Welcome to my little corner of the web!
In today’s post I want to dive into the topic of Finding Your Perfect Mentor and why this is often a misunderstood but essential part of your navigating the Affiliate Marketing jungle.
Your Online Affiliate Marketing Business (should you choose to go this route) is No different than starting any other type of business, be it a restaurant, hardware store, book store or manufacturing business.
The most important piece is to have a product or idea to sell to your potential customers. Without anything to offer you don’t have a business. This is the unique part of starting an online affiliate marketing business as you will be offering other company’s products instead of developing your own.
Each business starts out with having to have some amount of startup/seed money to purchase equipment, furniture, computers, materials and in some cases even a building or physical store front.
This is also true with your online business as you will need at least one computer, some software to run your business and a website as a location where your business will live. Granted the online business is a much smaller investment to make when starting a business, but it is an essential part of its beginning.
Now there are other things that businesses will need but for this post we’ll leave those for another post.
So let’s get back to the starting that online business. With any business the success or failure of that business can be greatly attributed to the investment that you put into your business or that you take from that business.
Businesses that reinvest in their strategies survive much longer than those that pull from their businesses. A mentor is one of those reinvestment strategies that can create great payoffs for not just online businesses but businesses of all kinds.
I have personally found this to be very true in not only my brick & mortar business, but my new online journey as well. However there are some things that you must take into consideration when looking for a mentor.
Here are some factors that I considered when seeking an affiliate marketing mentor:
Experience and Success
Look for mentors who have achieved success in affiliate marketing. Make sure they have a proven track record of generating income through affiliate programs. Their own success demonstrates their expertise.
When I started this search, I ran across a company by the name of Internet Profits. Wow what a great name it says it all! Thats what caught my attention.
I also learned about the founder, Dean Holland. Dean has been running Internet Profits for nearly two decades now, and not only does he teach about his process called the Four Core Areas he actually runs Internet Profits by implementing those same principles in its day-to-day operations.
First-Hand Knowledge
Make sure that the potential mentor has first-hand experience in running their own successful affiliate marketing business with proven processes. Practical knowledge is invaluable. Avoid mentors that only offer theoretical advice without real world results.
After looking into Dean’s company, I decided to dip my toe into the waters of affiliate marketing by buying his book The Iceberg Effect.
It was a great read!
You can get yours here just pay a small shipping and handling fee, you’ll enjoy the information. In another post I will give you a complete breakdown of the read.
After reading The Iceberg Effect I wanted to see how all the information fit together based on the information given. I signed up for Dean’s Quick Start Challenge Coaching course where I found that Dean really does practice what he preaches.
Reputation and Credibility
Research the potential mentor and check their reputation. Look for individuals with a strong online presence, positive reviews and endorsements from others within the industry. A mentor’s credibility really matters.
Dean Holland created one of the very first online coaching programs that went viral and has been involved in creating information products in affiliate marketing since 2004.
He is one of a few people who have developed courses of this nature and has demonstrated the levels of expertise he and his company possess in the process. As a result, you will gain knowledge from him and his processes.
Seems to me like he would not have created such a detailed blueprint unless he had actually ‘lived’ the model.
Willingness to Invest Time
A good mentor is willing to invest time and effort in your development and progress. They should be available for questions, feedback and guidance. Avoid mentors that are too busy or are unresponsive.
Dean and his company Internet Profits not only provides you with trainings on video, he and his team provide communities where you can ask for help as well as a Ask Us Anything session three times a week for members to get help and suggestions.
Dean also has trainings where he comes online with the members and personally does all the training and Q&A’s.
Dean also provides members with an analysis of their monthly progress and makes personal recommendations to help you improve your outcomes.
If I had to say what one of Deans strengths were, it would be that he is personally invested in your success.
Alignment with Your Goals and Ethics
Consider whether the potential mentor’s approach aligns with your own goals and ethics. Are they focused on the same affiliate marketing strategies you want to learn? Do they approach the methods and processes with the same ethical standards as you would have? Choose someone whose expertise matches your interests and ethics.
Even though Dean’s goals and My goals are a bit different he would never steer you in a direction that was unethical or damaging to your success. He has shown me over the last eighteen months of being associated with him and Internet Profits that he is a trustworthy mentor and that I can trust his recommendations even if I don’t immediately understand what he is conveying to me.
