While for some of you, the title above it’s not a dilemma for others it could be a serious decision to make.

You don’t need to know how to develop your own product. You can always outsource it. You can hire programmers, technical writers and web designers. All based on your product producing process. However, in order to be an affiliate you MUST have some sales skills. You can’t outsource it unless you would like your ideas to be stolen.

Most of the affiliates that I know are very pleased with their monthly income. They all know the art of sales. In some point of their life they came into conclusion that they need to spread their risk beyond affiliate marketing. Some have purchased real estates properties while the others invest their money in startup companies. Some others find there way developing their own products based on the knowledge they collected during the years.

As a product developer or a venture you spend lots of effort and money before you see a profit if any!
You must calculate your steps very carefully adopting a clear business plan. Not knowing what will come next can lead you to spend lots of money for nothing.

For a newbie affiliate the path to the big money it’s not easy as well. You can earn lots of money from been an affiliate but in most of the time it will not be a short journey as you might be thinking. There are a lot of things to learn on top of the fact that the competition is very tights in the popular niches.

So… to develop a product is not simple while been a newbie affiliate doesn’t sound easy as well. You are right. In both cases it’s not going to be easy while persistency it’s the name of the game.

Based on your skills you can plan the best path to your success. It’s very individual and I don’t think there a one generic formula. My experience shows that knowing to combine between the options is the preferred approach for the long run. Most of the super affiliates that I know developed their on product, making it the anchor of their business. Those who owned a great product eventually had to learn how to increase their sells.

I read lots of post every day from others bogglers. I am using Google Reader. I would suggest you to do the same. It’s a great way to stay up to date with the market news. Anyway, while I was writing this post a new post was published on Amit Mehta Blog. If you don’t know who is Amit Mehta then you better check his blog. Beside been a super affiliate who is doing extremely well online, he is a very nice smiley guy
In his last post he wrote:
“The fact is I don’t see myself doing strictly affiliate marketing for the rest of my life, I’ve already began shifting my efforts into more sophisticated business models.”
No need to say more that.

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