Affiliate Marketing For Dumbies
Ranked #3,200 in Internet, #184,223 overall
Without the proper guidance, new affiliates can get lost at sea or eaton up by online marketing guru sharks.
If you have not spent any money on any "make money online software", good. Some people have the money and spend thousands of dollars on this dream with no proper guidance or knowledge. Others spent money and realized "Damn, why didn't anyone say I would have to spend more money after buying this product".
There is a lot of useful information here and I provide new content every week. Bookmark this page if you haven't already, some images, pictures and words you click will take you to another webpage. We will give beginners some guidance as to where to go if they have a goal and educate those as to what it takes to make money online with affiliate marketing.
What Is Affiliate Marketing?
What is an affiliate?
An affiliate is someone who promotes a service or product to people, in exchange for a set commission on any actions or purchases made by that person you advertised to. Successful affiliates use various forms of advertising to make money online. One of the most lucrative ways they make money online is through affiliate programs. So naturally the second word I decided to research was affiliate programs.
Affiliate programs also called associate programs are arrangements made between you and a company, business or independent business owner. These businesses pay a commission for possible customer referrals, they pay for people visiting their site and maybe leaving future contact info. They of course pay a much higher commission if someone makes a purchase with their business through you promotional efforts. Another word I stumbled on was merchant.
A merchant is a business person who trades or sells things that were created by themselves or others for a profit. Another term you need to understand is affiliate network.
Affiliate networks represent both an advertiser or affiliate and a merchant. These networks allow you to either find products to promote or to find people to promote a product you may have created. Now that you have a better understanding of some of these words and phrases, I will tell you how people make money with affiliate marketing and affiliate programs.
Different companies offer different affiliate programs. Some of these programs focus on the actual sale of a product and others focus on marketing techniques used to generate the sale. In other words, you can make money for referring someone to an auto insurance website and requesting a quote for insurance. The person you refer to the website may not even purchase a policy thru that company but you can still get paid money just for referring that person.
Can you think of anyone who's insurance just ran out or got canceled due to non-payment? How many people go to Motor Vehicle Agencies and Court every month behind auto insurance? This would be a great service to promote because it's a service that is needed everyday. When choosing a product to promote, you don't want to sell people stuff. Selling stuff is very hard to do and takes years of experience. I found that providing people with a service they would already need anyway is a lot easier than selling.
Ultimately affiliate marketers make a lot of money by creating their own website or product. However, their are affiliate marketers that are making money online without having a website or their own product to sell. You make money online by creating a platform of people who all need something in particular. This need people have in common could be an actual product, a concept, a service or even information. It's always nice to have people who are regulars to your platform because you can market things to them repeatedly or regularly. At the same time, it's also nice to have a revolving door of new people to your platform to market new things to. You can market things thru classifieds, articles, blogs, e-mails and forums. In this lens I will teach you some cool stuff about affiliate marketing and provide products that you can purchase to assist you in succeeding in affiliate marketing.
So Where Do I Start?
The first thing you need to do if you want to make money online.
A simple supply and demand type of theory. Some things sell more than others, some priced higher than others and some things become the new trend or way of life. Things change, times change and people change. For a person who is trying to sell things, you need to take all these things into consideration when choosing your product to promote. You have to ask yourself a couple of questions to help you decide. What item, product or website do people talk or text about?
Example; we are currently in an economy where the dollar is weak and jobs are more scarce than ever. People don't have money like they used to and search for every deal possible. So maybe a good product to promote might be a coupon website or create your own coupon website. Look at how fast the new sensation "Groupon" exploded all over the world. People want to either save money or simply don't have it. I think this website is growing at an even faster pace than Facebook when it first launched. Why? Perfect timing. We are in a recession and money is tight for everybody, but we still have to live our lives. Somethings people buy they need and other things people want.
Step one: Find out what people want as well as what they need. The things people want maybe some thing seasonal. Example: A costume for Halloween, Boots for the winter, etc.... Other things they buy may be more of a necessity. Example: A pair of reading glasses, Vitamins, cell phones, reading books, etc.... Once you have a list of popular things people want and need, decide which ones interest you.
