The Biggest Mistake In The Affiliate Marketing Business

I was watching the coverage of the UFC 90 the other day, and I kept thinking about the rise and demise of Pro-Elite Mixed Martial Arts promotion. For those of you who don’t know these guys, they were the folks who struck a contract with CBS for prime-time fighting, and they used an Internet sensation called Kimbo Slice to push their product. Dana White, the president of the UFC, has often been a harsh critic of the companies that are trying to compete with the UFC. Now if you are just a casual fan, you may think that Dana is a just a tough guy who hates anyone who wants to compete with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It may well be true. Dana is a businessman, and of course he doesn’t want smaller promotions to ruin the business for everyone.

Dana kept telling everyone that the UFC makes it look easy and it’s not easy. Folks made fun of him and called him names for being a jerk. But here are the facts which by the way do apply to the affiliate marketing world as well. You should always pick your battles. In the MMA market, only the UFC is making real money. Everyone else looks at the UFC and come to the conclusion that there is money to be earned without doing proper research.

Getting into a niche without proper research is the biggest mistake you can make in any business. You can look at a super affiliate and come to the conclusion that if they are making money, you are going too. That is not going to happen. These guys have mastered their money-making process. They know more about their business model than you do. They are more familiar with challenges, which is why it’s tough to beat them without proper funds or the right business plan.

That’s were micro-niches come in. Strike Force is another organization that is making it decent in the MMA world without getting crushed by the UFC. They have a unique business model, and they don’t pretend to be the UFC. Going against a 800 guerrilla in a niche without knowing their strengths and weaknesses quickly leads to a good spanking. These guys who are making money are doing something right. Pretending that you are going to make money in a niche just other are is just a false hope (take the credit card niche for instance).

So here is the moral of the story. Super affiliates must be doing something right to earn big bucks in this business. They also make it look easy because they have refined their processes over and over again. You simply can’t get in the business and copy them to achieve their success. You should always do your research and pick your battles. If you have 10 million dollars in the bank, you may be able to challenge incumbents in your niche, but if you are limited in funds or resources, you should pick your spots. By doing your homework, you can avoid headaches and heartaches down the road.