|
Article Directory
|
+ Authors
+ Articles
|
|
|
|
4 Keys to Choosing the Best Affiliate Programs for Your Business
Copyright (c) 2009-2012 Judy Murdoch
A couple weeks ago, one of my clients sent me an email with this question:
"I've been checking out a couple programs that say I can make lots of money by including affiliate links on my website. I could really use the extra cash right now. What do you think?"
The client asking this question is a coach who is creating his own information products.
He knows there will be a lag between the time he launches his program and when he starts getting substantive income. He'd like to find an alternative revenue source to tide him over.
A Typical Affiliate Program
Amazon.com was one of the first online merchants to use an affiliate program. I've been an Amazon.com affiliate for many years.
Here's how I use Amazon.com's affiliate program.
I work with small business owners and help them with marketing issues. Naturally, I will suggest books that I've read and think are useful for small business owners who are looking for marketing help.
I recommend these books on my website and it's very easy to include a link so someone interested in buying one of those books can go directly to Amazon.com to learn more...maybe buy the book.
As an Amazon.com affiliate, I get a special link so that if that person actually buys the book, I get a small commission.
This in a nutshell is how affiliate programs work.
Sharing the Love
In the best sense, affiliate programs can be a win for everyone:
- you get a little extra money for making a recommendation that you would have made regardless (I was recommending these books long before I became an Amazon affiliate).
- Amazon.com gets more traffic (and building traffic is always desirable) and more sales (again, always desirable)
- The person making the purchase gets a valuable resource they otherwise wouldn't have known about
Affiliate Mania!
Over the years, gobs of companies have been jumping into the affiliate game. It's easy to understand the attraction of offering an affiliate program.
And something else started happening: everyone and their dog started offering affiliate programs. Along with the mad proliferation of affiliate programs, websites with no other purpose than being a collection of affiliate links began popping up.
The idea behind these sites is people go to your website and see lots and lots of links to click on. If they click on a link and buy something, Voila! you get some money.
Affiliates of Easy Virtue?
Some folks think having website that is, essentially, pages of links is a really super idea.
Myself, I think it's an example of a good idea taken to ridiculous extremes.
From a practical perspective, affiliate link farms depend on getting massive amounts of traffic. Unless you want to work your butt off getting traffic to your website (and you WILL have to work very hard because you have lots of competition) you will never generate the level of traffic you need to earn decent money.
What bugs me more than anything is the lack of added value. Putting up a web page with a bunch of links chosen based on the commission you'll get isn't bringing any value into the world.
You're not sharing your own knowledge and experience to help others. You're simply directing visitors to other businesses.
Finally, affiliate mania makes for bizarre bedfellows hence the term "affiliates of easy virtue."
There are literally hundreds of thousands of affiliates out there. How many are selling products that you can really feel good about reselling to other people? Are these affiliate programs about making a difference or mostly about lining the sellers pockets?
4 Keys to Selecting Win-Win Affiliates for Your Business
I'm a business owner and I like making money when it's because I helped my clients solve a problem or do something better. There's a sweetness when you make money because you add value. I can't imagine selling stuff and not caring whether or not it helps my customer.
Here are 4 keys I recommend when you consider which affiliates to participate in:
- Good Fit With Your Business
I help small business owners create inexpensive, results-based marketing programs. My clients typically need help doing things like building websites, creating blogs, attracting subscribers to read articles and offers, and selling products and services online.
Naturally I recommend website hosts, email list management services, shopping carts, and merchant account services. The vendors I use for these services offer affiliate programs and it makes perfect sense that I participate in those programs.
I am NOT an affiliate for weigh*t loss potions, stain removers, or real estate training programs because these have nothing to do with how I help my own customers.
- Shared Values
When a product or service rubs you the wrong way, chances are good that the values held by seller are in conflict with your values.
For example, I see my business as way not only to make money but to make a positive difference in the world. For this reason I don't participate in affiliates that, in my opinion, aren't adding anything substantive to the world.
- You Use The Products And Services Yourself
The only affiliates I participate in are ones whose products and services I actually use. I feel uncomfortable making money recommending something that I, myself wouldn't use.
- Decent Commission
All things being equal, I would choose the affiliate program offering a more generous affiliate commision.
The key qualifier here being "all things being equal."
Bottom Line
Affiliate programs are hot, hot, hot these days for good reasons.
But affiliate programs are NOT about money for nothing.
