A few years ago, me, my wife and one of my boys were fortunate to have some very good seats at a baseball game. For those of you that have been following my journey, you know I’m a sports guy, and particularly a baseball guy…scratch that, just an all-around sports guy :). I couldn’t believe how lucky we were to have found such great seats in a great section just over the third base dugout.
We did the typical baseball thing that we do in our family. We arrived early to walk the ballpark, watching some
batting practice, munch on what we call “a walking dog” as we stroll the ballpark, taking in the sights and sounds and generally preparing for a good time, which hopefully includes a win. When we found our seats, there was a very nice lady who noticed my son brought his glove to the game. Something every baseball fan should do if they have those type of seats in case an errant foul ball comes your way. This nice lady looked at my son and said, “will you protect me if it comes my way”. He gladly said that he would and I could see the smile on his face as he felt important and useful.
The game went on and as we got through the 5th and 6th innings, we were behind but not by much. As we approached the 7th inning stretch and we enjoyed singing “Take me out to the ball game” my son and I became a little concerned about the outcome of the game. I tend to worry more than I should and I was frustrated and anxious about our play. Ha Ha Ha, “our” play, like I was out on the field doing 
anything! My wife leaned over and reminded me of an interview the manager of the team had given to the press. He told the interviewer that he simply reminded his team to trust the process, follow directions, have confidence in their abilities, and make slight adjustments when needed. My wife has a gift in calming me down when I become anxious about anything, even at a silly baseball game.
We got to the bottom of the 9th inning and we were down by one run… then, we managed to tie the game…if you want to know what happened at that game, please come to next week’s blog and I will let you know the exciting finish and how my son and I ended up on TV that night. How’s that for a teaser?
So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked! It’s about following a proven process. It’s about trust. It’s about confidence. It’s about making slight adjustments when needed. It’s all the things that are necessary to be successful in just about anything one wants to do.
When I first began my adventure into affiliate marketing and building an online business, I didn’t realize the process that I would need to trust and complete in order to be successful. Ohh, I saw a lot of shiny objects (as I mentioned in a previous blog post) that promised tremendous amounts of money in a very short time without doing much work. I am glad I did not fall for those tactics and buy those shiny objects as I discovered very quickly it was a little more complicated than what was promised. And by complicated, I do not mean impossible! It’s a process. A process to follow in order to become a successful affiliate marketer. It is accomplished by completing four steps. In each step there are several things that need to occur. This blog post is not going to highlight every single micro step required to become a successful affiliate marketer. However, these four steps are a snapshot of what is needed. They are:
- Generate Traffic: This involves driving visitors to your website or landing page. Traffic is the lifeblood of any online business. Without a steady stream of visitors, it’s impossible to convert leads into customers.
- Capture Leads: Once you have traffic, the next step is to capture the visitors’ information, typically their email addresses, through lead magnets such as free eBooks, webinars, or exclusive content. This allows you to build a database of potential customers who you can market to over time.
- Follow Up: This step involves nurturing your leads through email marketing campaigns, providing them with valuable content, and gradually guiding them through the buyer’s journey. Consistent and strategic follow-up can turn a cold lead into a warm prospect and eventually into a paying customer.
- Make Offers: Finally, making offers refers to presenting your products or affiliate offers to your leads. This should be done in a way that is compelling and persuasive. It’s about knowing when and how to present offers to your leads to encourage them to make a purchase.
If you want to find out more details about these steps, please get this FREE Resource (all you do is pay for shipping). In addition to the valuable information in the book, check out chapter 5 as there is a lot more detail describing these four steps. I’m trusting the process, I’m learning and I’m doing OK! It’s rather exciting as I see where I started and where I am now.
As I move to the next stage and begin to see the fruits of my labor, I look back at this process and am very glad I decided to stay the course and follow it to the end. But I also know when to adjust. As I hinted earlier, stay tuned for part two of this story and I will explain adjustments.
“Focus on the process, not the outcome. The joy is in the journey, not the destination.” – Unknown
“Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.” – John C. Maxwell
“The harder you work, the luckier you get.” – Ted Lasso
And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:
Why did the computer become a baseball fan? Because it understood the importance of following the program!
Why did the chicken become a baseball coach? Because it understood the importance of following the pecking order!
Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!
**If you are curious about this process and wish to know more about an affiliate marketing business, please subscribe to my newsletter here to learn more. And please continue following my blog. My hope is not only to create the freedom I so long for but pass on what I have learned to others who have similar aspirations.
Ernie, thanks for sharing such a heartwarming story about your baseball game experience! It’s refreshing to hear about the simple joys of family time and enjoying America’s favorite pastime. I can picture the excitement of being at the ballpark, munching on a hot dog, and feeling the anticipation of the game. Your son stepping up to protect the nice lady with his glove is both adorable and a testament to good manners. It’s funny how even the smallest gestures can make us feel important. Your wife’s calming presence and the manager’s advice to trust the process and make slight adjustments are valuable reminders in both baseball and business. I’m intrigued by the parallels you draw between the baseball game and running an online business—it’s all about following a proven process, building trust, and having confidence. Your four steps for affiliate marketing success make perfect sense, and I appreciate the practical advice you offer. Looking forward to part two of your story and hearing about the exciting finish of the game! Keep up the great work, and remember to enjoy the journey. Thanks, Atif
Hi Atif – I truly appreciate your visits to my blog! You always give such great feedback and you always get my point. I know it may seem “fluffy” at times, but I do like to tell stories and I think I might blog about that one day. Following a process can be difficult especially when you don’t understand the process or at times don’t even want to do the process because it is hard work. But it is so important to follow a proven path if one wants to be successful. In short, I have learned that there are very few shortcuts the true success. Thanks again, my friend, for your visit and your insight.
