As promised, here’s the second of my three interviews with real affiliates. Now, Ray Theakston has mentioned his luck has been on the decline since he spoke to me but I can assure all my readers (and my remaining interviewees) that it’s just a coincidence and that there’s no “Kirsty’s Curse”.

Next up on the affiliate podium is Max Bramwell. Max is just 19 years old and a university student. He has been involved in affiliate marketing for two years and run a number of affiliate sites in a range of different sectors. He manages to hold down his Uni work while pushing thousands of pounds of sales to merchants a month. We can safely assume there will be no red-eye shifts at Burger King for this young chap!

His blog can be found here: AffiliateStudent.co.uk

How did you first hear about affiliate marketing? When did you decide to try it out?
I was chatting to someone who I had online from a mobile phone forum, and he told me about a white label mobile phone site where you earn money per contract sold, I investigated it and signed up and PhoneCompare.co.uk was born, and from then I created more and more sites and moved away from white label to using my own links.

What was your first ever revenue making idea? How did it work out for you?
Apart from the white label I made a site listing offers which I advertised in my signature on forums, it made a few sales nothing major but it opened my eyes to the possibilities.

How long did it take you to make that first commission?
For me to make my first commission that wasn’t a family member or friend going through me was at the end of 2 weeks if I remember correctly. What a brilliant feeling it as too.

What sectors do you work in?
I work in many sectors such as mobile phones (my first and still large area for me), travel, freebies and general shopping. I will never exclude the possibility of pushing a merchant because of the sector it’s in.

Want to share one / some of your sites with us?
A few of my smaller sites are DiscountHotels.org.uk, CompareFreeBets.co.uk, and onlinewineoffers.co.uk. I as many don’t disclose my larger sites. As well as sites I also do quite a lot of Direct PPC to merchant sites.

How do you generate your traffic?
I’d say I currently have a ratio of 65% PPC and 35% SEO, I’m working on increasing the balance.

How much time do you currently devote to affiliate marketing?
Due to University work and the fact that I also love socialising (drinking) I don’t have any where near as much time as I’d like for affiliate marketing. I currently spend around 30mins a day updating sites, checking stats and editing advertising campaigns. However I also spend a part of my evenings when I’m in on the affiliates4u forum.

Will that change in the next year?
I’m not sure what the 2nd year of university will bring me, be it more or less work. However my aim is to spend more time on my sites though, I’m going to make myself have set hours to do work which I believe may make me more productive.

What has the money that affiliate marketing brings done for your lifestyle?
It’s really had a great effect on me, aged 17 it allowed me to buy my own car and pay for the insurance (which isn’t cheap as a 17 year old male) something my parent’s wouldn’t do due to several reasons. It’s also allowed me to go on several holidays over the past two years. Also the smaller things such as being able to buy my family nicer presents for birthdays really makes me happy.
Finally it’s allowed me to indulge in my love for clothes more than ever, I end up going to Selfridges, River Island and other shops in gaps between lectures nearly every week.

What’s your definition of a super affiliate? D’you reckon you are one?
I don’t have a set definition of a super affiliate; I think it really depends on everyone’s own ideas. However I’d say that a large affiliate pushing profits of near £10k onwards would be classed as a super affiliate in my eyes. From my definition I’m not a super affiliate yet.

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?
I worked out last November that I would need to work 18 hours a day every day for the whole month including weekends to make what I did that month. Let’s just say University will be costing me £18,000 over my degree (3 years x £3k fees + £3k accommodation) and it will be paid off and my bank won’t be empty  at the end of this business year for me.

How do you motivate yourself and keep your passion for Affiliate Marketing going?
Affiliate Marketing for me is something I really enjoy, I don’t come in and think “argh I can’t be bothered to check emails, update site, check A4U etc” I come in and that’s one of the first things I do. I think the main things that keep my passion alive are the people in the industry, the excitement of it and the rewards you can get out of it.

Tell us one thing that’s REALLY worked out well for you in the last year…
Reading up on PPC and getting my head more around it has vastly improved my campaigns meaning I have a lower CPC and get better positions overall leading to a much better return on investment.

Where will you be as an affiliate in 12 months time?
Hopefully I will be pushing more and more sales and making a higher profit than I’ve ever done before. Another aim for me is to focus on one of my sites and get it to be in the top 3 affiliate sites in that area.

What achievement in your life as an affiliate are you most proud of?
I think my personal achievement that I’m most proud of was passing the £50k turnover mark while passing my A levels and successfully getting into and starting University.

What’s the best bit of advice you can give to an aspiring affiliate?
Keep at it!

Very simply don’t give up, keep going and you will find out how rewarding affiliate marketing can be and at the same time what an amazing industry it is. If I’d have given up when I first started and sales were slow then I wouldn’t be in the position I am today. It’s well worth the hard work 