All Online Marketing is Experimentation!

In the world of online marketing, every campaign is an experiment. We try a lot of things, and sometimes, they just don't work. With experience, we get better at choosing what offers might generate results, but no one has a perfect batting average.

The Batting Average Analogy

Comparing your promotions to batting averages in baseball is a useful analogy. In Major League Baseball, the league-wide batting average is typically around .250. This means that the average batter only gets a hit one out of every four times at bat. The best hitters in the world strike out three out of four tries.

You could look at those stats and get demoralized. They fail three times out of every four attempts. That would be the wrong way to look at it though, because these are the best players in the world. They are trying to get hits against the best pitchers in the world and are up against the best coaches and trainers in the world.

In Major League Baseball, getting one hit out of every four tries is an expected level of performance to stay in the "big leagues".

Marketing and Batting Averages

Your marketing efforts are similar. You are not going to get a hit every time you send an email. Every product or offer you promote will not be profitable. There will be winners, but there will also be losers. The key to success is to keep learning, picking up the bat, and keep swinging.

For instance, my promotion of the "12 Under The Radar Affiliate Methods" brought in $167 in sales. That was not great, far below my normal average for a new monthly promotion. It was a new promotion, so it was an experiment. I was testing to see what my audience would think of a Lead Magnet funnel. Lesson learned, and now it's time to keep moving forward.

If you don't experiment with new ideas, then you may miss out on one that could generate thousands of dollars in revenue. I have lots of promotions in my library that have done much better than this one, and I use them regularly with a few modifications each time. The reason I have so many successful promotion ideas to pick from is because I do lots of experimentation.

The Power of Experimentation

Each month, I try to run a new funnel and not just keep falling back on what I know works. I recommend that you do the same for your affiliate marketing. Once you find something that generates subscribers for your email list, spend about 80% of your time and effort on that proven Lead Capture Funnel or traffic source.

Reserve 20% of your time and effort to keep trying new things. Try promoting a different Lead Capture Funnel. Try using a new traffic source. It is from the experimentation that the next breakthrough will come.

Doing the proven keeps the train on the track to the destination you want, but some experimentation can speed up the train. If you create the right funnel offer for your audience, it can turn that train into a bullet train. I know because it has happened to me multiple times over the years. One event or one promotion can change everything.

Balancing Risk and Reward

Getting the balance between taking the single runs and trying to hit it "out of the park" is something that comes with experience. Experience includes wins and losses. Just keep stepping up to the bat!

The nature of experimentation means that failure is part of the process. The best marketers in the world face setbacks. They try new strategies, launch new campaigns, and not everything works out. But each failure is a lesson learned. Each unsuccessful campaign provides data and insights that can be used to refine future efforts.

Embrace the Learning Curve

Think about your marketing journey as a learning curve. Early on, you might face more misses than hits. But as you gain more experience, your ability to predict what works improves. You'll start to recognize patterns, understand your audience better, and develop a sharper intuition for what might succeed.

But remember, even the most seasoned marketers never stop experimenting. They never rest on their laurels because the digital landscape is always evolving. New platforms emerge, consumer behaviors shift, and what worked yesterday might not work tomorrow.

Case Study: A Lesson in Adaptability

Consider my experience with the "12 Under The Radar Affiliate Methods" promotion. It didn't perform as well as I'd hoped, but it wasn't a failure. It was a valuable experiment. I learned that my audience wasn't as receptive to a Lead Magnet funnel in this context. This insight is crucial for shaping future strategies.

Instead of seeing this as a setback, I view it as a stepping stone. Every time a campaign doesn't hit the mark, it's an opportunity to gather information and pivot. I adjust my approach, tweak my messaging, or try a different angle. This continuous process of trial, error, and adjustment is what keeps my marketing efforts dynamic and effective.

The 80/20 Rule in Marketing

One strategy I recommend is to apply the 80/20 rule to your marketing efforts. Spend 80% of your time and resources on proven strategies that consistently deliver results. These are your "singles" — reliable, steady performers that keep your business running smoothly.

Allocate the remaining 20% to experimenting with new ideas. These are your "home run" swings. They won't all be successful, but when they are, they can have a significant impact. This balanced approach ensures that you're not only maintaining your current success but also positioning yourself for future growth.

Staying Motivated Through Challenges

Marketing experimentation requires resilience. It's easy to get discouraged when things don't go as planned. But remember, every marketer faces challenges. The difference between success and failure is often persistence.

Stay motivated by focusing on the bigger picture. Each campaign, successful or not, is a step forward. Celebrate your wins, learn from your losses, and keep pushing forward. The more you experiment, the more data you collect, and the better your chances of hitting that next big breakthrough.

Conclusion: Keep Swinging

In online marketing, there are no guarantees. Success comes from a willingness to experiment, a readiness to learn from failures, and the perseverance to keep trying new things. Just like in baseball, the best hitters are the ones who keep stepping up to the plate, regardless of the outcome of their last at-bat.

So, keep experimenting, keep learning, and keep swinging. Your next big hit could be just one experiment away.