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Making Money With Affiliate Marketing
Why? Because affiliate marketing can be done with minimal start-up money and can provide you with a great residual income.
As you become more experienced, you can create your own products, and still do affiliate marketing, but call some of it Joint Ventures!
The first step in affiliate marketing is deciding what you're going to promote. Once you have that, then you can promote it and start earning a commission on every sale!
How Do You Promote Your Affiliate Marketing Program?
Especially When The Budget Is Tight!
Unfortunately for most of us, the budget is tight and you really can't afford to spend much to promote your new product.
Fortunately, there are many low-cost and some free marketing tools available to help you promote your fledgling business and get visitors (and customers!) visiting your website.
Many of the Social Marketing Tactics involve the use of free sites such as Squidoo and Hubpages. There are many other free resources available.
If you click the following banner, you will be taken to the Blog Success web site where you will hear about this great new program called Blog Success.
If you are tired of having every Internet Marketing "Guru" try to sell you everything you need to succeed online, check out this great resource. I'm still amazed at the quality and quantity of information available to new and experienced affiliate marketers. There is so much good information available presented by top notch people who really care abut your success. Check it out NOW!
What Influences You Most When Choosing an Affiliate Program?
Affiliate Marketing Is Not a Scam!
Many newbies to this industry mistakenly believe that affiliate marketing is just some scam operation on the Internet.They think you have to send out spam emails and annoy people or make false promises to make any considerable money.
That's untrue - and many marketers are establishing themselves with amazing reputations online for providing the average consumer with exactly what it is that they need.
Affiliate marketing is just a diffrent method of sale - like your brick and mortar local companies, only in a virtual setting.
You need to become familiar with permission marketing and SEO to feel comfortable with affiliate marketing if you have the mindset that it's a scam, because these two terms will explain why consumers are only being given what they ask for, and nothing more.
Keywords Boost Your Affiliate Marketing Business
Click Here to Find Profitable Keywords That Will Earn You $$$$$$!
Affiliate Marketing: The Quality of the Product
You're an affiliate marketer selling someone else's product, so why on earth are you going to be bothered by the quality? I mean, it's not as if you're making the product.You should be very concerned with the quality of products as an affiliate marketer. In fact, as the poll here shows, if you're serious about making money with affiliate marketing, then you need to ensure the products you are promoting are high quality.
The reason is simple:
If the product is low quality, then what are your buyers going to do?
a) If you sent them direct to the merchant then they will ask for a refund, which will be taken from your affiliate commissions.
b) If you collected their email address and marketed to the buyer, then not only will they refund (which comes out of your commission) but your reputation will also be damaged.
It's vital for you to ensure the product you're marketing as an affiliate is good quality.
There's a simple way of doing this:
Ask for a review copy!
Make sure the product you are promoting is high quality and you will find your affiliate marketing commissions are much easier and your earnings are safe from being refunded.
Affiliate Marketing Guide:
Affiliate Millions: Make a Fortune using Search Marketing on Google and Beyond
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $24.95
"This is a great book that I was given to read by my neighbor. It's very easy to read and understand. It gave me a whole new way to view the affiliate world. Now with the help of this book I hope to duplicate the success of the author. Once you read this you will understand the real meaning of Search Marketing!"
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating: 
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What's a Good Affiliate Marketing Commission?
Obviously it's hundreds and thousands of dollars :) but that's not always possible.So what sort of commission should an affiliate manager be giving out?
It's a hard balance to strike really ... they need to pay enough for people to want to promote their product, but not enough that they can't put food on their own table!
Most affiliate marketers, particularly the good ones, won't get out of bed for a commission lower than $20. Which would you promote hardest? Something that earned you $10 a sale or $100 a sale?
Teh percentage you set depends on the price point of the product. If it's a low priced product, set the commission high - at least 50%.
If it's a high price-point, you can lower the commission percentage because the payout will be higher.
Some marketers offer 51% to their affiliates beause they think they're giving away the farm because they get more than them. The upside of this (for the owner) is he's the one building a list and selling a bankend product.
Some affiliate marketers won't deal with anyone not using PayPal to pay out commissions.
Waiting for a check is frustrating, plus you have the hassle of cashing them, them getting lost in the mail and so on. These days, there's little excuse not to directly pay via Paypal or even bank transfer.
The Flip Side of Affiliate Marketing:
Successful Affiliate Marketing for Merchants (Que-Consumer-Other)
Amazon Price: $18.15 (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $27.50
"I only wish I would have read this book before I put my affiliate program together. This book is so crammed full of valuable information, resources, tips, and help. I took 4 pages worth of notes. This book is excellently written both for the merchant who is thinking about putting an affiliate program together as well as for someone with an existing successful affiliate program. I doubt that there is a more complete and thorough book on successful affliate managment. I would give this book 10 stars if I could!"
