Successful Affiliate Marketing http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog Resources, tips and tools for affiliate marketing success Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:03:22 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/maxblogpress-favicon/icons/favicon-27.ico Successful Affiliate Marketing Enter Into Affiliate Marketing But Proceed With Caution http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2792/enter-into-affiliate-marketing-but-proceed-with-caution/ http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2792/enter-into-affiliate-marketing-but-proceed-with-caution/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:06:35 +0000 Robert Barry http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/?p=2792 Proceed With CautionMaybe I’m a bit biased but affiliate marketing can be an excellent way to earn some money. It also provides the means for people to set up an online business without lots of up front capital or risk. When you do become an affiliate, you will be working for someone, however, you are rewarded for your personal efforts. Your income will be based on your performance and not on the hours or days in which you work. The more effort you put into it, the more you can earn.

The merchants and vendors will be handling all the product development, resources, delivery and customer issues and your primary function will be promoting the products and services in the ways that you feel will be most productive. Simply put, you will be selling other people’s “stuff” and earning commissions for every sale you generate.

The rotten apple
I’m sure most of you are aware that there are countless opportunities out there for affiliate marketers. However, you need to be very cautious because for all the legitimate opportunities, there are those that are scams and eager to con you out of your hard earned cash. It is unfortunate but the Internet has made it very easy for the con artist to operate and many of them do quite well.

Don’t forget your homework
Before you go diving head first into the affiliate marketing business, I strongly recommend that you do your homework and research everything you possibly can. A good rule of thumb is; don’t do business with anyone who does not present you with a fixed address and/or phone number. If all you see is an email address, I suggest you look for a different company. It is way to risky doing business only by email and it makes it extremely easy for the con artist to slip away and never be found. When they do slip away, it’s usually with your money.

If it’s free, it’s for me
Once you find a company that you are interested in, check and see if there are any up front costs involved. You should find that in most cases, there are no costs to get started but there are a few companies that require a nominal fee to start. In the event you do find a company that requires some up front costs, ask if you can pay the cost from your commissions. Most companies are very willing to accept that. If they are not willing to do that, I suggest you look for something else. There’s a good chance they will take your money and leave you with a worthless product.

I’ve got questions
When you plan on joining any affiliate marketing program, always check to see what type of support you can expect to receive. Any good program should have an affiliate manager or program manager available to respond to your questions or concerns. Many programs will also give advice and resources on the most effective ways to market their products. How you market and promote the products is entirely up to you but well established programs generally know what methods work best and it’s always a good idea to see what they are. Doesn’t it make sense that the company would want to help you earn as much as possible? Remember, the more successful you are, the more they also earn.

Let’s keep it real
You should always be mindful of the fact that affiliate marketing is not that easy and it does require hard work. The primary difference between the affiliate marketing business and most others is; the risk is very low. Be skeptical of those companies that offer huge earnings with little or no work involved. The reality is it just don’t happen that way. Keep that old saying in mind: “if it looks to good to be true, it generally is”. There are great success stories of affiliate marketers who make very large sums of money but you better believe they worked extremely hard to get where they are. It’s possible that anyone can do it but it won’t happen overnight.

Off to work we go
Affiliate marketing is a great way to start working for yourself. When first starting out, it can be difficult and you may even find that you need to work harder than ever but there is the opportunity to be successful and earn lots of money. If you are able to motivate yourself, determined, willing to take action and be patient, you have the qualities that it takes to become a success in this business.

Instant replay
This is worth mentioning again; before you join or sign up with any type of program, do your homework. Research the companies and merchants before getting involved with them. There are tons of free resources readily available to help you so be sure to take advantage of them.

Inquiring minds want to know
If you are currently involved with any affiliate programs, what are some of the things you consider before joining a program?

]]> http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2792/enter-into-affiliate-marketing-but-proceed-with-caution/feed/ 7 Here’s Why Many Affiliate Marketers Will Never Make A Full-Time Income http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2743/heres-why-many-affiliate-marketers-will-never-make-a-full-time-income/ http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2743/heres-why-many-affiliate-marketers-will-never-make-a-full-time-income/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:24:39 +0000 Robert Barry http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/?p=2743 success-vs-failureThis may surprise some of you, especially those who are just starting out as affiliate marketers. There are a couple of reasons why I say; “many affiliate marketers will never make a full time income” and I will explain why. It usually starts out when some well meaning (but often misguided) person tries to encourage some “newbie” affiliate marketer to start in a niche that they are knowledgeable about or perhaps even starting their online endeavor based around something they are passionate about.

As bad as this may sound, in most cases, they’ve unintentionally sent the newcomer down a path of false expectations, dismal results and unfortunately, failure. I’m sure many of you have heard the statement; “do what you love and the money will follow”. Well, quite frankly, that statement has been responsible for more failures than you can imagine. It may even be more responsible than someone who lacks drive or is lazy.

