With affiliate programs, it really pays to work well with others. Also known as referral programs, affiliate programs are normally commission based sales. You'll recommend a site to your visitors and then pick up a commission as a percentage of any sales that those visitors make. You'll benefit from the commission and the merchant benefits from the sales.
If you already have a website set up on the internet, you can run an affiliate program from your existing web site, or you can simply build a new site to promote a particular product, service or affiliate program. As long as it brings in more cash than it takes to build or run a new web site, you'll be on your way to recurring profits.
With any type of marketing program, you must be cautious when you select an affiliate program. Be sure to do your homework and check out the program thoroughly. Even though it may seem extremely tempting to go for the programs that pay the highest commissions but beware, these programs won't pay you anything if your visitors don't buy them.
Below, you'll find some tips to help you select an affiliate program that's right for you:
FIRST: Do not accept any less than a 25% commission from any affiliate program (I personally do not work with any program that pays less than 50% or under $20). With a little research you can find numerous programs with very rewarding commission payment structures and high percentages of pay in just about any field you are looking at.
SECOND: Review the sales page for the affiliate program you have an interest in. Is it something that would get you excited enough to make a purchase? Do they outline numerous benefits that the buyer would receive when they purchase the product? Finally, do they have testimonials from other people who have purchased the product and have had positive results using the product?
THIRD: Look for the statistic pages that list the number of click troughs’, sales, and earnings so you'll be able to see how you are doing.
FOURTH: Always look for programs that offer a wide variety of marketing tools to put on your web site, including banners, text links, and of course graphics.
FIFTH: Find out how often you'll be paid and be sure that the payment schedule meets with your own expectations. Some programs will pay bi-monthly, while others will pay monthly or quarterly.
SIXTH: Be sure that top level support is included. If they can't answer your questions in a quick and timely manner, you don't want to work with them.
Once you learn what you are doing with affiliate programs, you can make a lot of money. If you are just starting out, you should always use common sense and do not rush into anything. As you become more familiar with how things work, you'll be well on your way to making a lot of money and enjoying making it. Even if you have to work hard, you'll be glad you did.