In order to properly promote something, you have to know about it. Learning about things that interest you is easy and maybe even fun. More importantly, if it's something you like, you already have broad knowledge about the product you chose. Just remember, you don't have to be a specialist to educate someone on something they don't know about. Basic knowledge is good, but additional information and education never hurt anyone.
So do your research and properly plain things out because if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How were you introduced to affiliate marketing?
When I first began learning about affiliate marketing, I was initially sucked in.
I'm not going to lie, I had no clue about affiliate marketing until I purchased some software. Some people act on instinct and others like to research things and take them slow. I'm glad my initial investment was only $50 and not $1,000.
How To Find a Niche
Finding a Niche and Niche Products
They say you should do what you love in order to enjoy your work. Some people love movies, video games, working out, animals and pretty much anything you can think of. A Niche is the same as a specialized market or ability. Any of those things I just listed could be a niche to decide to work in. When deciding to pick a niche, especially if you want to make money online, make sure it's something that will be relevant for years to come.
Don't decide to promote a product by creating a marketing campaign around it only to find out it is not popular anymore. A Good example would be cell phones. A person could pick cell phones to be their niche and have a huge marketing campaign(a campaign is the way you market a product) around cell phones and accessories. To pick one cell phone to promote might not be that good of an idea considering they come out with a new cell phone every few months. As the cell phone you promote becomes out dated, your marketing campaign will yield very little income no matter how hard you try.
Here's a good tip for finding products in your niche. Once you have decided on a niche you like and know will be around for a while, you have to find good quality products or services to provide. I know I said it before but I will say it again. Affiliate marketers make money off of selling other people's stuff or their own. Stuff can mean a wide variety of things. You have to think of all the things available for you to purchase online. Pretty much anything!
People sell information, services, products, software, websites, homes, cars and anything else you can think of for that matter. My niche is digital products. Why? Digital products provide people with valuable information to help them resolve a problem or answer a question right away. People search for information every minute online. They need answers or solutions to something and they need them now. By providing people with the best digital products the internet can offer, I'm also providing them with the best possible solution or answer they have been looking for. Providing something a person needs and getting compensated for it with money. Sounds like a great business to me!
Whatever your niche is, search it on various search engines. See how many search results your niche search yields. If it's not a lot, it's probably not a popular niche and you might want to consider changing it. If your niche resulted in a large number of results, then research the particular product you want to promote the same way. The same basics apply. If a lot of information comes up for your product, then good, you found a popular product to promote.
To ensure your marketing campaigns longevity, check to see how old the results are for your search results. If you have a lot of outdated and current information available for your search, then you have a popular niche or product. If if it provides information that's both very outdated and current , then that product or niche has probably been around for a long time. Good luck finding your niche. For further information on digital products, please refer to the module below titled "How do I find more products to promote".
Some good reads on marketing.
In order to promote a product, you must learn how to properly market it.
Step 2: Ok I know what product or website I want to promote. Now What?
Understanding Keywords.
Keywords or keyword phrases is a huge part of advertising. The internet is an endless platform for just about anything. It's really scarey when you think about it. You can research anything and get vital information on that thing online. You could probably buy an armored tank or get a blueprint on how to build one. Not to get off the topic; i just want you to get an understanding of just how much information is available on the web. There are literally hundreds of websites created everyday. So ask yourself... "If I create a website, how is anyone supposed to find mine if there are billions of other websites?"Since there are billions of other sites out there, I'm willing to bet there are thousands of sites probably similar or all most identical to the one you may be thinking about creating. If you decide to build a website, which I strongly recommend, you have to create away for people to find you. A keyword is the word or phrase that a person would type into a search engine site such as Google or Yahoo; when you want to know about a topic or find a particular place or item.
You go to the Google search bar and type in that thing or question. That word, question or phrase you decide to search is a keyword or keyword phrase. Just think, if you typed in that question or phrase, how many other people all around the world may be wondering or looking for the same thing? Thousands. In some cases; with the more popular items, places or sites, MILLIONS!
