Rosalind Gardner was the one to introduce me to internet affiliate marketing through her book the Super Affiliate Handbook.  Rosalind has been recording a video at the beginning of each year predicting what the year would be like for internet affiliate marketing.  I though it would be fun to see what has happened so far in 2010 and see how correct she is.  Watch the video below.

Rosalind makes some great predictions.  Let me tell you what I think.  I have always been a fan of frugality.  If you know me personally I have used coupons to buy things for year.  I carry a coupon binder to the store and last week I even got about fifteen items for FREE!  Yes for FREE!  I am one of those people that hold up the grocery story line with a stack of coupons. Rosalind was completely correct when she discussed saving money.  Right now a lot of people are looking for coupon codes on the internet, they are looking for ways to be frugal and a lot of it is out of necessity!

She also mentions social media and video marketing!  Within this year I have noticed a huge increase of companies offering coupons, sample and free full sized products if you become a fan of theirs on Facebook!  Big companies are really using social media to benefit them.  I have also noticed if I have any kind of bad experience with a company and mention it on Twitter, I get a message from the company asking what they can do to help!  Rosalind is right on the mark!

Video marketing has become huge.  The very few courses I have paid for this year have been on video marketing.  It is a way to not only bring traffic to a website but it is a way to get noticed.  This week I finished reading the book Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk.  He got noticed because of his video marketing on Wine Library TV!  I believe videos make things personal for people.  In a world of electronics we want to be able to see you and know we can trust you!

Lastly, Rosalind tells us about Forrester’s report that they predict that affiliate marketing will experience double digit growth!  Companies will also be putting more money into affiliate programs.  That is fantastic for us as affiliate marketers!  So what do we need to take advantage of this?  What do  you think?  I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter!

Until Next time!

Remember back in January when I told you about the 52 week Amazon Lens Challenge?  Right after I wrote this I went to NAMS 3 and I honestly have not done any Squidoo lenses since.  Even though I have not continued I have made money on the lenses I have.  Yay, right?!  Well yes and no.  I need to get back on the bandwagon!  Why am I telling you this?  I want you to learn from my mistake.  If you are making money somewhere then continue doing what you are doing and get better at it!

So what is Squidoo?

Squidoo is really where you can create a mini-website for free!  You can enjoy the benefits of making money and not have to spend money!  I am all for that.  The thing about Squidoo is that  you can create a Squidoo lens (your mini-website) on anything you would like.  So for my purpose I want to create genealogy Squidoo lenses!  I can create Squidoo lenses on software, books, how-to, etc.

Why use Squidoo?

Squidoo is a great way to build links to your site.  This is the first thing Squidoo is really good for.  The next is search engine ranking!  When you use Squidoo as a mini-website you will get the benefit of Squidoo’s high ranking in Google.  You can build a brand and reputation off of your Squidoo lenses.  One of the best advantages of Squidoo is it is so quick!  You can get a lens up and going in an hour or less!  You will also be supplementing your income with affiliate marketing on your Squidoo lenses.

If you haven’t opened an account with Squidoo go do it now!

PS. If you haven’t used Squidoo ever or need a guide as to how you should build a lens I would recommend Tiffany Dow’s ebook Social Networking on Squidoo!

Do you want to have your own business?  If so, what will you do for a business?  Most people that want to start a business start out with one of two objectives.

• The first is creating business out of their passion.  They already have a passion and possibly an idea of how to make a business out of it.  This is one of the best ways to start a business.
• The second is that they want to have a business but don’t know what their passion is.

Creating Business Out of Your Passion

This is the best way I believe to start a business.  Some success stories you may hear are about people who just happened upon a business when they were following their passion!  I have always envied people like this because I have always been a “Jack of all trades master of none.”

Starting a Business Not Knowing Your Passion

I have fallen into this category!  Over the last several year I have tried many things.  I have been successful twice at eBay.  The last time I ran eBay business I was a power seller!  But that didn’t work for me because I didn’t enjoy it!  I have run a health and wellness business out of my home but it was taking so much time away from my family.  I was successful at that and I still receive a check every month from that company.  So last year I decided to start a business online.  I knew It would be a journey because I didn’t know what my passion was.  So I started a few things. It seems that all of these roads have led me back to a niche which is my true passion!

Have You Been Ignoring Your Passion?

I have been ignoring my passion for many years now.  It all started when I was 8 years old.  I was given genealogy from my parents to copy so that I could use it for my own purposes later in life.  Well a few years after that genealogy software came out and I started inputting all my genealogy!  As I got older I started doing a little research.  The first time I discovered family members I didn’t know existed, I was hooked! There was a rush or a high that was so exciting.  I felt connected.  Like I belonged in this world!

Over many years there have been months that I worked on my genealogy non-stop.  Then I would get burnt out and not work on it at all.  So I have had my ups and downs.  The one constant is I have always wanted to be a Professional Genealogist.  This has always been a constant but I have often let that dream fade away because of one obstacle or another.  At the beginning of this year something inside started to stir.  I discovered I have been letting the sleeping giant sleep too long and now he doesn’t want to go away! I found my niche, my passion and what I love to do!  This is something I could live, eat and breath doing.

Last week I attended the National Genealogical Society annual conference.  I actual attended two genealogy conferences.  As I sat learning for six days from 8am-6pm each day I realized how I loved this.  This was not work to me at all.  I was excited everyday to go to the classes and I was more excited each night to go use the things I had learned!  The obstacles that were in my way for so many years have kind of faded away as I realize others are making a living doing this.  It is possible!  I also realized I am not alone.

I Found My Passion

Now that I have found my passion.  I am deciding on how I can use what I have learned over the last several years to implement a different business.  I want to work online as a Professional Genealogist.  In the next few weeks as I process all that I know, I will share with you what exactly I have decided to do with the knowledge I have.

It has taken a long time for me to find it but I am so grateful for a niche that I am truly passionate about!  This is something I will never want to stop doing.  It is something that I could do all day long and no realize the day has gone by!  As I was at that conference I also realized that I had finally come home and I wondered why I have been away for so long!

What is your passion?  Have you found it yet?  If you haven’t don’t stop looking you will find it!

Best,

PS. Check out my new website on genealogy at Start Your Family History.
photo credit: Yvonne R Thompson