How To Earn Money With Affiliate Programs-Affiliate Marketing -
My Best Decision
When I decided to quit my job and start an internet business, I
was clueless. I researched and found several viable
opportunities however the more I read, the more I realized how
difficult this was going to be. I did not have a product and was
in no position to create one. I had it in my head I wanted to
sell something so I started out in the online Phone Cards
business (http://www.PhoneCardsGallery.com)
Did I get a sale in the beginning? Nope, (not so much) because I
did not know how the internet worked with regards to website
marketing. No one could find my site and I was a marketing
failure. However, I continued on the research path. I slowly
learned about how to market my site but wasn't sure I wanted to
stick only with Phone Cards business. My site costs combined
with credit card merchant costs, monthly service fees and plain
old competition didn't really leave me with much profit. I
realized I still had much to learn.
I went back to the research drawing board and joined a few
forums to learn what else I might be able to do. At that time I
learned about affiliate programs. I met people I trusted and
admired who promoted affiliate programs. I asked a lot of
questions and began my research. Affiliate marketing
appealed to me. I didn't need a merchant account, I didn't need
inventory, I didn't need my own product and I could even get
away without a website. Wow, how good is that? So off I went.
As I began to research I found the best selling products were
informational products and the best commissions were internet
marketing products. Because I was familiar with setting up a
website previously I decided to set up another site to list of
my best affiliate sales products. I offer only products that I
trust and many of them I used. There are lots of other things
that have good marketing potential. Affiliate marketing can be
successfully applied to almost any product on the net.
If researched carefully and applied correctly, affiliate sales
can be a very profitable internet business. The object is to
find something you can sell and promote for merchants that will
offer you a commission to sell it. You don't have to carry
inventory, collect money, worry about delivery or even have a
website (although a website is a good idea), but you're going to
have to think about what products best suit you with regard to
sales. I feel it's best to sell things that you like. Things
you're interested in or have a fetish about. For instance, let's
say you love Web or Home Business Marketing & Promoting
Products. If you love it then you probably know something
about it, but more importantly you will enjoy researching it and
offering it to someone else.
Next, research web businesses that sell Marketing & Promoting
Products and offer affiliate programs. I recommend using
http://www.BestFreeHomeBusiness.com or any other similar
sites. Keep in mind that the sites you select can sell other
things, however you're focusing on just Web or Home Business
Marketing & Promoting Products. Find several sites and apply to
them all. Most affiliate programs are free. A note to the wise,
be sure to read the affiliate agreements and understand their
rules. They are not all the same.
Once you've signed up for the programs of your choice, pay per
click (PPC) search engines are the best and easiest way to sell
your affiliate products. You can promote each product
individually or you can promote them all by building a website
and promoting your website. Again, be sure to read the
agreements as some affiliate programs restrict affiliates
offering their competition on the same website. This isn't true
for all of them but you want to stay aware.
To get started you'll need to set up accounts with PPC search
engines such as Google, Overture and Findwhat. Research how they
work and set up some simple ad campaigns to start. You will also
need to research keywords and what words cost the least and are
the most effective. This is a topic for another article, however
time spent and proper research tools such as Overture's view
bids and search term suggestion tools will help keep your costs
low and your profits high. By the way, use each of the keyword
tools provided by each PPC search engine; this will help guide
you as to what keywords to use. Keywords entered by users can
differ from search engine to search engine.
If you choose to build a website, keep your sight on topic.
Getting back to our Web or Home Business Marketing & Promoting
Products example, keep your site focused on Marketing &
Promoting Products, don't throw in beauty products or antiques.
The worst mistake you can make is being everything to everyone.
I know; I've made that mistake.
Offer helpful information & free tools related to your products.
Concentrate on offering information. If you give people valuable
information on something they're more likely to buy it.
Of course Marketing & Promoting Products is just an example; you
can apply the same principles whatever you might take pleasure
in. Give it some quality thought, research carefully and take
your time. If it's something you enjoy, you'll enjoy your
business.
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