In this article I want to talk about what you’ll need to get from technology to make your business a real success.
In the online world, your computer is obviously your most important piece of equipment.
It links you to the merchants whose products you’ll sell, to the advertising channels you’ll utilize, and to the customers who’ll see the ads and buy the merchant’s products – thus making money for you.
Computer Literacy
If your computer skills are limited to sending and receiving email, you have some catching up to do.
There’s one thing we can promise you that will never change about computer technology — it will ALWAYS CHANGE.
Computers have come a long way since 1944 when the Mark I (IBM ASCC) was completed. It was a relay-based computer and bore almost no resemblance to the technologically advanced personal computer you’re using right now.
Do you panic when there’s a problem on your computer? Then you’ll need to build up your confidence, and your tech-savvy, before you start a business that depends on that computer!
We’re not saying that you need to understand the inner workings of your computer. You don’t. But you do need to learn how to use your computer and your software to its fullest potential.
If you don’t know what all of those buttons on your keyboard are for, make it your business to find out.
Embracing Technology
The Internet is your marketplace. So you need to become 100 percent comfortable with today’s Internet technology as it is today – and prepare yourself for tomorrow.
Successful affiliate marketers keep their eyes wide open as they look for the next breakthrough. They’re eager to see what new online technology can make getting traffic and making online sales easier, faster, or just less time consuming.
Does this sound like you? Are you comfortable with the tools and technology you’ll need to use?
If it doesn’t sound like you, ask yourself if you have some of the mental blocks below.
If you do, commit to working on them and improving yourself – it will be for the good of your affiliate business.
Do you have trouble leaving your technological comfort zone?
Some people get stuck in their technology. If you’re not willing to investigate new ways to use the Internet, such as how search engines work or what a blog is, you’ll want to work on this.
You won’t need to USE all these new technologies, but you’ll need to know about them and understand the impact they have on your business.
Do you tend to get stuck in a rut when it comes to online interaction?
Then you’ll need to get a little more comfortable with the latest ways to communicate and interact with others.
For example, in Web 1.0, communication was a one-way street. Only the seller had a voice.
But Web 2.0 opened up the avenues of communication between affiliate marketers and their potential customer base. With Web 2.0 technologies, within minutes your customers can put up a blog or join a community and sound off about a product or website. As a marketer, you can also build, or participate in, online communities.
The point is, now both YOU and your CUSTOMERS have a voice online. This means you need to be open to how these technologies can impact your business – in both a good and a bad way.
Do you freeze up when you have to learn a new online tool?
You’re not alone – many affiliate marketers once felt the same. But you’ll need to get over your reluctance and get “un-frozen.”
Whether you’re learning to use website-building software, or using online tools to do your market research, you’ve got to replace your fear with a spirit of curiosity.
The best way to do this is to get support as you go along. You can seek an online community or support forum for just about any skill you want to learn.
As we all know, not all “advances in technology” are improvements. But you must be open-minded to the POSSIBILITY that new technology can make your marketing more effective.
That’s what it means to adopt the mind-set of a successful affiliate marketer.
Moreover, you might want to not to do everything yourself, especially if you’re not an internet savvy.
