We started off the year with such optimism, right? This was going to be our year. 2019 was a crummy year for some of us. Time to shake that off and start anew. I even wrote an optimistic blog post about it, “Hindsight is 20/20 in 2020“. I even began it with “Happy New Year”. But I wrote that post in the end of December 2019. Oh, to wish for those happy days again!

The challenges of 2020 have been hard for everyone, even the most resilient among us. At our house, we already worked from home, so there was no big change there. But when March hit, and we had to stay in, it was weird. We felt like there was a big snow storm, minus the snow. The streets were quiet. It was eerie.

Nonetheless, my resolutions from the beginning of the year remain resolute. (Can you say that?) So let’s keep those 2020 Resolutions and throw them forward into 2021, shall we?

And here we go!

1. Work On Your Business Every Day

I speak with a dozen or so affiliate or network marketer wannabees every week. (Yep, it’s true! You can call me and we’ll chat – no charge!)

The number one reason for failure or lack of the ability to focus is that they don’t get up every day and begin to work on their business. How else will you find people who want to buy something, or participate in your program or otherwise give you money for something?

You must work at it everyday, even if it’s just for a little while to keep the dream and passion alive. Here are some ideas:

  • Begin writing blog posts (Tip: Try Wealthy Affiliate)
  • Send out emails
  • Interact on at least one social media platform (Tip: Try Cash Juice, which is for opportunity seekers)
  • Old school – send out postcards, letters or flyers by literally putting a stamp on them
  • Hand out buisness cards, if that will work for you

If you don’t work your business, you are surely going to fail.

2. Get Organized

This is a little bit “tongue in cheek”, because I am not the most organized person. However, it is organized for me. What is organization for you?

If this means getting a new file cabinet or little organizers for your desk, do it. You will find that your work will go more smoothly when you are organized and, surprisingly, you won’t procrastinate as often.

3. Keep Track Of Expenses and Income

It’s easy as an affiliate or network marketer to waste money on things that don’t earn you money. There are always new programs popping up that are designed to “rope you in” – usually for small amounts of cash in the beginning.

NEWS FLASH: It’s my job to help you know what things are worth spending money on, and which are a waste or your precious dollars. Feel free to let me know if you are considering a new program and I’ll check out the details for you.

Keeping track of “money in and out” can be as easy as making an Excel spreadsheet. Once you start keeping track, you’ll begin to notice that the money in is more than the money out – what a great feeling that is!

PS We are talking about expenses having to do with your business, not personal expenses. Those things that are purchased for your business can be written off as a legitimate expense. Jut be sure to keep an associated receipts.

4. Try Something New

Have you been active in network marketing for a while and not able to make any headway? Consider trying a new tactic.

TIP: Take a sheet of paper and draw a line vertically down the middle. List the things that have been going well on the left, and the things that don’t go so well on the right.

This excercise might help you focus on what your strengths are, and what might be a good way to go forward.

The goal here is to just beging to move the needle a little bit. You might keep the program(s) you are wroking, but adjust your marketing strategy. OR you might have to start over with something new.

Don’t rush to judgement. Think it through first so that whatever you decide to try might help make more money for you.

5. Set Realistic Goals

Whether you are a network or affiliate marketer, digital marketing is not a “get rich quick” scheme. If you want to make it your life’s work – whcih can be extremely rewarding – you need to think long term.

Anyone who starts a business begins small and builds. I once owned a small specialty retail store. I still remember opening day. We did $19.21. How do I remember that number? I don’t really know, but it was only the beginning. By the time we were forced into closure by the franchisor, sales were almost $1 million annually.

You can’t make something from nothing, but you can come close. The beauty of this type of business is that initial cash outlay is very small, so it’s easy to set goals to begin earning without too much monetary investment. But you will have to put in the time to get it going.

6. Stop Jumping From Program To Program

You know who you are.

Chasing every “shiny bauble” that comes along.

Uncle Bobby recommended this program. It didn’t succeed in a month, so on to the next, and the next, and the next.

If you use the tips above and stick with something long enough, it may work for you. How long is long enough? It may depend on a number of factors. Try the excercise in step #4 above and try to figure out why something isn’t working, especially if others seem to be having success (or are they lying to you?).

Sometimes it’s not the program, but the way you are marketing it and yourself. You may just need a different marketing strategy. That’s what I’m here for. If you want to brainstorm, you can always reach out to me and we can try to discover new ways to work, or discuss whether you should ditch what you are doing and move on to something else.

7. Go All In

I know it might seem obvious, but most people don’t “go all in”. They start doing something, and then either give up or put their new found “passion project” on the back burner.

Even if you are getting started part-time, don’t put your new marketing project on the back burner all the time. Yes, I know family and home life comes first. But if you want to succeed, you’ll have to put in the time. I promise, if you do, it will be only a matter of time before network or affiliate marketing becomes your main source of income.

Why do I not say “your full time job”? Because you won’t have to work like a dog, day in and day out, chained to a desk, to do it. You will be able to work when ever and where ever you want. You will be able to structure your time to allow for family time.

You’ll simply get your life back.

But it takes time, Grasshopper.


NOTE: Links to programs that I recommend are programs that I use myself or have used and found to be good resources. I have a reputation to uphold and will not recommend something that does not work to drive your passion forward.

MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE:

Wealthy Affiliate

Cash Juice