| There are certain ways of doing anything. When it | | | | product. You're not going to want to promote |
| comes to affiliate marketing in particular, you can | | | | something that isn't any good, no matter how high the |
| choose to do it half-heartedly or you can go all-out and | | | | commissions, right? Um....right?? This can only come by |
| do it right. Work your affiliate programs by slamming a | | | | owner the product yourself. Plus, you'll wind up with |
| ton of banners on a page and waiting for the money | | | | something really cool! |
| to roll in is both a waste of your time and a disservice | | | | 3. Follow Your Niche - If you're web site or blog that |
| to the affiliate program owner you're working for. You | | | | has to do with cellular phones, don't join and promote |
| may as well not even do it. | | | | an affiliate program for riding lawnmowers. You are |
| Work your affiliate programs like they actually mean | | | | not going to get your most wanted response that |
| something to you and your business; with all your | | | | way, which is the click. Keep your subject matter and |
| knowledge and effort, and you're going to be on the | | | | your affiliate programs in line with one another. |
| road to collecting a good deal of commissions. Just like | | | | 4. Deep Link - Let's use the cell phone scenario and |
| anything, there are ways of doing things that are going | | | | say that you've got a page or a blog entry about the |
| to prove to your web site or blog visitors that you are | | | | Apple iPhone and you have an affiliate association |
| an expert at what you're taking about. Use your | | | | with a large on-line cell phone store. When you're |
| expertise about the product you're promoting and | | | | figuring out which of their affiliate text links, banners or |
| speak to them as a friend. After all, PRE-Selling a | | | | other creative to use, make sure you are able to deep |
| product is nothing more than being able to articulate | | | | link to the page or pages about Apple iPhones. You |
| how wonderful something is to someone else, as one | | | | want to put your potential customer where they want |
| trusted friend to another. It's not a hard thing to learn, | | | | to be. Don't just link to the cell phone stores home |
| but is a skill you must master that is not being taught | | | | page. That is like leading them out into the woods and |
| as widely as it needs to be. People want to be able to | | | | then dumping them. Don't make them search for that |
| trust others. Cynicism runs rampant in the Internet | | | | Apple iPhone information, lead them directly to it via |
| marketing world. There are far too many scammers | | | | your deep-linking affiliate link. That way will convert |
| out there making us good guys look bad. You primary | | | | much better for you. |
| job is to be that one voice crying out in the wilderness | | | | 5. Work with The Affiliate Program Owners - They |
| that changes that cynicism to trust. It's about being real | | | | want to sell their products as much as you do. Even |
| and not a salesman. People can smell a salesman a | | | | more. Don't be afraid to contact them and voice your |
| mile away and they stink. | | | | concerns, opinions and needs. Any affiliate program |
| Here are 5 ways to work your affiliate marketing | | | | that is worth promoting will welcome your input. They |
| programs as an expert: | | | | will want to work with you. You'll be able to tell who is |
| 1. PRE-Sell - Find your own voice. Don't write like | | | | worth working with and who is not. Do they have a |
| everyone else. You do not want to come off as just | | | | large selection of creative to use? Do they offer |
| another carbon-copy salesman. You need to convey | | | | attractive commission payouts (I tend not to take |
| to your visitors that you care about them (it helps if | | | | anything that pays out 2% of a sale or less) and |
| you do). You need to have a passion to truly help | | | | long-term cookies? Do they allow deep linking with a |
| other people. That can be understood in how you | | | | bunch of pages to choose from? Is their affiliate |
| write. Sincerity is a trait sorely lacking in Internet | | | | program control center attractive and easy to use? |
| marketing. You need to learn the mandatory skill of | | | | Do they keep you informed via email about upcoming |
| writing to PRE-Sell. Your job is to PRE-Sell the product | | | | promotions and ways to help you make better |
| and it is the job of the stores' landing pages to close | | | | conversions? If all that is being done, you should be |
| the sale. Tell your visitors of your experiences and | | | | working with them as best you can. They are |
| share stories. People appreciate being spoken to as an | | | | obviously putting their best foot forward for you and |
| old friend sitting around the dining room table with a | | | | their customers. If not, drop them and move on. They |
| cup of coffee. Which lead to.... | | | | should always be there to help you in any way they |
| 2. Have Product Experience - Whenever possible, | | | | can. |
| own the product or work with the service you're | | | | There you have it. Those are a few of the ways to |
| promoting. This allows you to speak as that expert | | | | work an affiliate program for all it's worth. If you want |
| with first-hand experience. Your passion for that | | | | the money (a no-brainer), learn all you can, work hard, |
| fantastic product will shine through. You want your | | | | work smart and don't give up. Your failure or success |
| readers to get as excited as your are about the | | | | is entirely dependent on you. Here's to your success! |