Friday, February 15, 2008 

5 Ways To Increase Your Affiliate Sales

There are certain ways of doing anything. When it comes to affiliate marketing in particular, you can choose to do it half-heartedly or you can go all-out and do it right. Work your affiliate programs by slamming a ton of banners on a page and waiting for the money to roll in is both a waste of your time and a disservice to the affiliate program owner you're working for. You may as well not even do it.

Work your affiliate programs like they actually mean something to you and your business; with all your knowledge and effort, and you're going to be on the road to collecting a good deal of commissions. Just like anything, there are ways of doing things that are going to prove to your web site or blog visitors that you are an expert at what you're taking about. Use your expertise about the product you're promoting and speak to them as a friend. After all, PRE-Selling a product is nothing more than being able to articulate how wonderful something is to someone else, as one trusted friend to another. It's not a hard thing to learn, but is a skill you must master that is not being taught as widely as it needs to be. People want to be able to trust others. Cynicism runs rampant in the Internet marketing world. There are far too many scammers out there making us good guys look bad. You primary job is to be that one voice crying out in the wilderness that changes that cynicism to trust. It's about being real and not a salesman. People can smell a salesman a mile away and they stink.

Here are 5 ways to work your affiliate marketing programs as an expert:

1. PRE-Sell - Find your own voice. Don't write like everyone else. You do not want to come off as just another carbon-copy salesman. You need to convey to your visitors that you care about them (it helps if you do). You need to have a passion to truly help other people. That can be understood in how you write. Sincerity is a trait sorely lacking in Internet marketing. You need to learn the mandatory skill of writing to PRE-Sell. Your job is to PRE-Sell the product and it is the job of the stores' landing pages to close the sale. Tell your visitors of your experiences and share stories. People appreciate being spoken to as an old friend sitting around the dining room table with a cup of coffee. Which lead to....

2. Have Product Experience - Whenever possible, own the product or work with the service you're promoting. This allows you to speak as that expert with first-hand experience. Your passion for that fantastic product will shine through. You want your readers to get as excited as your are about the product. You're not going to want to promote something that isn't any good, no matter how high the commissions, right? Um....right?? This can only come by owner the product yourself. Plus, you'll wind up with something really cool! ;)

3. Follow Your Niche - If you're web site or blog that has to do with cellular phones, don't join and promote an affiliate program for riding lawnmowers. You are not going to get your most wanted response that way, which is the click. Keep your subject matter and your affiliate programs in line with one another.

4. Deep Link - Let's use the cell phone scenario and say that you've got a page or a blog entry about the Apple iPhone and you have an affiliate association with a large on-line cell phone store. When you're figuring out which of their affiliate text links, banners or other creative to use, make sure you are able to deep link to the page or pages about Apple iPhones. You want to put your potential customer where they want to be. Don't just link to the cell phone stores home page. That is like leading them out into the woods and then dumping them. Don't make them search for that Apple iPhone information, lead them directly to it via your deep-linking affiliate link. That way will convert much better for you.

5. Work with The Affiliate Program Owners - They want to sell their products as much as you do. Even more. Don't be afraid to contact them and voice your concerns, opinions and needs. Any affiliate program that is worth promoting will welcome your input. They will want to work with you. You'll be able to tell who is worth working with and who is not. Do they have a large selection of creative to use? Do they offer attractive commission payouts (I tend not to take anything that pays out 2% of a sale or less) and long-term cookies? Do they allow deep linking with a bunch of pages to choose from? Is their affiliate program control center attractive and easy to use? Do they keep you informed via email about upcoming promotions and ways to help you make better conversions? If all that is being done, you should be working with them as best you can. They are obviously putting their best foot forward for you and their customers. If not, drop them and move on. They should always be there to help you in any way they can.

There you have it. Those are a few of the ways to work an affiliate program for all it's worth. If you want the money (a no-brainer), learn all you can, work hard, work smart and don't give up. Your failure or success is entirely dependent on you. Here's to your success!