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating: 
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The Mindset of An Affiliate Marketer
In anything, and everything, you undertake your MINDSET is the key to success. If you're flying solo around the world, going into space or even just facing up to your boss, your mindset is your success.And this applies particularly to affiliate marketing.
Read about any successful person and you'll find they have a mindset where they do not entertain not succeeding. In their mindset they are a success, regardless and their entire mental programming is tuned to success.
However, for the majority who are not successful, their mental programs are tuned to day time, trash TV and they, not surprisingly, never achieve the level of success they would like.
A Practical Guide to Affiliate Marketing:
Quick Reference for Affiliate Managers & Merchants
Next, you need to decide what success is for you. Is it earning an extra $100 a month? $1,000? More? When you know this, then you have something to focus on.
And then ... this is the big one ... the one reason 99.9999999999% of people who fail can't make it - taking action.
The majority of people will take action for a day, maybe two or three, or possibly even a week. Then, when they haven't got their results, they give up and sulk, claiming, "It doesn't work."
This really is the major difference between successful and unsuccessful people. The successful person doesn't EVER give up until they've succeeded.
The same applies for affiliate marketing. You're going for a long term result. You may see some money coming in quickly, but the main thing you're building is a long term passive income.
If you wrote just 1 article a day that earned you $10 a month in a year, you would have 365 articles earning you $10 a month ... and how nice would that be?
And this is the key to success as an affiliate marketer ... persistence. Keep pushing yourself forward, keep working, be patient and KNOW it will happen ... because it will!
Danger! Are You Losing Your Affiliate Commissions?
"What?!?!?!??" You scream, "I'm losing commissions?????"Relax ... most affiliate program owners and website visitors are honest people who are more than happy for you to have your commission on their sale or purchase.
But be aware, there is a small minority of lawbreakers who decide they're going to abuse the system and resent you having your commission.
Affiliate Millions:
Make a Fortune using Search Marketing on Google and Beyond
Always check the web page you're sending people to when you are chosing an affiliate program. Click through on the links you're given and make sure you know where they go. Also, come back to them regularly in the future to make sure they're still active.
Also make sure there's just one payment button. Multiple payment buttons with multiple payment processors may mean you lose out on your commission.
If you send a potential buyer through to a ClickBank page that has other payment buttons on it and your potential buyer clicks on one of these alternative buttons, then you miss out on your commission.
Sometimes, the product owner doesn't realise this happens, in which case, if you contact them, they'll correct it. In other cases, this will be deliberate, in which case, walk away and find another affiliate program to promote.
How to Find a Product to Promote
So, you want to be an affiliate marketer ... now what?Well, find a product to promote!
Hmmm .. how does one do that? Ur ... quick ... to Google!
Internet Riches:
The Simple Money-Making Secrets of Online Millionaires
Once you're a bit more advanced and comfortable with affiliate marketing, feel free to pick other topicsthat might be outside your comfort zone.
NOW go to the search engines!
Search for something like KEYWORD AFFILIATE where "keyword" is the subject you're looking to promote, such as dog training affiliate. This will pull up a list of affiliate programs in your chosen niche - in this case, dog training.
You should also look at ClickBank and PayDotCom as well as searching for "affiliate program directory" in the search engines.
Both of these marketplaces are full of affiliate programs and you can find almost everything there. There are affiliate programs on almost every subject.
ClickBank is particularly good because you can promote multiple affiliate programs and get paid by a central body instead of waiting for lots of separate affiliate managers to pay you.
The 7 Top Affiliate Desires
- Easy payment: I don't want to leave the comfort of my home to cash a check. I don't want to have to open an account with some esoteric payment processor I've never heard of. Make my life simple and pay me by PayPal or ClickBank.
- Affiliate tools: I'm lazy. I don't want to spend hours thinking of ways to promote YOUR products ... gimme articles, emails, banners, keywords, ads and more ... make it EASY for me please.
- ONE payment button: Have one payment button and make sure I get my commission. I'm working hard to promote YOUR program, so make sure I get paid for it!
- Pay me frequently: Don't pay me on the fourth Wednesday after the third full moon in February. Make my payments regularly so I know when the cash is coming.
- Pay me on time: If your boss said, "Oops, sorry, got no money, can I pay you in a couple of weeks?" would you be impressed? Pay me on time and I'll be happy and keep promoting YOUR product.
- Give me a product that sells: If your product really doesn't sell, why am I wasting my time promoting it? Gimme conversion rates and let me know I can actually make some sales.