The truth of the matter is actually quite simple. The only way you’re going to make any real money on the Internet is based on these two very important factors:

1. Large Demand

2. Buyers

To put it another way, even though you may be very passionate about training your gecko, you’re not going to become wealthy by selling a $27.00 e-book based on that topic.

I could be wrong but I doubt there would be a great demand. Sure, there might be a few searches on Google and there might even be some interest by a gecko enthusiasts community but it would be highly unlikely that you would generate a substantial monthly income from the sale of those e-books.

By the same token, you probably will have a very difficult time making serious money by building web sites or blogs about some supposedly popular topics such as jokes, quote of the day, funny photos, etc. Of course you can monetize those sites with the likes of Adsense, CPM banners, CPA offers, etc, but it would take thousands upon thousands of visitors to make any serious money in those types of markets. Yes, the demand may be huge but the visitor value is extremely low.

On the other hand, if you want to make it big online, pulling down an impressive income, you would need to tap into the markets that have the greatest demand where the majority of the visitors are valuable. You would want to capture loads of traffic who are ready and willing to make a purchase. By taking this approach you are much more likely to make a desirable income.

Were you aware of the fact that some affiliates are making several thousand dollars a day by promoting a single product in a “hot” market? One can only imagine what the merchant is making. ;-) In fact, there are some markets where the demand is so high that the merchants are selling hundreds of units per day or better. How about digital products where there is literally no overhead or delivery expense.

This all comes back to tapping into the valuable demand. In many cases, it takes no more effort or skills to promote to a highly valuable market than it does to struggle along with those things you’re passionate about.

It comes down to these two major factors; demand and buying traffic. This is what separates the wannabe marketer from the “super” affiliate marketer. There really is no secret to this. What it takes is selling what thousands of consumers are already buying.

Of course there is no guarantee that anyone will make massive amounts of money just because you’re in a high demand market but you have a much greater chance than you would by promoting products where the demand is low and customers aren’t buying. It takes a little research to find those “hot” markets but the effort in the long run will be time well spent.

Okay, now it’s entirely up to you. Would you be better off tapping into markets where there is massive valuable demand or would you rather struggle along with a business based on your own passionate interests and make a few dollars every once in a while?

]]> http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2743/heres-why-many-affiliate-marketers-will-never-make-a-full-time-income/feed/ 24 10 Tips for Making Money With Drop Shipping http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2699/10-tips-for-making-money-with-drop-shipping/ http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2699/10-tips-for-making-money-with-drop-shipping/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:17:17 +0000 Robert Barry http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/?p=2699 Make Money Drop Shipping Occasionally, I like to present you with alternate methods of making money online. The following article is a guest post from fellow marketer, James Adams. James will present you with 10 excellent tips to make money as a drop shipper.

For those who are not familiar with drop shipping, Wikipedia defines drop shipping as a supply chain management technique in which the retailer does not keep goods in stock, but instead transfers customer orders and shipment details to either the manufacturer or a wholesaler, who then ships the goods directly to the customer.

If you’re interested in making money with drop shipping, you’re not alone. With the ability to reduce or eliminate on-hand inventory, drop shipping is an attractive option for many people who are searching for ways to make money on the internet. Here are a few tips that may help you reduce your expenses and increase your ability to make money with drop shipping.

  1. Inventory Reduction – Inventory reduction is probably the number one moneymaking reason people get into drop shipping. With little or no supplies on hand, its less likely you’ll be left footing the bill if your products don’t sell or you decide to try your hand at something else.
  2. Start-up Costs – Without the need to stock a large supply of inventory, not only can you save money, but you may also be able to operate your business from home, making your initial investment and start-up costs minimal. This could leave your investment risk relatively low and your money making potential high.
  3. Loss Prevention – With inventory reduction, also comes another drop shipping moneymaking advantage – loss prevention. Chances of lost, broken/damaged, and stolen inventory may be reduced since you don’t have to keep inventory on hand.
  4. Time = Money – There can be a large time commitment involved with inventory management in a typical business, but with drop shipping, you may be able to avoid the time it takes to stock, maintain and manage inventory, and time can equal money.
  5. Reduced Overhead – Another moneymaking opportunity involved with drop shipping is reduced overhead. Without inventory to manage, you may not need employees to stock, price, order, etc. You may even find the need for an office or place of business is eliminated, which opens the opportunity for saving money on rent, utilities, property taxes, etc.
  6. Up-front Payments – By being paid by the buyer first, you may find you have a gap between when you receive payment and when you must pay the supplier. By getting your money first, you can reduce the chances of being stiffed on a payment, and with your money in an interest bearing account, you might even make a little money in the process.
  7. Advertising – Since a majority of your business will likely come from, and be conducted by way of the internet, the need for costly print marketing and advertising may be reduced, potentially adding coins to your coffers.
  8. Avoid the Middleman – Seeing as how by using drop shipping, you may already be the middleman, being able to purchase directly from the manufacturer rather than a wholesaler or warehouse may get you a much better price, which could allow you to increase your profit margins.
  9. Due Diligence – If you want to make money with drop shipping, you will likely have to conduct your due diligence, and at times be suspect of certain suppliers or transactions. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” This could be a good rule to live by when trying to make money in drop shipping.
  10. Relationship Building – By finding trustworthy suppliers and building a strong relationship with them, you may be able to set better, more reliable prices, and ensure supplies are available and in stock when you need them, thereby increasing your money making abilities as well as customer satisfaction.