Affiliate programs are meant to enhance and supplement your core products and services...not to replace substantive products and services or to detract from them.
As long as you can be in integrity with the affiliate programs you support, they are a great source of extra revenue as well as a way to offer more value to your customers.
When this is the case, it's a very sweet way to share the love.
Judy Murdoch helps small business owners create low-cost, effective marketing campaigns using word-of-mouth referrals, guerrilla marketing activities, and selected strategic alliances. To download a free copy of the workbook, "Where Does it Hurt? Marketing Solutions to the problems that Drive Your Customers Crazy!" go to http://www.judymurdoch.com/workbook.htm
You can contact Judy at 303-475-2015 or judy@judymurdoch.com
|
Follow "The Phantom Writers" on Twitter
(@phantomwriters)
to be notified when new articles are made available.
VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >>
0 -
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5
<< Excellent Article
Tell our authors what you think about their article.
|
Top-Level Category: Business Online Articles
10 Most Recent Articles Written by Judy Murdoch
Blog Posts Versus Email - Which is Better for Marketing?
Written by: Judy Murdoch |
Distributed: 2010-11-04 |
Word Count: 932 |
Page Views: 742
Up until fairly recently, when you wanted to keep in touch
with customers and prospects, you used email to send
periodic messages to people who opted-in to receive your
mailings. People are suggesting that with the rise of
blogging, that the death knell of email is upon us. This
article will consider the demise of opt-in email as the best
way to communicate with your customers.
Is This Such A Thing As An Info Product in a Day?
Written by: Judy Murdoch |
Distributed: 2010-11-02 |
Word Count: 1028 |
Page Views: 650
There are lots of books and programs promising you that you
can "create a product in a day." You can create a product
that you can sell to customers in the time it takes to, say,
get your car washed, go to the post office, get through your
email, and fix dinner. How totally cool would that be?
Why Ker-chunk Needs to Proceed Ker-ching
Written by: Judy Murdoch |
Distributed: 2010-08-03 |
Word Count: 1010 |
Page Views: 712
This morning I was working with a client who was feeling
some frustration around defining the niche for their
business: "Why is picking a niche so hard?" my client
wanted to know.
Guerrilla Marketing: About Love Not War
Written by: Judy Murdoch |
Distributed: 2010-07-29 |
Word Count: 1061 |
Page Views: 1041
| Votes: 1 |
Rating: 4.00
"Guerrilla Marketing" is a term coined by Jay Conrad
Levinson in his 1984 book: Guerrilla Marketing: Secrets for
Making Big Profits for Your Small Business. The term is a
spin on "Guerrilla Warfare," war tactics used by small,
often indigenous armies fighting larger, better equipped
invaders.
Dealing with Uncertainty in Marketing
Written by: Judy Murdoch |
Distributed: 2010-07-27 |
Word Count: 929 |
Page Views: 762
So often a business owner will say to me that they "hate"
marketing. If you are a small business owner who "hates"
marketing or even feels a sense of uneasiness when you
contemplate marketing for your business, this article is
dedicated to you.
What Marketing Do You REALLY Need Right Now?
Written by: Judy Murdoch |
Distributed: 2010-04-22 |
Word Count: 1224 |
Page Views: 757
Many small business owners I talk to always seem to be
playing catch up when it comes to their marketing. Last week
when I told a small business owner that she was doing a good
job with her marketing, she replied "Oh, but I have so much
to do!" in an apologetic tone. Listening to her I felt sad.
I mean who the heck laid down these requirements that a
small business has to have so much in place so fast?
Keys to Attracting Win-Win Strategic Alliances
Written by: Judy Murdoch |
Distributed: 2010-04-20 |
Word Count: 908 |
Page Views: 829
The most potent marketing strategy for any small business
owner is not a great website, or lots of Facebook friends,
or a killer networking plan. The marketing strategy that
will get you faster and farther than anything else put
together is developing strategic alliances with other
businesses so you can promote each others products and
services.
How to Persuade Without Really Trying
Written by: Judy Murdoch |
Distributed: 2010-01-19 |
Word Count: 1170 |
Page Views: 692
| Votes: 1 |
Rating: 2.00
Recently, the owner of a consulting practice contacted me.
In the email, she said that she needed an easier, more
predictable way to find ideal prospects. She had already
tried a lot of different things but nothing worked. So we
set up a meeting so I could learn more about her situation
and whether I could help. In this article, I will share with
you what "I" learned...
