Stay as an affiliate or move into retail?

sussexrob · Mar 5, 2008

Hi All

I am an affiliate for a couple of different companies which i do ontop of my full time IT support job, which i have nooo interest in now and would love to leave. 33 now and fixing computers isnt my bag as the saying goes.

Question i have is, do i stay as an affiliate to companies or look to starting a company properly. My view is you cannot base an affilaite business on much as you are relying on the companies not to stop their schemes whereas your own business is more substantial.

Affiliates on the affiliate forum say not to go into retail as customers are a pain, but im in a customer facing job anyway so wouldnt make much differece.

Also, i heard here and there that affiliates are seen as the lower life of the interent as they are making money out of other peoples work.

Anyone care to share their views? Affiliate or proper company ( i do have a industry in mind by the way)

cheers for reading

Rob

Page · Mar 5, 2008

Why can you not do both?

MH1 · Mar 5, 2008

If it brings money in keep doing it until your own business can replace the income.

sussexrob · Mar 5, 2008

Cheers for your replies

I could do both, its just time thats all

Appreciate your feedback

Rob

WalktheWeb · Mar 5, 2008

I think there is a lot to be said for going into retail if you have the time and resources to handle stock and look after customers. Part of the problem with being an affiliate is that the profit you can make from each customer is so small that it can be difficult to cover the costs of generating business. I think that is why so many affiliates work on the basis of getting themselves into a very narrow keyword niche and relying of free organic traffic rather than trying to buy in traffic by advertising.

On the other hand risks in retail are often much higher. You tend to have to make a much greater investment in time and money, and it might not work for you.

And if you have a sound affiliate business model already, there is something to be said for trying to grow that rather than chucking it in and starting something different.

Page · Mar 5, 2008

Dropshipping is a halfway house?

Makingthenews · Mar 5, 2008

Rob,

I am looking into affiliate programmes as a potential merchant and would be interested to know your thoughts on my products and whether you would be willing to act as an affiliate.
I produce personalised newspapers and magazine gifts and my website is makingthenews dot co dot uk
Have a look around and let me know your thoughts

sussexrob · Mar 5, 2008

Making the News - PM'd you

Page - Cheers for the comment, ironically i was going to start with dropshipping if i did go back to retail as ive been accepted with a trade account for one of my merchants but!! a decent company and not something i would normally go for as so many get used by ebayer's, and can be unreliable but these guys... top notch

I think if they werent, i wouldnt be wondering

Cheers for the replies, good to read when i got back from kickboxing. Good destress

Rob

Page · Mar 6, 2008

You can mix dropshipping with the normal buy and sell process.

So extending your offering without the same overheads of purchase and storage and insurance and ...

Uncle Buck · Mar 6, 2008

sussexrob said:
Making the News - PM'd you

Cheers for the replies, good to read when i got back from kickboxing. Good destress

Rob

Do you ever compete or just for fitness? I'm generally interested in the sport and have done a bit of Thai Boxing. I also do some marketing for www.executiveboxer.com - Come to the next event!!

sussexrob · Mar 6, 2008

Just for fitness and self defence from sparing in class. Used to a couple of martial arts to but got bored

short attention span doesnt go well heh

sussexrob · Mar 7, 2008

Ironically, a new marchant im working with has just sent me an email with his concerns about buyings going from his site to mine then making a sale, so i get the commision so he looses the %

Exactly what my concern was when i started this thread that you never know when merchants are going to get cold feet and the work done on the affiliate site is a waste..luckily on the main one ive got any alternative merchant i could switch to, but a pain all the same

Rob

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