by Claude Pelanne at November 5, 2010.

Posts Tagged ‘ affiliate marketing ’

Affiliate Marketing For Newbies

Affiliate Marketing For Newbies Selling Season

It’s that time of the year and the selling season is in bloom and affiliate marketing for newbies is ramping up. The email seeds are being sown on a daily basis and will soon be followed by the water softening “free” offers to help you along. I am getting my daily load of offers and thought it is time to remind myself of not over eating at the affiliate marketing plate.

Make Sure You Have A Business Plan

The first step in preventing an over reach in going for each and every attractive offer is to design a business plan. Make it as specific as you can. For example, my plan has a two phase approach. I will develop a Pay Per Click business with specific targets and revenue goals. And I will also develop Web sites for SEO and organic ranking along with some private consulting.

I then plan out how, when, where and why my time will go to the different tasks I set for myself.

You can do likewise. That way you will have a picture of what you are trying to accomplish. I recommend to fresh newbies to READ. Find good ebooks about the business and spend time getting an understanding of the overall landscape. Read Ezine Articles Daily is another thing you can do. Ezines is an article directory that has information about anything you could think of and is a great way to get you mind around affiliate marketing.

The advantage of having a plan is that it will put your focus on the types of products you will need to buy in order to move your business forward. Ebooks are a useful resource. Rosland Gardner’s Super Affiliate Handbook is one that comes to mind.

Take Your Time

The next step is tricky. You need to sift through the offers you will find and try to figure out what is legitimate and what is not in the world of affiliate marketing. Here’s the thing. There are many ways to do business online and what works for one person does not work for another. So you have to figure out what type of business approach works for you and see if you can find an affiliate program that fits your profile. Affiiate marketing for newbies can be a very scary and frustrating thing so don’t plunge for the first thing that comes along. Take your time to get a feel for what is out there.

I spent the first six months of my experience buying ebooks and reading as much as I could to figure out how affiliate marketing works. I stayed away from Pay Per Click marketing and concentrated on Search Engine Optimization and article writing so my costs were really low going in. Over time I then moved on to PPC and other ways of developing an online business but only after I was read and comfortable with making the move.

Find A Community

There are affiliate marketing for newbies communities that can help in getting you started. Forums are a great way to find out what is going on. Warrior forum. eWeath and Associates Program are three that come to mind. Eventually when you get a business up and running you can join a forum specific to your product or service and really communicate with a community dedicated to your passion or business interest.

The one thing to be careful of about forums is that they can be very time consuming. So you need to plan wisely and not spend more time than you need roaming the forum.

Another option is to find a mastermind group to join. This is a small group of individuals that meet with a specific focus on a business interest and exchange information. Sometimes they also create joint ventures around a business idea with product launches and profit sharing. It is a great way to become part of an online business community and grow your own online venture.

Conclusion

Affiliate Marketing for Newbies does not have to be a difficult or frustrating process if you take the time to learn about the Affiliate Marketing landscape. Just give yourself the benefit of some upfront planning. Take the time to gather the information you need. Know what your goals are going in. And find a group of like minded marketers who can get you feed back on products and services being pushed you way. And remember…READ.

Follow these steps and your path will be manageable and less frustrating than mine was as you move forward. And remember, be easy on yourself and never give up.

May Your Travels Be Prosperous.

Thinking About Affiliate Marketing? Avoid These Mistakes.

How To Learn Affiliate Marketing

Starting your home business and making a push to become financially independent is one of the main motivations for becoming an affiliate marketer. The barriers to entry are non existent and there are literally thousands of products to sell. With this seemingly wide choice of selection and the even wider opportunity for making money, who wouldn’t consider joining the ranks of the online marketer?

But there are some caveats you should respect if you make the decision and they are not to be ignored.

Due Diligence

The first is to do very serious due diligence on the affiliate product you decide to represent. A common mistake is to pick a product on the “buzz” that has been created around the affiliate program without digging deeper into who is behind the product launch. Find out everything you can about the person behind the product. Have they delivered in the past? Are they reliable in paying out commissions on time? I make a point of trying to find out from another affiliate marketer if they have had any experience with this person. Just recently, one phone call with just such a person saved me time and money on a “buzzed” product my instincts told me was not all it was cracked up to be. Given the changes occurring with the new Federa Trade Commission regulations and Google’s terms and conditions, it is important to understand the standards of the marketplace.

It’s important to take the time to do your homework and check things out before you make your decision. Your very success depends on it.

Trust and Confidence

The second point is to select only those affiliate products you understand, have researched and truly believe in. This means owning the product yourself and trying it out, to see if you are comfortable that it delivers what it is supposed to deliver. Are you comfortable and confident the affiliate program can deliver a positive customer experience?

This goes directly to the issues of trust and confidence you are putting in the product or service and it also addresses the trust your customers are putting in you to give them what they are paying for.

Focus

Finally, focus only on those affiliate products that have your undivided attention. There are literally thousands of products to choose from in the affiliate marketing space. With each product potentially representing an income stream, the temptation is to sell as many as possible and have as wide a sales funnel as you can get. This is a very unwise move because it gives the appearance of selling and can be a real turn off for your customers.

The better choice is to select one or two products that pay a commission of 50% or better and market them as much as you possible can. This will show that you really believe in what you are selling and raises the chance of creating a good revenue stream in your online affiliate marketing business.

This approach keeps things clear and focused for your customer base. It makes it easier for them to find what they are looking for and also easier to decided to buy.

Conclusion

These key points are often ignored by many affiliate marketers who pay for it in lost business. They are losing customers they are unaware of and don’t realize the extent of their mistakes.