While employed as a full time writer at a leading UK based specialist in toner cartridges, James Adams’ varied body of work covers everything from the MLT-D1082S to the latest news in media and technology.

]]> http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2699/10-tips-for-making-money-with-drop-shipping/feed/ 18 Your Affiliate Program Options Clearly Defined http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2656/your-affiliate-program-options-clearly-defined/ http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2656/your-affiliate-program-options-clearly-defined/#comments Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:44:10 +0000 Robert Barry http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/?p=2656 Affiliate ProgramsPeople are always asking about the various types of affiliate programs and what the differences are between them. I realize that many of you seasoned affiliates are quite familiar with all the different programs but many newcomers want to know what they are and how they work.

Affiliate marketing continues to grow and is now more popular than ever. There are many reasons for this explosive growth and the most likely reason is the low risk factor to start an affiliate business. In addition, there are many benefits for both the affiliate and the merchant/vendor.

With the growth of the current marketplace, affiliates and merchants both realize that affiliate marketing can be very beneficial. In particular, the “newbie” affiliate sees an opportunity to make money without a product, web site or list of subscribers and the merchants see it as a great way to market their products and services to a much broader marketplace.

Due to the continuous growth that the affiliate business is experiencing, people are beginning to look at it differently. Whereas in the past, affiliate marketing was mainly considered to be an alternate method for merchants to promote their products and services and for the affiliate it was primarily an additional income source. However, today, affiliate marketing is being considered by many merchants and affiliates as their main source of income.

Now you probably want answers to these questions:

    Are all affiliate programs the same?
    Are some affiliate programs better than others?
    What are the benefits of the different programs?
    Which affiliate program will work best for me?

There are actually several different types of affiliate programs and generally it depends on how a person classifies them. Most affiliate programs fall under two main categories; PPP (Pay-Per-Performance) and PPC (Pay-Per-Click).

Pay-Per-Performance (PPP)
PPP has been the most lucrative and popular type of affiliate program for both the merchant and the affiliate. This type of program requires that the merchant only pays the affiliate when their referral translates into an action. In this case, the referral has to make a purchase or become a lead. Merchants realize a great savings with this type of program. Based on commissions that range anywhere from 15% to 75%, it is also the most lucrative for the affiliate. Commission rates vary quite a bit depending on the type of products being sold.

You should also note that PPP affiliate marketing can also be classified as these two other popular programs; PPL (Pay-Per-Lead) and PPS (Pay-Per-Sale).

Pay-Per-Click (PPC)
PPC is one of the easiest ways to make money and could also be considered as the most popular. This method can be very appealing to those with smaller web sites. With this type of marketing, the affiliate gets paid by the merchant for referring a potential customer to their site. If one of these potential customers clicks through to a merchant’s site via a banner or text link, the affiliate gets paid. The visitor does not need to make a purchase for the affiliate to earn a commission. With this method, the commission rates are generally low and most likely, less than a dollar per click.

Pay-Per-Sale (PPS)
With the PPS program, the merchant will only pay the affiliate after they refer a potential customer to their site and that person makes a purchase. The commission that the affiliate receives is in most cases an agreed upon rate. With this type of program you will find that the commissions that an affiliate can earn is significantly higher than those of a pay-per-click (PPC) program.

Pay-Per-Lead (PPL)
The pay per lead type program is similar to the PPS program and it’s widely used by credit card and insurance companies. Those companies rely heavily on leads to expand and grow. In this type of program the affiliate gets paid for sending a visitor to the merchant’s site and having them complete some type of application or form. Once the form is completed, the affiliate is paid by a fixed rate which is usually higher than those of the PPC programs.

There are a few other programs available in addition to the ones mentioned above. If you dig a little deeper into some affiliate programs you may find that they also have what is known as single tier, two tier or multi tier programs.

Single Tier, Two Tier and Multi Tier Affiliate Marketing
With any of these programs, the affiliate is paid differently and it’s dependent on the level of tiers offered by the program network. All of the programs I mentioned previously, (PPC, PPL and PPS) are single tier. In any of those programs, the affiliate only gets paid for the sale or direct traffic referred to the merchant.

