Transition from Writing to Webmaster?

[potentialeight]

Hi all. I'm new to this forum, but I've used resources from the GPWA for years. I've been a full-time writer in the industry for the past few years, and I've been considering making a gradual shift to the webmaster/affiliate side of things.

It's something that had been in the back of my mind for a while, but it really came to a head recently when I gave up almost all of my clients for a writing position with a company that folded out of nowhere at the end of the new year. I was given no warning of this, and basically just gave up my clients for a company that crapped out less than three months later.

I still have a couple of clients that I'd kept around, but I don't do a lot of volume with them, and I hate that my ability to earn was just crapped all over like that with no warning. I'd like to have something with more stability, much like I had with my client base before this debacle.

I'm wondering if making the transition to the webmaster/affiliate side of things would facilitate a higher degree of stability. At this stage in my life, I'd be happy just having a couple of main clients that provide me with consistent enough work that I can be full-time like I was before, but I don't like the idea of someone pulling the rug out from under me again.

Any thoughts?

[sweetbet]

In the long run, after you have signed up enough regular players at reputable, "affiliate friendly" programs, you will have much better financial stability. However, it will take time and patience to build a decent site, market and rank the site, and sign-up players on a regular basis.

[potentialeight]

In the long run, after you have signed up enough regular players at reputable, "affiliate friendly" programs, you will have much better financial stability. However, it will take time and patience to build a decent site, market and rank the site, and sign-up players on a regular basis.

For me personally, I was super stable for probably two solid years before that happened, and I'd never really had a client fall off of the face of the Earth like that. Maybe it was a case of putting too many eggs in one basket, but I'd really prefer to have just a handful of main clients that I worked with in bulk on a regular or semi-regular schedule.

[F-L-C]

I would do both, continue with the content writing and start a site as well

[baldidiot]

Personally if I were you I'd build up the content site and pick up a few more regular clients, but also work on your own sites.

Then as your site(s) get bigger and your revenue becomes more consistent you can start to scale back the writing.

[potentialeight]

Personally if I were you I'd build up the content site and pick up a few more regular clients, but also work on your own sites.

Then as your site(s) get bigger and your revenue becomes more consistent you can start to scale back the writing.

That's pretty much the plan at this point. If I can get to working with a few more people who value long-term commitments, then I'll be pretty much set.

[mickekneg]

Patience is everything in making money online, for any kind of affiliation, dedication and time is key.

I myself has only been doing casino affiliation since October 2015, and at the moment im still putting tons of time into it but barely making any revenue. In an industry like this where the competition for traffic is what it is, patience is everything!

I wish you good luck! Great that you have content writing skills already, thats probably what you are going to spend the most time doing as a webmaster anyway, if youre not spending tons of cash outsourcing that

Best Regards!

[TheGooner]

Basically you put all your eggs in one basket - like all salaried employees do - and it didn't work out. That's tough - especially as you'd worked so hard to build a much more secure base as a writer for many clients. Unfortunately, that IS the way of things in the virtual world. Virtual is cheap, low operating costs, changing environment, and little security if you have a single paymaster.

What made you change from multiple clients to a single salary?
- Better rates?
- More consistent work?
- The appearance of security?

Being an affiliate will give you NONE of these things in the early days.

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As for your question of - Will affiliating provide you with stability?

The answer is No / Yes / Maybe.


No = because only about one in ten affiliate startups make any money, and it takes a bit of time and a lot of effort to get to a full time remuneration level. I'd guess only one in 100 GPWA members here are financially stable through affiliating - but it does take 2 years+ to get to that level if starting from scratch I think.

Yes = because there are hundreds of affiliates here who have managed it.

Maybe = because you will have content creation skills.
But an affiliate startup probably needs a whole host of other things as well to succeed, like technical know-how, a business plan, a good idea for a website, and an enthusiasm for the subject matter in order to keep pushing to see it succeed.

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The "BaldIdiot" had a goodplan for you "

Personally if I were you I'd build up the content site and pick up a few more regular clients, but also work on your own sites.
Then as your site(s) get bigger and your revenue becomes more consistent you can start to scale back the writing.

So I would suggest :

1/ Get back to the writing as a mainstay for income.
You are experienced at this - and can immediately make money.
Approach your old clients (it's only been three months) - if you were good at what you did then they'll be pleased to work with you again.

2/ Begin an affiliate Site as well
You will not make money at this immediately (or even in six months).

Work on it every day for a couple of hours.
It won't be profitable - but you will learn a lot - you will develop a better understanding of all the issues.

As you make changes, develop the site, get rankings and a following then readers, signups, and profits should come.
And if you DO succeed then it pays a lot better than piece-rate writing.