Affiliate Programs 101!
by BB Lee (C)2003
Joining an affiliate program is one of the easiest ways to start
an online business and generate income for your website. These
revenue sharing programs are very popular on the net. And is the
way many new entrepreneurs started online.
When you join an affiliate program your task is to promote the
merchants services or products on your website or in your ezine.
This is easier than you might think because the merchants supply
members with banners or links back to their site to promote the
product. Plus they tally up your clicks or sales.
But Beware!
Make sure you understand all the details of the program. Avoid
MLM programs. Only the first tier group will reap rewards. Avoid
any program where you recruit other affiliates. And your earnings
are based on a percentage of their profits. Your profits plummet
if your recruits abandon the program.
Affiliate programs pay their members a fixed amount for each
sale, click through, lead, or banner impression.
Here's a simple breakdown of most payment plans:
-Pay per sale. A commission is paid for each sale your site/ezine
generates.
-Pay per click through. You receive a payment for each valid
click to the sponsors website.
-Pay per lead. You receive a payment for each sales lead for
a service or product.
-Pay per impression. You receive a payment each time a merchants
banner or link is displayed to the merchants site.
Joining an affiliate program is easy! Just be sure to select
an affiliate program with appropriate services or products that
match your targeted audience.
If your ezine/website attracts Rugged Out-doors motorcycle enthusiast,
you certainly would not display maternity clothing or baby booties.
Or if your ezine/website attracts young teenagers, you certainly
don't want to display senior citizen products like walkers or
vitamins for older adults.
Always read the fine print. Make sure you understand the payment
clause. Many affiliate programs will only send you payment after
you've accumulated a certain sales amount. Anything from $10.00
and up.
Affiliates might pay every other week, per month or per quarter.
You will receive a payment if you reach the minimum balance in
sales during that pay period. Most balances are accumulative.
So, if you do not reach the minimum during one pay period it will
be rolled over to your next pay period and added to any sales
balances. Once again, read the fine print in the affiliate agreement
when you sign up for pertinent details.
Here are a few popular affiliate programs.
Clickbank http://www.clickbank.com
Commission Junction http://www.commisionjunction.com
To find more affiliate programs, go to one of the search engines
like:
Google http://www.google.com
Type in affiliate programs. Click on the one's that interest
you.
Are you a newbie and want an easy way to get into business fast?
Join an affiliate program! One Super Affiliate Rosalind Gardner
shares her techniques and secrets in her newest ebook. Check it
out if you want to get into business fast.
Super
Affiliate Handbook
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BB Lee is the editor and publisher of SmallBizBits Newsletter.
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