6 Lessons I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Digital Business (Affiliate Marketing Tips Included)
Introduction: Read Their Minds, Tell Their Story
Starting a digital business feels exciting—until reality hits. You have to choose the right tools, figure out marketing, and somehow turn your passion into profit. If you’ve ever thought, “Am I missing something?” you’re not alone.
When I started my online business, I had no idea how much I didn’t know. I stumbled through mistakes, wasted money on unnecessary tools, and let self-doubt hold me back. Looking back, I wish someone had handed me a cheat sheet to avoid those pitfalls.
With that said, here are 6 insights to help you skip the struggle and fast-track your success in affiliate marketing and beyond. 👊
Lesson 1: Why Mindset Matters When Starting a Digital Business
I thought running a digital business was all about finding the right strategy. But the biggest obstacle I faced wasn’t external—it was my mindset.
When you’re new, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others or doubting your abilities. Social media makes it look like everyone else is thriving effortlessly. Trust me—they’re not. Success comes to those who keep showing up, even when it’s hard.
Actionable Tip: Start each day with small, achievable goals. Celebrate every win—whether it’s getting your first email subscriber or posting consistent content. Confidence is built through action.
Lesson 2: Avoid These Costly Mistakes with Affiliate Marketing Tools
When I launched my digital business, I spent a fortune on tools I thought I “needed”—from fancy website builders to complex marketing platforms. Most of them went unused.
The truth? You don’t need all the bells and whistles to succeed. Start with the basics: a website, a simple email marketing tool, and maybe a social media scheduler.
Essential Tools for Beginners:
Actionable Tip: Focus on tools that directly support your revenue goals. As your business grows, upgrade as needed.
Lesson 3: How to Love Sales and Grow Your Online Business
I used to think “sales” was a dirty word. I avoided pitching my products or services, thinking that quality would speak for itself. Spoiler: it doesn’t.
Sales and marketing are about building relationships. Whether you’re writing an email, creating social media content, or running ads, your job is to help your audience solve a problem. That’s not sleazy—it’s service. (Check out my ebook bundle that covers all of this)
Actionable Tip: Practice writing copy that speaks directly to your audience’s pain points. Tools like ChatGPT or Jasper AI can help generate ideas for persuasive emails and captions.
Lesson 4: Build a Strong Network to Fast-Track Success
In the early days, I thought I had to figure everything out alone. I’d spend hours Googling answers instead of asking for help. The game changer? Realising the power of community.
Surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs—whether through online groups, mentorships, or networking events—gives you access to advice, accountability, and collaboration opportunities.
Actionable Tip: Join free Facebook groups for affiliate marketers or online entrepreneurs. Look for communities to build meaningful connections.
Lesson 5: Protect Your Time by Setting Boundaries
Starting an online business can quickly take over your life. Between creating content, answering emails, and managing your growing to-do list, it’s easy to burn out.
In my first year, I said yes to every opportunity—every collaboration, every late-night email, every “quick” task. I learned the hard way that saying “yes” to everything means saying “no” to your sanity.
Actionable Tip: Use a time-blocking method to set boundaries. Dedicate specific hours to work and stick to them. Tools like Google Calendar or Trello can help you stay on track.
Lesson 6: Embrace Failure and the Power of Testing
The biggest mistake I made? Trying to get everything perfect before taking action. Perfectionism slowed me down and kept me stuck.
Instead, think of everything as an experiment. Test different strategies—whether it’s a new affiliate product, a marketing campaign, or even your website layout. Analyse what works, tweak what doesn’t, and keep moving forward.
Actionable Tip: Start small and track your results. For example:
Test different affiliate products by monitoring clicks and conversions.
Run A/B tests on your email subject lines or landing pages.
Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s a stepping stone.
Conclusion: Your Success is Waiting
Starting a digital business or diving into affiliate marketing is no walk in the park. You’ll make mistakes, learn lessons, and grow along the way. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure it out alone.
The six lessons I’ve shared—shifting your mindset, avoiding unnecessary tools, mastering sales, building a network, setting boundaries, and embracing failure—are the shortcuts I wish I’d had when I started.
Ready to take the next step? Check out the free resources on Affiliate Babes , follow me on social media (i.am.laetitia) or explore The Affiliate Diaries for even more tips to help you thrive. Your journey won’t be perfect, but it will be worth it. Keep going—you’ve got this!