Tony Thomas owns http://www.romantic-oregon-coast.com and http://small-biz-blog.net).Start your own personal internet business empire
You CAN make money online
Awsome marketing techniques
Earn $120,000 this year! Don't miss this opportunity
Start your own personal internet business empire
Awsome marketing techniques
Start Earning $2,000-$5,000 every month

 

Here's Why Affiliate Marketing is so Lucrative

There are people who think of the world as a dreary place simply because they do not find their existence charming enough to render them contented. There are those who wish that they have more than what they possess. There are those who are sick and tired of working hard yet end up having nothing better. There are those who curse the humdrum existence of having 95 jobs that do not give them personal and professional growth. Still these are others who want to earn money without sweating it out too much.

These are the ultimate reasons why more and more people are succumbing to affiliate marketing, one of the many money-making systems that are conceived as a result of the popularity the internet has been generating since it came into being. Since the internet is one of the media with which to view the world and interact with people without getting up from ones seat, it has become one of the most important channels with which to sell a merchants products and wares.

This is the reason why affiliate marketing thrives as a result of the internets popularity. The products and wares which the internet markets get the necessary exposure needed to sell well. This is where the fact that affiliate marketing is a lucrative business comes in. What is intended to be sold is sold because the internet is the best place to sell all these merchandise without the merchant giving too much of an effort to sell them per se.

How does affiliate marketing generate money? The way affiliate marketing works is so simple one would have difficulty believing how such a scheme is able to generate cash. In affiliate marketing, one is introduced to a system where an affiliate, the one who owns the website, agrees to display and advertise other websites that belong, in turn, to a merchant.

The merchant is the one who hopes to generate sales through the affiliates promotion of his website. Once these links are clicked on by other people and a purchase is made, the merchant pays the affiliate a commission. It is by simply promoting other websites through his own that an affiliate is able to earn money for himself in the easiest manner possible.

The principle involved in affiliate marketing can be compared to the type of species interaction in ecology called mutualism where interaction between two species allows both of them to derive benefit from the situation without harming each other. The result is a relationship that allows them to coexist in harmony in the community where they both move. Affiliate marketing allows affiliates to get paid in recognition of what they were able to contribute to the process. Merchants, in turn, are able to have their products advertised and ultimately sold through the efforts provided by the affiliate.

The reason why products advertised by affiliates through their websites generate a lot of sales is because the number of people using the internet is growing every minute. Each and every merchandise advertised through this medium gets all the attention that it could possibly need to be able to convince someone that it is worth the try. This is the ultimate reason why there is money in affiliate marketing. The more links a website promotes, the more chance sales will be generated. The more sales generated, the happier the merchant, and the happier the merchant, the better it is for the affiliate both professionally and financially.

Those who have indulged in affiliate marketing have reached goals and dreams which they were not able to realize under ordinary circumstances. There are even those who have skyrocketed to the top simply because they have dedicated all their time and effort to perfecting their knowledge about this business without even a bit of hesitation. One can be sure of the fact that there is money in affiliate marketing. He only has to cope with the fact that it is impossible to generate riches in this business overnight.

Well, not really. All he has to do is to learn everything that he possibly could about the industry which he is in. If he is able to master everything concerning the tricks of the trade, then everything will follow suit.

---------------------------------------

This article may be reprinted providing it is published in it's entirety, including the author's bio and link to the URL below.

John J Farina is a successful affiliate marketer. He provides expert reviews on which affiliate programs to join and which ones to avoid like the plague. He shows people how to actually generate substantial income on-line using very simple, easily modeled systems. An example of such a system that you can study and duplicate is at: http://www.johnnysreviewsite.comGet laser targeted traffic to your site
Awsome marketing techniques
Turn $60 into $1,000 over and over
Become an affiliate marketing rockstar
Earn $120,000 this year! Don't miss this opportunity
Start your own personal internet business empire
Get laser targeted traffic to your site

 

Affiliate Revenue Information

In the huge and busy world of the Internet, many people are exploring ways to make money. There are thousands of opportunities to choose from. One major opportunity is to take advantage of affiliate programs.

What is an Affiliate Program? This is a program that allows you to refer a product(s) for a commission. All you have to do is setup a link to the website of the product(s) you are promoting.

