Affiliate Marketing vs Dropshipping

Art72

Marketing Dope
Jan 4, 2011
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Florida
Having explored several marketing strategies, these (2) appear to be a great 'concepts' for those not wanting to shell out tons of cash on products, warehousing, shipping and handling.

So, which of the (2) has the greater potential?

Affiliate Marketing?

Or

Dropshipping?

*It seems there's a couple of pro's and con's to both.
 


I spent two years in the importing/exporting business before I got into Affiliate Marketing. In those two years, I pulled in maybe around $20,000. What I finally realized after getting out of that business is that so much of it is smoke and mirrors. Lots of fucks acting like the buyer or the seller awhile they were just another piece of shit broker/agent/fucktard like myself.

When I started affiliate marketing, after two years, I can without a doubt say that Affiliate Marketing >.

P.S - For some that will say "WTF, two years before starting AM? What the fuck were you, 10?" I actually got into the business at 11, and even though if you work out the numbers I worked vs $$$ earned, it would be peanuts per hour. But I took a lot of business and communication experience out of that.
 
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mGrunin...now that's the kind of brutal honesty I can appreciate!

I'm signed up for several "affiliate" programs already, so i'll stick with that.

However, since I posted this another fucking nightmare began... I purchased my first domain and hosting package from Hostgator, and learned their webdisk doesn't support Win 7 operating system. WTF!!!!

Off to techie forums next.....arrrrggghhhh!!!!
 
However, since I posted this another fucking nightmare began... I purchased my first domain and hosting package from Hostgator, and learned their webdisk doesn't support Win 7 operating system. WTF!!!!

Off to techie forums next.....arrrrggghhhh!!!!

From How to Setup cPanel’s Web Disk on your Computer

"Note: cPanel cannot run Web Disk on Windows 7. You will need a third party webdav software like WebDrive, BitKinex or NetDrive if you are running Windows 7."
 
I'm pretty active in a few different "sell online" communities, and generally tell people who are considering dropshipping to take up affiliate marketing. Small scale dropshipping -- ie. trying to sell some shit on eBay for $5 markup per item -- is just a dead end, bullshit proposition. Going the affiliate marketing route will not take much more time and money, and will offer much broader horizons.

Seriously, if you can't afford a few grand for a couple of pallets of stuff to sell, you're never going to be able to compete with what any schmuck off the street can get at eBay, Amazon or a local flea market. Stick to affiliate marketing, make some money, and branch out.


Frank
 
I play Zerg so to effectively drop you also have to upgrade overlord speed and it just becomes too expensive on gas. It makes a lot more sense to harass with medivacs as Terran, though.
 
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Dropshipping is overrated. Just go straight to void rays, mutas, or cloaked banshees.
 
actual dropshipping is bullshit, the margins are crap. order some stuff from china yourself and get yourself a magento install.

i do the marketing/website myself and leave 'fulfilfment' and 'customer service' to my brother. business can be slow but it's a stable little earner. it's a lot harder to get money out of people when you can't hide behind a rebill or mobile rebill lol

on the other hand, it's nice to actually be wanted by google adwords and getting 10/10 quality scores
 
i think it depends upon which is actually the better opporunity presented to you at that time
sig.jpg
 
Dropshipping bullshit?

There are people making serious bank quietly in drop shipping. Mostly from their own sites. A guy I know made 10,000 a month AFTER he sold his site for $500,000 just on interest payments on the loan he made to the buyer. And that's just one site.

Affiliate marketing is really chump change in comparison.
 
I'm in ecommerce and probably always will be. The great thing about ecommerce is that you do not have to worry about the middle man (networks) most of the time. Also, commissions are far better.

For example, I don't do anything with less than 30% profit that I can run. I also work directly with the businesses so they know who I am and they know they can rely on me to promote their product fairly and accurately.

A couple of problems I have had with affiliate marketing is that when I go into the networks and see that I can only get 4% then I take a step back and realize I could get far better commissions if I were to work directly with the company. The downside is that I have to answer a few emails (takes about 15 minutes a day). I would rather handle a few customer service emails than give a huge cut of my percentage to an affiliate network that couldn't care any less about me.

I know affiliate marketing has its place, but I know for a fact that people can do really well on their own by cutting out the middle man (networks) and working directly with the companies themselves (if and when possible).
 
Would love to try dropshipping some day. It's harder, but worth it. Especially when Google loves you:)

PHPGator, you are talking about same affiliate partnership it seems, just without networks. Cause your "direct companies" are not manufacturer or at least wholesaler, so they took money from you too.
 
"Note: cPanel cannot run Web Disk on Windows 7. You will need a third party webdav software like WebDrive, BitKinex or NetDrive if you are running Windows 7."

^^^^THANK-YOU 500WA^^^^

Funny thing is, I'm planning to "Push" everything mentioned above:

  • Dropshipping (Doba, Shopster, WWB, Etc...)
  • Affiliate Programs (referrals, products, and services)
  • Online Stores (eBay, Amazon, etc...)
  • Go Direct to Manufactures for Dropship/Product
  • Everything!!!
Thus, eliminating the "networks" as PHPGator, is an avenue I intend to explore later, while I feed (guide) those who are looking for all thee above!

But first, the tough part....

I NEED the basic website building & design experience to "build" around my marketing ideas,and have full-control over my site(s).... the comments above imply there's "money" in every marketing niche for those who harness it. *None of which are perhaps easy, but they all seem to have potential if marketed properly.

The way I see it..."You don't need to own a Ferrari to be able to sell a Ferrari!"

Currently, my idea is "bigger" than my webmastering ability is to actual create it. I'm sure there are webmasters out there that are computer wizards, but suck at marketing. I'm no marketing wizard...but if my idea works...I will be.

Honestly, I didn't realize just how much work it takes to "build a quality website" from scratch (or even a basic template) and bring it to life! *Almost wish I started with the computing aspect, over the marketing itself.

Unfortunately, for all the marketing research and knowledge I've obtained and plan to utilize, it's useless, until I can comprehend the webmastering aspect which sews it all together. Or, I; like my current employer, I can foolishly spend $9,000.00 on a website (that IMO sucks!!!) and needs constant attention from his 3rd party designer$$$... LOL

So, going into Webmastering Day 2 goal: Figure out how to use (and understand) FTP Manager (without webdisk) , add 3rd party webdav, and learn enough code to install my images, links, tags, product, and written content to and from site. And more importanly, learn how to apply changes, edit, add, or remove efficiently....(shouldn't be too bad,:2gunsfiring_v1:"me")

While continuing to research SEO, Traffic Building, tracking, communications & relations with both consumers, and potential "partners" etc...

I figure it'll be a year or so before I see any $$$$. Wtf, a doctorine cost boatloads of money, and the 4,6, or 8 years they "spend" to get it doesn't exactly allow them to perform operations...So as my wife continues to bitch "you're still not making any money online"...I see it as obtaining a Marketing PHD...in 3-4 years for FREE!!

Fuck, I've only recently spent $81 for my domain w/ hosting (1 year) and the rest is all TIME and EFFORT...and in that department, I've put in 1000's of hours.

With what I've learned, I'm already "partnered" with sucessful businesses both online/offline. Now, I gotta build it!

Work Now...Play Later!"
 
If you plan to push everything without solid experience in each or somewhat at least you will fail hard.