Thursday, December 15, 2005

Key To A Successful Marketing Affiliate Program


Affiliate marketing has been around for sometime, but only few know how to make some serious money online with them.

In fact, Affiliate Marketing is a great work from home business, for anyone with a computer and a desire to run their own affiliate business.

Now can someone really make money online with affiliate programs ?

There are obviously many ways to make money online: Some simple, some quite complicated. Basically, a good affiliate program reinforces your Online Home Business .

Affiliates struggling to earn $150 a month often find it hard to believe that other people could possibly earn as much as $8,000 or even $80,000 to 100,000 a month in commissions. Believe it. Such commissions do happen.

How do affiliate programs work? An affiliate program is where a company offers to pay you an " X " amount for business you sent from your site. Now, how do you get paid ? There are basically four ways to that affiliate programs are set up to reimburse you, as an affiliate:
  • Pay-per-click programs: You are paid for each person who clicks through your affiliate link to the affiliate program's web site
  • Pay-per-lead programs: You are paid for each "lead" that you send them.
  • Pay-per-impression programs: You are paid every time affiliate link or banner is displayed to some one visiting your web site
  • Pay-per-sale programs: You are paid a percentage of the profits on every sale made to some one you refer
Affiliate programs, most of which are free to join, can be an excellent way to make money online... But they, like anything else, require use of the proper tools and resources if you're to expect any kind of significant success.

So what is the solution ? Either decide to go through the grind, which will take quite some time to set up your home business or, hire someone else to do it for you. Now, if you chose the first option, I can't say your choice is bad, as no books nor any marketing courses can come anywhere close to pure practical experience. (James Martell and Rosalind Gardner) are two such examples of self-taught successful affiliate marketers.

But the problem is time.

By the time you start to make money online, a couple of months would have gone by. Moreover, you must also not get caught up in the trap of learning and not earning. It is VERY essential that you start to make some money online as early as possible, so as to fund your initial affiliate campaign and other minor expenses. Bottom line is that you can gather as much practical experience as you want, BUT also with a parallel income.

Now most people hope or even expect to make money online without any type of investment. Lets be candid to ourselves, if that is what you're expecting, you might as well call it quits before you even get started.

What you should expect is a modest investment of your time and (ideally) money. Though you can succeed without investing any money, it will likely take you significantly longer than if you are willing to set aside a small budget specifically for online advertising, proper tools and resources.

This also provides you with considerable room for trial and error. Another advantage is that you can set your own time frame. Most guys who have made it have invested heavily in their initial stages, only to realize later, that it was more of a waste.

Nonetheless, it is essential you set a shoestring budget, set a time-frame (say 3 months, if not 6 months maximum). If you don't see any form of income trickling in by then, it is better to let it take a back seat and give more impetus to your primary job. This does not mean to forget it completely, as there are holidays, nights and other free time. Because, the phases vary, the 1st phase (first 6 months) could be slow; the next could be slightly better etc.

Alternately, try your hand at surveys, data entry, transcription, surf traffic exchanges, write freelance articles (to name a few) that can meet your daily expenses. People generally tend to forget the value of time (calculate the average hourly wages you may get if you were employed, and multiply this sum by the time-frame you tend to dedicate to your new business - you will be surprised to note that it could be a tidy sum). Although you can consider this as your investment, it is extremely important that you set a fixed time frame - I am quoting this from personal experience.

Alternately, you can also try and set up an affiliate campaign and also get familiar with search engine marketing, affiliate networks, affiliate directories and traffic exchanges

As there is no telling when you would start to make money with the FREE page. However, if you market it well, the chances are within 3 months or so, you may see some income trickling in.

You can also sign up for a FREE web site, and sign up as an affiliate with good programs and get the feel of promoting their products and how this affiliate marketing thingy works

In order to make money online, you need to choose right affiliate programs. You can find various affiliate program directories (where you can browse through various affiliate programs) by doing a search for "affiliate program directory", "associate program directory" . etc., at your favorite search engine.

When choosing affiliate programs, below are some important keys to look for.. Look or choose an affiliate program that ;
  • promotes products or services you enjoy
  • offers residual weekly or monthly income
  • offers products you would purchase yourself.
  • offers a high commission, (25% or higher).
  • provides a good set of promotional tools and resources that you can use to promote the program.
  • has a good sales conversion rate.
  • offers real, viable products (beware of pyramid schemes)
  • targets a wide audience, not a small niche that could be saturated quickly.
  • that pays! .... as there are dishonest program operators out there, but fortunately it is a small percentage.
It could be a while before it sort of hits you. This is so because, like all other form of businesses, you have to get the 'IDEA' of how it works. It could be just a spark, and it could happen in a single day or even an hour then things will start falling in place. You'll never make it if you think that if it could for John Doe, it could work for me. No matter, how many books and courses you study. In short, trying to memorize algebra, physics formulas or organic chemistry will not get you anywhere - You achieve success in these areas only if you understand the concept.

Once you slowly get the hang of things, slowly register your own domain, set up a website, do your marketing research, identify niche and affiliate marketing opportunities.