What is the Benefits of affiliate programs? Since it is a partnership an establish company it's a win-win situation for both the program owner and the affiliates. When choosing an affiliate programs you can have your online business without the requirement of having your own products. The #1 thing about being an affiliate is that there thousand of free referral programs.

There are several way to promote your affiliate program(s). As mention earlier you can create a link on your website. Another proven way is to write your own article in a blog, ezine article or other free site that offer you the opportunity to promote your program.

These are the basics of starting your affiliate program. Now you are ready to start you part busness from home.

Laymond Drummond runs a website about affiliate revenue programs which provides information about affiliate marketing, reseller marketing and selling your own products. He is also a member of a number of affiliate programs that are too lucrative to even think about giving them up. If you would like to becoming a successful affiliate, visit http://affiliatecashvault.us.Turn $60 into $1,000 over and over
Get laser targeted traffic to your site
Get laser targeted traffic to your site
You CAN make money online
Get laser targeted traffic to your site
Start your own personal internet business empire
Turn $60 into $1,000 over and over

 

Searching For An Internet Home Based Business?...The questions begin with you

Searching For An Internet Home Based Business?...The questions begin with you

When I lost my long-term employment only then did I truly realize that I had a CHOICE. I consciously made the decision to work at home from the Internet.

First, let us acknowledge some of the reasons Internet home based business is BIG business:

Job security once taken for granted is declining due to outsourcing, company closures and cutbacks;

One parent deciding to stay home to raise their children. The lack of affordable child care is often a consideration. It does not make financial sense in many cases for both parents to work outside of the home;

Private sector pensions and personal savings are no longer adequate when it is time for baby boomers to retire. Having an Internet home based business well into our seventies is not all that uncommon, or

Some of us are just sick of working for someone else and want to enjoy the freedom of working for ourselves.

Ok, you have made the solid decision of becoming a stay at home entrepreneur. With the vast services, products, information and opportunities the Internet offers becoming overwhelmed can be attained in an instant by a click of your mouse.

I would like to suggest asking yourself a few questions and create some guidelines BEFORE you go about your quest of finding an Internet home based business. Your business is truly an investment in yourself.

Write these questions and answers down. Have a dialogue with yourself. You may be surprised how they may vary after a week or so, or you may add questions to your list. The idea is to be conclusive no matter if it takes a day, a week or three months.

The first question to ask is:

1. What do I want to accomplish with my Internet business? What are my goals? This is not a redundant question. Be specific. Your goals are where it all begins.

2. How much time can I, or am I willing to give to this home based business on a daily basis? Being very clear on your true time availability is necessary.

3. What is my budget for my business?

4. Do I want my business to be within an established company or do I want to be a totally independent entity with my own products/services? If you want to be totally independent then ........

Your business could spring from an interest, talent or hobby that you are knowledgeable and passionate about. Write them ALL down even if you dismiss them from the get gokeep an open mind. I am not a total believer in the do what you love and success will follow mind set being the cure all, but having a true belief in, or a passion for your products/services is essential.

5. How knowledgeable am I about my products/services? Do I need to do more research? You certainly do not have to be an expert, but being knowledgeable is important.

If you choose to work within a company, your choices are diverse as well. Additional questions could be.........

6. How long has the company been in business?

7. Are they reputable?

8. Does the company have a strong structure (i.e. training, support, marketing strategy, automation system for payment, invoicing, etc?)

9. Are their products/services something I can be proud of?

10. Will I have to do any handling of the products?

And, of course, include on your list other aspects you already know that you do, or do not want in a business.

The process can feel daunting, but take your time, research and ask lots of questions. It is well worth the expenditure. Good luck!

Ruby River is the proud owner of an established home business whose business affiliate is one of the oldest and continues to be the most successful within the billion-dollar personal development community. A genuine business opportunity promoting financial and emotional change is available without hype. Success is a Choice. Serious, entrepreneur minded, visit http://www.livegreatlife.comAwsome marketing techniques
Become an affiliate marketing rockstar
Awsome marketing techniques
Entreprnuers Recource Guide
Become an affiliate marketing rockstar
Awsome marketing techniques
Earn $120,000 this year! Don't miss this opportunity

 

Websites Made For Affiliate Programs - Better Than Contextual Advertisement?

