When I was just starting out my online business, I quickly
discovered something that still bothers me to this day.

I was a single dad, trying to get myself and my kids off of
welfare and be the provider I wanted to be, and every slicked-
back guru out there was telling me:

“Be an affiliate marketer!  It’s the easy way to make money
online because you DON’T have to SELL – let the vendor do the
selling!”

And boy, that sounded great!  I already had a ton to learn
about making money online, so if I could scratch selling off
the list (at least to start) – I could get rocking and
rolling…

BUT they LIED!

If I have to:

* Write a pay-per-click ad
* Write a pre-sell
* Create a bonus offer
* Distribute videos
* Send emails

All of that stuff IS selling!  Maybe a long time ago, you used
to be able to just post links directly to salesletters and
make a killing, but that’s never been my experience.

I actually DID have to learn a LOT about selling to really hit
my stride and build my income.

Even my impartial reviews convert because I know EXACTLY what
features and benefits I need to talk about to close a sale in
the reader’s mind.

For example, if I was writing a review to sell a physical
product, I really wouldn’t spend any of my review talking
about the packaging.  That’s not what’s going to make the
reader want what I’m reviewing, right?

That’s a decision I’m making thinking as a salesman, and not a
reviewer.

So if you’ve gotten into affiliate marketing thinking you
could avoid learning salesmanship, I’m sorry that this might
seem like bad news, but it’s really NOT.

See, if you’re SERIOUS about escaping a day job, or just being
your own boss, and you’ve decided that the internet is how
you’re going to do it – just deal with the fact.

You MUST be willing to sell.

But you DON’T have to adopt any sleazy or pushy tactics.
Here’s how I got over my fear of being direct with my
prospects.

I’m sure if you’re like me, you’ve bought a LOT of stuff about
internet marketing over the years.  What I did was went back
and looked at the copy that sold ME.

I made a list of all the pieces that I thought convinced me to
buy myself, and I ignored all the stuff that I thought was
creepy or obnoxious.

Eventually, I had a swipe file full of subtle, but compelling
ways to talk about a product that makes people really WANT it,
WITHOUT having to put any kind of fake pressure on them.

And I only ever had to use the stuff I felt had worked on ME,
and I went ahead and promoted the things I had bought and
liked.  That made it really easy to sell…

But it WAS still SELLING, no matter what those gurus told me.

I only wish now that I hadn’t spent too much time AVOIDING
learning salesmanship myself, because (and this is weird) I
kind of felt like if I DID, I would be somehow doing it “wrong”.

Sounds silly – I know, but examine your own mind for a minute
and think about if you’re trying to maybe unconsciously AVOID
learning how to sell.  Out of fear, or because you’ve be told
to… doesn’t matter.

Don’t be afraid or delay any longer.  Go out and learn how to
sell YOU, and then go sell to people just like yourself.
You’ll find it’s easy as falling off a log.

And FUN – plus, that’s when you really start making money as
an affiliate.  At least, that’s been my own experience – which
I’m glad to share with you today.

Talk again soon!
~ Mark

P.S. I almost forgot!  Do me a favor, would you – and leave a
comment on my blog about your thoughts?  What “guru” lies have
held you back from the income you want online?

Have you been scared to really take the reins and learn what
you need to know, or have you let someone else dictate it?

Let me know right here! (please leave a comment!)