- Keep in contact: Work with me to help me promote YOUR products regularly and keep in touch with me. You'll make more money that way!
Affiliate Marketing Programs
The Complete Guide to Associate & Affiliate Programs on the Net: Turning Clicks Into Cash
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)
List Price: $21.95
"The advice in this book helped my son and I design, set up and promote a new website and affiliate program. The hints on getting listed with search engines got our little site noticed fast. Dan Gray has tried and tested his ideas. This is how-to information that works. If you're planning a website and thinking about affiliate sales programs, you need this book."
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Avg. Customer Rating:
Your Buyers ... What Is Their Motivation?
What is it that makes someone who visits a website click that buy button?Simple ... they have a problem and the product you're promoting as an affiliate marketer is the answer.
However, if your sales letter or website doesn't communicate that you have this solution then they will click the back button and bye bye to your profit.
31 Days to Millionaire Marketing Miracles
People rarely buy what they need but almost ALWAYS buy what they WANT. Think about it ... do you buy what you need or what you want?
Make sure you pitch your product as something they want, and then you will find they are more likely to buy. Make it something they HAVE TO HAVE and absolutely can't live without.
People buy to avoid pain. Think about Volvo. They aren't pretty cars and, until recently, weren't even very nicely appointed. However ... they are renowned for their safety. People buy a Volvo because they want to avoid the pain associated with a car accident and so they can keep their family safe.
Learn about your target market. What is their pain? What are their wants? And how can you provide the solution.
Do this and you'll see your affiliate marketing sales skyrocket!
Feedback from people who want to be making money with affiliate marketing
Feedback and comments from affiliate marketers
anilg wrote...
Nice lens with lots of useful information. If you are willing to make money online, then please visit my lens
Posted June 17, 2008
incomehelper wrote...
From someone who has just started out in the world of affiliate marketing I have to say that this lens is a good starting place for me.
Lots of information and a lot of pointers!
Thanks very much
Ry
Making extra money for everyone
Posted June 14, 2008
Junyuan wrote...
Great information you have in your lens on making money with affiliate marketing. I've given your lens a 5 star rating. By the way, I've just created a lens on affiliate marketing - where I've answered questions that most people have when they are looking to start off with affiliate marketing. You may want to consider adding your lens to my Internet Marketing directory which I've created and give you more traffic to your lens. Hope to see you there! :)
Posted May 28, 2008
yojspew wrote...
This is a wonderful lens on Affiliate Marketing...I really learned a lot from it..^^
I hope you make more of lens like this one..^^
Posted February 06, 2008
Lazer wrote...
Great Lens! Lots of good resources, stop by for a look at my lens Niche Profits
Posted November 27, 2007
dfgdf wrote
Hi,affiliate-marketer Great Lens ? . I have also created a lens in the same niche.Hope u like it
Click Here!
Posted September 10, 2007
kaycee wrote...
Thanks so much for your insights and your video...I am new, and I shall learn.
K.
Posted February 20, 2007
kaye wrote
I was surprised how big your lens is in such a short time. You have a lot of excellent information. I see your picture at the top of the page, but not your name. Print your name so even the half-blind can see it.
Posted February 02, 2007
groovyoldlady wrote...
Nice Job! I especially liked "An Affiliate's Top 7 Desires". I learned quite a bit and will link to you on MY affiliate lens!
Posted January 25, 2007
RedPenAnni wrote...
Great variety of diverse articles you have here. A great little lense to get up and running and making money. Where can I get more info on your affiliate products? Thanks.
Posted January 24, 2007
whytedove wrote...
Great lens Jason! I agree with the comments made about quality being important. If the product itself is no good, then none of the other stuff really matters because I won't risk my reputation by promoting it.
Posted January 24, 2007
Simonj007 wrote...
Jason - Great Lens! Really enjoyed looking through it.
Regards,
Simon
http://www.squidoo.com/affiliate-programs4u
Posted January 23, 2007
jennydecki wrote...
Great information, and LOVE the poll! In response to Tiffany's entry, I think that quality of product goes hand in hand with "The person who created the product" (which was my choice). My favorite part of your lens is the Top 7 list. Make it easy to sell your product!
Posted January 22, 2007
kevindavis wrote...
Tiff has a great point there. I also find so many programs on Clickbank that have a bad sales letter, but the idea behind the product is great. You would be suprised how many people add Adsense to their salesletter. What are they thinking?
Posted January 21, 2007
writertiff wrote...
On your poll, you left out the most important thing to me - it's quality. I don't care if it hasn't sold a lot yet, but if it's good, I can promote it! Tiff :)
Posted January 19, 2007
