I’m about to let you in on some secrets of blogging. Did you know almost all my income comes from advertisers on my websites. Until recently (now with a few books for sale), I didn’t have a single thing to sell on any of my sites. I was completely reliant on companies giving me money to keep going.
The sites have been quite successful. I’m actually to the point that I have a waiting list of folks wanting to get on my sites. I don’t have enough advertisement spots to give them all a turn. Pretty cool!
But one thing I get frequently is a request for me to participate in an affiliate program. Affiliate programs are simply this: If someone buys something from a website after I linked to the website, I get a commission from that sale. So, if I suggested a t-shirt to all my audience, and some of them purchased that t-shirt, I would get 10-20% commission from that sale. Seems like a good deal, right?
Technically, I could even advertise these things exclusively on social media—I wouldn’t have to try to make more room on my website.
But I always say no to this type of offer. I say no out of self respect.
You see, in this situation, you become the salesman for the company. And the company is leaving you hanging. They don’t really care if you make any money or not. If you never make a penny, nothing has changed for them. If you make $1,000, they’ve come out ahead.
I determined early on to never bet against myself. I have more self respect than that.
Now, I don’t know how this applies directly to you. I’m not sure where your temptations lie—where you’re tempted to bet against yourself.
But I encourage you. Have some self respect. Bet on yourself. You’re worth the investment. Don’t sell yourself short.