Prof Web Marketing

Back in June, I took my first trip on Amtrak, the national railroad here in the US.  I have to say even with the bad experience I had at the end of the trip, I’m hooked!  Take a look at this post on my personal blog for more on that trip.

What does this have to do with affiliate marketing?  Well, I’m new to affiliate marketing, but this , like any other business, can be stressful and in the start one must put in endless hours to become successful.  Even once you reach the point where you are earning a living from affiliate marketing, you may still be putting in tons of hours running numerous successful campaigns.  Add to that taking care of personal or family issues and you may find yourself with little time to do anything else.  This is where taking a train can benefit you.

Benefits of Traveling on Amtrak

• You don’t have to deal with the same security headaches as in airports, you don’t have to take off your shoes
• Freedom to move around and stretch your legs, visit the lounge/cafe for a soft drink, mixed drink or snack.  Or go to the full service diner car to buy a full meal.
• No middle seats or seat belts and the seats in coach offer much more room than any coach airline seat
• No baggage fees, as of late, every airline now charges you for at least a 2nd checked bag and some even charge you for the first.
• View scenery you will never see by car or plane.

Benefits of Amtrak for Affiliate Marketers

As I stated above, running a business can be quite stressful.  Taking a train can help you slow down the pace a little while you are on it.  I suggest if you do take the train, upgrade to a sleeper, this is the equivalent of first class travel, but is cheaper and there are more benefits to it.

Booking a sleeper will get you a private room with all meals included as well as free soft drinks, ice and coffee.  There are electric outlets in each for you to plug in a laptop or cell phone charger.  You will have a table to do work on if you choose to get out the laptop and write that post you must write.

You will also have access to the first class lounges in the major stations offering free wifi access, softdrinks and snacks.  These lounges also get you priority boarding access, geting you on the train before the mad dash.

I wouldn’t stay holed up in my room for the entire trip though, as i stated above, riding the train allows one to move about and keep the legs loose.  Head to the lounge car, meet some new people.  I met a variety of people from all walks of life this way.  You never know who you might meet or what new relationships might occur.  Use the opportunity to build your brand or one of your sites brands.

From the USA Today:

Train travel also bypasses the hassles and rigors of airport security and traffic-clogged highways. There are no middle seats, no seat belts, no forbidden electronic devices, no fuel surcharges, no fees for seat selection, no liquids ban, and train seats offer far greater comfort and personal space than any economy seat in the sky. Snacks and full course meals are available for purchase and the relative serenity of the railroad car provides an uninterrupted environment for working, sleeping, reading, iPod listening or DVD viewing on the entire length of the journey.

Nonetheless I packed my laptop and lots of reading for my 26-hour round trip. At $55, my one-way Amtrak ticket was comparable to the most heavily discounted airfares on that same route. The $8, 10-minute taxi ride from Union Station to my downtown Los Angeles hotel was far more convenient and substantially less expensive than a shuttle, taxi, or rental car from any Los Angeles area airport, not to mention the frustration of navigating L.A.’s overcrowded freeways.

I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that Amtrak offered free parking at my home station, saving me as much as $100 in airport parking or taxi/shuttle costs during my one-week trip. The Hertz car I rented for $39/day at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown L.A. cost far less than the $70/day I would have paid for the same car at LAX or Burbank Airport with the exorbitant fees and surcharges now imposed on car rentals at many major U.S. airports.

For me, I think its still the childhood love of trains that now has me hooked.  However, the slow pace can help the busy business person to take some time out and relax.