The next lesson I'm approaching in the Affiliate Marketing Schoolbook is Lesson 46 - Affiliate Networks - where you've finally arrived at the place where you can begin to monetize your site, as well all of your hard efforts. Your site can begin to be a "win-win" situation - for you in addition to your readers.
Laura talks about the importance of bringing your web site to a "reasonable level of completion before you begin to apply to affiliate programs that you're interested in." She mentions in her course that it's a good idea to "have at least 20 to 30 pages of quality content"; not including your About, Contact, Privacy Policy, etc. pages up on your web site before jumping in and applying.
I'd been pondering about what defines an actual page, so I asked her my question on the Skip The Scams private student forum. My question was for clarification on whether or not posts that only show as excerpts on your home page counted as a page, when clicking to "read more" for it to open up another page. I also asked her if archives, recent posts, categories, etc. on your home page sidebars counted as pages when clicking on the links. Her answer to me was as follows:
"Generally, I think of each post as a page, unless they're pretty short. Since a post can be found in more than one place, such as on the home page when they're first put up, and on an archive page, and also under each category, I don't count all those. But you could count each post you put up once, even though you don't have the whole thing showing on the home page.
I would say once you have a combination of posts and Pages (those with long enough articles to fill at least one screen) that total in the 20-30 range (not counting contact, privacy, as you said), you are probably ready to add some advertising. (That doesn't mean if the articles are long enough to have to scroll several times I would count several pages, though. I'd still count just one.)
Be aware that this is sort of a personal guideline, though, and not a hard-and-fast rule. If you could find a little more stuff to add to your sidebars, it wouldn't hurt. I know you may want to put ads there when you can get them, but for now finding even photos or something would probably help make it look just a little more 'happening.' But in looking at your site overall, I'd say if you're at the lessons where you sign up for affiliate networks, go for it!"
This answer was very helpful to me. I've also decided to wait a few more days before applying to any affiliate networks/programs because even though I'm at 14 pages, I would like to get a little to closer to 20. I've also been trying to come up with ideas to spice up my sidebars as well. I'm even messing around with the idea of a double right sidebar instead of just double sidebars, so we'll see.
I've been toying around with the idea of a setting up a Twitter page which was discussed as part of Lesson 45 regarding "Social Media Marketing." So maybe that might be just the something I need too. I just twittered personally for the first time last week when I set up a Twitter account to interact with the happenings of my son's volleyball team when they were in Texas. It took me awhile to get the hang of it, but it was pretty cool. Getting the play-by-plays was awesome.
My 12-year-old daughter is doing some artwork for me so maybe I can implement it into a unique header or logo. I've been checking out an image manipulation/header creation web site - Picnik.com, a resource Laura listed in Affiliate Marketing Resources in the back of her course. Since I don't have Photoshop, maybe I can do something with this once my daughter is finished. Oh, and I have to share this - another thing my daughter has done was change up the colors of my web site. She's sat with me before while I've been in the admin panel, and she's picked up things so quickly it amazes me. One morning she told me to take a shower and not to look at the computer because she wanted to surprise me with something. She also switched up and modified my "Sign Up" form (a tool to build my email list someday with). I absolutely loved the changes she made.
Overall, I was happy with my productivity this past week. The informal work schedule I set up for myself really helped, along with some Bible verses and affirmations; my goal being able to maintain momentum through all the ebbs and flows of this super crazy summer. I'm eager to see how much I will accomplish this upcoming week.
Until next time.....
Kelli
Laura's comments:
Thunder is rolling in and we're under a tornado watch here, so I'm going to have to make this quick.
You actually can make a site as large or as small as you want, but if it's your first time applying to an affiliate network, it seems to work best to have a good-sized site. You won't have to reapply with each site you build, so if you do some kind of a mini-site later on, it won't matter.
I think it's wonderful that Kelli's daughter is getting involved. In fact, she might consider helping her daughter set up her own site at some point. I've been creating sites for each of my nephews who are 10 and 11, and they are really enjoying working on them.
Okay, I'm going to get out now before the power goes ou........
I LOVE my “job.” Affiliate marketing takes work, but it doesn’t feel like work.
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