When working with internet marketing, making websites designed to generate affiliate commission, it is sometimes difficult to find new niches to make websites about. Trying to find a niche with competitive commissions, but without the following fierce competition is of course hard, but it is not at all impossible.

One popular way of making money online is by using small websites designed only with adsense or any other contextual advertisement in mind. These sites often referred to as mini- or micro-sites - are made to target unusual search phrases, often in highly competitive niches. This way, they can reach fairly high search engine rankings without to much work. The terms targeted will not bring many visitors, but the traffic it does bring will be highly targeted, thus converting well.

When using contextual ads as with any form of paid-per-click programs the main objective is to make visitors click the ads, they do not necessarily have to end up buying anything. Thats for the webmaster buying the clicks to worry about.

When working with pay per sale affiliate programs, one needs to take a different approach. Most affiliate programs operate by a pay per sale model, making it essential to send good traffic their way, i.e. visitors who will actually buy the products promoted.

Compared to a PPC model, this sure is far more work, but the upside is huge. Working in a similar way as with contextual ad websites, you can easily target odd search terms in highly profitable niches, thus receiving search engine visitors of good quality. You might not get that many visitors, but if you are working with the right keywords, many of them will be searching for exactly what you are offering.

There are a lot of online tools to aid you when looking for a niche with good potential revenue, but a fast and easy way to get a grasp of a niche is to do a few searches on google. Looking at the number of results for any given search term will give you an idea of the competition. Mostly this is closely related to the potential profit, as more money naturally attracts more competitors.

Click a few of the sponsored ads, to see what landing pages people are using when buying traffic on that keyword. Remember people are paying to have a visitor see these landing pages, so in most cases they are very well converting, making them excellent to study before you make a website in the same niche.

To fully take advantage of the visitors you send to an affiliate program, you should find a program offering residual commission. This way, you will not only get a commission on the first sale, but get a commission of all future sales to this customer. In a way, its your customer.

Considering the limited amount of visitors expected, another important factor to consider before joining an affiliate program is their promotional material. Are you looking for text links only, or are you looking for graphics for banner advertising on your page? If you can find an affiliate program in your niche, offering affiliate links to specific products rather than the main page, it will make it much easier to target your visitors better. If you are getting visitors using the same search term, its not hard to find a specific product to present them with.

Many websites offer free stuff and/or an initial discount when a new customer joins them. Make sure you are using all the promotions available to you when you join and promote your affiliate program - preferably found at http://www.affiliateranker.com/directory

Theo Swan - Writing about affiliate marketing and how to make your website stand out. Read more about converting traffic, or find a new program, at http://www.affiliateranker.comStart Earning $2,000-$5,000 every month
Awsome marketing techniques
You CAN make money online
Entreprnuers Recource Guide
Awsome marketing techniques
Start your own personal internet business empire
Awsome marketing techniques

 

How To Find Free and Low Cost Advertising Sites That Work

Early in my home business career I used to follow the advertising recommendations of my Sponsor as to which free or low cost places to advertise on.

You'll find that most advertising sources recommended by top leaders useless. These free sites may have been great sources when the teachers found them, but after thousands of their pupils started advertising on them as well, (often promoting the same opportunity) they're pretty much useless.

The low cost and free site I recommend on how2succeedonline are a little less beat up and used by EDC Gold because of the fact that I add new sites to this list constantly. Today I will teach you a technique that I use to find free sites that haven't been so beat up with overuse. In essence, I'm going to show you how to fish for vehicles that will give you a constant stream of fresh, new advertising venues with less competition.

This is so simple it will blow your mindwhich is, of course, true of many of the most successful techniques. By the way, I found many of my favorite ad sites this way!

Let's start by typing in "Business Opportunity" into Google Search or any search engine you prefer. You should use keywords that you're currently using to promote your business (i.e. "make money online", "Home Based Business", etc.). You can even do a search for the keyword of the opportunity you represent like "EDC Gold" "PWF" or "1Step System", etc.

