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.
.
.
.
.
In before one of the below questions is: “Thoughts on X?”
If you’re subscribed to this newsletter, you need to keep in mind why we’re here.
Your boss and company, no matter how nice, doesn’t care about your future. Nobody outside of a few family members and select friends care about your growth and your future.
You are the only one that can save yourself and make your life what you want it.
Single player. Just you.
This Substack is here to help you build a business and build the life that you want. I’ve laid out the basics to understand, analyze, & grow most any online business.
The best way to learn how to do this as fast as possible is to start from the beginning of the Substack. That and follow me on Twitter & Instagram.
Free articles on WiFi Money are supported by:
►SiteGround - SiteGround is one of the easiest hosting providers to get setup on quickly. For a full guide in getting setup with your first website in less than an hour, read how to start your own website.
►Shopify - The #1 and only ecommerce website builder that you should be using. If you’re selling a physical product online, look no further. They handle 90% of the hard stuff. Start building on Saturday morning and be selling by the afternoon.
►Surfer SEO - Save hours by using Surfer SEO to prepare content optimized to your domain, niche, and audience. Use the #1 AI writing tool on the market that the best affiliate marketers are using.
►SEMRush - The one tool I cannot live without. This tool has almost everything you need. Keyword research, spy on your competitors, local SEO, site audits, social media management, paid advertising tracking, PR monitoring and much much more.
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?
When (if ever) would you delete old non-performing content?