Communication Skills
Effective communication is essential. A mentor should be able to explain concepts clearly, provide actionable advice, and guide you through challenges as well as encourage you when those challenges arise.
As I stated above in the “Willingness to Invest Time” section Dean and his team constantly pound into our heads to use all the forms of help that they offer, do not stay stuck.
I know it’s hard to get everyone to completely understand everything one might say the first time, but Dean and his team will commit to answering any question no matter how many times they have to try and explain it.
Remember, finding the right mentor is about more than just learning techniques – it’s about gaining insights, avoiding pitfalls and accelerating your growth in the Affiliate Marketing Jungle.
I know this post sounds a bit biased, but after having tried a few different courses and mentors. The difference in the outcomes have made me feel like I have not just found a mentor but a home.
I hope that this post has help shed some light on finding ways to find a good mentor. It will be one of the most important investments you can put into your business and will payoff in no time. As always if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. If you liked the post, please share it with your friends and followers. Thank You for Reading!
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Ken,
This post greatly underscores the importance of finding the perfect mentor in the world of affiliate marketing. Your insights on the key factors to consider when selecting a mentor, such as experience, reputation, and alignment with personal goals, are invaluable. It’s evident that your journey with Dean Holland and Internet Profits has been transformative, highlighting the profound impact a dedicated mentor can have on one’s success. Thank you for sharing your enlightening perspective and offering a roadmap for aspiring affiliate marketers to navigate the jungle with confidence and clarity.
Thanks again,
CJ
This is truly greatness! The information is on point for those that need a mentor. i have one as well and it is so helpful to know that this person can guide me to success if I put in the work. Here’s to your HUGE success!
Ken, this is a really great post. Well done. I think this is the one thing that most people who want to start affiliate marketing don’t think about or don’t think they need. There’s so many videos and guides out there promising how to do affiliate marketing, but that’s just a little bit of theory. To do it properly you need wisdom and guidance. You’re not gonna get that completely from watching some videos. You need somebody you can trust, ask questions to, and learn from. And that’s where a coach or a mentor comes in. Thank you so much for your information here, very useful, thanks, Atif
This is a great post! You have captured and laid out so many important factors to consider about getting a mentor. I’ve tried a variety of online business models in the past and was unsuccessful. Not because the model didn’t work but I didn’t take on a mentor to help me through to success. This time I’m doing it different, like you and have the help of a good mentor. Wish you continued success as you move forward in affiliate marketing!
Denny
Denny, It took me many years to understand that help is not a bad thing, it can save us a lot of time and pain. Keep pushing forward and thanks for taking the time to read my post.
Hi Ken,
Your post pinpoints all the essentials, and what to look for in a mentor. Fantastic job! It is so important to have a GOOD mentor. Dean is one of those, and I’m very grateful that we have him. It is so easy to fall in the trap of others that say they’re gonna help you through your journey and end up not really being there for you. Great post. Thank you!
Meredith
You’ve highlighted the parallels between starting an online affiliate marketing business and launching any other type of venture.
Having a solid product or idea is a good reminder for me as I have been focused on only a ‘product’ but a GOOD IDEA is just as great, so very relevant. Thank you.
Your emphasis on the role of mentors in driving success cannot be overstated.
Your criteria for selecting a mentor, including experience, reputation, and alignment with one’s goals and ethics, is spot on for aspiring entrepreneurs.
I am also re-reading Dean Holland’s The Iceberg Effect and getting so much more than I did the first time which is weird I know but it shows how important it is to reread something as sometimes you may not have registered it as you thought.
I am not sure why this second reading is somehow reaching me than it did before but just glad I have done it again.
Thank you for sharing this post on finding the perfect mentor in navigating the affiliate marketing field.
Eleanor thank you for reading my post and commenting. I to find it interesting that you pickup on different things each time you reread or rewatch something. I suppose that’s based upon our current understandings, we see things from a different perspective knowing now what we know. Say that three times fast (LOL).
Certainly important that your mentor has time to answer questions, otherwise there wouldn’t be much mentoring going on. But some are certainly better at this than others.
I also agree alignment with ethics and goals is crucial. It’s hard to get where we want to go if the person we’ve chosen as a guide keeps trying to get us to do things which violate our values.