Now, look at the left side of the page, which is the search results area of the page. As I go down the page, I look for ads that are part of forums or ad sites. You'll find several ads on the top three pages that are ad-posting on third party sites offering advertising vs. company owned or opportunity sites that just talk about their product, service or opportunity. Many of these sites offer free or low cost advertising. And best of all, Google has found these sites and elevated their index (so they appear on pages 1-3 of the search results), even in highly competitive areas where popular keywords are used.

You'll find more quality sites than you know what to do with, just with the use of a few keywords.

Next, place your ads on several of these sites. To maximize your response, make sure your ad is keyword dense (lots of keywords repeated throughout the text of the ad). If you do, not only will you benefit from the traffic that advertising site produces, but you'll also benefit from the very high listing on Google and other search engines, which will boost your traffic by possibly hundred fold.

Another technique you can try is typing the words "Free Advertising Help" into Google. It's not as good as my first recommendation, but still better that joining other team members and advertising on the same pages being used by thousands of direct competitors.

On one of the next articles I'll talk about is how to super charge your ad for search optimizationyou'll be amazed.

Peter Grundner, a top advertising and marketing professional for over 20 years, is now a full time Home Business Entrepreneur and founder of http://www.myedconline.com & http://www.how2succeedonline.netEarn $120,000 this year! Don't miss this opportunity
Entreprnuers Recource Guide
Entreprnuers Recource Guide
Get laser targeted traffic to your site
You CAN make money online
Awsome marketing techniques
Get laser targeted traffic to your site

 

Advanced E-mail Marketing Tips

There are two types of marketing: unsolicited e-mail (cold selling) and opt-in selling. Keep them in mind when you create your messages and build your subscriber list. I highly recommend you not to engage in cold selling. This is considered spam. If enough people report your address as spam, you will be banned from ISPs and search engines. The occasional sale you see from cold selling will not be enough to compensate for your being blacklisted on the internet.

On the other hand, building an opt-in list is a perfectly acceptable and highly successful method that will keep you from being labeled bad business. With an opt-in list, people ask to be added to your subscriber database because they're interested in your topic. Opt-in subscribers should always be given the option to opt out.

But you would be surprised how many people don't bother clicking the unsubscribe link, and eventually make their way to your site to investigate your product further.

When preparing your autoresponder messages, it is imperative to strike a balance between excitement and hype about your product.

You must avoid wording your messages so that they look, feel and smell like spam, even if they have been requested. This means following the rules of creating direct and simple messages. For exemple, no writing in ALL CAPS, or putting seven exclamation points at the end of every paragraph.

Here are also a few other deadly spam sins to avoid:

Just about every e-mail program has built-in spam filters that route unwanted messages to a separate folder, often called a "bulk" folder, whose contents are routinely deleted by either the program or the owner of the account. Following the suggestions above for avoiding spam-type messages will go a long way toward ensuring your autoresponders don't get diverted to an early grave.

Here are more tips on beating spam filters and verification programs:

1. On your "Thank You" pages, remind your subscriber:

- His must check his email for a confirmation message from YOUR NAME (or your email adress) and must click on the activation link in order to receive YOUR OFFER.

- If he is using spam blockers such as SpamBully, SpamArrest, Earthlink, KnowSpam or FilterMy, and did not get your email: it may it has been blocked by his computer's or ISP's spam filters, or trapped in his spam (or bulk) folder.

- If he does not receive your welcome email, indicate him to check his trash or spam folders.

2. 4 steps to follow in sending strangh your messages in the mail box of your subscribers.

- Never begin your subject line with ADV: or include the word "advertisement".

- Never use the word "free" in the subject line-especially in all caps.

- In fact, never use the word FREE (in all caps) anywhere in the message. If possible, avoid using all caps altogether.

- From address: When you set up your web site and associated e- mail accounts, do not name any account sales@yourdomainname.com - this guarantees you an automatic trip to the bulk folder.

- Within the message: Never say "for free?(!)" or use the words "extra income" in the body of your message. Recently, many internet marketers attempting to bypass spam filters have begun breaking up the word "free" anywhere it appears in their sales copy: f-ree or fr.ee are the most commonly used methods.

