Interview: Kirsty McCubbin (UK Super Affiliate)

Recently, I caught up with Kirsty McCubbin from Affiliate Stuff, a leading UK affiliate (now residing in the land of OZ), internet marketer, and all round good-egg. Lovely as Kirsty is, she agreed to a short interview relating to her dealings as an affiliate.

 

Here is the interview in full…

Welcome to the Webtistic blog. Please introduce yourself, and tell me how long you have been involved in affiliate marketing.

Ooh, it’s like affiliate Blind Date! Hi Cilla, my name’s Kirsty McCubbin and I’ve been a full time affiliate for 8 years but was first involved in the industry on the management side of things I think maybe 1 to 2 years before that. It’s so long ago now I don’t quite remember.

 

Are you able to disclose your main projects, and the traffic channels you work within?

My main areas of promotion are underwear through two sites, LingerieBrands.co.uk and BlokesUndies.co.uk. Those two are largely organic search with an almost insignificant smattering of PPC here and there.

 

Which of your achievements within affiliate marketing are you most proud of?

Still being here after 8 years. It’s not always easy being an affiliate when Google is throwing everything it’s got at you, we’ve all had to evolve so much in the last few years and the learning curve just gets steeper all the time. So long as I’m keeping up, and broadly understanding the flurries of new things we need to deploy to remain in healthy SERPS positions I think I’m doing A-OK!

 

How long was it before you realised that you could earn a living from affiliate marketing?

As soon as I found out about the concept of affiliate marketing I was immediately excited. Already working in digital marketing I knew how to generate good traffic for other people, but not how I could do it for myself without opening an online business. Within a few months I’d put up some test pages and was totally hooked. I left my digital marketing job about a year later in 2003 and my life has been totally affiliate funded ever since. I doubt I could get a job doing anything else now – if I was an actor I’d have dreadful typecasting problems!

 

What projects are you currently working on?

My main brain drain right now is dealing with some Panda issues on one of my sites. It’s been quite badly affected but I’m pleased to say I’ve worked out what needs to be done and I’m well into actioning it and am seeing pleasing results. It’s going to take a while to get it back to full strength but as always with these things it’ll be worth it in the long run. Alas I don’t believe there’s a quick fix for that particular bit of algo fun but I know I’ll have stronger sites in the longer term because of it.

 

What is the best thing about being an affiliate marketer?

The flexibility and being able to make more money than you could in a standard 9 to 5 gig. That aside, I love all the challenges, constant learning, and the great variation in the tasks you perform to keep your business running. It’s never dull. Sometimes stressful but I’ve never gotten bored and that can only be a positive thing!

 

What is the worst thing about being an affiliate marketer?

Those little surprises from a Googleward direction and the odd bit of unpredictability of income as a result of that and other factors such as merchants suddenly going bust or deciding not to pay you. That said, it’s the best feeling in the world when you get on top of these issues and beat them so even the bad times have their positive side (eventually!!)

 

If you had a time-machine, what would you do differently?

I’d have bought lots of generic keyword domains back in 1999 when I first got my job. I’d also have started a good quality content site right at the start of my career instead of spending so long mucking around with PPC. I’d also have bought those Google shares when I had the chance instead of worrying about making too big a dent in my beer money for a holiday

 

What do you do for fun outside of affiliate marketing?

Well I do love a bit of travel! Most recently I did a nice little jolly to NZ’s South Island and it was absolutely breathtaking. I also like cooking and gardening – domestic bliss or what eh??

 

Do you have any advice for people looking to get into affiliate marketing?

It’s hard work, there are no shortcuts, if it sounds to good to be true it probably is – remember that when someone tries to sell you something. Above all, create quality content and a resource that people will find interesting and useful and you should be OK. Easy huh…

 

 

I would like to thank Kirsty for taking the time to answer these questions. If you are interested in providing an internet marketing related interview, please feel free to contact us.