With regard to two-tier programs, the affiliate is paid for the sale or traffic they refer to a merchant’s site plus they also get paid by having other affiliates who joined the program through the affiliate’s recommendation.

Multi-tier programs work in the same way as a two-tier program, the affiliate gets paid additional commission from a larger number of affiliates based on the different tiers in the network. For more information on tier marketing and why I recommend it, check out this article: Promoting Two-Tier Affiliate Programs

Residual Income Affiliate Programs
With residual income affiliate programs, affiliates are compensated for the initial sale plus they will receive an additional commission each time the customer makes another purchase. These programs are common with membership sites or web hosting accounts where the customer makes a monthly payment. The affiliate will get a percentage of each monthly payment as long as the customer continues the service. The monthly commission rate may be a lower amount but over the long term, these programs can be very lucrative.

All these various affiliate programs have benefits and each work differently for both affiliates and merchants. Making a choice of which program to use is entirely your decision and you should base that decision on which program best fits your needs.

Have you tried any of these affiliate programs? Do you have a favorite that works best for you?

]]> http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2656/your-affiliate-program-options-clearly-defined/feed/ 18 7 Free Tools To Help With Your Keyword Research http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2617/7-free-tools-to-help-with-your-keyword-research/ http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2617/7-free-tools-to-help-with-your-keyword-research/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:48:32 +0000 Robert Barry http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/?p=2617 keyword research toolsIn my last article we discussed the importance of keyword research and why it is necessary if you want to achieve online success. I also mentioned that I would be providing some free resources that will assist you with your keyword research. There are many keyword tools both free and paid, that are available to help you research and track potential keywords and keyword phrases that you should focus on.

Listed below are some of those tools that I feel are the best and most popular for doing your keyword research.

    1. Wordtracker
    One of the most popular keyword research tools continues to be Wordtracker. Their full featured version is extremely powerful and there is also a free version. In addition, they also offer a 7 day free trial of the full version. Wordtracker has become the foundation for keyword research for many of today’s online marketers.
    Click here to visit the free version of Wordtracker

    2. SEO Book Keyword Suggestion Tool
    Not surprisingly, this keyword tool is powered by Wordtracker’s API. You also get information from Google, Yahoo and Microsoft all from one interface. To utilize the SEO Book tool, all that is required is a simple, free registration. They will also give you a free ($57 value) mini-course called: “7 Days to SEO Success”.
    Click here to visit SEO Book Keyword Suggestion Tool

    3. NicheBot Classic
    NicheBot Classic is yet another free resource that incorporates data from Wordtracker. One of the outstanding features of this tool is the presentation of a single comprehensive view of search data from the big 3 search engines. Once you create an account and log in, you can get 20 free daily searches and keyword tips.

    Another nice feature of NicheBot is the ability to access competition numbers from each search engine. You can do that by clicking on the links at the left side of the table. If you click on a + sign next to a keyword phrase, you should see a box pop up that allows you to check other keyword research resources.
    Click here to visit NicheBot Classic

    4. Trellian KeywordDiscovery
    This is one of the most accurate keyword research tools that you will find. KeywordDiscovery is an advanced keyword research tool which draws on a database of 36 Billion search queries from over 180 different search engines around the world. Keyword Discovery can tell you the search phrases people use to find products and services, as well as the search terms that drive traffic to your competitors.

    With the free version of KeywordDiscovery, you can perform up to 50 searches per day. With most of the keyword research tools that are being discussed here, you’ll find both a free and paid version. Obviously, there are more features available with any of the paid versions.
    Click here to visit Trellian KeywordDiscovery

    5. Keyword Map
    Keyword Map gives you a different variation compared to other keyword tools. This tool takes the keyword that you enter into the search box and finds related words and phrases from the internet and displays them as a visual representation of the keywords you entered.

    There is also a more comprehensive listing of similar keywords that comes up in alphabetical order next to the helix. If you carefully choose the keywords in the helix for getting more information, you will uncover synonyms for the original keyword as well as synonyms for the related words.
    Click here to visit Keyword Map

    6. Good Keywords v3
    Good Keywords v3 is research management software for Windows 7, XP and Vista. Good Keywords has been completely redesigned and definitely worth checking out. The main component of Good Keywords v3 is the Keyword Database Manager for the Google Keyword Tool.

    The Keyword Database tool in Good Keywords v3 is meant to help you get more out of your Google Keyword research and the software does not abuse Google’s resources in anyway.
    Click here to visit Good Keywords v3

    7. Wordpot
    Wordpot is another excellent keyword tool. Their free account is designed for individuals who only do a few searches per day. They may be a site owner who does their own search optimization or someone who writes the occasional article and are looking for a great free keyword service.

