Featured Money Maker Of The Month:
My name is Jonathan Volk and I am one of those "make money online" guys. I am President and CEO of Surge Marketing Inc. where we generate millions of dollars a year in sales for companies. In exchange, we get a percentage of each sale. This marketing model (more commonly known as Affiliate marketing) has allowed us to scale our growth exponentially in just a few years time.
Connect With Me
Twitter: Follow my twitter updates.
You can Join My JonathanVolkdotcom Fan Page.
Friend Me on Facebook.
Interviews
Most of the techniques I use to make money online, I will teach you on this blog (subscribe to the RSS on the right) but here are some great interviews which reveal a good bit of information.
- (Featured above) Scaling to the $300,000/month mark - Interview with Wes from Tracking202.com. This is a great video where I talk about how I scaled to over $300,000 in commissions per month using pay per click, social media, etc.
- (Older) Retire at 21 Interview - This interview is a bit older but has some good content still.
- (Older) Keith James Lock Interview
- (Older) Video interview
My History
My First Successful Business
Ever since I was a young kid (some would still say I am, but I'll leave that for you to decide), I have always been the kid to find a business model in everything. Perhaps one of my youngest successes was in 7th grade. I would buy candy in bulk from Sam's club and sell it for a measly $0.50 to my fellow class mates. All the while, the candy vending machines charged a $0.75 price! After just a few months, I had made over $400 profit in mostly $1 dollar bills. Caching!
It got to the point that I was called into the office and asked to stop. And that was my first lesson in being shut out by the competition.
Hello Internet, Nice To Meet You
It was roughly around age 11 that I began to learn to code first in C and C++ and then websites languages. I've been doing it ever since and is really what began this passion for everything internet related.
It was then in 2004 that my Dad had called me into his office and told me that he was interested in starting another business with me, web hosting. This was my first venture into making actual money online.
While attempting to get a successful hosting business up, my Dad invested tens of thousands of dollars in learning SEO and other techniques. As an example, one conference with Brad Fallon and a few select others cost $10,000 for two days. While there was a lot of great information, the hosting business still failed.
The business might have failed but we did not fail. It really was this foundation that enabled me to reach the level that I have reached currently.
After moving on from the hosting business, I had learned quite a bit about SEO and affiliate marketing.
Early in 2007, I really decided to get serious about affiliate marketing. I had been running some adsense websites and such for a while and had made up to $250/day during the peak of my adsense days.
The adsense income was very inconsistent and the profit margins were very very slim. I was essentially buying traffic and sending it to my heavily ad ridden websites.
As I began to apply my techniques to affiliate marketing, I began to learn how much potential affiliate marketing had. I researched everything I could about affiliate marketing through forums, friends, and my friend, google.
Bye bye Job!
Month after month, I tested more and more. Finally, It was in march, 2007 that I got to leave my part time job and work as an affiliate marketer full time. This Full time promotion allowed me to pour countless hours into internet marketing... not because I needed to make money, but because I loved it. It was great fun for me!
Because of some very helpful contacts and striving to learn each day, I have been able to build a multi-million dollar per year business working from home. Granted, not every day is easy and fun, but I always will love this business.
Secretzzzz
So what are my secrets? I once read a quote from the owner of Godaddy. He was talking about how he watches all his numbers (sales) closely. He said, "All things that are watched will naturally increase." And I find this very true with internet marketing.
Watch each and every number, use tracking, and above all else, don't give up.
Regardless of whether you like me or this blog, my hopes are to inspire people to learn to at least market a little better and journal my life as I continue to progress in the marketing world.
Personal Life:
I am Married to the most beautiful woman on the entire face of the earth. She and I had been dating for 7+ years and finally got married on September of 09! 
She is my best friend and the love of my life! She and are very much enjoying marriage and look forward to growing together in both business and personal life.
As for me personally, you will notice on this site that I am openly Christian. More than just a religion, I have a relationship with Jesus Christ and can't help but have that spill out onto many of the principals that I both write about here and also apply in the business world.
Jon – just encountered your site. I’m pretty interested in scaling facebook and appreciate the tips. There has to be a way to balance facebook and adwords to get things to click. Thanks.
Stumbled on your blog and really liked it.. .. and mostly your ideas and what you write.. not to mention the online money making things..
Well, shall be a reader now…
Hey John,
Got you invite, good to connect with you over FB. Liked your ‘about me’ section a lot.
Look forward to interact with you soon.
thanks!
Hitesh Mehta
I tweet at http://twitter.com/HiteshMehta
You’re right internet marketing it’s not easy . It would take many years for a person to be successful in internet marketing. One of the main reason is most gurus don’t teach everything that they know, they always a missing pieces. So be patient and focus eventually you,ll will reach your target !
