During my ClickBank Profit Challenge journey, one lesson is becoming clearer to me:
Getting the click is important—but what happens after the click may be even more important.
In Update #4, I talked about what happens after someone clicks your advertisement.
Now I want to take that idea one step further.
What happens when somebody visits your website, reads your information, looks at an opportunity…
and leaves without buying anything?
Is that visitor gone forever?
That is where follow-up becomes important.
Most Visitors Aren’t Ready Immediately
Think about how you make decisions online.
Do you purchase everything the first time you see it?
Probably not.
I don’t either.
Sometimes we want more information.
Sometimes the timing isn’t right.
Sometimes we simply need to see something again before deciding whether it is for us.
That is why I’m beginning to look at affiliate marketing as more than:
Advertisement → Click → Sales Page
I’m learning to think about the complete journey:
TRAFFIC → CLICK → CONTENT → OPT-IN → FOLLOW-UP → OFFER
Each step has a purpose.
Traffic brings someone to you.
The click shows interest.
Content gives them useful information.
The opt-in gives an interested visitor an opportunity to stay connected.
Follow-up continues the conversation.
And then, when appropriate, you can introduce a relevant offer.
Something I Noticed on My Own Blog
While improving SpareTimeProfit.com, I noticed something interesting.
The ClickBank Profit Club already has an opt-in funnel connected to the program.
That changed how I looked at my own blog.
Instead of trying to build another complicated system just for the sake of having one, I can concentrate on something simpler:
Create useful content and give interested visitors a clear path to learn more.
That’s one reason I’ve added a ClickBank Profit Club banner to my blog.
Someone reading one of my Challenge updates can continue reading.
But someone who is ready to investigate the opportunity can click the banner and continue into the ClickBank Profit Club funnel.
I like having both choices.
Don’t Make Every Visitor Start Over
This may be one of the biggest lessons I’m taking from this Challenge.
If I pay for advertising and somebody visits my website, I don’t want the entire relationship to depend on whether that person buys something during the next five minutes.
That puts too much pressure on one click.
A better system gives interested people an opportunity to continue learning.
That’s where follow-up can help.
It gives you another opportunity to provide information, answer questions and introduce useful content.
Why This Matters to Me as a Retiree
I’m not trying to build another full-time job.
I’ve already retired twice—from the military and from the Department of Defense.
What interests me is learning how to build something online that can operate during my spare time.
That means I want systems doing some of the work.
Content can keep working after I publish it.
An opt-in funnel can continue collecting interested prospects.
Follow-up messages can continue communicating with those prospects.
And my blog can continue introducing new people to what I’m learning.
That’s much different from sitting at a computer all day chasing individual sales.
Build Something That Can Keep Working
This is why I’m becoming more interested in the system behind affiliate marketing, not just the affiliate link.
The link is only one small part.
The bigger picture looks more like this:
Traffic brings people in.
Content gives them a reason to stay.
Trust gives them a reason to listen.
An opt-in gives them a way to stay connected.
Follow-up gives you another opportunity to help.
And the right offer gives them something they can choose to investigate when they’re ready.
That is a much stronger foundation than simply throwing affiliate links around the Internet and hoping somebody buys.
My ClickBank Profit Challenge Journey Continues
The live 3-Day ClickBank Profit Challenge is scheduled for October 6–8.
As we get closer, I’m continuing to document what I’m learning and what I’m changing here at Spare Time Profit.
If you’re a retiree, beginner or affiliate marketer trying to understand how all these pieces fit together, follow along with me.
We’re learning one piece at a time.
Want to See the ClickBank Profit Challenge?
If you’d like to see the program I’m following:
👉 CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE CLICKBANK PROFIT CHALLENGE
Take a look at the information for yourself and decide whether it fits what you’re trying to accomplish.
Coming Next
ClickBank Profit Challenge Update #6:
Your Affiliate Link Isn’t Your Most Valuable Asset
In the next update, I’ll talk about something I’m learning that surprised me:
Why the audience, content and system you’re building may ultimately be more valuable than any single affiliate link.
Stay tuned.
— Gregory
Spare Time Profit
Simple Ideas. Real Opportunities. A Brighter Tomorrow.
