Ask Chris Jacobson – Q & A

I receive a lot of e-mails everyday from people looking to start in the internet marketing and blogging fields. I sometimes answer a few of the e-mails if the response is quite short. However, sometimes I get messages a couple paragraphs long, in which the response would be even longer. Of course, I can’t possibly answer everything. So for the most part I tell people to a) buy my eBook or b) search Google.

Today on the other hand, I thought I’d dedicate a post to answer 5 of the questions I get asked quite a bit and hopefully put these to rest.

1. What is the best affiliate network to join?
   I don’t think there’s really a “best” one to join. It all depends on what you want to promote and what works the best for you. If CPA offers are your thing, then CPA Empire is a good one. If you like selling digital items, then I’d have to say ClickBank. The list goes on… check my Make Money page for a complete list and description of the networks I personally recommend. Also see the “Money Makers” list at the top of this blog.
2. When promoting an offer, do you use direct affiliate links or a landing page?
   I definitely don’t use direct affiliate links. I’m a big fan of landing pages and PHP redirects. The reason for this is that it cloaks the actual affiliate link, which also protects it from being visible. Get the PHP redirect code from a previous post I made.
3. How many hours a day do you spend “working” to make enough money to live on?
   In a previous post I gave a run down of a typical day for me. Since then, it’s changed a little bit and I can truly say that I spend about 5 solid hours a day working on my internet businesses. The rest of the time is spent either reading other blogs, tweaking some posts, or just having personal time to myself.
4. Do you claim all of your internet earnings on your income tax?
   Of course. Because my income is based entirely on internet revenue, I have to. The only part that I don’t claim is what I make on eBay, because it’s the same thing as if I were to run a garage sale. The items I sell on eBay aren’t claimed, because they are items I just look to get rid of that take up space in my house. Besides that, everything else I make online is claimed with Revenue Canada. To take advantage of some of the tax benefits I’ve formed a LLC (limited liability company), in which I house all of my ventures under. If you’re just starting out with making money online, check your local tax laws – sometimes you don’t need to claim internet revenue if you make under a certain amount.
5. What web host do you recommend?
   I’m a big fan of Tribune Hosting and HostGator. Both companies offer many great options for bloggers, as well as a plethora of features and great customer service. As far as price goes, you can’t go wrong with either host. The plans are very cost effective, but that doesn’t mean you’re only getting what you pay for – actually, you’re getting a lot more than you pay for.

If you have a question you’d like to ask or want more information on a topic, send me an e-mail.

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