When I restarted my online business last year after more than a decade away from the scene, I didn’t really know what to expect if I’m being completely honest.
I’d been interested in ‘making money online’ since I was a teenager, selling everything from ebooks to Beanies (remember those?) initially on eBay, and then later writing and selling PLR content for other marketers.
By around 2011, I had my own membership site and had built a small but pretty responsive email list, where I would promote my own products and earn affiliate commissions from other people’s. I can’t remember exactly how many subscribers I had, but I’d estimate around two or three thousand.
Actually, I just found an old screenshot of my membership site from back in the day…
Talk about embarrassing!
Despite that, all this was moderately successful and enabled me to earn a living from home, taking advantage of the fact I had moved back in with my parents and away from the astronomical expense of London.
But life moved on and I got busy with other things like freelance copywriting for clients. Slowly, the whole “make money online” dream drifted into the background, until I quit altogether.
But I kind of never fully stopped paying attention. I’d watch launches, read newsletters, and see people absolutely crushing it with digital products and affiliate marketing. A small voice in my head would always whisper:
“You could do this again, Dan – if only you just gave it another shot.”
So, eventually, I did.
My first launch (and the $2,000 surprise)
Fast forward to 2024 and I was keen to get something going again.
But which way to go?
- Affiliate marketing?
- Dropshipping?
- Selling information products?
Affiliate marketing interested me (and still does) but it always seemed to me like the real money online was made by people selling their own digital products.
But what to launch?
PLR products once again seemed the obvious choice and tapped into my skillset, but I had some serious doubts about whether PLR was still a ‘thing’ in the age of AI.
I decide to ask Tiffany Lambert, one of the major players in this space, and her advice was golden:
Go for it!
And so I did.
By summertime, I’d created a product and did a launch on the WarriorPlus platform – and the results honestly blew my mind…
- 100+ sales in my first 7 days
- Over $2,000 in revenue
- 65 new subscribers added to my brand-new list
Now, this wasn’t life-changing money by any means, but it was life-changing in what it represented: proof that this stuff still works.
Seeing those first few sales notifications land in my inbox… I can’t even describe the feeling. It was a mix of shock, excitement, and “holy crap, this actually works!”
The big mistakes I made early on – and how to avoid them yourself
Looking back now, I can see that I definitely didn’t get everything right in those first few months.
Here are a few of the biggest lessons I learned the hard way:
1. Overthinking Everything
I spent months planning and second-guessing myself before my first product ever saw the light of day. I’d tell myself I needed the perfect idea, perfect funnel, perfect graphics…
The truth?
Perfection kills progress. It really does.
And once I finally launched, I realised 90% of those worries didn’t matter.
2. Trying to do everything alone
I used to think I had to figure out every single piece of the puzzle myself – from product creation to funnel building to affiliate recruitment.
But when I started reaching out to others, everything got easier.
This business becomes 10x more fun, and profitable, when you collaborate.
3. Not getting products out fast enough
Procrastination is a dream-killer.
I lost months tinkering and tweaking when I should’ve just been publishing and learning from real feedback.
Now I follow a simple mantra:
Done is better than perfect.
What I’ve learned – and what you can take away
If there’s one thing I’ve realised over the last year, it’s that making money online isn’t about being a guru or tech genius.
It’s about:
- Creating something valuable
- Putting it in front of the right people
- Repeating the process
That’s it.
Affiliate marketing, digital products and funnels… They’re all just vehicles. The real magic happens when you take consistent action, even when you’re unsure, and just bloody go for it!
Where I am now
As I write this a little over a year later, I’m far from where I want to be, but I’ve found a system that works…
A formula that’s repeatable, scalable, and – most importantly – realistic for anyone willing to put in the work.
I’m not making huge amounts of money, but I’m building a sustainable business that gives me freedom, flexibility, and the chance to help others do the same.
And if you’re reading this thinking, “Could I really do that too?” – my honest answer is:
Yes, you absolutely can.