Hi John, Your story is inspirable , you did well. Great post. Bet of luck for your future
at the end of this.. I believe it’s supposed to be
principles…
not principals.. (that was most likely the guy that told you to stop selling candy).
btw.. nice wedding pic…!!!
[...] Jonathan Folk – (JonathanFolk) – Ready, Set, Super Affiliate – CEO of Surge Marketing which claims to generate millions of dollars of affiliate sales a year. [...]
hey jonathan! I have a question regarding facebook ads. Currently, they already approve my ads after they seen my landing page. However, the CTR in my landing page seems very low. I plan to use redirect, but not sure if facebook allows to do so. Hence, I hope to hear your opinion as i have been reading your blog. It helps me alot. Thank you
Direct link through a php redirect.
Thanks,
JV
hmm… so does facebook allow us to use redirect ?
Hi, great to see yet another person around that thinks making money online and being a Christian are not mutually exclusive
SY
You seems to be inspiring. Just read about you after landing from john chow’s website. Hopefully as i’ll read more posts i’ll be able to lift my monthly adsense from $3/month
Last few days i m madly looking into ways to make money working from home playing with my 10month old baby.
Hi Jonathan — there are some very timely discussions going on right now re: the ethics of Affiliate Marketing (see TechCrunch, Dennis Yu post). I think we’d all be interested in your viewpoint here. Do you believe in promoting and do you promote “shady” offers (acai, rebills, etc.) where the consumer is clearly not given enough info. to make an informed decision? How about Flogs? Is it possible for Affiliate Marketers to make good money just on clean/non-scammy offers? Or do you have to market the high-paying scammy ones?
John, Donating to those charities is a nice act that your are doing
good job, keep it up
happy married life
Hi Jonathan, just came accross your site today…looks interesting… some quality content. Anyway just wanted to say hello and introduce myself…
Thanks
Brye
Your Message Just wanted to drop by and say hello…and wish you a safe holiday and a prosperous new year……God Bless and take care….Mike
[...] as a marketer is certainly no easy task. It took me 3 years to really start to become successful (2004-2007) but as you continue to press on, you will [...]
[...] as a marketer is certainly no easy task. It took me 3 years to really start to become successful (2004-2007) but as you continue to press on, you will [...]
Congratz on your marriage
u two look great together
love the blog
Hey Jon,
I just got hired by an affiliate marketing firm and I’m trying to learn all that I can. Any insight or help that you could provide would be really appreciated. Just point me in the right direction.
I just clicked into your site and read a little bit about you – very impressed!
Thanks,
Jesse
Hi Jonathan,
I just found your blog and within just a few minutes I learned something valuable. I appreciate people who are willing to share information that will benefit others and it certainly looks like you do that here. I am just getting started in IM and would like to talk to you.
May God richly bless your marriage and anoint your business.
-Tom Gregorio
Associate Pastor
This was a great read. Loved how you explained that tracking is what makes you so successful. I use tracking here and there but once I start making decent sales I will be using it more than ever. Thanks.
I love your website!!!
I just watched the interview, man your really inspired me…. God bless you!!!
Chema Barboza
I am very much inspired by you.
[...] About Me [...]
I appreciate people who are willing to share information that will benefit others and it certainly looks like you do that here. I am just getting started in IM and would like to talk to you.
You really did it.
Congratulations on your recent wedding! Being able to share life with a best friend is priceless. Much success to you in marketing and marriage.
I love this site, I keep coming back day after day to see what other great things you have posted.
Congratulations on getting married Jonathan, it’s an amazing day huh?
Just wanted to say thanks for some great content here; it is reassuring for us new to the business to ‘meet’ someone genuine!
Stay well
Just finished watching the interview and I am inspired! Thanks Jonathan for the success blueprint you’re laying down. Awesome blog!!
Get out of here! I just received your affiliate marketing ebook, but before I read it, I had to check you out because I see from your email that you are in Pittsburg, CA. I go to Pittsburg every Sunday at 4:00 for Church at Praise Chapel Pittsburg (“PCP”) on Leland Ave. I am struggling a bit online right now, but I have great admin skills if you ever need any help. I quit my day job in order to focus on the Internet. and to be able to keep up the momentum required. Life is still getting in my way though.
I am so sorry I missed the webinar on PPV because I am signed up at MediaTraffic and just don’t know how to pick the right offers. I ran a few test runs in January but am only out $200.:-)
Your Message Hi.. Jhon nice to meet you, i wanna you help me to approved at http://azoogleads.com like your recommedations. Thanks.
you r awesome jonathan!…look forward to reach your affiliate level in the next 2 years…thanks for inspiring me