    You’ll find that Wordpot is very fast and they claim that their searches are faster than all their competition. The interface is is very simple. Their goal is to provide it’s users with the best keyword analysis tool on the Internet.
    Click here to visit Wordpot

Due to the constantly changing keyword industry, it is highly recommended that you update and renew your personal knowledge base periodically. There are many great keyword tools available both free and paid and I’m sure there will be more coming. These tools are there to help online marketers no matter what the niche, establish and grow their business.

Are you currently using any keyword research tools? If so, do you have one in particular that is a favorite?

]]> http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2617/7-free-tools-to-help-with-your-keyword-research/feed/ 29 Are Keywords The Key To Your Online Success? http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2553/are-keywords-the-key-to-your-online-success/ http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2553/are-keywords-the-key-to-your-online-success/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:26:02 +0000 Robert Barry http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/?p=2553 Keyword SuccessIf you’re starting an online business, it’s highly recommended that you understand how your readers, potential customers and visitors use the Internet. Of particular importance, is knowing exactly what they are using the Internet for.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every person who logged on had their credit card in hand and was looking for the exact product or service you were offering? Unfortunately, we all know that is not the case.

What most people use the Internet for is to get information. They are searching for answers to their questions or solutions to a problem that they most likely were unable to find anywhere else.

How do these people generally seek out the answers and solutions to their questions and problems? I’m sure you’ve already guessed that most of these Internet users rely heavily on the big three search engines; Google, Bing and Yahoo. Just about anyone who uses the Internet these days has heard of and in most cases has used at least one of those search engines and there are hundreds more available. However, all those other search engines combined don’t generate anywhere close to the traffic generated by the big three and Google is responsible for about 65% of all search engine traffic. For the purpose of the post, we’ll focus on Google.

As you are already aware, when a person performs a search on Google, they do so by typing in a word or phrase in the search box. The word or phrase they input could very likely be the key to your online business success. The word or phrase that this person uses will in most cases indicate precisely what they are looking for.

For example, let’s say that a person is interested in training their dog. If they were to type in the phrase “dog training” into a Google search, the search page will provide two things; paid and organic search results. See image below:



You’ll notice that the first few results at the top center of the page (with lightly colored background) and the column that runs down the right side of the page are sponsored or paid search results. Those companies have paid Google to have text ads with their links displayed whenever someone types in the term “dog training”. I’m sure it comes as no big surprise that these companies are all selling dog training products and/or related services.

If you were to perform this same search, you would also notice that the greatest majority of the page is displaying what is known as “organic” search results. What that means is, Google’s search engine has determined that those web pages are most naturally (organically) related to the phrase “dog training”. The phrase “dog training” is what’s referred to as a “keyword term”. Now you can see how important the keyword term is because the words “dog” and “training” are in bold letters in every search result, both paid and organic.

After seeing those search results, you can surely understand why it’s so important to research and identify the terms and phrases that a potential customer will use when they are searching for the types of products and services you are trying to market. If you want to maximize your marketing efforts, this is something that should not be taken lightly.

Once you do identify your keywords, you could try launching a paid ad campaign similar to the ones in the illustration above. This could possibly be an effective way to drive lots of relevant traffic to your web site or blog, correct? Unfortunately, the level of competition that’s competing for the same potential customer is extremely high which can cause the “newbie” advertiser and even those with experience to spend a lot of money with a very poor return on their investment.

It’s recommended that newcomers to the online marketplace would be better off waiting to do any paid ad campaigns until they are well established. Instead, it would be to their advantage to focus on getting the best organic search results for their web sites and blogs. This can be accomplished by using good keyword research skills and optimizing those sites accordingly.

The main purpose of this post was to give some insight on the importance of keywords and keyword research. In some future posts, I’ll provide more information on how to conduct keyword research and provide some free tools that will make the task much easier.

Do you research your keywords and optimize your sites for the best possible search results?

]]> http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2553/are-keywords-the-key-to-your-online-success/feed/ 16 7 Ways Of Directing Traffic To Your Affiliate Programs http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2496/7-ways-of-directing-traffic-to-your-affiliate-programs/ http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2496/7-ways-of-directing-traffic-to-your-affiliate-programs/#comments Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:59:37 +0000 Robert Barry http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/?p=2496 Driving TrafficRecently, one of my readers said they were having problems driving traffic to their affiliate offers and that inspired me to write this post. There are many ways of driving traffic but I felt it would be most helpful to provide some of the easiest, most effective and free or low cost methods.

Knowing how to drive traffic to your web site or blog is absolutely necessary if you want to achieve any level of success as an affiliate. You might have a fantastic looking site, you may be highly motivated and you may have all the other necessary resources but without good quality traffic, you aren’t going to make much money. Don’t let all your hard work go down the tube because nobody is visiting your site.

