Online Success Story:
Angie Newton
www.losingitandlovingit.com/blog
On my healthy weight loss blog, I discuss my weight loss and fitness journey and share tips on living a healthy lifestyle. You will find recipes, product reviews, healthy living challenges and more.
1. When did you set up your website?
February 2008
2. What gave you the idea for this particular niche & website?
I was on my own personal journey to weight loss and thought it would be great to share my story and things I learn in the process. I also wanted to be able to help inspire others who might be going through the same challenges as myself.
3. Did you have any experience with online business prior to creating this website?
Yes. I had a few websites that were used as part of my direct sales businesses that led into affiliate marketing. This was my first blog though.
4. What did you do for work prior to setting up an online business?
Before I started working from home full time, I was in the hotel industry and I was also a teacher. Then I was in the direct sales industry which I have since left.
5. How did you initially promote your website, and if different - how do you promote it now?
Word of mouth and keyword research/search engine optimization. I still do those today while also building a readership through social media like Facebook and Twitter. I also do guest blogging and connect with brands.
6. Is your website profitable? Can you share some basic traffic & profit stats with us?
Yes although this is only part of my business. I am also a virtual assistant and my husband and I do website work for local clients plus we have other websites in various niches.
Right now I have approximately 6100+ unique visitors a month and growing. I am in a bit of limbo at the moment after Amazon let go of it's Illinois affiliates so while in the process of looking for other affiliate programs and brainstorming ideas for my own products, I do the best I can when it comes to monetization.
I also get a lot of free products in exchange for reviews, giveaways, etc. It's a lot of fun!
7. What are your plans for the site going forward?
My plans for the site/blog going forward is to take on advertisers, sell my own products and find other great companies/products to promote. I am very picky as to who and what I promote on the blog so I'm not one to jump on something just because the dollar signs might be really tempting.
Recently I became an ambassador for Polar USA which means I help promote their company by sharing my experience of their products with others. I also have the potential to get involved with other companies in this capacity as well and look forward to working with them.
I would also like to add more video to the blog both from others and if I can get over the techy fear of it all, my own videos as well.
8. What ONE piece of advice would you give someone interested in starting their own niche site or blog?
My best advice would be to invest in a business mentoring group like Lynn's elite membership where you can get help from not only an awesome mentor but others who are successful online as well. Having others to safely bounce ideas off of in an environment like that has been the biggest help to me over the years. It's exciting to see members in the group go from beginner to successful in their chosen niche.
Angie Newton
http://www.losingitandlovingit.com/blog
-Thank you, Angie and congratulations on your success!
About Lynn Terry
Good luck with your blog Angie. I think a new blog theme might be in order. Do a little branding with a unique theme.
It's been a long time coming, Justin. I really do need that new theme. I love my header and everyone I talk to does as well but the theme needs to be updated for sure. Thank you!
I love the name of your blog Angie. 🙂 Weight loss can be a very crowded niche, but I think it's your story that will help you shine through. Goodluck and thank you for sharing your story!
Thank you! You're right it's definitely a crowded niche so I have had to narrow it down and define it ( a few times ha ha).
Hi Angie! Great to see you here - you have so much to offer to others with your inspiring story and support. Diana
Nice job the the blog, Angie. It does look like you're having fun and what an absolute bummer about Amazon. This will also post a big issue for me down the line when I move back to Chicago. A real bugger of an issue, for sure.
Do update us on what you end up doing with that.
Cheers,
Missy
p.s. Congrats!
Missy, thank you! I am having a blast with it and I only see great things to come.
I love your header where your image toggles from pre to post weight loss. That's excellent.
I would think there are much better promotional options outside of Amazon. Check out FitnessBlackBook.com's Visual Impact for Women. This is a great fitness website and Rusty (the publisher) is a really hands-on guy with his products. He has some affiliates doing really well. You could do the program and write a series on it. I bought Visual Impact for Men and it's a great product; I suspect the Women's version is also great.
Anyway, excellent website. Thanks for sharing your success story.
Peter, thank you. My husband, Kevin designed the header but no longer has PhotoShop to update it.
I appreciate your suggestion to check out Rusty's website. I will do that.
It is very good strategy to promote your own business with by targeting your local market as it also give you social status and introduction.
Great story!
I have a similar experience about my complete recovery from eating disorders.
I made a promise to myself that if i EVER did recover, I would do all that I could to help others.
So I set up a site wrote and ebook and just started posting like crazy!
I am so passionate about it that the traffic came so naturally and easily.
Congratulations again!
Nina
Thank you, Nina. It's great to be able to help others by sharing our experiences. Congrats on your success too.
Great interview Lynn. This just proves that most successful internet business out there are really cultivated through passion, knowing that the more you are intimate with your niche is the more you can really get to the top efficiently (passion is enough motivation to do well in your chosen field I suppose).
I really liked how she marketed her business, it's the right combination and integration of marketing channels, as I do believe that SEO pretty much works effectively with Social media.
Thanks Lauren! I feel I have the right combo too. Definitely passionate about the topic and hope it shows.
Thanks for a great post. I think I'm doing the right thing right now. I have few sites too and renders my service to others too. I'm still not into affiliate marketing but I think I'll try it one of these days. I think reading interviews like this will create awareness whether I'm actually doing right. Thanks sharing this wonderful post.
Congrats on becoming an ambassador with Polar USA! I have a good friend who also works with them and has nothing but great things to say. Congrats on the blog and keep up with good work Angie!
I wish you nothing but success Angie, I know going into affiliate marketing is one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm sure you've heard this 100 times, but trust me, it gets easier! Just keep at it and you'll do just fine.