What does viral marketing mean. To market a product in such a way that it may continue to bring in sales into the future.

The best example of this is affiliate links in an ebook or newsletter. When a newsletter goes out to a marketers opt in mailing list or he gives away a free report or a free ebook inevitably somewhere in the content is an affiliate link or a link to another one of the writer’s products.

Is this sneaky? Shouldn’t they tell you up front that they are trying to sell you something? If these thoughts popped into your mind wake up! Who was the one that downloaded the free ebook or signed up for that free report or newsletter from an Internet marketer? Just because something is free does not mean it doesn’t have merit and real value.

The author of the freebie is giving away his hard earned knowledge. Most of the time the reader is getting very worthwhile information. This is because if the writer doesn’t establish himself as an expert on the subject how could he expect you to want to read more of his / her work?

Furthermore it is in the author’s best interest to recommend a quality product, because he wants to establish credibility with the reader. I have learned more from some free products than I have from some ebooks I paid for. I recommend taking advantage of free material. You can learn from it and you can also evaluate the author’s communicating skills. If his free stuff is bad there isn’t any reason to pay to read his other books.

The best products I have ever bought have been through a direct recommendation via an affiliate link by a quality Internet marketer. By reading his free information I had a basis to make a judgment call on his expertise and credibility.

Affiliate links can be beneficial to both the author and the reader. Remember you can always tell a tree by its fruit. A quality author will always provide useable and fresh information.   If you want quality traffic you need to attract the people who are interested in what you are selling. Provide a benefit that will give them a reason to stop at your site. Always make your first impression with quality FREE information that has real value. Do not think of a customer as your next mortgage payment but look to establish a long-term relationship of mutual benefit to the both of you. Your customers, you, and I will all profit more by working together and learning from each other. 

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