Three Steps to Profitable Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves the merchant paying a percentage of the revenue received from their sales resulting from the promotion of their services and products by the affiliate marketer.

These days, due to its cost efficiency, affiliate marketing is one of the fastest growing industries and works extremely well for both parties involved.  There is also the opportunity for other players like the affiliate solutions provider and the affiliate networks to benefit too.

As far as the merchant is concerned, the biggest gain is the fact that his products or services are made available to a much wider market which in turn increases the potential earning capacities.  It is in the interest of the merchant to get as many affiliates as he can and in this way he can expect even more sales to be generated.

Much valuable time, effort and money will be saved by the merchant when he has affiliates promoting what he has on offer instead of having to find new customers himself.   The affiliate marketer stands to receive an income for each and every customer clicking on the link on his website when this referral results in a sale.

Here are three steps to follow if you would like to be a part of the growing multitude of affiliate marketers with an infinite possibility of income.

1.  Find something of interest to you that you are passionate about and focus on a part of this interest that you have knowledge on.  This ensures you give your best when showing your visitors of your expertise in this particular field.  You will gain their trust and they will be encouraged to purchase the products you are endorsing.

2.  Carry out a search for merchants who offer products and services in connection with your interest and then develop a website with extremely reliable hosting and a top level domain name.  The conversion rate and the structure of the commission to be paid needs to be considered when you choose which products you want to promote on your website.  There are numerous affiliate networks and affiliate solution providers where information on the products offering the most profits and the merchants who pay the best rates are available for you to look at.   It is vital that you research this thoroughly and take your time in making the right choice.

3.  Once you have made these choices and created your own website you are ready to promote the goods.  There will be a need for creativity and flexibility on your part along with a willingness to take on board new ideas.  The money you have always dreamed about earning will soon be reality and you are certain to be enjoying every aspect of your affiliate marketing career.

27 Comments

  • Kenny Ritchie

    Reply Reply October 4, 2008

    “Find something of interest to you that you are passionate about and focus on a part of this interest that you have knowledge on.”

    Couldn’t agree more spot on Reed.

    Kenny Ritchies last blog post..three free internet marketing resources

  • Carrie Pierce

    Reply Reply October 4, 2008

    Indeed- passion and interest are SO very important- not only for successful Affiliate Marketing participation- but for successful living too!

    Reed, your point about needing to take on new ideas is also quite pivotal. We all MUST be ready, willing and able to think outside the box-consistently.
    Not doing so is the Kiss of Death where online marketing is concerned…

    I’ve been recently researching Affiliates on my own- and your blog posts have been SO helpful.
    Thanks!

  • tmobil8

    Reply Reply October 4, 2008

    Greetings Reed, Thomas here, i read you and your kids were having some fun huh? lol. About affiliate marketing, you dont have to tell me partner lol. Nice write up. Enjoy your weekend!

  • Tony Sanger

    Reply Reply October 4, 2008

    Hi Reed, I hope this finds You, Marissa and your baby, well and happy.
    As usual what you say is so spot on and helpful.

  • Supernatural Season 4

    Reply Reply October 4, 2008

    Reed,

    My son now is 7 months. I experienced the same previously and you will having more ‘fun’ later on for a long time 🙂

    Do what we passionate but still one important point that we always have to be reminded – FOCUS and don’t be distracted by so many money making online info out there.

    Supernatural Season 4s last blog post..Episode 3 – In the Beginning

  • John Bandy

    Reply Reply October 4, 2008

    Hi Reed,
    Hey I bet you tried to duck when little Zachary
    surprised you.LOL Hey that is just the beginning of the fun. Thanks for the article. I have got to learn to slow down and take my time. I get in a hurry and it usually cost me more time than if I had slowed down. Lots of good info and just what I need.
    John

  • Paul

    Reply Reply October 4, 2008

    Yes Reed, other good article. I would have added the Google Adwords technique to get traffic instantly.

