QUESTION: I am considering starting an ebusiness using affiliate programs, but there is so much hype out there I can't figure out which programs would work best for me. Everybody claims their program is best. I'd really appreciate some guidance here.
ANSWER: Great question, Todd. Affiliate programs can be an excellent way to start an ebusiness. Before we dive into the specifics, let me explain how an affiliate program works.
An affiliate program simply means that you sign on as an affiliate marketer for someone else's product. It's your job to market the product, send the company customers, and get a cut each time a sale is made from your efforts. Affiliate program commissions can range from as little as 2% for high ticket items up to 50% for ebooks and informational type products.
As an example, let's say you sign up with Amazon.com's affiliate program. You are assigned an affiliate code which you use to promote Amazon's books on your website. When someone clicks to purchase an Amazon product from your website, your affiliate code is included in the URL and you get a commission for the sale. Some folks have built elaborate websites that sell nothing but Amazon.com's books, and each time they make a sale they get a piece of the pie.
One of the most appealing aspects of affiliate programs is how quickly you can begin making money. You can literally sign up as an affiliate and begin making money in minutes. I've done it, I know it works.
Admittedly, I am not an affiliate program expert, so I sought out the person that many call the Ultimate Affiliate Program Authority, Rosalind Gardner.
Rosalind Gardner began making money with affiliate programs in 1997. She has since grown her affiliate business into a $400,000 a year business and is now considered the authority on the subject. Her book 'The Super Affiliate Handbook: How to Make a Fortune Selling Other People's Stuff Online' has been out since March and is already considered by many to be the affiliate marketers bible.
I ordered Rosalind Gardner's book as research for this article and I have to tell you I found it to be one of the best books on the subject I have ever read. It's a hype-free approach to what affiliate marketing is really all about and how to make it work. The book is 270 pages and leaves no stone unturned. For anyone serious about making money with affiliate programs, I highly recommend this book.
The bottom line, Todd, is this: you can make a lot of money with affiliate programs, if you pick the right product and do your part to promote it. As for which programs would be best for you, I advise that you concentrate your efforts on one or two products instead of starting with a shotgun approach. Pick only top quality products that hold some personal interest you. Never pick an affiliate product just because you think you'll make a ton of money with it.
Remember, you are starting a business. If it's not a business that holds your interest, you won't be in business very long.
Small Business Q&A is written by veteran entrepreneur and syndicated columnist, Tim Knox. Tim's latest books include "Small Business Success Secrets" and "The 30 Day Blueprint For Success!" Related Links: http://www.smallbusinessqa.com http://www.dropshipwholesale.net
Have you ever tried to make money through affiliate programs... Read More
How do you choose the products you buy? Do you... Read More
An affiliate is simply an individual or business who signs... Read More
While many people may have you believe otherwise, selling online... Read More
What are the Search Engines?A Search Engine is special database-driven... Read More
If you are one of the 98.6% of affiliate members... Read More
Most affiliate program owners say 80% of their affiliate sales... Read More
In this holiday season online shopping is hotter than ever!... Read More
So you want to start your own business, and you... Read More
Affiliate marketing is a large business in the internet today... Read More
Affiliate marketing has become extremely popular, and ClickBank offers a... Read More
Some people are making big money with affiliate programs-some are... Read More
VISUALIZE, STRATEGIZE, ENERGIZE, REALIZE reprogramming is the subject today.Every single... Read More
Taking full advantage of your website's earning potential is as... Read More
1. Create an infopacked mini site. Build your mini site... Read More
If you are a webmaster, you will see this everyday... Read More
An alarming trend seems to be catching on with popular... Read More
It might have been Vince Lombardi or some other famous... Read More
Now that the idea of doing business over the internet... Read More
First, we must understand their point of view. Unlike some... Read More
In my search for a presence on the internet, I... Read More
Online affiliate marketing has taken the internet by storm and... Read More
There are thousands of affiliate programs offering wide range of... Read More
As I mention in almost all of my articles, 97%... Read More
Affiliate Marketing is a very lucrative business online, especially where... Read More
On Cyberspace (Internet), there is a method from which you... Read More
Honestly, I'm not a big affiliate fan because in the... Read More
Easy profit, a worldwide market, manageability of business at home... Read More
Affiliate programs are commonly misunderstood, in order to understand affiliate... Read More
People sign up with affiliate programs everyday, looking to expand... Read More
Google introduced some new features to AdSense account. When I... Read More
If you want extra cash every month, you have to... Read More
You must have been exposed to the online hype, and... Read More
Do you find yourself looking for a way to make... Read More
1. View your affiliate program as a partnership between you... Read More
It might have been Vince Lombardi or some other famous... Read More
When people decide to join an affiliate program to make... Read More
Affiliates make money in pretty much two ways, firstly by... Read More
If you are an affiliate that is trying to promote... Read More
In this article I'm going to cover two specific marketing... Read More
Did you begin your affiliate marketing business like this? You... Read More
If you have a website and you are not involved... Read More
If you have been looking around the internet for a... Read More
Affiliate marketing is a cooperative effort between merchant and an... Read More
The dawning of the cyberspace era is at hand. The... Read More
1. Start your own affiliate program directory. Join a large... Read More
There are obviously many ways to make money online, some... Read More
Virtually all online marketers have attempted lots of schemes and... Read More
Many people think that they can only get involved in... Read More
There are many opportunities to make money working on the... Read More
Affiliate Revenue Affiliate Revenue |