4U members website. On it I noticed a banner whereby anyone could apply for a free BT Mobile sim card. As my very first website was geared towards freebies, I decided to dig a little deeper. First thing I noticed was that the URL, when the mouse hovered over it, didn’t point you to BT’s website, so being curious and careful I thought I would checkout when it was going to send me. It turned out to be a CJ link and that’s when the penny dropped!

What was your first ever revenue making idea? How did it work out for you?
If I am to be completely honest, the idea that got me started in this industry wasn’t actually a revenue making idea. I’d just received news about being made redundant from Cadburys and so started looking around, not for ways to make money, but ways to help keep costs down whilst I was making the most of gardening leave.

Obviously when I was aware money could be made, I had no idea how easy it was, especially if you already had a large number of visitors. It was simply a case of monetising an existing website.

How long did it take you to make that first commission?
Within a day of adding an affiliate link, I made commission and within the first calendar month I had generated close to £500. Not bad for 2001 when most of my time was spent outside making the most of my gardening leave :o)

What sectors do you work in?
Up until 2 years ago, I tended to focus on one area only. Since then I’ve realised money is to be made elsewhere and so now my sites cover a mixture of sectors. I’ve just updated a Broadband website which although 4 years old, has been sat there for 1 year, out of date, and doing nothing at all. Already I am seeing the benfits. Not great, but definitely worth the couple of hours effort it required.

I also dabble in seasonal websites such as Valentines and Chrismtas and in the past had a quick (lazy) dabble at gaming. I soon gave up after seeing no return and found it to be a market I don’t think I will crack, or attempt to in the near future.

The most influential factor that decides which sector to tackle, is the interest of it to me personally. If it’s a subject I have no interest in, I find it very hard to develop content, lose patience and end up with half finished websites dotted around doing nothing. Promises of huge commissions that can be seen in the gaming industry, isn’t enough to drive me. It has to be something I have a passion for.

Want to share one / some of your sites with us?
If it means I will get a free link then hell yeah! How many do you want me to rattle off?
broadband-providers.co.uk
shoppingdiscount.co.uk
home-tests.co.uk
adoptananimal.org.uk

How do you generate your traffic?
Different sites different methods. Naturally, PPC is a good fix to generate initial traffic, however if you can generate the same numbers through SEO or word of mouth, then obviously your profit margins can rise substantially.

I started an experiment towards the end of last year, creating a Wordpress website and I was determined not to spend a penny on advertising. It now gets googled within 10 minutes of an update, gets around 800 uniques per day, has a facebook group following of over 300 people and generates a few quid here and there.

It was Lee McCoy’s session at the A4U Expo that got me looking into the possibilities of social networks as a source of traffic. As yet the results arent fantastic, but I see it growing month on month.

How much time do you currently devote to affiliate marketing?
I am famous for saying in Frasers podcast not so long ago, that I spend no more than 4 hours per week, however since saying that I’m finding I have less and less time on my hands due to work commitments (yes I work fulltime still!).

All said and done, I’m somehow finding myself finishing websites and churning new ones out quicker than in the past. I can only presume I’m just missing out on sleep in order to fit everything in!

I would say an average week is now up to 10 hours, which still isn’t bad I guess.

Will that change in the next year?
If I keep getting asked to take part in podcasts and interviews, yeah it will go up ;o)

I think this year, I am more determined than ever. Occasionally I do get bored of the internet as a whole, but still try to plod on. I have a number of sites that are well overdue for a re-design. I also have a few ideas for some niche websites that will require a proper developer to create as my skills and time are limited.

Initially the time I spend will go up considerably this year, however come August/September time, I hope to be in a position where I can start cutting back again for a few months recovery time.

What has the money that affiliate marketing brings done for your lifestyle?
It’s got me out of a lot of trouble. Having gone from being £17k in debt (credit cards alone – I wasn’t even a student!), purchasing stuff like cars, TV’s, washing machines etc on loans or interest free options, I am now in a position where I have no debts (other than UK mortgage) and an Amex card – and that gets paid off every month!

