Today I want to introduce you to someone I’ve known since I started article marketing. She’s someone who’s been working really hard and always impressed me with her consistency.
She keeps on going and her income keeps on increasing. This isn’t a quick way to riches, but it works, if you’re ready to put in the work. Her name is Ingrid Palmer, a mom, a grandmother and an overall awesome person.
1. Tell us a little about who Ingrid Palmer is. Where you grew up. Your family. Your life and so on, whatever you feel comfortable sharing.
I grew up in Kingston, Jamaica and spent most of my life there. Went to high school and college. I have two children; a son 28 and a daughter 22. I also have a granddaughter who is 4. Very beautiful.
She is one of the inspirations for me trying to do more for my family. I am happily married and have been for many, many years. I currently reside in Miami, Florida, however planning on returning home to Jamaica in another year or so. And will certainly be doing more affiliate marketing.
2. How did you choose a method for making money online? How did you find article marketing and what made you choose it?
I came to the US in the year 2000 with very little money and no job. I was fortunate to find a job after two months. I started my online search as I was tired of working for other people. I am a very hard and dedicated worker and was always given big responsibilities because of my work ethic.
My first 3 or so years online was spent chasing scams. I took part in so many scams that I could write a book. I took a break from the internet as I thought it was a waste of time. But because of my desire to have my own business I could not give up the idea. So I started searching again
I really had no idea what affiliate marketing was. I thought it was like MLM where you had to recruit people and build downlines and I did not want to do that at all. I found several affiliate marketing membership sites which I joined however I did not know anything about building a website or how to get traffic or find keywords. I continued searching until I came across a company called Jadeion which is now Affiliate Article Writers.
What attracted me to Affiliate Article Writers was the fact that they build a presell site for you and teach you how to write the articles and provided you with keywords. With this system you could start making money quickly. They actually hold you by the hand and help you take your first steps.
That was it I was hooked. Affiliate Article Writers paved the way for me to begin making money online. However it is a learning process that takes time and effort to see real result.
3. What kind of obstacles did you run into when you first started making an income online and how did you overcome them? A lot of people get frustrated when they do not see results immediately. Talk a little about how you were able to persist and become one of the few that make more than $100 a month online.
My biggest obstacle was that everyone told me to build a website and get traffic. How you do that I had no idea. I tried building several websites, but never got anywhere. I just did not know how to start. Then I heard about article marketing, writing articles and submitting them to Article Directories. That to me was the easy part. Finding a niche, doing keyword research and building a website was the tough part for a beginner, like me.
After I got into the habit of writing and submitting articles I began searching for methods to scale up my efforts and getting more traffic. So I learnt about building squidoo lenses. This method is taught very thoroughly and simply by One Week Marketing. That is also another great way to begin online as you can use this method to make money without spending much. It is very newbie-friendly and will help you get started on the right path.
4. How much money are you making right now and how long did it take you to get there? Share whatever number you are willing to share. The more specific the better, but only as long as you feel comfortable.
I am making a little over $1,000 currently. It took me about 14 months to get to where I am at right now. I know that I can triple that with just a bit more effort and when I quit my day job which I will be doing this year.
5. What are some of the common mistakes you see new article marketers make? Why do they fail and what separates you from the pack?
New affiliate marketers fail because they tend to take on too much at once. Going after every shiny things that come their way and not doing one project and then moving on to the next. I was guilty of this for a long time.
Learn a system and then duplicate it. Write as many articles as possible, this is the best way of getting traffic. I don’t know that I am different, I am just determined that this must work for me. I have no alternative.
It is also very important to have a daily plan to track your work, without this you will be all over the place and not accomplish much.
6. How do you use article marketing? What is your process? How do you use keywords? Where do you send the traffic?
I use article marketing to get traffic to my website so they can buy whatever product I am selling. I make my articles informative giving genuine information or advise so people will be interested in purchasing what I am selling.
Building trust with people can make the difference in whether you succeed or fail. Long term success is what is important.
7. It’s easy to run into plateaus and fear when you’ve run out of the initial motivational burst that happens in the beginning. How did you keep on going through this? What is your secret to writing articles consistently?
Yes I have come upon the occasional road blocks. However my determination comes from knowing this system works and that the only way to success is not to give up. I have to make this work as I have no other choice and I am extremely tired and fed up of having a boss.
This is my main motivation. The thought of handing in that resignation is so stimulating to me it drives me to work harder. Every time I think about my job and how much time I have to spend in an office is motivation enough for me.
I write articles daily. The secret is that there is no secret. I know that the more I write, the more sales I make. Sometimes it is slow but that is the nature of this business.
8. I’ve talked to you a little bit and you’ve said that you want to make a living online. How are you going to do this? What are your plans?
I plan to continue selling the products that I am currently selling through Affiliate Article Writers and also build blogs around these and many other products.
I also think I have gained quite a bit of knowledge that I can one day impart to other aspiring affiliate marketers to try to help them not to make the mistakes I made.
