How to Create Multiple Streams of Affiliate Marketing Income

You’ve certainly heard the phrase “multiple streams of income” before. However, you may be unclear about the meaning of this phrase.  Many business people aim at creating multiple revenue streams as a way of ensuring the success of their business into the future. This can save a business in the lean times which are a natural part of the business cycle. If your business is affiliate marketing, it is especially recommended to have multiple streams of income in case one revenue stream should dry up.  As with any other business, it is best not to put all of your eggs into one basket. If you were to ask the entrepreneurs who have met with great success in thee world of online business, they would tell you that they themselves have managed to establish multiple streams of income online.

The first step to generating multiple streams of income is to look at the resources that you already have at your disposal. The first resource to assess is yourself. Ask yourself the following questions and write down the answers: what are your talents and strengths? Are you a born salesman or saleswoman? Do you have excellent communication skills? Anything you can do better than most is worth noting and can help you to do well in your business.

Look at the physical assets that you have – equipment and the like. Computers, printers, scanners and other equipment which can be used in your business. Also consider what assets your friends and family may have accessible for you to use.   If you want to create multiple income streams, this is where you should begin. If you already have a website, you have a head start. If you already have all of these resources, then it may be a good idea to get into an affiliate marketing business to get some extra money from the resources you already possess.

Getting into affiliate marketing can be one of the best ways to generate multiple income streams. Affiliate programs come in many different forms, with many of them being quite simple – you sign up and are making money almost immediately. Affiliate marketing allows you the opportunity to make money by promoting products and services for merchants and by recruiting other affiliates. Many programs provide you with ample training and marketing materials to get you off to a good start.     Whether as a part of full time endeavor, affiliate marketing is a great way to make multiple revenue streams by promoting various products and services for web based merchants. You can make a good income without investing anything in creating a product and never have to deal with inventories, bookkeeping and customer support. You have only to get potential customers to the merchant’s website in order to generate an income.

It is a good idea to get into several affiliate programs so that visitors to your site will have a range of products and services to choose from. These merchants should all be in the same niche so as to generate multiple streams of income for you. This is a sound business strategy – this will give you a wider source of business opportunities and more sources of income. This will help to protect you if one of your affiliated merchants should go out of business.   Make sure to only go for affiliate programs which match up with your knowledge and your interests – this will make you better prepared to promote these products effectively.

You shouldn’t just wildly sign up for affiliate programs hoping that one of them will mean some income for you. Don’t try to sell products you know nothing about; these will be difficult for you to promote. Go with products which you are interested in yourself – it is always easier to sell a product which you enjoy yourself.

Remember that your enthusiasm can be contagious and lead prospects to click those affiliate links and make you commissions.    Keep the principle of not putting all of your eggs in one basket firmly in mind as you go about getting involved in affiliate marketing. You will keep yourself and your business investments better protected by having multiple income streams. You don’t want to be left in a bad position should your only source of revenue dry up.  It pays to diversify your business activities; the more revenue streams you have, the bigger and more secure your income will be.

40 Comments

  • Fabian Tan

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    Hey Reed,

    Totally agree! 🙂

    It is ideal to set up multiple streams of income such as affiliate sales, product sales, membership sites through not to mention multiple sources of traffic.

    Fabian Tan
    http://www.ExplosiveTrafficSystem.com

  • Bryan Hee

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    Multiple stream of income is the idea business model to create ongoing revenue. Anyway we need to “focus” in promoting one or two affiliates rather then promoting too many affiliate and can’t generate enough revenue to sustain your affiliate business.

    To Your Success
    Bryan Hee

  • Jim Watkins

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    The goal should be to build multiple streams of income but the strategies you choose to build is crucial to your success.

    I believe that a person should start with something they know and love and build to a profitable level before starting the next project.

    Then the next step would be to add a product or service that complements your primary business. In this way your business building becomes much easier because you are not having to plow new ground but building on what you have already done.

    Only when you have mastered the plan as outlined above should you implement completely new products or services.