    Paul,
    http://www.affiliatemakemoney.net

    Pauls last blog post..How Does Affiliate Marketing Software Work?

  • Jorge EZ Affiliate

    Reply Reply October 4, 2008

    Oh Reed…

    I remember the “watch out and duck days… LOL 🙂

    ——————————————-

    Good post… If at the beginning you are not motivated about the niche you picked for your website, it will be very difficult to stay with it.

    Take care.

    Jorge

    Jorge EZ Affiliates last blog post..Affiliate Marketing in a Recession? ABSOLUTELY YES!

  • BlogVue

    Reply Reply October 4, 2008

    Hi Reed

    I have been reading your articles and find them to be most informative and helpful. It certainly is true about having passion for the work that one does. We have to love what we do or it will have an ill effect that spills over into every aspect of our lives. I always tell people to find something that you love doing and offer it as a service to your community. And it can be absolutely anything under the sun.

    Thanks for all that you do.

    Barb

    PS: Hide your car keys and your wallet. They have a mysterious way of being flushed down the toilet when little feet start scampering about. LOL, been there done that.

    BlogVues last blog post..Using Article Directories For Profit

  • Dennis Francis

    Reply Reply October 4, 2008

    I agree with the above points, there are however a few caveats to choosing something you’re passionate about. This step should involve selecting a multitude of interests. Go to Google and enter a few keywords related to your interests and ensure that your interests are popular enough to ensure a viable market. Go to several related forums to see what others are saying about their interests. You will be able to identify issues and problems in your niche.

    If you cannot find a market in one of your niches then start with one that has a proven market first.

    Dennis Franciss last blog post..My First YouTube Video for Article Marketing

  • Peter

    Reply Reply October 4, 2008

    hallo Reed,
    you must have an interest on the product which you are promoting then you can do and everything will run by itself. That is what I’m saying in more or less sarcastic way when you have no content (learnt about promoting an good selling product due to your promotion) you can not be a happy or wealthy man. But mostly when you grew rich, you loose interest in your promotioned product. An Autoresponder is doing the work and you sit and do only counting ?
    peter

  • Mayur

    Reply Reply October 5, 2008

    Reed has given a very important info for any affiliate who want to make money online.

    Thanks Reed

  • Wayne Bell

    Reply Reply October 5, 2008

    Thanks for a great post Reed. My wife and I have been marketing online for more then five years now and am ashamed at all the scams out there. Fortunately honety and integrity are still alive online and out number the garbage 100 to 1.
    In fact, if any of your members, customers or yourself are interested in some “Free Advertising”, then I urge you to check out a new site that just launched at:> http://freetrafficforlife.synthasite.com/
    The name says it all, you get to post totally free text and banner ads witout ever paying a dime and no reciprocal links are required. As far as honesty and integrity goes, you can put this one at the top of your list. This Free Ad site is also a great place for newbies wanting to get their sites off the ground. Affiliate Marketing really is the greatest but like everything in life, you will only get out of it what you put in. Don’t be like little Zachary
    and pee on others and don’t be like Reed and get peed on. Shoot for the stars, work hard and success will find you.

    Regards
    Wayne

  • admin

    Reply Reply October 5, 2008

    @Kenny thanks 🙂

    @Carrie glad to be of assistance and yes school is never out for the pro

    @Thomas thanks

    @Supernatural well said focus and not buying everything you see is what will save a lot of businesses

    @John you’re welcome

    @Paul good suggestion

    @Jorge agree 100%

    @Barb thanks I’ll try to remember to hide those when Zachary is older.

    @Dennis my rule of thumb for determining if you are passionate about it is “have I bought multiple information products on this topic?” if the answer is yes you are more than likely passionate and an expert on it already

    @Peter not sure what you are getting at are you saying I’m not happy and not doing well?