How Numbers Matter in Marketing
Written by: Judy Murdoch |
Distributed: 2010-01-14 |
Word Count: 1388 |
Page Views: 605
| Votes: 2 |
Rating: 2.50
I typically write a lot more about the "human side of
marketing," because I think topics like trust, sincerity,
and emotions get overlooked in most marketing advice
discussions. And no matter how clever your copy and fail
safe your system, neglect trust building and you will have
to work twice as hard at your marketing for half the
results. But that doesn't mean you can ignore the numbers
side of marketing. In this article I talk about why numbers
are important and how to make them work in your marketing.
Why Marketing for Services Stinks (and How to Make Sure Yours Doesn't)
Written by: Judy Murdoch |
Distributed: 2010-01-12 |
Word Count: 1386 |
Page Views: 669
| Votes: 1 |
Rating: 1.00
One of the greatest challenges of doing business in a
"knowledge economy" is selling what is intangible. If you
are a coach, a consultant, an alternative health
practitioner, or any other business owner who is selling a
service, you know how difficult it is to come up with an
effective message that gets across why someone should hire
you...
All of Author's Articles on this site: Judy Murdoch Articles
Most Recent "Business Online" Articles
Sell Yourself, Not Your Products or Services
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2012-01-02 |
Word Count: 989 |
Page Views: 2326
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 4.00
Sell yourself, not your products or services. The point we
need to make is that your products and services will change
over time as your business adapts to the realities of the
marketplace.
Work From Home - Make Money Online With EBay Store
Written by: David Miller |
Distributed: 2011-12-12 |
Word Count: 2105 |
Page Views: 152
Find out how to present your items, as well as other key factors
to profit from your eBay Store.
Bring Your Photography To Life With Stunning Video
Written by: Adam Harding |
Distributed: 2011-12-12 |
Word Count: 684 |
Page Views: 192
I want to let you in on my little secret. It is about how I bring
photographs to life by creating professional video slideshows
that look like they cost hundreds of dollars.
Leveraging the Social in Social Media
Written by: Enzo F. Cesario |
Distributed: 2011-09-21 |
Word Count: 907 |
Page Views: 211
| Votes: 1 |
Rating: 1.00
Social media marketing is about the conversation, not the
pitch. Having conversations with people is nice, but the
goal of a brand is ultimately to get people interested in
spending their time or money on the brand, after all. What
does having this conversation accomplish, and just how does
a brand use that conversation to get the critical conversion
from conversation to customers?
Blog Writing - Finding the Right Person
Written by: Enzo F. Cesario |
Distributed: 2011-09-21 |
Word Count: 884 |
Page Views: 369
There are a host of articles and sites covering advice on
how to address various topics, but one area that doesn't
get a lot of attention is what "person" to write the blog
in. Each linguistic person has its own strengths and
weaknesses, depending on the message that needs to be
covered. Ultimately, most will simply write in whatever
person is most natural to them, but there is some merit in
taking a bit of time to think about the implications,
advantages and disadvantages of each.
That First Impression: Title Considerations
Written by: Enzo F. Cesario |
Distributed: 2011-09-19 |
Word Count: 860 |
Page Views: 199
While it certainly isn't as much work as crafting the body
of a superior article, selecting a title for a piece is
definitely an important element of the entire process of
content creation. Here are some thoughts on crafting a
perfect title.
5 Tips For Writing Great Content For Your Blog
Written by: Lee Dobbins |
Distributed: 2011-09-16 |
Word Count: 987 |
Page Views: 208
If you want people to come back to your blog over and over
again, then you need to provide great web content. This may
seem like an impossible task if you aren’t a natural born
writer. Here are 5 tips that will help even the least
experienced writer create blog content that will entice even
first time visitors to become frequent readers.
Understanding Cloud Computing for SMBs
Written by: Audre Hill |
Distributed: 2011-09-16 |
Word Count: 449 |
Page Views: 315
| Votes: 2 |
Rating: 5.00
The buzz about cloud migration, or taking your business to the
cloud, is all over the internet. But the geek speak and sales
hype make understanding the cloud difficult for small and
mid-sized business owners. Read this to clear up your cloud
confusion.
