Today’s interview is with Super Affiliate: Zac Johnson
Zac has long been an inspiration to me, each time I visit his blog I am blown away with just how much income can be made selling others peoples products as an affiliate.
Imagine having a business were you can earning $100,000’s per year or even millions and you don’t even have to create the product yourself. That is the kind of business Zac Johnson has and it is the kind of business Michael Dunlop wants to have 😉
Enjoy the interview — and as always I look forward to your comments.
Zac Johnson Interview
Q1: You personally endorse a lot of affiliate products and networks, Do you think having trust with your readers is important for promoting affiliate products?
Whenever I come across a new affiliate network, I always make sure to join them. With the massive amount of networks now available, it’s best to weed out the good ones from the bad. The networks I list on the blogs are ones that I’ve joined and have had success with over the years… some of which I have been making money with for nearly 10 years now. With over $2 million in referred earnings to these networks, it proves that recommending only the best networks, works out not only for myself… but also for the affiliates and networks involved.
Q2: Affiliate marketing is something your obviously good at and have a passion for, do you think your blog would be anywhere near as successful if it wasn’t something you had a key interest in? If so why?
The affiliate industry is growing rapidly, but still very small. Unless I was an “in your face” and super passionate guy like how Gary Vaynerchuck, and how he is in the wine industry, I think it would be tough… but not impossible. When I first started making money online in the late 90s, I knew it was going somewhere, but never planned on making a blog or becoming a voice in the industry.
Q3: How has blogging affected your business? Has it opened up any doors for you? Has it got you anything cool 😉
The before and after effect of the blog has made a huge difference. Before the blog I had my own set of online friends, contacts and networks and wasn’t out there too much. Once you go live with a blog and it catches on, you really put yourself out there. You have a whole new audience that is reading what you write, new networks and advertisers that want your business, and with that comes more responsibility and time… but it’s been completely worth it.
As for anything cool… it’s great to be able to setup contest and have networks donate big prizes for the blog readers, but I would have to say the “coolest” thing, is that the blog has generated over $2 million in “new money” for affiliates and networks on the site. This is just through a few trackable resources, so the number is probably much larger… but it’s great to see it’s helping more people become financially independent.
Q4: What do you think is the most important aspect of a blog and why?
It’s easy to say “be creative and have your own story”, and that’s the secret sauce to having a successful blog. While that’s true, it also comes down to branding, advertising and what you can bring to the table. One of the most important factors is your branding. I have my cartoon logo and my name… they both have caught on and new articles about both are written often. This is the type of advertising and effect that will continually grow your blog in the long run. Even before your branding, you still need readers and content… so it all works hand in hand.
Q5: I understand you started making money online when you were still in your teens, what’s the biggest lesson you have learned from being an Internet entrepreneur.
Even when I was in elementary school I have a business mindset. Instead of carrying books in my backpack, I would be carrying cans of soda to sell at lunch. If the internet wasn’t around, I would surely be running some other type of business. Fortunately, the internet did come along and I got in early and started making money while I was in high school. The “biggest lesson” I’ve probably learned over the years, is that it’s all about connections and getting it done. No one else is going to do it for you, and you can’t do it all by yourself.
You have branded yourself very well, what advice would you give to a new blogger wanting to brand there name on their blog?
When I first launched the blog, I wanted to make sure it stood out from the rest. I made sure I had my own cartoon logo and a unique blog design. With time and readership growth, these both caught on. I also partnered with one of the best blog design companies, UniqueBlogDesign.com, which brings out a new version of the blog each year. Make sure you create a brandable image for yourself or your company. Just think about the most popular companies in the world, and their logo… they are unique and recognized world wide.
Running an Internet Business gives you choices and freedom to do what you want, when you want. What would you say the Internet Lifestyle is for you?
No doubt about it… the internet business is better than anything out there. Years ago you would have to take out a business loan, start up a brick and mortar business, pay rent, employ staff… and really have the odds against you for success. Now anyone with a computer and a corner of a room can potentially make millions by themselves.
For me, the “internet lifestyle” is all able financial freedom and enjoying what I do. Even if I had all the money in the world, and never had to work another day, I would still be making sites and cranking out new ideas. We are entreprenuers and that’s what we do!
Q6: If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what advice would you give yourself regarding making money online?
I’ve always done everything by myself and it was all self taught. I don’t have a techie or programming background, so that was always a missing factor. I always wonder what it would have been like if I built a team around me and went after some of those bigger ideas I had, that would have taken more time, programmers and more people to manage. I’m not doubting myself, or the path I’ve taken… but it’s always in the back of your mind in the “what if” scenerios.
Q7: What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Not so much advice… but a life (business) lesson. You can’t let others decide your path, especially in business. With so much competition, criticism and jealousy out there, you are bound to come across critics and just people who don’t want to see you succeed. At the end of the day, it’s your business and your life, you have to go for what you beleive in. You will kick yourself later if you pass on an opportunity just because you cared what someone else might think.
More about Zac Johnson:
AND
How I Made $860,538.38 PROFIT in 4 Months!