Yes! Affiliate programs are do-able. You can make money from your site using affiliate programs if you do them right. Review the affiliate programs resources section.
First, What is an Affiliate/Referral Program?
You send visitors to a web merchant using whatever creative affiliate marketing ideas you can devise. The Merchant track those visitors If the Referrer buys, You receive a COMMISSION - Revenue Sharing. Now the Advantages to Affiliate Programs:
No need to worry about order taking and shipping No cost to Join If there are Advantages, Guess What...there are...
Disadvantage.
Referrers must always click through your site. If they don't buy the first time, you could loss the commission. Especially if the referrer goes back but not through your links. Referrers rarely buy on the first visit. Merchants can terminate a program anytime. Merchants can change commission structure. eToys just turned their backs on affiliates after they built eToys' business. Their original commission was 25% then they dwindled it down to nothing over the past two years. Many don't offer any learning or support. Facts You should know before starting your Affiliate-based business
Many don't earn money from their sites and fail. There are TWO reasons:
Expect "money for nothing". They don't conduct business based upon exchanging value - You still need to promote and make your business known. They don't do it as a "Smart" "Knowledge-based"business. They create a tacky collection of banners and call them a "CYBERMALL"...offering no value or content. We were guilty of this one (that's another story).
Okay, Why would you still want to use Affiliate Programs as an income opportunity? Re-read the advantages. There are also excellent Affiliate programs out there. Dedicated to helping their affiliates succeed. Go here for the best affiliate resources.
YES! You can still can create a substantial income from affiliate/referral programs. They are a viable money maker if your willing to do it right. If you build the "Smart" "Knowledge-base" affiliate business.
What is a "Smart" "Knowledge-based" business.
You use "YOUR KNOWLEDGE" to develop your own theme, a concept that leverages what you already know and love. Then you choose good programs that fit with your theme. You don't sucked in by the hype of all the programs. You build "from the ground up" in a logical and business-like way. You measure the profit potential of your concepts before you proceed. You evaluate each program for fit and profit potential. Only the best programs "make the cut."
HOW do you build a successful revenue sharing business? Use the tools in this site. Many of them are free. Begin to think of the affiliate association as a partnership in business. Your Side and Their Side.
YOUR SIDE OF THE PARTNERSHIP
STAY FOCUS!!! What is the ultimate goal and purpose of your site. Write it out. Repeat... Write it out. This will help immensely when making decisions about programs, marketing, etc.
Evaluate each program for fit and potential profit. Use the check list below. Read the agreement thoroughly.
Keep ONLY the best. If your creating a "CYBERMALL" develop a theme. Offer value to your visitors - This keeps them coming back. Remember most don't buy on the first visit. Put content related topics for your merchants product. Some merchants will supply you with content.
Become a Student. Learn. Read. Review. Always look for ways to improve your site, selling skills, marketing anything related to growing a business. This includes personal development. Begin with the "Smart Box"
THEIR SIDE OF THE PARTNERSHIP Use this checklist when evaluating a merchant's program. Printer Friendly Version
___1. Offers an in-demand line of high value products
___2. A High First Purchase Commission
___3. Lifetime Commission on all purchases by customers originally referred by you. Now and future regardless if they come back through your links or not.
___4. Have Lifetime commissions based on earnings from affiliates you refer to the program.
___5. Limits the number of affiliates..."too many affiliates spoil the program"...Even McDonalds limits the number of franchises.
___6. Promise in writing that the affiliate agreement will never unfairly terminate or modified.
___7. Offers support, training manuals, newsletters and other tools to help grow your business.
Score your potential merchant. Obviously the higher the score, the better chance you have for making money on the Internet. You have to do your part too. Remember think partnership. This checklist would have saved us a lot of wasted time, and grief when we first got started.
Affiliate programs are not "Get Rich by Doing Nothing". Affiliates programs are not easy money. They do offer you a way to take advantage of the e-commerce explosion.. Especially if you don't want the hassles of developing a product and taking orders and shipping. They cost very little to get up and running. Affiliate programs can also be use to enhance your current site. You can also use the affiliate programs to learn while developing your own product.
Are you ready to build a profitable Affiliate business?Do you still want to make money from your site?
Here are some excellent resources to learn how to have a profitable affiliate business.