9. Do you think making money online requires a special trait or talent? Or do you think anyone can do it? What advice would you give someone just starting out?
Making money online does not require a special trait per se, however it takes discipline. What is required is hard work, consistency, the ability to learn new things regularly. You must have an action plan in place without a plan it will not work.
I was sadly lacking in putting a plan in place and until I did I was just all over the place. With a daily plan I accomplish more tasks each day. Affiliate marketing is not an overnight thing. It takes months to begin to see results. And then you have to scale it up. You have to take what you learn and personalize it, make it your own.
A lot of new affiliate marketers give up when they do not see immediate result. Especially when they see everyone else make thousands monthly, then you begin to wonder if something is wrong with you.
Or you begin to ask yourself if this is right for you? I know how frustrating it can be but you must be patient and do a little each day. It will come together with practice. And trying to learn from too many different people can become quite confusing too because each person has their own method. You have to eventually develop your own set of skills.
10. How can someone learn to write faster and get more articles done? What are your strategies for writing more articles in less time?
The key to writing more articles faster is first to do your research on the topic you are writing about. Once you have a good knowledge and good facts on the topic you can write a good quality information rich article in 15 or twenty minutes. Writing to me now is like talking to a friend. I write my articles as if I was answering an email.
As long as you are able to provide quality information your articles will eventually make you sales. Give and you shall certainly get.
A huge thank you to Ingrid for doing this interview.
Awesome interview Henri. Ingrid just proves what we all state time and time again: focus and take action. It works. 🙂
Good interview! I have one more question: how many articles do you write per day, Ingrid?
I try to write at least 10 articles per day. However I do have more products to market so I try to write at least 5 articles per product daily.
Wow 5 articles per product – that’s a lot! I’m currently writing 6 articles daily (2 per product) and I know it’s not that easy to write something unique each time.
I love how you said that there is no secret to making this work. No matter what our online endeavors may be, the key is to work, improve, and keep repeating that. I don’t do article marketing and am not sure that I will, but I will pass this article on to some of my marketing friends.
Great interview. I’m curious, how many different niches does she work, and how many articles per day, now that she’s part-timing it?
I am currently doing two products however I have lots of other mini niche sites that I have just started working on. These also require writing. What I do is outsource some of my writing to help scale the articles. It does take a lot of time and I hope to add another writer soon. It takes quite a bit of effort but organization is key.
@ I can do five articles in say 2 hours if I am really in the mood and If I have my keywords ready and did some research.
@Jean . Yes Jean I discovered that there are no secrets, as long as you learn the basics and build on it. It does require a lot of reading and learning as there are so many different aspects to affiliate marketing. But I like to keep it simple.
@ Juho: I currently have two products that I write reqularly for. However I am now looking at other mini niche products.
Have to roll up my sleeve and put my thinking cap on.
This was a really inspiring post.
It’s so nice to know that I’m not alone in what I’m going through.
I feel confused and at times and over whelmed. Now that I know that this happens to many of us when we’re starting out I feel more confident and motivated to forge ahead. I also agree you can’t listen to everyone out there. You need to find one or two methods and stick to them.
Thank you!
Yes Angela
There are so many experts out there you will never get anywhere. Just ensure you are getting good advice and formulate your own plan.
Wow, Henri, what an interview. You ask pointed questions. You should be on TV as a replacement to David Frost or one of those maverick interviewers. This is amazing.
I also read your guest article over at Dumb Little Man, one of my favorite sites. Enjoyed reading the piece, as always. Please keep up the good work, buddy, and wish you all the success in the world. It is a joy to read your works. Cheers!
Henri, this was a great article, and thank you very much.
I have been involved in article marketing for a couple of months now, and while I have had some success, I think that this will help me get ramped up.
Joshua you just have to keep going. That is the thing with article marketing and when you least expect it they will be picked up by searchers and start making sales for you. The more articles you have out there the better.
Being organized, staying focused, and taking action is what a lot of it comes down to. I’m not making money online yet but I know I will. Staying with it is what can make or break you.
You are right Eric, that is what it boils down to. Doing the initial work and staying focus. The money will follow slowly but surely. Many new marketers just cant wait to start making the big moolah. It doesn’t quite work that way, at least not for me.
I just actually got started doing some article marketing, and with the little experience that I have I am shocked at the results that I’ve received. It really is a great way to drive traffic.
Great interview by the way. Wish you the best in your journey to triple the income
Hi Wilson
Article market in my opinion is the best way to drive traffic. It is very cost effective too and you dont have to be an expert writer. Just give honest information about product or service and you would be surprised at the result.
Ingrid do you have another job? And if so how does it afford you the time to write the articles, or are you able to do that on your off time.
Thanks,
Ken
Hi Ken
Yes I do have another job. I write during my lunch hour and when I get home in the evening. I am so hoping to quit that job soon. I also outsource a bit but I still do write a lot. You do have good and bad days but staying focus and seeing my goal is what keeps me going.