I recently received yet another hand-written letter from a grateful reader. This one was filled with praise for the magazine as well as a few too many details about the author’s personal life. I think outlining his string of tragedies was meant to provide me with some insight about how he is working very hard to make lemonade out of the lemons he was dealt.

The letter was touching because it was heartfelt and infused with the excitement of how online marketing might help provide a better life. My guess is that many people stumble into online marketing with the same unbridled hope. He specifically cited the Affiliate Advantage interview with Kim Rowley as an inspiring and uplifting article.

Because this newbie asked some general questions that may pertain to others, I’m responding here rather than just writing back to him. I’m not going to get into specific answers regarding his site and niche business. But I’m happy to provide some general info and point to some good resources.

Here are some of his questions:

*How can I get back issues of Revenue?
This link provides all the info for ordering back issues. However, in most cases if you just email me directly (lisap@revenuetoday.com), I’ll drop one or two in the mail to you. Please note that we have limited supplies of some issues and may not be able to send particular editions to you.

*How can I get going as an affiliate with no money to buy hosting services or website design?

It’s not really possible to get started with zero money, but you can begin with a relatively small investment. Check out this video blog post from Shawn Collins. He does a great job of outlining what it takes to get started in affiliate marketing. And he recommends specific low-cost services including hosting.

Also be sure to join a forum or community. ABestWeb.com is a good one. It has a specific section of resources for newbies as well as lively discussions by successful old pros. There is a lot to be gleaned from ABW. 5 Star Affiliate Programs also has a forum with a newbies section.

*Is there a sponsorship or scholarship for those with a disability?
I did some searching about the topic and didn’t come up with anything too specific. I would suggest using the forums you join to pose that same question (you’ll probably get a near immediate response). You should also check in with your local or state agencies that work with disabled persons. They are more likely to be plugged into any available programs, grants or discounts for those with disabilities.

*Should I buy into those social networks that sell nothing?
Affiliate marketing, like social networking is about creating relationships. Social networks are a good place to help establish your brand and connect with others. However, they should only be part of efforts since you are not likely to see any direct revenue from your presence on them. Most people on social networks like to be directed to innovative, new things by friends and peers, but abusing that implied trust to spam your connections with offers and ads for your products or services is not appreciated and not cool. It’s all about engaging people and relating to them, but blatantly bombarding them with sales pitches.

If you have any questions, let me know and I’ll do my best to point you in the right direction. Best of luck, Dean!