So now that you have a pretty good understanding of what a keyword is, you need to learn how to use it. Affiliate marketing has all different types of "tech" terms and methods that can be difficult for someone who is not computer savvy. A good start for you would be to monitor how other companies and people use these keywords. Observing what other people are already doing is the best and most affordable way to educate yourself.
Once you find others who are promoting what you want to promote, research as to how they are doing it. I mean really break a company or website down? Don't focus on the fact that this is a huge company that has millions of dollars. A lot of these companies are new and trying to get established. They may seem and look like a huge business but majority of these sites are owned by ordinary people just like you and me. Review and study how they market their product to the masses. What's there form of advertising? What keywords are they using to be found on the internet? Research, research, research.
Keyword Tool Sites
Find the best keywords to promote your product,site or blog.
- Google Keyword Tool Box
- Google Keyword Tool most recent update. Easy remember URL and Quick Reference Webmaster Resources. This site has about ten different tools to assists with both keywords,selecting website names and much more.
- Google AdWords Keyword Tool
- Amazing tool for building keywords and websites names.
- Website Traffic Tracker
- Check to see how much traffic a website is generating and much more.
What do you feel is the first thing a new affiliate marketer should do?
What did you do first once you were introduced to affiliate marketing?
This section is dedicated to people who want to tell their personal story. Please be as descriptive as possible. Someone might be able to learn from your mistakes or triumph from your success.
How Do I Find More Products To Promote?
You can always promote brand name products.
"Hey, did you hear about that new site Groupon, they have discounts on everything at 50-80%. check it out." Have you heard someone saying that or have you said it yourself? Well, you just gave that company some free advertising and probably a good customer lead. The company who provides the product or service benefits from it as well as Groupon. The only person that didn't was you. Why? Simply because you didn't know that you can get paid to do the same thing you just did. Most people probably don't know but yes, they do have an affiliate program.
Finding products to promote has never been easier. First I would recommend looking towards main brand names for affiliate programs. Type in the website address and scroll to the bottom of the page. Usually, it will be listed around the contact us section. It will say affiliate program or partner with us. Sometimes big companies will reference their affiliate programs in their contact us section so check there too.
You will be surprised how many companies will pay you to refer people to their site, business or product. I will give you a good one. NetFlix also has an affiliate program. Some of these larger companies require you to have a website or have other specifications you have to meet, but they offer them. NetFlix is great because it's a service that people want to use or try anyway. With this product your not selling anything, your just informing people of the services they offer.
You will see a lot of NetFix ads all over the place promoting their free trial offer. Now think for someone who might not have cable during these difficult times but have an x-box, Wii or PlayStation 3, this might be a great option for them to watch movies or TV. Finding the perfect product to promote is a little more difficult than finding a service. If you provide a channel of useful services to a community of people who are looking for them, then its not selling anymore. It's called providing information, very similar to what I'm doing now.
Still having a hard time finding products to promote. Click the picture listed "Here & Now". This link will take you to the leading provider of digital and informational products to promote to make money. This network has hundreds of products to chose from in a wide variety of areas. They have instructional videos for everything this site offers and for people who are just getting into affiliate marketing. I have learned a lot personally from this site and most of all its free. So if you don't have a product yet or are just looking for other products to market, click that pic now!
How to Advertise Products
Reading vital information can make you a pro!
What is Mobile Money?
Online Income
Now that you have a good understanding of what affiliate marketing, keywords, and click blank are it's time to put these things to action. It can still seem difficult if you have never done anything like this before. Naturally so.... If you haven't had any type of training or someone to walk you by the hand and show you exactly what to do, how would you know? I believe to truly be good at anything, you need to be properly educated. Lawyers go to Law School. Doctor's to Med School. Chef's go to Arts College. You get the point. Where can you go being a beginner in this large and rapidly growing industry?