Being in debt taught me a valuable lesson, and I’ve gone from being a spender to a saver. I wanted a new car last year but this time, I waited until I had the reddies and then bought it in cash. I now panic if my bank account even gets close to being overdrawn as I don’t trust myself, and don’t want to be where I was 5 years ago.

As for lifestyle, its given me opportunities to do things I probably wouldn’t have had before. I don’t think its changed me as a person, or at least hope it hasn’t – you’ll have to ask others. I’ve managed to go to some amazing places such as Newcastle, Bristol, London… OK seriously, Las Vegas for the Summit was fun, and I am tempted to head over to Miami later this year.

The biggest change, and most important one to me personally, is the meeting of new people. There’s some fantastic peeps in this industry some whom I consider close friends. I’m always welcome in Newcastle (Kieron), been on the pop in Sheffield (Shane) and of course London always means you will find some network, agency or merchant willing to go out for a few jars. Next on my list, as you know, is Australia for some serious diving!

What’s your definition of a super affiliate? D’you reckon you are one?
A super affiliate to me doesn’t exist! A Key Performing Affiliate, however does!

I consider a Key Performing Affiliate to be one that is a Non Brand Bidding affiliate that generates large volumes whilst adhering to the guidelines and restrictions in place by the merchant. I don’t consider someone who has brand bidding rights, or someone who flaunts the rules of a network or merchant and gets away with it, as a super affiliate.

Am I one? No, I enjoy being an OK Affiliate that sticks to the rules, generates sales without the use of Brand Bidding, and is happy to offer new affiliates advice.

Last year I generated £1.8m in sales for merchants, this year I expect it to be closer to £3m however compare me to the likes of Duncan Jennings and you will soon realise I am small fry. What merchants should remember is that a few of us small fry can do just as much business as 1 big fry. I have ambitions like everyone else, but its equally important to be realistic in life – therefore, being an OK affiliate is just fine by me.

Lots of people will want to know how well you do in terms of income. You don’t have to mention figures.. but do you feel like giving us a clue?
Enough! Let’s just say it’s a great deal more than what I make in my fulltime role and that aint bad!

My fulltime job pays for my daily life. I have always ensured that the two never cross and therefore I never rely on money generated by my websites. It means that an money from affiliate marketing pays for the extras in life. The things that would normally have to be paid over longer terms such as cars, or things I would never dream of owning, like a second home.

How do you motivate yourself and keep your passion for Affiliate Marketing going?
I get motivation from others. Whether it be networks, merchants, agencies or fellow affiliates. Its always good to see a new introduction in terms of Affiliate Marketing and also nice to see network reinvent themselves when they know they have gone down the wrong route.

There are some individuals that really inspire me, and they are the ones with a love for the industry rather than a love for the money it generates.

Tell us one thing that’s REALLY worked out well for you in the last year…
Networking!

Previously I saw affiliate Get2Gethers as nothing more than drinks with friends in an industry I enjoyed. Now I actually talk shop, and Im more than happy to visit networks to discuss current issues affecting the industry and planning how they can be tackled in the future.

Where will you be as an affiliate in 12 months time?
In what respect?
I still want to be a fulltime employee and plan to continue until the day comes where I no longer enjoy it. To me, enjoying your work is something that money can’t compensate for. With that in mind, I expect to still be in the UK.

In terms of markets – then Australia is the region I would like to look at tackling next.

Size? Well I have no intentions of becoming an £85m generating affiliate, so I will continue to be an OK affiliate.

What achievement in your life as an affiliate are you most proud of?
Two things…

I remember the very first time that a website of mine was featured in the Sunday Times. It was a moment where I was actually quite proud of something I had created out of nothing – to think they were writing about my website…

I guess more recently, being in a position to purchase a holiday home outright all thanks to affiliate marketing.

Whats the best bit of advice you can give to an aspiring affiliate?
When developing a website, don’t choose a sector that bears no interest to you whatsoever. When it comes to building a website, everyone knows CONTENT IS KING and if you choose a sector that you have no interest in, you will struggle to complete it, and find it even harder to have the drive to update it on a regular basis.

Choose a subject you enjoy and go from there.