Dynamic Content: Using Analytics to Write Your Blog
Written by: Enzo F. Cesario |
Distributed: 2011-09-16 |
Word Count: 873 |
Page Views: 253
The role of web analytics in setting useful metrics for a
site has been discussed in-depth in any number of places,
but this is far from the only useful function that web
analytic practices can offer. As in any field, a little
thinking outside the box can offer extensive rewards to the
creative researcher. Perhaps most usefully, creative
cultivation of web analytics can help conquer blogger's
block and help a good writer come up with some unique angles
for content they thought they had peaked out on.
Social Media Marketing Tools – Putting Your Finger on the Pulse of the Web
Written by: Enzo F. Cesario |
Distributed: 2011-09-14 |
Word Count: 856 |
Page Views: 201
Social media marketing is the home of successful brand
promotion, and finding the right mix of tools to take
advantage of it has become the defining issue of the modern
brand. Knowing the focus of each of these tools and the best
way to use them is the key to bringing all this power under
control and using it to help promote a brand to its full
potential.
Most Viewed "Business Online" Articles
Attracting Readers to your Book
Written by: Alastair Hall |
Distributed: 2006-05-18 |
Word Count: 708 |
Page Views: 42403
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.11
One of the common and obvious ways to market a self-published
book is having your own website. The harder part is how to
attract your target audience and then convert the sale.
How To Make Visitors Bookmark Your Site
Written by: Cheryl Miller |
Distributed: 2006-10-10 |
Word Count: 536 |
Page Views: 34672
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 2.38
When visitors bookmark your site it is a sign that you have built
a great website and are pleasing them. Visitors think highly
enough of your site to want to return and possibly tell others
about it. You are not only increasing traffic from your existing
clientele you are encouraging new traffic by means of viral
marketing.
Treat Online 'Guests' With Respect
Written by: Rick Sloboda |
Distributed: 2007-07-27 |
Word Count: 472 |
Page Views: 27051
| Votes: 25 |
Rating: 3.76
Does your website show your customers lack of respect? Review the
following checklist to find out.
How I Got 70,000 Useless Visitors To My Site In One Day! (One Internet Marketer's Analysis of Social Bookmark Traffic)
Written by: Titus Hoskins |
Distributed: 2007-11-06 |
Word Count: 1545 |
Page Views: 23603
| Votes: 8 |
Rating: 2.13
Is social bookmark traffic useless? Is it even worth cultivating
for your site? Can it be used from an online marketing
perspective? Read to discover one Internet Marketer's analysis
of social bookmark/media traffic...
Successful Article Marketers Help Readers Solve Problems
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2008-10-29 |
Word Count: 816 |
Page Views: 18673
| Votes: 23 |
Rating: 3.26
Every week, I have the opportunity to speak with people about the
benefits and challenges of using article marketing to promote an
online business. Article marketing is about getting your sales
message in front of potential customers and to get links to your
website. Many interpret this to mean that an article should
directly promote a website within the article, but that approach
is wrong and will reduce one's success using this methodology.
Tips For Building Your First Website
Written by: Benny Tsabba |
Distributed: 2007-05-30 |
Word Count: 1511 |
Page Views: 14019
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 2.00
New people are coming online everyday. And many of those people
desire to turn their spare time into spare cash. So begins their
journey.
Successful Forum JVs and How To Get Them
Written by: Diana Barnum |
Distributed: 2006-06-15 |
Word Count: 648 |
Page Views: 6338
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 2.18
The forming of common alliances, also referred to as a joint
venture (JV), happens nearly every day in the business world.
One of the most popular means of linking people up online of so
that they can work together on their projects is via forums,
where people of all levels of business and expertise post in
common threads.
Increasing Productivity In Your Online Business
Written by: Willie Crawford |
Distributed: 2006-06-14 |
Word Count: 1407 |
Page Views: 4216
| Votes: 32 |
Rating: 3.72
Running an online "empire" of approximately 1600 websites and
blogs, selling a variety of products, services and ideas, I
have to be much more productive than the average person in a
"regular job."
Who Else Wants to Know How-To Write an Effective Advertisement?
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2011-08-25 |
Word Count: 1431 |
Page Views: 4134
| Votes: 22 |
Rating: 2.59
Webmasters struggle everyday with the question of how they should
advertise their website. There are so many advertising venues; it
is hard to know which is the right venue or the right combination
of advertising venues.
A New Home Business
Written by: Angela Recchia |
Distributed: 2006-09-08 |
Word Count: 319 |
Page Views: 4032
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 2.57
When joining a new affiliate program, many people do not know
where to go next. They join thinking that's all that is needed
without a plan of action. What is needed is promotion of your
program and getting others to join you. If you are motivated and
have the drive and knowledge to get you started. Then you are on
your way.