    @Mayur thank you

    @Wayne I agree shoot for the stars

  • Doug

    Reply Reply October 5, 2008

    Reed Yes make sure your toilet seat is a latch seat and keep things out of the little guys reach for the next 3yrs. Good luck I am a newbie at this but have drive and determination just not enough knowledge yet or a niche so if you could please help determine niche potential would appreciate. I do have a site on books at http://www.inter-learning.org

    Doug

  • Anatoly Silkin

    Reply Reply October 5, 2008

    Dear REED FLOREN!!! I Thank also is ready with you on Top,
    But financial disinterested aid SOS is for the beginning necessary!!!!!!
    Also movement to success to achievement of the American dream will begin!!!!
    Sincerely Anatoly Silkin.

  • PV Reymond

    Reply Reply October 5, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    Good article. You are giving great tips here that people can apply immediately to start making money.

    Keep it up!

    Thanks,
    ^PV Reymond

    http://www.pvreymond.com

  • Reed,

    Thanks for all the great affiliate marketing tips.

    Congratulations to you and Marissa on the birth of your son Zachary!!!

    Matthew

    Matthew Internet Marketing Marrs last blog post..How Email Marketing Campaigns Fits Into Internet Marketing Strategy

  • Rumen

    Reply Reply October 5, 2008

    Hi Reed
    That the essential for good affilite marketing
    but you forgot say for something small and
    important things like good writen articles
    many,many big traffic and very good SEO becouse
    whit yours 3 steps nobody internet marketer
    don’t have big success

    Rumens last blog post..??? ??????? ????????

  • Jussi Koiranen

    Reply Reply October 5, 2008

    This was really motivating. I just started to plan an affiliate plan to get my own affiliates to promote my products.

  • Liz Nichols

    Reply Reply October 5, 2008

    One suggested refinement– make a list of things you enjoy doing, hobbies, interests and areas of expertise. Make sure you research several of these, because it is very likely the one you think will be most profitable actually isn’t. Also, check for subniches of the topics of greatest interest because sometimes the niche is too crowded, but if you dig deeper into more specific keywords you’ll hit paydirt.

    There are tools that will help to determine profitability. Anything one can do in research to make success more likely the better.

    Liz Nichols

    Liz Nicholss last blog post..Video Social Marketing: VidEngage

  • Angelina

    Reply Reply October 6, 2008

    Hello Reed,

    Very good article. Thanks for your helpfull tips.

    Thanks,
    Angelina

  • Georjina

    Reply Reply October 8, 2008

    Great post, as always Reed. I left affiliate marketing a couple years ago because I really didn’t know enough to choose wisely. Think for people who are new, the number of affiliate programs available makes it frustrating and many quit (like I did).

    Passion is good, and the first step. But finding affiliate programs for that passion which will pay well is also important. One of my passions is soaring (glider pilot) but I’m still looking for an affiliate program for sail planes! 🙂

    All in all, a very good post.

    Georjinas last blog post..When Will Your Someday Arrive?

  • Felix Makmur

    Reply Reply October 8, 2008

    Some great advices here, Reed. If we do thing that we are passionate about, we will become more motivated to do all the works required and everything will become easy to do.

    Felix Makmurs last blog post..7 Simple Methods to Attract Avalanche of Targeted Traffic to Your Website

  • admin

    Reply Reply October 8, 2008

    @Doug will do, thanks.

    @Anatoly it’s nice that the American dream is really an International Dream 🙂

    @PV Thank you

    @Matthew you’re welcome

    @Rumen good tips, thanks

    @Jussi awesome, keep up the great work

    @Liz good tips

    @Angelina thanks

    @Georjina interesting, yeah that might be an interesting niche to get into

    @Felix you are correct 🙂

  • Chris Imamshah

    Reply Reply October 8, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    I think the part I like most about your posts are the “no fluff” feature. You deliver straight up facts that should guide all of us Affilaite Marketers.

    Thanks,
    Chris
    http://www.fastinternetmarketingtips.com
    http://www.christineimamshah.com

  • admin

    Reply Reply October 8, 2008

    @Chris thank you; I strive to keep the fluff out if you notice any keep me posted so I can make them better.

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