Since affiliate marketing continues to grow very rapidly, the marketplace has become highly competitive and driving traffic to your web sites and blogs is more challenging than ever. Because of all the new sites that continue to come online daily, it has become more difficult than ever to stand out from the crowd. If you have the drive, determination and patience to stick with affiliate marketing and make some money, here are some of the preferred methods to drive traffic to your site:

1. Don’t waste your visitor’s valuable time
Now more than ever, it is extremely important that you understand and are very knowledgeable about your market. Your goal is to build a solid customer base by getting targeted traffic from people who are interested in the content and theme of your site. Provide meaningful content and you’ll show your visitors that their effort was worthwhile and they didn’t waste their valuable time by visiting your site.

2. Google is your friend
Some people make the mistake of ignoring the free targeted traffic that is generated from the major search engines. That traffic should never be ignored, in fact it should be relied on. By use of the correct keywords you should keep trying to move up to the top rankings of all the popular search engines. Obviously, the higher you rank in the searches, the easier it will be for people to access your site.

3. The pen is mightier than the sword
One of the most effective and proven ways to increase traffic to your site is by writing articles that contain unique and useful content. When a person reads a well written article on a topic that they have an interest in, they will in most cases visit your site to see what else you have. There are a multitude of places where you can submit articles and here are a few of the best: EzineArticles, ArticleDashboard and GoArticles.

4. Show some link love
Another great way to not only market your site but drive traffic as well, is to exchange links with other sites that are related to your niche. This is also an effective way to increase your search engines rankings. Your main task would be locating some popular blogs that are relevant to yours and contacting the webmaster requesting the possibility of a link exchange. Once you do establish communication, try to keep it on a personal level and work out the details of a link exchange that would be beneficial to both parties.

5. Yes, there is money in the list
One of your most valuable assets as an online marketer is a list of your own subscribers. I’m sure you’ve heard this many times but “the money is in the list”. Once you build your list, you’ll be able to call on them periodically to inform them about new products and services. Before you attempt selling anything to your list, you must build a relationship and trust with them. By utilizing your autoresponder, and sending some personal messages, you will be able to accomplish that. Your autoresponder is a must have tool to help keep track of and grow your list.

6. The joint venture
A joint venture or JV is described as a legal entity formed between two or more parties to undertake an economic activity together. Joint venture marketing can be one of the most effective ways to promote a product or service. Having a joint venture partner through a link exchange or ad swap can be most beneficial to both parties. When you have a joint venture partner, it allows you to reach a much broader customer base in a shorter time frame.

7. Your own affiliate program
If you are fortunate enough to have a product of your own, one of the best ways to get massive amounts of traffic is to set up your own affiliate program. By having affiliates promote your product and do the work, you allow them to drive large numbers of traffic to your site. Both you and the affiliates will benefit from this situation due to the increase in traffic and sales.

There are many other ways to increase traffic to your site such as; social bookmarking, free report or software giveaway, and holding contests. Traffic generation is something you need to focus on if you’re serious about growing as an affiliate marketer. Once you learn how to drive traffic to see your offers, you’ll be on the right track to becoming more successful as an affiliate marketer.

As an online/affiliate marketer, what do you feel are your best methods for driving traffic?

]]> http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2496/7-ways-of-directing-traffic-to-your-affiliate-programs/feed/ 32 Monetize Your Blog With Affiliate Marketing Programs http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2452/monetize-your-blog-with-affiliate-marketing-programs/ http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2452/monetize-your-blog-with-affiliate-marketing-programs/#comments Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:20:21 +0000 Robert Barry http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/?p=2452 Monetize Your BlogIt seems that nowadays, quite a few bloggers are utilizing their blogs to generate some income as affiliate marketers. The amount of income that these blogs generate will vary quite a bit depending on the amount of traffic and the type of commission being received from the various affiliate programs. Basically, the affiliate places a banner or link to the merchant’s web site and is compensated according to a previously agreed on contract. There are several ways in which the blog owner can be compensated. Those include; each time an ad is served, visitor makes a purchase, visitor clicks through an ad or visitor performs an action such as registering with a web site.

Bloggers should be aware of and understand certain aspects of affiliate marketing and I want to discuss them in this article. This will include selecting the right opportunity, maximizing income potential and the requirements associated with the affiliate marketing opportunities.

Affiliate Program Selection
There are literally thousands of affiliate marketing programs available in today’s marketplace and the companies that offer these opportunities are very diverse. All that is needed to get instant approval by most companies, is the submission of some basic information. For the great majority, the affiliate should be approved unless there’s objectionable content on the blog or a conflict of interest. Although the process of getting approved to display banners, links, etc. is easy, the blog owner should use discretion when choosing these programs. It makes much better sense to choose a company that would be relevant to your blog’s theme and be of interest and provide benefits to your readers/visitors.