You don’t need to be a guru.
You just need to start.
And if you want to go deeper, I’ve written a full case study showing exactly how I launched my first digital product from scratch, step-by-step.
Download my “Starting from Scratch” Case Study PDF
It walks you through the entire process… From idea to launch to those first sales – and how you can replicate it for yourself.
Well done Dan and a great read. Love this stuff.
Cheers Richard. I like sharing it, and I know how much value I get when others do the same.
Dan
What a great blog, Dan. It’s so encouraging but also offering realistic expectations. You’ve been on a journey and it’s not over yet. I look forward to following your progress.
Hi Jacqui,
Thanks so much for the lovely comment. You’re spot on – it’s a journey for all of us and you have to keep going, even when you might doubt yourself. Eventually you reach a turning point when everything starts to change.
Dan
A few months ago, I started another You Tube Channel, promoting my Saas, “QRMuse.com.” However, the site wasn’t yet launched, but I blathered for a total of 12 videos. A few viewers did populate the site.
Now that I am more familiar with the process, I thought I’d start again, and promote it across social media. This time, I will document my journey.
Thanks for documenting yours.
Hi Kate,
I think it’s definitely a great idea to document your journey. People seem to be really interested, and also it’s a good opportunity to reflect on your actions and get your thoughts together.
Thanks for commenting.
Dan
Hey Dan! I can totally relate to your online experience. I’ve also taken breaks from my business from time to time and felt that mix of excitement and nervousness when getting back into it.
I know exactly what you mean about overthinking and wanting everything to be perfect. I’m a little of a perfectionist myself. 🤫 I’ve spent way too much time tweaking things before finally just hitting publish.
What you say about reaching out to others and focusing on action over perfection really made sense to me. It’s a good reminder that we don’t have to figure it all out alone, even though I still try occasionally. Thanks for sharing your journey, it’s encouraging for anyone thinking about diving back in. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! 😊
Hi Meredith,
I’m the worst for perfectionism, lol. But I have learnt to overcome it somewhat and get stuff out a little quicker. There’s actually no such thing as “perfect” and you could tweak most things forever if you wanted to. I think a lot of it stems from the nerves… because it suddenly becomes real when you put it out to the world. But you have to do that, otherwise what’s the point of it all?!
Thanks for commenting.
Dan
Dan, this was a refreshing and honest look at the ups and downs of restarting in the online space. Your story hit home. I took a long break too, and that “can I really do this again?” feeling is all too familiar.
You’re right. Perfection kills progress. “Done is better than perfect” should be framed above every marketer’s desk. Thanks for sharing your journey. It’s proof that starting again is not only possible but powerful.
Keep leading by example!
Hi Robert,
Thanks for commenting. Yes, done is always better than perfect. You could carry on tweaking something forever if you really wanted… You have to just make it as good as you can and then hit that publish button. I might actually get the ‘done is better than perfect’ framed now you’ve mentioned it, lol.
Dan
Hi Dan – I really enjoyed this story and the honesty behind it. It’s refreshing to see someone share not just the wins, but the lessons learned along the way. The reminder that done is better than perfect really resonates, especially for those of us who tend to overthink before taking action. I appreciate the transparency and practical takeaways here. Thanks for sharing your experience so openly, Dan. It’s motivating to see what’s possible when you just get started.
Hi Ernie,
Glad you enjoyed it and found it motivational. I love sharing this stuff because I know how much value I get when other people do the same.
I’m literally the worst for overthinking everything, but I have learned to overcome it somewhat in recent times. The thing you have to remember is that “perfect” doesn’t actually exist – it’s different things to different people. Make something as good as you can, then just lose the fear and launch the bugger. It’s the only way to do it!
Dan
Hi Dan,
Great information that is definitely current!
One big takeaway I’m getting is the “done is better than perfect” part! We all think that it has to be perfect for it to become a good (if not great) seller.