Every time you turn around it seems you see another affiliate program which promises you vast riches. They give you all the sales material you need, and even throw in a free web page. How can I loose, one might think. Everything is all set up for me, and all I need is get a bigger PO Box to handle all the checks that will roll in. Your web site will be carried by the search engines, you have the "pre-written" ads ready to go - how can you lose?
A few ads are placed here and there, and the responses "trickle in" but there are few, if any sales. Time for a reality check. If you have seen one affiliate web site for a particular product, service or opportunity, you have seen them all. There are a number of affiliate programs, which have thousands of people who have bit. Why should a person go to your site when they know from the URL (address of your web page) what it is already?
They won't. Am I saying that affiliate programs don't work? No - I am saying that the tools they provide "don't cut the mustard". It is a proven marketing fact that it takes 5-7 exposures to your ad before someone might purchase from you. If you have a "canned" web site, what are the odds of them coming back to you to buy? Slim to none.
So how does a person who is serious about marketing an affiliate program get you to buy from them? First, they "deep six" the affiliate web site as their primary web contact, and create their own. On their web site they provide content which is interesting for anyone who stops by. They also change the content on a regular basis to keep them coming back, and let them know when it does change. They also provide a link to their affiliate web site.
The next step is to try to get a listing on the search engines. Now, think about this. There are most likely several thousand people who have an identical web site to the one you get as an affiliate. What do you think the odds are of someone "stumbling across" your site when surfing the web? Again - slim to none. But if you have your own site, your chances take a giant leap forward. The link to your affiliate site is a minor part of your web site, even though it is where you want them to eventually wind up.
Now - can you use a site that is not your own domain? While not the preferred route to take, it is "head and shoulders" above the link you get from the affiliate program. Most ISP's give you web space free. Learn a little HTML code and you're in business. Or, if push comes to shove, hire someone to do it for you. Let's face it, if I see a URL that I recognize as an affiliate program, and I've been there before, I will simply "click away".
The old saying, that if "salespeople sell themselves first, the sale of their product or service, follows shortly thereafter" is certainly true. Establish yourself on the web and in the newsletters/ezines as someone who can be trusted, and is knowledgeable in their field. If people get to know and trust you, your recommendation to join your affiliate program will carry a lot more weight.
Now that you have control over your web page, you should have a guest book that visitors can sign. Now you have their email address. Folks, these are literally worth their weight in gold. You can now send them email about upcoming events on your web site, and not be accused of spamming.
Run a contest on your web site - the prizes don't have to be off the wall. An ebook (and there are a number available for free) can be your prize - and again more email addresses. Write a free newsletter/ezine and publish it on a regular basis - even more email addresses. As long as there is content of interest, they won't mind a gentle reminder to visit your web site.
Consider a "non-competing" partner to help you with the site or to write articles for the ezine. It makes no difference to you if there is another link to another affiliate program on your site. If they are willing to share the work in return for the link, it is to your advantage. The key here is "non-competing".
So - are affiliate programs a sure thing? If you simply join and sit back waiting for the money to flow, no. If you are a "take charge" type of person and are willing to work a little, it can be a great opportunity.
Did you know that subscribers to Bob Osgoodby's Free Ezine the "Tip of the Day" get a Free Ad for their Business at his Web Site? Great Business and Computer Tips ? Monday. Wednesday. and Friday. Instructions on how to place an ad are in the Newsletter.
Subscribe at: http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2 .htm.
There are many affiliate programs you can go to to... Read More
Many people with the best intentions fail at affiliate marketing... Read More
Here are five "hook em in the jaw" affiliate tips... Read More
One thing that seems to be cropping up in many... Read More
I should have listened to an internet veteran back in... Read More
Taking full advantage of your website's earning potential is as... Read More
Why are those top affiliates able to easily make so... Read More
Clearly, the people benefiting the most from affiliate programs are... Read More
Affiliate Marketing is currently one of the most popular and... Read More
A vast majority of successful online entrepreneurs are affiliates of... Read More
Remember the day when you made the ultimate decision to... Read More
To any Internet Marketer these days an affiliate program is... Read More
Have you ever tried to launch an affiliate program? If... Read More
Your affiliate marketing business is just that ? a business.... Read More
There are many people who log onto the internet everyday... Read More
There are many opportunities to make money working on the... Read More
There is some speculation about how much money you can... Read More
One of the biggest fears new Affiliate managers have is... Read More
Would you like to jumpstart your online or offline business... Read More
Google introduced some new features to AdSense account. When I... Read More
Are you promoting affiliate products?This article will show you 5... Read More
Many people think that they can only get involved in... Read More
So you've signed up for affiliate programs, posted links around... Read More
Many affiliate programs usually provide special web pages for their... Read More
Communication is Key!When building an affiliate network communicating with affiliates... Read More
While it can be quite easy to start an online... Read More
1.Join an Affiliate Program: Join programs that interest you personally.... Read More
Affiliate Program are the easiest way to make a substancial... Read More
If you are planning to take the path of the... Read More
I recently had an experience with one of the affiliate... Read More
There are certain things we need in life that must... Read More
Have you always wanted to work at home? Have your... Read More
While many people may have you believe otherwise, selling online... Read More
When I began affiliate marketing I knew only half of... Read More
If you are new to affiliate marketing, you are probably... Read More
More and more people are getting into online businesses for... Read More
Link bypassing is the number one trap affiliates fall into... Read More
Well that depends ultimately on you! Let me explain?I have... Read More
It may sound cliché but it is worth repeating. Affiliate... Read More
Many people with the best intentions fail at affiliate marketing... Read More
There are certain things we need in life that must... Read More
Here's a really simple way... to find out which affiliate... Read More
The great strides made in the development of the Internet... Read More
Starting a home-based business on the Internet is easy you... Read More
In the time I have been running my internet home... Read More
Google introduced some new features to AdSense account. When I... Read More
Have you been lured into online business and internet marketing... Read More
There will be a million and one affiliates out there... Read More
The idea of using affiliate programs is to produce extra... Read More
Here's a fact: everybody wants to earn extra money. We... Read More
It is every affiliate's wish to have unique site content... Read More
Affiliate marketing is quickly becoming a very specialized form of... Read More
1. Start your own affiliate program directory. Join a large... Read More
"What's the Buzz About?""I made $5,000 in one week""I quit... Read More
There are a few reasons why your affiliate program isn't... Read More
Here's a few affiliate Internet marketing tips that can help... Read More
In my search for a presence on the internet, I... Read More
I think it truly goes without saying that there are... Read More
Don't get offended, I was not speaking directly to you.... Read More
1. Participate in chat rooms related to the product you're... Read More
As any business owner knows advertising can be a very... Read More
Good affiliates can be hard to get. There could be... Read More
I am not going to describe what a product feed... Read More
First of all you need to understand that an Affiliate... Read More
This is how most entrepreneurs become filthy stinking rich! EVEN... Read More
More and more people are turning to the Internet and... Read More
Affiliate Revenue |