There are virtual institutions that will show you how to be a successful online marketer, but at what cost? I've seen some of these affiliate marketing gurus charge anywhere from $500-$1000 to get training and 24hr staff support. Some even thousands. They all have great sales pitch videos and testimonials of people who are using there services and making millions. They suck you in, then you have to shove out more money to access all of the functions of the group, school or site. Even after you spend all that money, whose to say your going to make anything? I do believe in investing in your future, but who has a bunch of money to throw away? If you do decide to go with one of these training schools or buy into one of there programs, let me show you how to get it cheap.
Click through all the salesman pages and get to the point where they actually show you a price for the product they are selling. You will probably see an add to cart button near the bottom of the page. Once you see that, click out of the page. A pop up page will ask you to stay on the page or leave. Click stay. Then click out of the page again. More than likely, another pop up will appear asking you to stay or leave the page. Click stay. They will probably make one final buy right now offer or give you some free useful information to read. So you can either buy into the program super cheap or get some free useful information to educate yourself.
I highly recommend a software that can assist you on generating traffic and sales. It's an autopilot software that if used correctly, can help you automate income without being at the computer. They have instructional videos that show you exactly what to do. They have a 24hr support staff to assist you in anyway you need. Lastly they show you how to combine the products from click bank with a strategy to promote mobile.
Text Message or SMS Marketing, is the new underground way of marketing. It's a market that is not overwhelmed with marketers yet because its new. Smart phones have just really taken off within the last few years and are growing rapidly. This software shows you how to tap into that market while maximizing your profits off of click bank products. Affiliate marketers make money by promoting products and services online. This software and training shows you how to sell those same products and services via peoples smart phones.
If you don't think there is a huge market there, look at how many people bout into the iphone4Gs when it first came out. That's only one smart phone in particular. Think of how many people you know with blackberry's or iPhone's'. This software shows you how to effectively market to anyone with a smartphone. There is a rather small investment associated with the software for training that can help you potentially make thousands of dollars.
They offer a 60 day money back guarantee. If you don't like the system after using it, send it back for a full refund of your money. The best thing of all, once you pay for the software it's yours to keep forever. If that sounds good then click on the lovely picture above, relax and get informed. Watch this promotional video to find out more about this new beneficial software.
Having Trouble Building Traffic for your Products
Marketing A New Product
It can be frustrating for an affiliate marketer to do a lot of work building websites, groups or writing articles and blogs yet to see no one has visited them. There are SEO tactics and strategies you could try to use or pay someone a bunch of money to help you build traffic or you can patiently wait for people to eventually come around. People do build significant traffic on their own, but anyone making real money online has invested in some system, service or tool to help them.
People are lazy. They don't want to do a whole lot of work but make a whole lot of money. If that person is you, always trying to find some way to cut corners, than this maybe the perfect software for you. Instead of showing you how to generate traffic like everyone does, they actual bring you to the traffic. Real live traffic from the real time web. Not just some traffic, tons of it. They have real live support to assist you with your money making strategies and a 100% 60 day money back guarantee.
A lot of products that come out are outdated and not as useful as they used to be. This product just launched 10/25/2011. This software is already one of the top products on click bank to promote or buy right now! To access it, click on the success or failure picture above. This will bring you to another blog I'm currently working on. On the right side header of the page, click the tab titled Autopilot Residual Income. If that seems complicated type http://affiliatemarketingfordumbies.wordpress.com into your web browser in another tab and you will be able to locate it there.
Building Free Traffic
How do I generate free traffic?
Some affiliates even promote some of their affiliate programs on their fan pages. Imagine becoming friends or a fan of a Facebook member or popular page and leaving an insightful message. If you provide some useful information within your Facebook post, it may get shown as a Google result for a question. Since the internet is always trying to find accurate relevant information to give people who are looking for answers, your post on Facebook could possibly end up being one of those answers.
I thought this was just a coincidence but I did recently notice some of my post on my fan page getting some impressions listed next to them. I didn't pay it any mind at first, but once I read this article it made perfect since. This can be very powerful if used right and can ultimately lead to huge amounts of free traffic. Article writing can also be another great source of free traffic. To read the article I refer to in its entirety click the dream backyard picture above.
