Golden Goose Marketing

If you’re on any affiliate marketing newsletter lists, you’ve probably been invited to pay for an affiliate marketing training seminar at some point.  They’re often held in exotic locales or on cruise ships, and they’re almost always very expensive.  Still, the prospect of getting face time with a known expert is always enticing.  So – should you go?  Consider this a good checklist for making the decision.

• Can you afford it?  I don’t mean, “Can you scrape together enough by using 4 credit cards and selling your motorcycle?”  If you can’t pay for it without too much pain, you’re better off staying home or waiting for a cheap conference like ad:tech or Affilaite Summit where you can do after hours networking for the cost of a few drinks or dinner.
• Are you already actively running campaigns?  Not just one, but have you tested at least a dozen or more campaigns?  If not, you’re not going to have a lot to show your instructor.  Lack of previously tested campaigns can also indicate that you just don’t have the drive that it takes to make the most of an expensive seminar.
• Will you have testing money left over afterwards?  If the seminar is going to blow your new campaign testing budget, don’t go.  You’ll learn a lot more (in most cases) from actively testing campaigns.
• Are you expecting to become friends with the instructor?  Don’t count on it.  Teaching students has a tendency to make even the nicest instructors a bit jaded and sick of newbie questions.  If you want to befriend someone, you’re better off getting successful and then approaching.  They’re not going to view you as an equal if you’re their student.
• Will you have time to take action?  If you don’t have time to run campaigns, don’t expect an event to magically energize you and help you find more free time.  

If you can pass through this checklist without any issues, it’s definitely worth considering an affiliate marketing training seminar.  Otherwise, stay at home for now and revisit the idea when you’re ready.