If you have a blog that is targeting a specific niche, it’s to your advantage to display links to companies that compliment your blog without acting as a direct competitor. This will help ensure that your visitors will be interested in the affiliate marketing banners and links and therefore be more likely to click on them. This will also help ensure that your visitors do not find your links to be annoying.

Be Aware Of Affiliate Marketing Guidelines
As a blog owner, you need to pay close attention to any affiliate marketing agreement that you enter. The reason this is important, is the fact that some companies may place a restriction on the usage of a link to their web site. These restrictions may include such things as; avoiding objectionable content, not including links or advertisements for direct competitors and restrictions on the appearance of the affiliate links. Failing to adhere to any of the guidelines, could result in the loss of affiliate privileges and/or being denied any compensation that was earned. While some of these restrictions may not be very common, it’s always best to be aware of the program’s guidelines.

Making The Most Of Your Affiliate Marketing Opportunities
Once you’ve selected what you feel is the best opportunity, it’s time to make the most of it by maximizing your earnings that are generated from your links. In an effort to maximize your profits, there are two critical factors that need to be taken into consideration. Those factors are regular evaluation of the effectiveness of your promotions and promoting your blog to obtain the most traffic.

If you plan to include affiliate marketing in your blog, you need to evaluate how effective your links are. This can be accomplished by comparing the percentage of visitors who click on your links to the overall traffic to your blog. If you find that a relatively small percentage of visitors are clicking on your links, you should consider making changes to your affiliate programs. Sometimes a simple change to the location or size of a banner or link can make a big difference. When making changes, it’s best to do them one at a time so you can properly evaluate what change gives you the most benefit.

Finally, as the blog owner you can increase your earnings by doing some self promotion to drive more traffic to your blog. Obviously, the more traffic you drive to your blog, the greater you chances are of increasing your affiliate earnings. One other thing, as the owner of your blog, it’s not a bad idea to mention some of the companies you are affiliated with. That should generate some interest in the ads that are running on your blog.

These are just some of the basic steps to follow if you chose to utilize affiliate marketing as an income source on your blog. I know that many of you are already involved with affiliate marketing and I would love to hear any of your suggestions or recommendations.

]]> http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2452/monetize-your-blog-with-affiliate-marketing-programs/feed/ 27 Mistakes To Avoid When Starting An Online Business http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2418/mistakes-to-avoid-when-starting-an-online-business/ http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2418/mistakes-to-avoid-when-starting-an-online-business/#comments Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:38:57 +0000 Robert Barry http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/?p=2418 Avoid mistakesWhen first starting to build an online business, it can be both confusing and overwhelming. There are literally thousands of different opportunities out there and that does not make it any easier. However, if you’re aware of some common errors that people make, you’ll be able to avoid them and have a much better chance of succeeding.

I’ve compiled a list of the most common mistakes others have made so you can avoid them when starting your online venture.

    1. Failure to plan is planning to fail
    One of the biggest and possibly the most costly mistakes you can make, is not having any goals or plans. You must take the time to carefully plan how you are going to achieve your objective or goal. You need to treat this as a “real” business or you’ll never be successful with it.

    2. The learning curve
    All of us need to go through some type of learning curve if we want to achieve our desired results. We all learn at different levels so how fast you learn is really dependent on each individual. This holds true for any type of online business as well.

    Since home based business is not a new concept, you’ll be able to find many proven models online. What you should do, is identify a business that you’re interested in and focus on that. Once you find that business, find someone who is already succeeding with it (you’ll be surprised at how many people are willing to help) and try to learn all you can from them. If you can duplicate what they are doing, you will most certainly decrease the learning curve. It would also be a good idea to join an online forum so you can get some support when needed.

    3. I’m going to be rich!
    This is probably the most common reason why so many people give up after a short time. They have the misconception that they will “get rich quick”. Nothing could be further from the truth, although some unscrupulous marketers will try to have you believing it. Success can be yours but it will not happen overnight. You need to treat your online business as you would any other. It takes hard work, dedication and persistence.

    4. I don’t need any capital, it’s an online business.
    How I wish that were true. A much more believable statement would be; “I can start my online business with a minimal amount of money”. It’s true that many free resources can be found on the internet, however, you still should be prepared to spend some money initially. You most likely have the hardware but you need a high speed Internet connection, domain registration, and hosting. To take your business to the next level, you may need to invest some dollars in advertising and promotion, as well as some additional software and training materials.

    5. Who needs research?
    Many people will start on online business or create a new product without doing any market research. Just because your family and friends think you have a great idea does not necessarily mean there is a market for it. This can be a big mistake that can cost you lots of wasted time and/or money.

    You need to carefully research any product or service you plan to promote and determine if there is a market and if it can be profitable. There are loads of tools out there to help you determine if there’s a buying market for your product. Just by reading newspapers and magazines that are relevant can be a good indicator of what’s “hot” in today’s marketplace. Trends change rapidly and products that were in demand last month won’t necessarily be in demand today. Always try to keep abreast of what’s going on and be sure there’s a demand for your product or service.