The Top Article Writing Directories
Build Free Traffic
- Top Article Directory On Line
- This directory allows you to get exposure and traffic by expressing your thoughts thru an article. An Article Directory that allows a writers bio at the end is great because you can give a direct link back to your site/blog for further information. Ezine articles allows the bio box and they get about 5 million viewers a month.
- This Article Directory receives over 9 million viewers a month.
- Free to join. Its just like an article directory, just on steroids. It's almost like an article and a blog wrapped up in one. You can make money almost the same way you can with your blog . If you haven't looked into it already, you should. A lot of people would argue this company to be the top article directory.
- A Comment Writing Platform
- I love this website because they either allow you to start a debate to drive traffic or comment on a good blurt. These are not articles but it is a platform to express a thought. The best thing about them, is they allow you to link words in your comments and leave a link for your blog/site at the end! This website receives over 2 million visitors a month.
Link List
Places to submit your blog for more traffic.
- Free to submit blog
- Free
- Also Free
Add blog to our blog directory.- Another One
Google News
Stay current with daily news feeds.
- Learn the Latest Trends for Selling Through Affiliates, at #AMDays
- The affiliate marketing industry is a multi-billion dollar industry here in the United States and in the UK By ?affiliate marketing? we mean when one website (called an ?affiliate? ? example, Mary Smith's blog) markets the products or services of ...
- One-on-One with 2012 Affiliate Manager of the Year Kim Salvino
- After several nominations, Kim won her first Pinnacle Award for Affiliate Manager of the Year in January. I caught up with her this week to get her unique perspective on affiliate marketing. Enjoy! This is your first win in four nominations, ...
- Neverblue Launches Travel Affiliate Network
- Neverblue, a premier global lead generation network, is pleased to announce the launch of the Neverblue Travel Affiliate Network, an affiliate network that caters to the performance marketing needs of travel product and service vendors worldwide.
- Leo Burnett Romania founder Stefan Iordache invests in affiliate marketing ...
- Romanian investor Stefan Iordache (in picture), the co-founder of the Leo Burnett communications group in Romania, took over a 40 percent share package in affiliate marketing website 2parale.ro. Previous shareholder Daniel Enache sold his package in ...
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Affiliate Marketing Is The Best Way To Make Money Online
What's Your's?
There are tons of ways to make money online, but I believe that affiliate marketing is the best. If a person really knows what they are doing and devise a good marketing campaign, they could reap the benefits of residual income for life. Once an efficient way of marketing has been applied to a particular niche, all efforts to generate money can be set on autopilot.
What do you think is the best way to make money online?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byE-Bay/Amazon/Craigslist?
Surveys, Data Entry Jobs or other Web Services?
Affiliate Marketing Videos
Tired of reading, watch a little you-tube.
Guestbook Comments
What Additional things would you recommend to someone who wants to become an affiliate marketer?
Thank you for taking the time to read my Blog! As a thank you to you,l if you have a website or blog that can also help a beginner, list your blog/website or recommendation here. This can be another link for you to build traffic. Please be sure that the information you provide is relevant to my lens. Thank you.
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eternaljoi
Jan 23, 2012 @ 10:40 pm | delete
- To achieve, you need thought. You have to know what you are doing and that's real power. ~ Ayn Rand. Thank you so much for this valuable information. I have promoted some products on my blog http://eternaljoi.com but the information in your lens filled in a lot of blanks. Thank you and much success!
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dariusgwyn
Jan 24, 2012 @ 12:01 pm | delete
- Im happy to help and thank you for taking the time out to read it!
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Hypersapien
Jan 18, 2012 @ 11:46 am | delete
- Good info for me personally, since I have a lens on generating passive income.
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AndyPo
Dec 2, 2011 @ 12:46 pm | delete
- Very useful information. Thanks
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dariusgwyn
Dec 5, 2011 @ 7:36 pm | delete
- Thanks for visiting and reading it. I'm glad it was useful to you.
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by dariusgwyn
Hello world. I'm not an expert online marketing guru nor do I work for any company. I am the average ordinary person trying to share my knowledge and... more »
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