Alright, so after my outburst regarding someone ripping off my site content and structure I spent a bit of time having a good old think (It all got sorted out super quick, and Paul sent me a nice apology, which I accepted).
Anyhoo… after my post someone commented that it was my own fault for letting on to people about my site. They may even have loosely suggested that only an idiot would post their original ideas online. Another point was that people copy product areas and structures all the time. Business is business etc.
Now, it’s unlike me to agree with those who have disagreed with my POV… but these comments are actually quite accurate! Well, I dunno about me being an idiot but those who’ve seen me after 15 whisky and cokes might disagree 
BUT (and y’all knew that was coming didn’t you?)
I have always held the conviction, no the absolute knowledge that even if I show people my sites, my work, my entire process, they will most likely not be able to monetise my ideas the way that I can. Why? Because they come from my affiliate mindset… not theirs. Everyone thinks differently about affiliate marketing.
You Can Steal My Sites, But You’ll Never Get My Brain!!
The true way to succeed is total originality. OK, you can make a buck and even a decent living by closely copying what others are doing… but you’ll never have that BMW in the drive or the beach house in the exotic location of your choice.
My convictions on this matter were strengthened considerably when I saw a site “inspired” by mine. Although it was very similar, I could see immediately it would…
a ) Get a google slap at the next Adwords QS festival as the depth of content I’d put into my own version was not there
b ) That although the general structure had been replicated, they did not have the benefit of my extensive experience regarding how consumers behave in a buying pattern within the site’s sector. This meant their deep linking, product placement, and link placement was totally wrong. So although the page generally looked like mine…. it simply wouldn’t push visitors through to merchant as effectively.
So What Does It Come Down To?
It comes down to creating your own process guys. Work out what you are interested in, find your own niche, get REALLY familiar with all the merchants in that niche and create your very own affiliate work of art. There are no shortcuts in all of this. Put your effort into something original, something you can truly call your own and NOBODY will be able to take it away from you…. because an original affiliate will never really lose out. People may try… they may even make money. But your income will be safe, because you’ll have ownership of your techniques and be able to replicate and scale to your hearts desire.
Your counterfeit affiliates will only have the scraps you leave behind.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I totally agree with you.
There is a big difference between learning from others and stealing from others.
On my own opinion I think it’s perfectly normal to peruse through your competitors products and services to learn a thing or two about their business and then try to come up with your own strategies on how to compete.
It will be wrong though to copy and paste their exact product and service and make it your own. I think anyone who tries to do so will fail miserable.
April 14th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
You are right. people have to be original and create their own stuff if they want to succeed long term. On another note, I just have a question regarding what is termed affiliate marketing. Correct this for me:
-Adsense is not part of affiliate marketing.
-your revenue is not what matters especially if you use adwords…how much money do you have left after all costs taken into account. My guess is roughly: 75 % of your income comes from adsense. 25% from real affiliate marketing (90% of which is by using PPC so take out your costs).
-I have seen lots of people claiming to make money off marketing their sites. When I look at the numbers, these people just make a living, in other words they earn pretty much what a job would give them but in total spend as much time implementing the stuff then maintaining it. Right or wrong ?
thank you for your reply.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I agree completely!
I am a very big proponent of originality and uniqueness in everything, but especially business.
The more information we absorb and the more we learn from others, the better chance we have of being unique!
Cheers!
April 15th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Let’s go a little deeper here.
It’s not originality per se (pick the original from Amazon, Facebook, Ebay - you can’t, they’re not).
There are few true originals, we all stand on the shoulders of someone else.
It’s about being true to yourself, doing it your way, doing it well, and adding your own ingredient x. That’s the only thing you have that noone else does.
And that’s what can turn the ordinary into something special.
I recall a Bjork quote: “every time I make a record the way the record company wants, noone buys it. When I make it for myself, it sells millions.”
Kirsty perhaps you too could make money from copying.
But you’d be dissatisfied. Maybe you’d make a few quid. Would you enjoy the money? I think not. You like to show your sites and say ‘I made that’.
If you’re a maker, a creator, a sharer, then really you have no choice, your path is picked for you.
Pity the copiers.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Well said Matt, that was beautifully put.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:16 am
GREAT POST! You’ve got it dead on!
I’ve been trying to tell people this for a while : people can copy your site but not your process, so don’t sweat it!
Build a solid system for doing affiliate marketing, that’s something no loser can copy.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
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