The Internet Network Marketing Tips Course
This comprehensive course acts both as a tool for learning how to increase your affiliate sales, and, as an affiliate product to earn SIZEABLE commissions. It contains the exact information you need to start, promote, and grow a highly successful, extremely profitable Internet business. Besides, you get a generous $65 commission for every referral - plus another $20 commission for every sub-affiliates referral. There are people who earn an average 4 figure sum - monthly - just promoting this course. If used properly, it can show you how to start an Internet business in less than 24 hours -- and see profits by next weekend

33 Days To Online Profits - [Video]
The 33 Days To Online Profits also has a video based training system.
It is more than a simple Video-Based Training System on CD-ROM. Written by Yanik Silver And Jim Edwards, it is a powerful internet marketing strategy, tips and website promotion secrets for any product or service you sell. Within 33 days, you can be making real money online

33 Days To Online Profits
Perfect for anyone selling any product or service online. The step-by-step, day-by-day guide to finally making real money online in 33 days or less for almost any product or service you sell.
You can also make 45% for the reseller rights and 25% on the customized version.

For more information on affiliate guides and handbooks, CLICK HERE

This is relatively an easy way to make a parallel income during the early stages of your career in affiliate marketing.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Online Dating Services

Online Dating Services is one of the most lucrative and exciting business and personal opportunities flooding the internet today.

However, this is an area, I was always apprehensive about.

Not because of its money making potential but due to a personal experience.

Call it sour grapes - but the actual reason is that I am rather piqued is by the fact of chatting through a computer / webcam.

With webcams, you could literally interact with one another so well.

Well, then what's my problem ?

Unfortunately, I joined a site some time back, only have to my friend on the other side remove her clothes as she claimed that it was rather hot out there. Now this is a common situation. Eventually, I did switch the machine off, although reluctantly !

Now this is not an example to start dating online, nor deter them from doing so.

You have to come to terms with the fact its enormous potential in the market. As a result dating affiliate programs are also one of the most sought after ones.

There are numerous, dating and personals sites out there and if I guess correctly, most of them are doing quite well

The word online dating and adult dating all have very high search rating, ie., they are one of the most sought after search words. You check this with any top keyword provider, eg., Word Tracker. They provide you a weekly report on the top keywords based on search extraction, and see the number of dating online and adult terminology, you would be taken aback.

Online Dating is certainly one of the only verticals producing serious profits for both large and small online businesses. "The Personals / Dating category held its position as one of the largest paid content category above Business / Investment Content, with $400 million plus in revenues, with an average 20% increase every year.

Studies show that dating revenue shot up as much as 75% last year alone, and is targeted to grow well beyond expectations. Now what more can you say !

The Personals and dating affiliate program revenue potential has a high rate of return. In short, the opportunities available for anyone with a website are enormous. So, how can you take advantage of this?

You can either SIGN UP for any of these programs, and then by using their existing dating engine, build a dating website and watch crazy singles flock to it !

In affiliate jargon, it serves as a revenue fuel for new dating sites, or just as a value added addition to your current site. Large or small, every site or webmaster can profit from partnering with these sites

In plain language, it is exciting, new, and fun content to capture the attention of existing and new members.

CLICK HERE for a guide on Online Dating

Until next time !

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Yanik Silver And Internet Marketing

I was just going through my affiliate marketing sales letters, when I came across this sales pitch.

It didn't me hit me first, but as I read it I slowly began to grasp it - it was a well written copy and the message was conveyed very nicely.

Any layman could understand it It was then I decided to acquire the free download as well as the book.

I just don't have much to say but yes, you really can make money online.

Read on.. Here is a copy of that pitch..

And I'm so sure of it - I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is. But first, let me share a story with you…

When my friend Carolyn was nine, she wanted to bake a cake to surprise her parents. She went into the kitchen and starting mixing together flour, sugar, chocolate chips, ice cream and just about anything else she could find that looked good.

You can probably imagine how it turned out. It wasn't a pretty sight. Carolyn ended up with a big mess and something (she couldn't even call it a cake) that tasted absolutely horrible. Now today, if she's baking a cake - she'll start with a recipe. Carolyn explained to me how she measures out all the ingredients and follows the exact instructions on the recipe.

Now her cakes turn out pretty good and she even gets a couple of compliments.

Okay, but what does any of this have to do with Internet marketing?

Actually lots!

You see, making money online without a proven plan is a lot like trying to bake a cake without a recipe…you'll only end up making lots of mistakes, a big mess and wasting a bunch of money.

Now isn't that pretty cool….it gets the message right home….but then not everybody is a Yanik Silver

Simple....and straight.

It really gives you the idea that Internet marketing seems pretty easy.

But the truth is, there are more people out there, confused, perplexed, puzzled and just plain baffled about Internet marketing.

And who wouldn't be?

There are more self-proclaimed gurus and 'wannabe' gurus out there than you can shake a stick at.

The problem is who can you believe online?

Everyone's running around telling you they have the "secrets" to Internet marketing an making money online.