But their mistakes can be your opportunity for a prosperous and successful business launch.

Make the effort and take the time to implement these key steps and you will be will on you way to success and to fulfilling your goals.

May your travels be prosperous?

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Your Online Home Business

How To Check Out An Affiliate Program

Introduction

Trying to find an affiliate program for the new person just starting out on the Web is like walking into the proverbial Star Wars bar. There are many strange looking creatures and none have your best interest in mind. So what can you do? When you are choosing an affiliate program there are some key things to look for as you do your due diligence.

Who Are You Dealing With

One option is to google the program or the owner name. I tried that and avoided a number of scams.

Another option is to find a reputable forum and post a question about a program you are looking at. You will be surprised by the information people will give you.

Fees

Another factor is whether the affiliate charges a membership fee. Many affiliates do not, but some do and if you are new to the business, this can be a good thing.

If you pay a fee, see what you are getting for the money. Do they have marketing tools to help sell the product? Is there a proprietary system that will increase your sales?

Fees are not necessarily a bad thing if there is good return on your investment. Many programs that say they have a system have nothing more than a written report. Though the information may be nice to know, the report often offers nothing about HOW to implement an action plan.

Payment Schedule

Check and see how affiliate payments are disbursed. Are they monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly? Is there a minimum volume that triggers a payment. Whatever the system, make sure you understand it thoroughly before you make your decision to join.

What is the commission rate? Some affiliate programs offer a 5% commission while others offer 75%.

Some may pay a fraction of a percent on certain offerings.

Generally you can get that information if you go through Clickbank or Paydotcom but make sure to get that information up front before you sign up.

Tracking

See whether the affiliate offers tracking information to oversee what the conversion rate is for incoming prospects. You also want to know the number of impressions and click throughs that are being generated by your campaign. This is important because some programs pay for impressions and click throughs.

Tiered Commissions

Finally, see if the program is a single tier or double tier system. A one tier pays you for the business you send to the program. A double tier pays you for the business generated by someone you have referred to the program.

These are some of the important points to understand when selecting an affiliate program. Asking the right questions up front can ensure that you will have a very prosperous experience.

Good luck and may your travels be prosperous!

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Choosing An Affiliate Program

What To Look For In An Affiliate Program

Program Research Terms and Condtions

The first thing is to research the legitimacy of the business. How long has the business been in operation? Who is the principal owner? Is there contact information so you can contact him or her to verify company information. What is the company track record? What are people saying about the program? One option is to google the program or the owner name. I tried that and avoided a number of scams. Another option is to find a reputable forum and post a question about a program you are looking at. You will be surprised by the information people will give you. Look for leaks and click outs like toll free phone numbers, opt-in boxes and text links leading to other sites. These will all be signs that the affiliate marketer is not in the best position to get paid if your referral goes out to buy elsewhere or if you are just building the vendors list.

Another factor is whether the affiliate charges a membership fee. Many affiliates do not, but some do and if you are new to the business, this can be a good thing. If you pay a fee, see what you are getting for the money. Do they have marketing tools to help sell the product? Is there a proprietary system that will increase your sales? Fees are not necessarily a bad thing if there is good return on your investment. Many programs that say they have a system have nothing more than a written report. Though the information may be nice to know, the report often offers nothing about HOW to implement an action plan.

Commission Payment

What is the commission rate? Some affiliate programs offer a 25% commission. while others offer 75%. Some may pay a fraction of a percent on certain offerings. Generally you can get that information if you go through Clickbank or Paydotcom but make sure to get that information up front before you sign up.

Conversion Tracking

Recurring Income

These are some of the important points to understand when selecting an affiliate program. Asking the right questions up front can ensure that you will have a very prosperous experience.

Good luck and may your travels be prosperous!

Online Home Based Business

Is A Home Based Business Right for You?

Are you thinking of starting a home based business on line? Attracted by all the claims of fortunes made?

Starting your own home business can bring a lot of benefits with it; being your own boss is one is one of them. Deciding when to work and when to play is another. And the upside in income is unlimited depending on how much time and effort you want to put in.

So where do you start?

1) Decide what really drives your interest and passion. It could be the experience and knowledge you have acquired from your current job. Stick with what you know; only this time you make all the revenue.

2) Develop a budget. It is going to take some investment to get started so do some research and develop with a plan with some numbers. How much can you afford and how much are you willing to invest? There are options that are free and may offer the prospect of starting with no investment. While they are helpful in learning some of the techniques of marketing a product online, they are not always very effective at driving revenue.

3) Join some online forums and just cruise to see what people are asking about and see what some of the answers are. They generally have sections for newbies and they are very helpful at teaching you what you should be looking for in setting up your affiliate marketing or Intenet business.

4) Set some goals for what you want to achieve with dates and benchmarks. What potential revenue targets can you set that are reasonable to achieve? Do some research on the market sector you have chosen. Again, here forums and blogs are a great source of information. Check out the sites of the star affiliate marketers in the product area you are interested in. Google the keywords and see who pops up.

5) Network with people who have already established a successful online venture and see if you can learn from their experiences. You are not alone in going through the experience of starting an Internet business and there are plenty of people who will help out if you ask.
6) Come up with a final business plan or action outline to carry out. Review it and make adjustments based on an assessment by an independent third party. Try coming up with a list of 3-4 products you would like to market.

Then the fun begins! Take action; get online and begin to set yourself up. Remember a plan has to be flexible. It will change and adjust as you make your way through the marketplace. It will time and persistence and some help along the way. Once again, forums are a great place to turn to for assistance.

Make sure you understand your online market and your customer. That will be vital to your success.

Good luck and may your travels be prosperous!