Why would I pay monthly for something I'm wanting to make money at. Isn't that a bit of a contradiction?

Why pay for information I can find myself for free?

I held to these thoughts for at least six months after I decided I wanted to pursue making money on the Internet. Even though I knew not a whit about the lingo and the how's of what it took to begin my new business, I just knew this was something I could do on my own without spending a dime. Didn't all those advertisements tell you that you can make oodles of money from affiliate marketing without dollars out of your own pocket and with barely more than a click of a button. I was going to do that too!

I set out and soon had lists of bookmarked pages, notebooks and index cards neatly stacked, and my new coffee cup in place by my computer every morning. Then, the months started to pass by and when I stopped to look at my progress, I wasn't any further along than when I'd started. Sure, I had learned some of the lingo and had organized notes for what categories my website might include someday, but I was no closer to making the monthly payment on my car. Something had to change or I was going to take a close look at this whole affiliate marketing idea. I wanted this to be more than a hobby. I wanted this to be the answer to an unstable job situation that left me feeling panic at the thought of being without an income.

Then came the new overwhelming task of peeking at some of the hundreds of affiliate marketing training programs offered online. I quickly realized most of these were simply programs geared toward getting you to sell their program. There was no training on how to learn the details of running your own affiliate marketing business. I wanted to know how to make that website where I could promote a variety of products, and where I could write a blog on subjects that were interesting to me. Where I could help my business grow as I learned more advanced techniques.

This process of searching and researching for the affiliate marketing program that fit my criteria took another good month, but I did find it. Now . . . was I willing to pay a monthly fee to join it? At first I felt like I was betraying every goal I had started out with. Was I bowing down to simply funding someone else's business instead of being tough and figuring it out by myself? The problem was that I wasn't figuring it out and I needed to do something if this business dream was going to fly.

Then, I made a decision that I would join that affiliate marketing "University" for a month. This was a great idea. I would work like crazy to get all the information I needed, get it copied, noted and memorized and end my membership. There was no required time frame locking me to staying beyond that first month.

Okay . . . here is the outcome after THREE months of becoming a member of this affiliate marketing university.

A seven page website with rolling blog "Click per action" advertisements loaded on the website Affiliate promotions on the website Articles published on three ezines Bookmarks that I go back to daily and actually utilize in my business Two full Affiliate Marketing Internet businesses and one more in the works My car payment covered and more!

I will say that I have worked my behind off to get to this point, and I still have a long way to go. But, as you can imagine, once I saw my progress, and something tangible showing I was finally getting somewhere, I couldn't be stopped.

I don't mind putting in the hours and the keystrokes. I have worked hard my whole life, and only hoped one day to make the money that matched my efforts. Before, I could work at my top performance level and make the same money as if I just plain got the minimum required done.

So, did I drop the Affiliate Marketing program membership after one month? Heck no! I have learned a wealth of information and learn almost daily of a new sales technique I'll want to implement into my business, or read on the forum of how someone found a plug-in for their website that they love. What business doesn't have some expense involved in the daily running of it? They say you have to spend money to make money.

I actually am thrilled now that I've found this opportunity to learn my trade and I won't ever look back and be sorry. After all, it's the only reason I am where I'm at today . . . and tomorrow is looking better all the time!

There are some great Affiliate Marketing memberships out there . . . and some real scams.

Do your research before jumping into one. It will make the difference between having an Affiliate Marketing business that is uniquely yours and where you have gained the knowledge to take to any niche you choose, and being stuck learning just enough to make them money.

I never though I would pay for a monthly Affiliate Marketing program, but I sure wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't!

　

About the Author:

My website Linda's Marketing Warriors is my first venture into Affiliate Marketing and you can find tips and suggestions for your own Internet business there.
I would love for you to visit one of my other sites at TicketTier.com