October 20th 2008.
That day marks the date I published my very first blog post on the internet
It’s still accessible here if you’re interested to read it
At that time I was a failed wannabe internet entrepreneur
You see, in my late teenage years I’d found some success running my own food truck business but it was short lived due to thieves (more on that another day)
As a result I ended up working low paying jobs but continued to have a burning desire for a better life for myself
In 2004 this desire caused me to search online for “ways to make some extra money”
Over the next 4 years I’d try everything…
Offline catalogue business opportunities
Online surveys that promised to pay me but never did (LOL)
…and eventually all kinds of online opportunities.
I got hooked in a major way and before long I was buying courses, trainings and software products on a credit card
By 2008, at just 24 years of age, I had 5 credit cards and 2 bank loans, amassing more than $60,000 of debt.
My life was a total and utter mess, and worst of all I was so scared and shamed that I hid all of this from my family and friends
Thankfully, I had a moment of what can only be described as being in the right place at the right time (AKA ‘luck’) and met a guy at an internet marketing event that would go on to become my first real mentor in the world of online marketing.
He would teach me the business model of Affiliate Marketing (promoting other businesses products and earning commissions on the sales you make)
Fast forward to July of 2009 and I quit my job to become my own boss and have never worked for anyone else since.
It took me nearly 5 years to make my first sale on the internet and I lost it all in pursuit of the achievement
But today I’ve sold way over $10,000,000 of products online through my various ventures.
Here’s how I did it…
First, without any products of my own (or the knowledge to even do that!), I would learn affiliate marketing.
Everyone see’s affiliate today but perhaps doesn’t understand it…
Take social media influencers, did you realise almost all of them are affiliate marketers?
You may see them on platforms like Facebook, YouTube or TikTok doing brand deals and getting paid to promote products on their channels.
But that’s not the kind of affiliate marketing I was into, there’s different ways and sadly it sometimes gets a bad rep because either people don’t understand it, OR they’ve come across sleazy fake so-called gurus online peddling garbage.
However, done the right way I truly believe for anyone starting out without the knowledge or skills to have their own products that this is the PERFECT business model to begin with.
I say that because to succeed at affiliate marketing requires learning just 4 core skills:
1. Traffic generation
2. How to build an audience and capture them onto an email list
3. How to follow-up
4. How to find and make offers to generate sales
I’ll dig into these more in future but for now that tells you where your focus must be.
Doing other models outside of affiliate marketing also requires you to learn those things, plus so much more on top!
That’s why it’s a great place to start…
Learn and get good at the fundamentals and leverage Affiliate Marketing to reach a level of income that covers your basic needs
…so you can if you wish leave your day job and free up more time to scale your efforts and results.
That’s what I did.
And with those results and skills you then have options…
For me, in late 2009 I began creating my own digital course that helped people learn the things I had learned that allowed me to quit my job.
This took me from making 4 figures a month, to 5 figures a month…
Eventually, I began to recruit help because I couldn’t manage to do everything on my own.
Today, all these years later I still do all of this…
Affiliate marketing brings me in multiple 4 figures a month
I sell on average over 1,000 units of books, courses and mentorships in my training company (Internet Profits) every month which brings in multiple 7 figures per year
(IMPORTANT NOTE: I hate business owners spout figures without context on costs, profit etc, so let me be clear… The above is NOT anywhere close to all profit, in fact I’ll share some eye-opening facts and reality in a future post soon that may shock you!)
And we have attracted more than 100,000 customers to date in our cosmetics company (COABE)…
Which BTW, is pronounced like ‘robe’ but with a ‘C’ haha)
So, that’s the skinny of how I got started online, lost it all (and more) and bounced back to where we are today
And if you didn’t pick up on it yet… I’ve failed WAY MORE than I’ve succeeded
But it’s the willingness to fail and keep going that led to the successes
And the successes have paid back the fails many times over… So if you’re facing hardship, keep going.
But ensure what you’re “going at” is a proven path that you believe can work… Because it’s proven to work for others!
Now you know ‘where I’ve been’ – In my next post I’m going to share my goals, so you know where I’m attempting to head on this journey you’re following
Drop a comment and let me know if there’s anything I’ve shared that you’d like me to go deeper into in future 🙂
Until then, be sure to visit often.
I’m intending to start a FREE Watch Me Fail newsletter soon for you to join so you don’t miss any of the goodness!
Cheers
Dean
Hey Dean,
You operated a food truck business which was short lived due to being robbed, that is a shame and also a good thing (in a way) otherwise you wouldn’t be in the position where you are today! (I hope that makes sense)
Even today, that are many people (gurus) who do promote anything for quick income and which are garbage.
The 4 core skills you mention, you are totally correct as this can be adapted in any business.
I reckon most people are struggling with traffic generation. More on this in a deeper way would be great. I am looking forward to your newsletters 😊👍
Keep up with the great work that you do, Dean 🫡🫡
Chigs
Thanks Chigs!
You’re right! At the time I thought it was the worst thing ever what happened to me… But as they say “everything happens for a reason”
I guess you don’t always see the reason right away but it may come 🙂
I could still be cooking up my burgers right now haha! (Although, I still LOVED that business and would gladly do it!)
I hear you loud and clear on traffic 😉
Cheers
Dean
I look forward to your newsletter. I appreciate the 4 steps needed to succeed with affiliate marketing and your stories along the way! I look forward to a long journey with you and the team!
Thanks Kate!
Likewise, I’m excited to continue to see things unfold for you too 🙂
Let’s get it!!
Dean
Dean, with all the debt that you got into and your food truck business being ruined by robbers, it feels very painful and sad. However, I’m a strong believer that all of these things happen for a reason. Even if it is just for us to stop and rethink and try things in a different way. In the long term you learn that all of this was supposed to happen to make you the person you are so that you can do the things you do. I have a strong faith and I do believe that God not only tests us, but then rewards us with the improvements and changes that we make. Now that you have struggled and built yourself up to an unbelievable position, you are now helping thousands of people to do that and without the struggles you had what would you tell them? You’re a true inspiration and I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me so far . I’ll definitely be subscribing to your newsletter and I look forward to receiving lots of value and content. Thank you. Atif