I do admire your fascination with the game and your unwavering fanaticism for your team. The way you guys dress up for the occasion is so, well, FANtastic. See what I did there? Sorry, stole one of your lines there. Excellent analogy there. And the segue (my new favourite word, now that I know how to spell it at last) into affiliate marketing was priceless. Looking forward to seeing who won in the next one. All the best.
Hi Andy – I love it! Joke away! Yes, we do get involved in our activities whether it’s sports or pretty much anything else. Thanks for your visit to my blog and having wonderful day and week!
Did your son have to use the glove to protect all the bystanders? Sounds like a possibility. Anyway in this current world of suspician and scams, I believe our job has become more difficult! But onward we must go!
Hi Kate – Yes, a ball was actually hit our way if you can believe it! It did not really come close to us but the lady next to my son took cover right behind him just in case. All in all it was a very fun day! Thanks for visiting my blog and hope you have a great week.
Hi Ernie,
Your blog post captures the essence of how life lessons from a baseball game can apply to building an online business. The analogy between trusting the process in sports and in business is relatable.
The emphasis on trusting the process is a lesson that applies universally, reminding us that success often comes from consistent effort and patience rather than immediate results.
The baseball manager’s advice to trust in their abilities and make slight adjustments as needed mirrors the nature of running an online business.
This perspective can help alleviate the anxiety that many feel when they don’t see immediate results, encouraging them to stay the course and make mindful adjustments along the way.
This is a good message for all of us who are sometimes impatient, but just need to trust the process.
Hi Eleanor – It is so hard to follow a process sometimes, huh? Especially when the process is new or it is confusing. I find myself stuck in the details and not looking at the big picture sometimes. Both are extremely important. It is just important to know when to be in the details and went to trust the big picture. I guess if it’s a proven process I should probably have a little bit more faith. Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of faith as I’ve stuck with this for so long and I’m starting to see the lighted at the end of the tunnel. It’s rather exciting. Thank you for your visit to my blog and have a great week!
Hi Ernie,
What a captivating story! Your ability to weave personal experiences with practical business advice is impressive. I felt like I was right there in the ballpark with you and your family, sharing the excitement and the anxious moments. Your analogy between baseball and affiliate marketing is spot-on. Trusting the process and making slight adjustments are crucial both on the field and in business. I’m eagerly looking forward to part two and finding out how the game ended—and how you and your son ended up on TV! They’re both entertaining and insightful. Thanks!
Meredith
Hi Meredith – Thank you so much for your visit to my blog! It means a lot to me that you follow me. It was a very fun game And I’m glad you will come back to find out what happens. I hope I’m not overselling it, ha ha ha ha ha! Have a great week and I wish you much productivity and success!
Your post is a fantastic blend of personal reflection and practical advice! The story about your family’s baseball game and the connection to affiliate marketing is engaging and insightful. Trusting the process and staying committed is key in both sports and business. I appreciate the detailed breakdown of the four essential steps in affiliate marketing—it’s very helpful for beginners. Keep the dad jokes coming!!!!!!! Can’t wait for the follow-up on the game and more insights.
Hello my friend! – You got it, I’ll keep the dad jokes coming as long as I am welcome. 🙂 Commitment to the process is vital if we want to see success. I’ve noticed that about you as I follow your online journey. You are committed to a process and you are committed to making your online business work. It truly is a model to emulate. Thank you very much for your nice comments and for your visit and I hope you have a fantastic week!
Hi, Ernie!
I am so looking forward to next week’s blog. I want to hear the end of the story!
I like how you drew the parallel between the manager’s advice to his team and how we, as affiliate marketers, must follow the process and improve where we can. Brilliant!
I love to hear the stories about your family.
See you next week!
Nakina
Hi Nakina – I was hoping to see you on my blog this week! Thank you for your visits as they are truly appreciated and I value your feedback. Yes, the manager’s advice to his team does parallel what I need to be doing as I progress in this business. I hope you are well and have a fantastic week!
Hi Ernie,
This is an excellent blog post, and I love the teaser. It’s amazing to see your progress and how you pay it forward to move ahead. Anything achievable in life has a process, and I do not believe in shortcuts. Every segment of a process is essential, and by skipping steps, you are breaking a link to your success and will undoubtedly have to backtrack. The first step is to acknowledge that all of the above is true and then find the method and process from someone who has gone before you to get that guidance and training to put the process in place. Once you can do that, you only have to follow and trust the process. Thank you for the reminder and the analogy with just one example of following a process in baseball.
Hi Vanessa – You make an excellent point about not skipping steps and being aware of each segment of the process. It is so tempting to want to jump ahead, skip the line, not do the work, and a whole lot of other things we should not be doing just because we want to get ahead. I appreciate your comment and your visit to my blog. Thank you so very much and have a fantastic day and week!
What a fantastic read! Your storytelling truly brings the baseball experience to life and seamlessly ties it into valuable lessons for running an online business. I’m excited to hear the rest of the game story and how it fits in your journey in affiliate marketing. And those dad jokes at the end? Absolutely classic! When I see a dad joke on TikTok it always reminds me of you!
Hi Sarah – Yay! I am so happy that you visited my block again. I do tend to tell a lot of stories and I appreciate that some people like them even though I know they can be tedious at times. Ha ha ha! And yes, my family knows me as the king of dad jokes. Also, many of my friends tell me that when they see something corny or silly it reminds them of me. That made some impact on the world, huh? Have a great week!