    6. Are you willing to make a commitment?
    As I mentioned earlier, it takes lots of hard work if you want to succeed with your online business. If you’re not willing to make a total commitment to your business, especially during the first year or so, running an online business may not be right for you.

    Each of us is motivated by different things. What is it that motivates you? Perhaps it’s creating a better lifestyle for yourself and your family, maybe an exotic car, a dream vacation, etc. No matter what your goals may be, always try to reaffirm and visualize them with frequency. That will help to strengthen your commitment and put you on the path to success.

I listed what I felt are some of the more common mistakes people make and I realize there are many others. I’m curious to know if any of you have made one or more of the mistakes I mentioned or a mistake I did not mention.

]]> http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2418/mistakes-to-avoid-when-starting-an-online-business/feed/ 26 What Makes Some People So Successful? http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2354/what-makes-some-people-so-successful/ http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/2354/what-makes-some-people-so-successful/#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:14:01 +0000 Robert Barry http://successaffiliatemarketing.com/blog/?p=2354 Successful PeopleWe all read about certain people who are very successful. Those people might include a business leader, an athlete, an entertainer, a politician or someone from just about any walk of life. Have you ever wondered how these people become such great success stories? Do you think these people have anything in common? The answer to that question is, absolutely yes!

I’ve always been fascinated by many of the success stories I read about and how they we’re able to achieve such great success. Many of those people inspire me and in some cases motivate me. What I’ve noticed about these people are the many traits they all seem to have in common. Here is a list of what I feel most of these people have in common:

    Knowledge is power
    Successful people are curious and always hunger for more knowledge. They never stop reading, studying or asking questions. A major difference between those who are successful and those who are not is the fact that they apply their knowledge and take action on what they learn. It appears that successful people want to know all they can about anything and everything.

    Winners never quit
    Just like anyone else, they have their failures but the difference is, they use those failures as learning experiences and do it better next time. Successful people continually work to improve themselves. They work on all details of their life including personality, management, communication and leadership skills. They refuse to accept mistakes. When things go wrong, they correct them.

    All work and no play?
    Not at all. They all work very hard but they also play just as hard. You will rarely hear any of these people complain about getting up early in the morning. They recognize that achieving a high level of success comes from hard work. These are people who expect a high level of performance from others but more importantly, they expect an even higher level of performance from themselves.

    Why? Why not? Why not me? Why not now?
    They have a why not attitude and they are extremely creative. When others see problems or limitations, successful people see new opportunities and possibilities. They are always looking for ways to do things more efficiently and they don’t hesitate to seek advice and try new methods.

    Networking
    Successful people are great listeners and they are always willing to listen to their co-workers, friends, neighbors and even the local bartender. They are always networking and know lots of people from every walk of life. Successful people place a lot of value on their personal relationships. There is a great deal of mutual respect from all their friends and personal contacts.

    It’s not your fault
    You won’t see very many successful people wasting time complaining or trying to figure out who to blame. They usually take responsibility and move on. A large part of being successful is the willingness to take the initiative as well as accepting the responsibilities that lead to becoming a success.

    Don’t worry, be happy
    You’ll find that most successful people are generally relaxed and know how to keep things in perspective. They know how to keep things evenly balanced during the most difficult and stressful times. It’s not very often that you will see a highly successful person in a state of panic. Even during a time of crisis, they are able to make good decisions.

    Living life to the fullest
    Successful people seem to have the ability to look a person in the eye and listen to what is being said. They know how to enjoy things such as music, fine wine, a good meal or even playing with a child. They also appear to never be in a rush, yet they get so much done. Successful people don’t waste time and they take full advantage of each and every day. They always “live for the moment”.

    Actions speak louder than words
    When things aren’t working out as well as they should, successful people respond immediately and change it. If an opportunity presents itself, they act upon it. If one of their investments isn’t producing as well as they thought it would, they sell it. If an important relationship is dwindling away, they take the time to renew it. If a competitor or a new technology comes along, they make the necessary adjustments. The point is, they respond and do it quickly.

    Somewhere over the rainbow
    They have that uncanny ability to look beyond the horizon. What others seem to miss, successful people see. They observe and notice changes, trends and shifts. Although successful people live in the here and now, they always have an eye on the future.

None of these traits are inherited and every one of them can be learned. All of them are free and can be used by anyone. They all work together giving repeated success to those who use them wisely. Anyone who has a thirst for learning, the ability to respond to change, maintains strong relationships and builds a solid reserve of goodwill, has the requirements to become very successful.

Do you possess any of those traits? What do you think you need to work on to become successful? Please feel free to leave your comments.

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