3. Formatting your autoresponder messages

Every e-mail program is different, allowing different line lengths for their viewing windows. If your e-mail program allows 75 characters per line, it may look fine on your screen-but when you send it to someone whose program allows only 70 characters per line, those last five characters get moved to the next line and break up your message with those pesky > signs.

Another potential problem is the font you choose.

Fonts like Courier New are fixed-width: every character takes up the same amount of space. But fonts like Times New Roman and Arial have varying width according to the character.

Do not write your message in 16-point Impact Red or other "flashy" font styles and sizes.

This does not draw attention to your product. It draws attention to your inexperience. For the most part, keep your entire message in the same font and type size, (10-point size is best in nearly every case) and make sure each line is 60 to 65 characters long. When you reach the limit, use a hard return to start the next line rather than allowing your word processing program to wrap the text.

Use emphasis like color, bold and italics sparingly for effect.

4. Structure your messages and make sure you easily keep reading.

Do not stuff your messages with "cool" graphics, animated smileys, or a dreaded Flash presentation. This slows down load time considerably, and many people won't wait for your incredible pictures to appear on the screen. Tell them exactly how they'll benefit from it, and put substance in your send-outs. People want to know that you know what you're talking about!

5. Do not use chat language in the text of your message.

Even to people who know what LOL, IMHO, or IOW stand for.

this is not professional and does not score you any "friendly" points. And if your subscribers don't know what these abbreviations stand for, they will be quick to dismiss you as inept. In case you don't know yourself: LOL=laughing out loud or laughing on line; IMHO=in my humble opinion or oanother meaning.

6. Do remind people that:

1. they are receiving your message because they requested more information or a friend suggested they would like to receive the information and,

2. they can opt out of further messages using a link you have provided at the end of the message.

Keep your messages out of spam oblivion by adhering to these guidelines, and you will see your sales and response rates climb.

Juste GNIMAVO is an Internet Marketer and Owner of http://affiliate-internet-marketing-tips.com. To find Advanced Internet Marketing Secrets and email marketing software visit => http://affiliate-internet-marketing-tips.com internet-marketing-tips.comYou CAN make money online
Become an affiliate marketing rockstar
Awsome marketing techniques
Awsome marketing techniques
Become an affiliate marketing rockstar
Earn $120,000 this year! Don't miss this opportunity
Start Earning $2,000-$5,000 every month

 

Private Practice Marketing: 12 Ideas to Build Your Psychology Practice That You Can Implement Right Away

1. Create brochures for your general practice and for each specialty or niche service.

2. Develop or polish your networking skills and network with strategic professionals (referral sources) and/or members of your niche market.

3. Develop a seminar or workshop related to your niche service.

4. Have a monthly or quarterly newsletter and send it to referral sources, clients and past clients and other people you have met through networking.

5. Host an open house and send out invitations to get the attention of referral sources and develop relationships.

6. Use a press release when you have a special event or noteworthy happening to get exposure in the community or niche.

7. Do a presentation at a convention, local organization meeting or even a lunch-and-learn talk at a local business.

8. Offer a training program or continuing education course for your colleagues or even your referral sources.

9. Offer a health screening to reach into your community or niche.

10. Write articles for publications as well as for distributing to clients, referral sources and others.

11. Give expertise away by volunteering some time in meeting community needs.

12. Your clients can be one of your best referral sources, so inform them and keep them aware of your services through brochures and articles in your waiting room and sending them your newsletter.

William D. Morgan is a psychologist, author, and private practice business coach. He coaches human service professionals and others who want to build thriving practices. For more helpful information and tips, visit http://www.TodaysPrivatePractice.com/membershipinfo.html This is an excerpt from his NEW BOOK Today's Private Practice: Strategies for Building a Thriving Managed-Care Free Psychotherapy Practice, http://www.TodaysPrivatePractice.com.Earn $120,000 this year! Don't miss this opportunity
Awsome marketing techniques
Earn $120,000 this year! Don't miss this opportunity
Turn $60 into $1,000 over and over
Start Earning $2,000-$5,000 every month
Turn $60 into $1,000 over and over
Get laser targeted traffic to your site