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Achieving Success with Affiliate Programs
©
2002 By Angela Wu
No product... not even a product idea. What's a
would-be online entrepreneur to do?
For many beginners, affiliate programs seem like a dream
come true: earn a commission selling another company's
products or services. No need to create one of your
own! What's even better is that you only have to place a
couple of banners or links on your website, and this hot
product will sell itself! Right?
No. Just like with any other online business, earning
money from affiliate programs requires education and
experience with Internet marketing. Affiliate programs are a
great way to learn the basics of marketing online. Although
it's the rare person who makes a significant full-time
income from them, many people find that they provide an
excellent supplementary income stream.
Many newbies to the 'net are so eager to get started that
they sign up with every affiliate program that looks good to
them. They advertise like crazy, often spend hundreds of
dollars -- only to be disappointed at their complete lack of
sales.
So what does it take to make money with an affiliate
program? Here are a few key tips ...
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__Make Smart Choices.
To get started, choose only one or two high-quality programs
that are a good fit with your website audience.
For example, if you're running a crafts website, don't
advertise technical software.
One or two programs will provide you with plenty of work to
begin with. More than that and you may find yourself
frantically trying to promote too many and having little
success. It's better to start earning money with a
couple of good programs first, then gradually add additional
income streams later on.
You may also find, over time, that your audience responds to
a certain type of product and not to others. Test
different offers to see which ones your audience like best.
__Don't Rely on Your Downline.
2-tier affiliate programs offer additional commissions
everytime someone in your 'downline' makes a sale. Your
'downline' are those people you refer to the program who
also become affiliates.
Don't become obssessed about recruiting subaffiliates.
Remember that you can only control your own efforts; you
can't control what other people do. Concentrate on
making your own sales... and if your subaffiliates make
sales too, consider it a nice bonus!
__Hard Work, Determination, and a Willingness to Learn
Don't let anyone tell you different: Internet marketing is
hard work. It does *not* consist of slapping up a few
banners, blasting out a few ads, or - heaven forbid -
spamming millions of people.
You'll need the determination to keep you going through the
'tough' periods. People tend to expect instant results
on the Internet. Unless you're a marketing genius or already
have a targeted, high-traffic site, chances are you won't
see immediate results. Keep in mind that everyone's
different - some people will see profits in a few weeks,
others in a few months.
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__Experimentation and Adaptability
One day, after plenty of hard work, you may finally see the
coveted 'You've made a sale!' notification. That's
wonderful! Now HOW and WHY did you make that sale?
Don't be afraid to experiment with different marketing
methods. If one thing doesn't work, try another. If
something works, keep using it or even try to improve upon
it.
For all of this experimentation to be successful you must
track the results of each marketing campaign. This is the
only way to truly determine which methods are bringing in
profits, and which ones should be replaced with something
more effective.
While it's true that most people never make money from
affiliate programs, it doesn't have to be true for you.
Only you can determine the outcome!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, a practical
guide to building an Internet business on a shoestring
budget. If you're tired of hype and just want solid,
down-to-earth information, then visit us today -- and in
moments you can have access to loads of instantly useable
tips, specifically chosen for beginners!
http://onlinebusinessbasics.com/article.html
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