8 Reasons Why Affiliate Marketing Is the Holy Grail Of
E-Commerce
Word Count: 772 Character Width: 60 Resource Box: 4 lines + web
link
============================================================ 8
Reasons Why Affiliate Marketing Is the Holy Grail Of E- Commerce
By Richard Adams
(c) 2004. All rights reserved.
http://www.ebooksalesassistant.com
============================================================
For too long affiliate marketing has been seen as the "poor
brother" of other popular online businesses such as online
auctions, ebooks, software or membership sites.
But to someone who earns a large percentage of my online income
as an affiliate, I'm constantly amazed at what a great business
this is.
Here, then, are just eight of the reasons why I believe
affiliate marketing is the *best* way to start off online;
indeed why in my eyes it's the Holy Grail of e-commerce.
1) No Need To Create A Product To Sell
Most people start off in e-commerce by creating their own
product. However, this route can involve investing a lot of time
and money.
On the other hand, I have set up affiliate sites in a matter of
weeks for under $100 that now greatly exceed that initial set-up
cost every single month - on autopilot. So it's a quick, easy,
and cost effective market to get into.
2) Create Money Out Of Thin Air
As it's possible to set up an affiliate site with a tiny sum
($50-100) and let this multiply numerous times, you can then go
on and invest in bigger projects in the future.
3) No Customer Service
Depending on how you set up your affiliate business it *is*
possible to completely dispense with customer service enquiries.
Indeed, I am now setting up simple minisites with *no* email
address and no contact details at all. This saves me a huge
amount of time each day answering questions and so allows me to
concentrate on building more sites for greater profits.
4) Automatic Money - And Free Time!
Using the right model, you can simply set up an affiliate site
and move onto your next project.
I sincerely believe that it is possible as you gain experience
to launch a site per month and, since you're not selling
anything yourself or answering customer's enquiries, your site
can run virtually on autopilot.
An occasional check is all that is necessary and my minisites
take me less than 30 minutes a month to run.
It's like automatic money each month!
More impressively, the sites you built months, even years ago,
continue to bring in sales meaning you're having to work less
and less to achieve the results you desire. You control your day
- and you do what you like with it.
5) Thinking Outside The Box
So many e-commerce businesses depend hugely on their own
affiliate network to drive traffic and sales. It's a reasonably
easy and hassle-free way to make profits.
Unfortunately as an affiliate marketer you don't have that
luxury.
But it's actually to your advantage.
You see without that fallback you are forced to think outside
the box to generate traffic.
Instead you need to find, test and develop other techniques
which stand you in good stead for the future.
Not only does it make you more creative and resourceful in
general, but if and when you eventually launch a non- affiliate
marketing site you'll already know how to generate an avalanche
of traffic *ontop* of what your affiliates bring you.
And more traffic equals more sales.
6) He Who Has The Traffic Has The Power
Once you develop your traffic streams and your subscriber list
you become a very sought after commodity.
Other businesses seek you out, eager to sign you up as an
affiliate of theirs.
And as your success grows, you develop the ability to cherry
pick only the most profitable deals for yourself - and often
command higher commission rates than others get.
Do *not* underestimate what it can be like to be in this
situation. An example is that one of my merchant partners sent
me an extra $250 last Christmas just to say thanks for sending
them so many sales that year!
7) You're The Perfect Affiliate Manager
If and when you decide to create your own product and set up
your own affiliate program as part of your marketing strategy
you have a distinct advantage over your competitors - you'll
already know the best affiliate marketing techniques.
And this knowledge will prove priceless in terms of helping your
own affiliates promote you effectively.
8) Great Community
By becoming an affiliate marketer you will be joining a great
community of like-minded individuals from around the world.
A combination of quality newsletters and discussion forums run
by real pros means it's a great community to be a part of.
So there you have it - my eight reasons to become an affiliate
marketer today - so what are you waiting for?!
**Note To Editors** - I really have done everything I can think
of to make our new affiliate program a winning proposition for
you. Feel free to sign up for the program and insert your own
affiliate link in the resource box to earn extra cash.