There are so many hyped-up "get rich quick" schemes floating around the Net -- it drives a person crazy!

If you're not achieving everything you want with your online business - don't blame yourself.

You probably just need a few, key skills that someone can teach you.

Have you ever said to yourself, if someone would just show me how to do all this once or twice, then I could do it for myself.?

It's tough learning new information. Statistics prove only a tiny percentage of people are able to grasp information when it is delivered. The rest of us need to be SHOWN what to do and -- most importantly -- HOW to do it!

His Simple, Video-Based Training System on CD-ROM, Teaches You Step-By-Step How to Make Real Money Online… 100% Guaranteed! The 33 Days To Online Profits [Video] Enhanced Tutorial eBookis NOT a downloadable product. It actually comes as a 2-volume CD-ROM tutorial delivered right to your front door. You just pop the CD-ROM into your computer (PC) and away you go.

Just sit back, relax and watch every step of marketing your site and making money online 33 Days To Online Profits - BOOK is equally good.

It is perfect for anyone selling any product or service online.

The step-by-step, day-by-day affiliate marketing guide to finally making real money online in 33 days or less for almost any product or service you sell. !

Saturday, October 01, 2005

Affiliate Marketing - Learning The Lingo

Affiliate marketing is like an on going assignment where you have to try different things out like different advertising techniques, different ways of adding affiliate banners and text links to your site, etc. You may even have to join a number of affiliate programs just to see which ones performs the best with your site content

Learning the Lingo

Here are a few definitions that may help you better understand Affiliate Marketing and the information you'll be learning throughout this guide:

Merchant
A merchant is a person or a company that markets their products and services on the web. Your merchant is the person/company whose program you joined.

Affiliate
An Affiliate is a person or a company that assists the merchant in marketing products and services in return for a commission. This is you!

Merchant-Affiliate Relationship
In the Merchant-Affiliate relationship, the Affiliate acts as an independent "salesperson" who promotes the merchants products and services. The merchant tracks the incoming visitors to determine which Affiliate sent them the sale - if any.

Tracking and Management Solution
In order to track the incoming Affiliate-referred traffic to their sites, merchants need to purchase or create software to Track and Manage their Affiliates and their activities.

Click-through
A click-through is the action that takes place when a visitor clicks on a banner or a link on your site to go to your merchant's site.

Impression
An impression occurs when a page containing your Affiliate code is loaded on your site or in your HTML email messages. Impressions are also called page views.

Two-Tier
A two-tier commission structure pays you commission on each sale (or lead or click-through)you refer and a commission on each sale referred by any Affiliates you have referred to the program.

For example: If X comes to your site, clicks on your link, goes to your merchant's site and purchases, you earn a first tier commission. However, let's say Y comes to your site, clicks on your link, goes to your merchant's site and signs up for the Affiliate Program. When B goes to Y's site, clicks on the merchant's link, goes to the merchant's site and purchases, Y earns a first tier commission (because Y referred the sale) and you earn a second tier commission (because you referred Y).

You'll need to check with your merchant directly to see if they offer a two-tier program. You can do so by checking your administration screen and looking for a "Second Tier Commissions" stat or by contacting your merchant.

Link
A link is a hyperlink (http://www.yourdomain.com) or an image or text that contains a hyperlink. A link is placed on one site and when clicked on leads the visitor to another. In the Affiliate Marketing industry, you, the Affiliate, place links on your site that points to the merchant's site.

Adding Banners and Links to your Website
If you have a website and you'd like to add banners and links to it, you'll need to do some editing. You have two options in editing: Hire a Pro or Do it Yourself.

Hire a Pro
You can hire a web design company to edit your webpages for you. If you're currently working with a web designer, this may be a viable option for you. However, if you're trying to go-it on your own, hiring a web designer to make a few small changes can be very costly.

Do-It Yourself
Doing it yourself is a great way to learn and to save money. If you already have a website, all you have to do is access it, edit it and upload the changes. The best thing to do is for you to add those affiliate links or banners to your site that is on the same topic as the other information on your web page. By doing this, you will not want to add too many affiliated banners or text links as it will just look like a page of links and will only turn your visitors away, about three affiliated links should be enough depending on how large the web page is.

Post Several Links to your Merchant
Don't stop at banner advertising! Look to see if your merchant offers additional linking methods like articles, email ads, signature files, rotating images, product images, guest books and so on! The more links you post - the better your chances are of making a sale.

If you simply place a banner on one of your web pages and expect the commission checks to come rolling in - you're going to be disappointed! In order to earn commissions - you have to become an active Affiliate. Place a few banners on your site, an article and a guest book in your resource section, another article and an ad in your newsletter and a testimonial wherever you can fit one!

Entry Page
An entry page is the web page that you direct traffic to. Visitors coming from your site will "enter" merchant's site at this page. In most cases this is the "home" or "index" page. However, you may want to link to a specific page on a merchant's site - you can check with them for information on linking directly to a specific page.

Wishing you the best and hope that you make money through affiliate marketing