Hey it’s Opossum here! Welcome to my free monthly Q/A Roundup. Today’s post is on some of the best questions in the last month. Each week I write about a new topic or analyze a new digital business. If you’re not a subscriber, here’s what you missed this month:
Question #1
As I am informing as an authoritative figure, how important is it for me to dox myself to improve the credibility of my website? Can I get away with still being anonymous (preferred) or do you think that will hinder traffic/engagement greaty (in your experience)?
It is always easier to use a doxxed identity to grow. Most people love credentials... But I'm an Opossum... It's not a hurdle that can't be overcome. Just makes it slightly more difficult. I personally wouldn't dox until I was to the point that I never had to go back into corporate America if I didn't want. You can also just build up the authority of a fake figure or hire someone to be your figure head in the mean time.
It really depends on your niche, but in most cases, if you build a fake LinkedIn/FB/etc. profile and buy connections, nobody’s going to know.
Question #2
At what point in website growth should I try to reach out to affiliates?
Not until you have steady traffic. At least 1,000 visitors a month. Until that point it's not worth your time and definitely not worth the merchant's time. Most of your affiliates are doing tens or hundreds of millions a year. Probably even billions. You think they're going to care about the $27 you bring to them?
If you even have to ask this question to yourself, you shouldn’t be reaching out to affiliates.
Even at 1,000 visitoros per month, you shouldn't be talking to anyone at the company. Your start should be on affiliates that have automated affiliate programs.
Let’s do some simple math here. These numbers will be very different based on the type of site you have. Let’s say 1% - 10% of the people that visit your site, click on your affiliate link. Of those users 10% convert on the site. Your commission is $30.
At 1,000 visitors a month, in the best case scenario above, you make $300.
10% X 10% X 1,000 X $30 = $300
In the worst case scenario above, you make $30.
1% X 10% X 1,000 X $30 = $30
Do you really think it’s an efficient use of your time or the brands time to have a conversation with you? At this point, it’s better to focus your time on building content and links.
Question #3
What do you think of this? Thoughts? Or insert very vague question.
Stop. I’m trying to be helpful, but I don’t have the time to spitball ideas with people. I think nothing of it because I don’t have the mental capacity to spend hours every time that question comes up.
DYOR, build a plan, find the roadblocks/problems, come to the Q&A post, and drop specific questions so that I can help you with *actionable* advice.
There’s enough people in the world that want to talk “ideas”. I am not one of them. I want to talk about how you’re going to overcome your barriers to get the ideas implemented.
Question #4
Is it better to go with a free theme first then update to a premium later?
Just spend the money and go with the premium product if you’re “eventually” going to get it. I say this for two reasons.
If you’re not willing to spend $50 - $100 on something for your digital business, how devoted are you actually? If you don’t have $100 laying around, then you have other problems to fix first.
If you use the free version of a theme then upgrade, eventually, you’re going to waste a considerable amount of time redoing most pages on your site.
Question #5
Quick question - for a new site being set up right now, would you set up on Universal using your guide and then do the 30sec migrate to GA4? or do a lot of the settings work the same across both?
I'd just do the GA4. With Google's recent announcement of the deprecation next July, it's not worth it to set up both.
I still have hope that they're going to reverse their deprecation decision but I'm not holding my breath.
As a reminder to everyone. Go update that now so you have YoY data when Universal Analytics is deprecated.
And yes. I’m planning on writing a GA4 article… Sometime…
Wrapping Up
If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments. I’ll be answering questions not directly related to other posts on the latest Q&A posts going forward.
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In before one of the below questions is: “Thoughts on X?”
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Disclaimer: Nothing written here should be construed as legal for financial advice of any kind. These are opinions and observations, written by an anonymous cartoon Opossum, built up over years working in e-commerce & affiliate marketing.
WHY AM I STILL POOOR?
Better to start with SEO site or a SaaS business? Can program, don't enjoy marketing or content writing so SaaS appears to be a fit. But love the aspect that SEO is answering existing traffic questions/topics and appeals to my algorithmic brain of hunting for long tail keywords. And if I hate marketing am I just going to build a SaaS with no customers...
Getting stuck chasing shiny objects and wanting to pursue both, which is just wasting everyone's time.
Ser, would be keen to know how to choose SaaS or SEO/content site?