Highest Ranked "Business Online" Articles
What Kind Of Backlinks Are Best At Helping Your Website In Google?
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2009-11-09 |
Word Count: 439 |
Page Views: 1639
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 4.80
I was in the Warrior Forum, and someone asked what kinds of
Backlinks are worth pursuing. This is my answer to that
query.
Making Money with High Paying Adsense Keywords
Written by: Blake Evans |
Distributed: 2008-12-18 |
Word Count: 536 |
Page Views: 1411
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 4.20
Google was ingenious when they came up with Adsense. Not only do
they get an opportunity to make additional money from their
search engines, but they also allow Internet marketers a chance
to make money in an easier manner. Why is this so? Well, with
traditional affiliate marketing, you must make a sale before you
receive commission. But with Adsense, all you have to do is
create content that will produce ads that readers will click on.
Why Is The Wellness Industry So Popular?
Written by: Michelle Penfold |
Distributed: 2009-03-12 |
Word Count: 407 |
Page Views: 3199
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 4.20
There is a lot of money to be made in the wellness industry. The
field is large but there are many niche markets within it. The
health supplement industry is one of the most popular niches.
Health supplement juices and products abound. What is the reason
that people are so interested in this niche?
How to Keep Your Article Content Fresh and Interesting
Written by: Craig Ritsema |
Distributed: 2006-08-29 |
Word Count: 699 |
Page Views: 2004
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 4.18
Webmasters everywhere are constantly on the lookout for fresh and
interesting content for their website. Along with these content
qualities is the requirement that it be unique. Everyone wants
their website to stand out above the others in the search engine
results. So what is the trick for you to keep a steady supply of
this quality content coming your way?
Is Your Business 'Out Of Site'? Employ The Ultimate Marketing Tool
Written by: Rick Sloboda |
Distributed: 2007-01-09 |
Word Count: 445 |
Page Views: 2060
| Votes: 19 |
Rating: 4.16
With the rapid expansion of the digital economy, the web site is
conceivably the most powerful marketing and sales tool you can employ.
Find out what a web site can do for you.
How To Use Your Race To Get Rich
Written by: Herbert Harris |
Distributed: 2009-07-07 |
Word Count: 1407 |
Page Views: 2414
| Votes: 40 |
Rating: 4.05
Amid recent news reports that there continues to be an ongoing
and substantial gap between the net worth of Whites and other
racial groups, it is easy to be distracted and overwhelmed by the
raw data. However, I am immediately reminded of a quote offered
by an economic expert from the past... "There are lies, damned
lies, and statistics!"
Secrets of Domain Parking - An Innovative and Easier Way to Make Money
Written by: John Khu |
Distributed: 2009-02-27 |
Word Count: 484 |
Page Views: 1216
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 4.00
Using a good domain parking services to monetize expired domain
names seems to be a neglected aspect with a number of domain
names traders. Domain parking is also an unfamiliar concept to
many inexperienced domain name traders. Read this article to
better understand domain parking and how it can be of benefit to
you.
Expired Domain Gains - Simple Ideas to Create an Income Base
Written by: John Khu |
Distributed: 2009-07-31 |
Word Count: 549 |
Page Views: 3079
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 4.00
You can use a number of simple methods and plans to create a
solid income base that earns a monthly ongoing income base.
For many expired domain entrepreneurs (both full-time and
part time), expired domains offer an opportunity to
supplement their current income with money earned out of
dealing with expired domains.
Sell Yourself, Not Your Products or Services
Written by: Bill Platt |
Distributed: 2012-01-02 |
Word Count: 989 |
Page Views: 2326
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 4.00
Sell yourself, not your products or services. The point we
need to make is that your products and services will change
over time as your business adapts to the realities of the
marketplace.
The Most Important Ingredient for Info Product Success (is You)
Written by: Judy Murdoch |
Distributed: 2008-04-15 |
Word Count: 981 |
Page Views: 1281
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 3.92
Last week I was attending a conference and mentioned to someone I
help small business owners create information products. The other
person was very friendly until I said "information products."
Then the temperature in the room dropped about 10-degrees
|
|
|
Article Reprint Rights
|
This work is
licensed under a
Creative Commons
License
You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
|
|
Home
for Writers
for Publishers
Article Directory
Article Search
Contact
Get RSS Feed
