How to Promote Affiliate Products Without a Website
How to Promote Affiliate Products if You Don't Have a Website
Copyright 2004 Jude Wright
Okay, you want to promote affiliate programs. You have one or
two that you are very interested in. But - you don't have your
website created yet and you don't even have your own optin-in
list. What do you do? Here are a few things you can do before
you get your website created.
1. Write articles. Yes, I know. It's like being in school again
and learning something for the first time. It's really not all
that difficult. Think about the affiliate product that you want
to promote. How does that product help the person using it? Now,
think of a story of someone who is struggling (with whatever
task they're trying to do without the product) and then provide
the solution to that problem.
You must be careful, though. If the story sounds like a sales
pitch, your article won't be published.
Let's take as an example: Autoresponders. Tell the story about a
person trying to send out a message every week manually. Talk
about the frustrations. Then, provide the solution by explaining
how autoresponders work and why they should be used for that
task. But don't mention the autoresponder product you are
promoting in the article. That's what the article's Resource Box
is for! The resource box will contain a "mini" ad of sorts with
a link to your affiliate product's website.
Submit your completed article to article announcement lists,
article directories and newsletter publishers.
2. Start your own opt-in list.
The gurus tell you that you must have your own list. Is that
difficult? Well, yes and no. There are lists and there are
Lists. It's easy to find names and email addresses to add to
your list - just buy them from a list broker. However, to get a
"responsive" list there are some tasks that must be done.
Before your actually create your own website, you can have a
list. Simply use one of the free autoresponder or list server
companies that are available, such as:
- FreeAutoBot: http://freeautobot.com - Get Response:
http://getresponse.com - Yahoo Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com -
Topica: http://topica.com
One of these will get you started until you start making some
money and can afford to go "pro." Most free autoresponder
options will have ads on top of each message you send out.
When you have your website finished, put a subscription box on
every page. You never know where your site visitor will be
coming from so you'll want to cover all the bases.
3. Submit free and paid solo, top sponsor, and classified ads to
newsletters that are in your affiliate product's niche. Most
affiliate marketers are doing this already but are making two
major mistakes:
1. They use the "canned" ads that the affiliate program company
provides. Re-write the ad in your own style. Make the ad
different and unique. For a few minutes of work you will get a
much better response.
2. They don't mask the affiliate link. I would say that 90% of
the ads that get submitted to my newsletter still have the
affiliate ID showing. I have preached this many times but it
bears repeating. Mask Your Link! Even if you just use a service
like http://tinyurl.com or http://snipurl.com, it will save you
from having your affiliate ID ripped off by someone else.
Besides, your link will look a lot more professional and will
meet the line length guidelines that most publishers require.
The best affiliate marketers have their own domain name and
website. But these tips should help you get your start in
affiliate marketing.