Affiliate Marketing Doesn’t Have to be Complicated

There is a lot of competition online. If you want to move a product, you need to attract people to your website. Even when you attract traffic, only a few customers will buy. The Internet game is all about numbers; traffic numbers and conversion rate numbers.  Most every business owner with an online presence agrees with that. So why are so many companies working with the lowest single digit; one?

There are still millions of companies and website entrepreneurs selling a product or service with one website. As this business is all about numbers, companies have only a limited number of options.  They can create more websites selling the same products and services, however that time consuming and expensive process can backfire.  If you are selling anything on the Internet it’s time to increase the odds and take advantage of the numbers; think: affiliate marketing.

Affiliates promote your products and services for a commission. Customers still buy from you; however, your affiliates get a cut, which is generally a percentage of the sales price. The percentage is determined by you. Affiliates post a link in the form of text or a banner on their website with a tracking number or nickname assigned by a service such as:

• ClickBank (electronic delivery products such as e-books)
• Commission Monster (Australian Presence)
• Clix Galore (Australian Presence)
• DGM (Australian)
• Commission Junction (Global)

This service records visitors that come to your website from the affiliate site or link. When the visitors make a purchase, the affiliate tracking number or nickname is recorded and the affiliate is credited with the sale and paid the commission. These nicknames and tracking numbers are sometimes placed in cookies and good for a specific period such as 90 days.

Affiliates promote your products in all kinds of ways.

• They might have double opt-in email lists that enable them to conduct e-mail marketing campaigns to thousands of subscribers.
• They might have web sites of their own where they advertise your product with a link to your website.
• Affiliates sometimes place links in articles they have posted on the web (check out EzineArticles to see loads of examples of this).
• They might place pay per click ads directing traffic to you.  Many affiliates pay to advertise the products they sell – and you won’t have to spend a dime for the free publicity!

Clearly, affiliate marketing can dramatically increase your exposure and your revenue.

Starting an Affiliate Program

You can set up your own affiliate software on your website or join an affiliate association such as ClickBank, Commission Monster, DGM or another service. Most of these companies will handle your transactions and pay your affiliates for you.  Using an affiliate tracking program offers the least hassle but a higher price, whereas managing your own affiliate program will cost less but be more time consuming.

Whether you purchase and install affiliate-tracking software on your website or join an affiliate company, you will still need to attract affiliates.

Five Hot Tips to Attract More Affiliates

Make sure new affiliates are able to signup and gain access to useful selling tools directly from your website.  Include an affiliate page detailing the benefits of being an affiliate and potential income affiliates can earn selling your product.

Listing your product in the marketplace of the association you join, such as ClickBank, will make sure your product is available to affiliates yet does not necessarily recruit them. You need to contact potential affiliates and invite them to your opportunity.   Below are five tips for attracting affiliates.

1. Search the web for the affiliates selling your competitor’s products. Contact them; there is a good chance if a website is already drawing traffic with an interest in your industry they will welcome a chance to become an affiliate for your product.
2. Write and distribute a press release about your new affiliate opportunity.
3. Blog on affiliate blogs about your opportunity.
4. Find relevant content (article) web sites that are attracting your potential customers. Send them a letter about your opportunity and the potential revenue per product they could produce. Include a link to your sale page and affiliate page.
5. Approach relevant web sites that collect email addresses for a newsletter or whatever and might potentially have an extensive mailing list of prospects for your product.

Attract and Reward Super Affiliates to Skyrocket Your Sales

When you do get affiliates classify them by measure of sales produced.  Offer incentive programs for top affiliates. Power affiliates, also called joint venture partners, specialize in affiliate marketing and excel at driving traffic and sales to you your site. Power affiliates can significantly increase your sales. Create programs with lucrative rewards for these affiliates, then ask your top performers for testimonials you can post on your affiliate page to attract more affiliates.

Find out what your best affiliates are doing to sell your product. You can then send these suggestions out to your other affiliates and new affiliates. Most people will appreciate any good advice you can offer that will help them sell more of your products.

Treat Your Affiliates With Respect

Manage your affiliates as you would sales people. Give them the tools and product information they need to sell. Make sure you support your affiliates with banner ads about your product in a variety of sizes they can use on their websites.  As your affiliate network grows, create a special email or phone number specifically for affiliate support. Create an affiliate newsletter, conduct sales contests or offer special promotions.  You should also pay your affiliates well and pay them on time.

Most affiliates practice ethical marketing. If an affiliate markets your product in a way you do not approve of, you can usually stop them from promoting your products. If you find out an affiliate is sending out spam, cut them off. A bad reputation can make your good producing affiliates run. If you are using an affiliate service such as ClickBank, a complaint to them about any unethical practices by an affiliate, is often enough for them to block the affiliate from selling your product.

Affiliates can be your ticket to recognition, product awareness and profits. Attract good affiliates, treat them well and reap the benefits.

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Posted by Start Local Team

Category Online Marketing

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