18 Feb 2008 04:53:24 | Lori Redfield
You may have heard the buzz terms, ‘affiliate programs’ or
‘associate programs’. Chances are your think of them in one of
two ways, either – it’s got to be another one of those Internet
‘work at home’ scams. Or, “That’s just out of my league.”
Promoting affiliate programs is in fact an attractive and viable
way to initiate multiple residual income streams. It’s not a get
rich quick scheme. In fact, to be successful it takes a great
deal of work and persistence. It also requires flexibility and
an inquisitive nature that embraces trying new ways of marketing
until you find something that works for your target audience.
What is an affiliate program? Thousands of established
businesses set up affiliate programs in order to have people
like you promote their products or services. When you sign up
for an affiliate program you are given a link with your own
unique id embedded into it.
With your own unique link it then becomes your job to promote
the affiliate program and drive traffic to the businesses
website. You never handle sales or products, but each time an
interested prospect visits the website through your link and
actually purchases something you earn a commission.
One of the most effective ways to promote affiliate programs is
to find a subject that you are passionate about. Something that
(humility aside), you may even consider yourself an expert of.
Take that subject and develop a website that is devoted to it.
Building a website does not have to be intimidating. There are a
tremendous amount of resources available to you to help you
build one. You could also have the template of a website
designed for you, or you could purchase a website at a price
that may surprise you.
Once you have your website built, you will submit it to the
major search engines and every day set some time aside to
promote your website. At the same time, find affiliate programs
that complement your content and ad their banner ads or text
links to your website.
Working with a subject you love insures that you won’t become
bored with the website. The more content that you add to your
site and the more you promote it, the more traffic you will get.
It could take a good year to get the site to the point where you
are actually surprised at how well it is doing. At that point,
it seems to almost effortlessly improve itself.
The key is to draw your visitors to the website because you have
terrific content. It is even more effective to offer a
newsletter that your visitors can opt-in to. This way you can
send them monthly newsletters with articles that will interest
them, convincing them to frequent your site over and over again.
You can also include the affiliate program links in your
newsletters as well.
In the end, you have indulged in promoting a topic that you are
knowledgeable and passionate about; while at the same time have
initiated a residual income from.
Now you will have even more expertise and confidence, and the
next site will be a piece of cake!
About Author :
Lori Redfield is a freelance Internet entrepreneur. She and her
husband work solely from home and support their family of five
comfortably – with plenty of time for play!