    Jim Watkins

  • karren

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    lol good point there, way to go Jennifer !

  • Kenny Ritchie

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    When I look for a new product to promote then I also tend to look for something that is a compliment to the portfolio I already promote.

    Was the subscribe to rss always at the end of the posts. For anyone that doesn’t do this on their own blog it’s highly recommended.

    There’s a plugin that’ll do this for you out there already I use called “What would Seth Godin do?” can’t remember the programmer but will find out if anyone wants to know.

  • Jerry lindenburger

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    Hi Reed,
    I’ve gotten your newsletter for some time now, and I just wanted to thank you for starting your blog!
    You have alot of valuable info you can share and I look forward to reading it here.
    Thanks again,
    Jerryl

    Jerry lindenburgers last blog post..Blog of the Week

  • That is correct! Spread your eggs around and not only in one basket and the returns will be great. This translates to marketing in different niches, and even within the same niche, target sub-niches. Plus, using different business models and traffic driving techniques.

  • Emmanuel Mba

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    Hi Reed,
    You never fail to amaze me with your series of marketing tools. I thank you for taking the time to write all these useful blogs for members. Keep it up

    Emmanuel Mbas last blog post..New Breakthrough “Magic Code” Makes Your Site Money!

  • Laura

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    Hi Reed,
    Absolutely right. But this applies not only to affiliate marketing, but to almost every area of life, esp. when it involves money. Never keep all your eggs in one basket. Those old cliches actually mean something…
    Thanks!
    Laura

  • Peter

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    Hi Reed,
    I like to see all the blogs the sales letters about a new way of taking a product to town or to customer and it is now since Jan 2007 ! nothing new it is only more money to spend. There is a song if you are looking for wealth and inside it says “You get another day older and deeper in debt”. A good reason to go into such an adventure is at this stagnated economy be a stomperer. You have to avoid to a spammer. The developement of software to go all the way on automatic is leaving the content almost without any content it is everything similar and yours also. What are you praying?
    to your success
    Peter

  • William Beck

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    Hi Reed,
    I like the advise about having more than 1 stream of income. What
    about all the people out there that are still trying to make their
    first sale. I would like multiple streams but how can you believe in
    multiple streams when getting a few sales is a challenge?
    Willy B
    http://www.my-family-money.com

  • James

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    Hey Reed

    The content you provide is always tried and true anybody trying to figure out Internet
    Marketing should pay attention.

    Thanks
    James

  • Anatoly Silkin

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    I hope your method will help me to begin movement to success!
    Thanks! Anatoly.

  • Bill

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    I think in the end it all comes down to hard work and parting with some cash, especially on the promotion side, and depending of course on your own resources. There are many other equations that come into the picture including good content whether it be a blog or website. And of course having a plan of action and strategy is absolutely vital if you want to survive in this cut-throat business.

    The Hard Truth about Affiliate Marketing

  • Afam Uzoechina

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    Great post Reed.I find very it informative

    Keep up the good work

  • Liz Nichols

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    One mistake newbies make is to start something new before the first business is going strong. For most people diverting attention from the first business before it is running smoothly causes both businesses to fail.

    I agree absolutely that having multiple streams of income is the ideal, but take one step at a time for greatest success.

    Liz

    Liz Nicholss last blog post..Nickel Mania X– You’ll Hate Yourself If You Pass It Up

  • Mike

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    Hey Reed This is good info. I will use what I just learned and increase my online affiliate income Thanks for the free information I look forward to your next blog. http://www.YouReceiveCalls.com

    Mikes last blog post..New Cash Leveraging System is Fully Automated!

  • Ayn Elise

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    I haven’t been reading for long, but I did notice the listen to/Odiogo the other day. Either new or older, that is a great idea as a feature to use.

  • Davine Thieneman

    Reply Reply September 14, 2008

    Great Ideas Reed!
    So many affiliate programs are not designed for repeat customers, but just promote one ebook, product or service.

    I like programs that offer one really needed things to help marketers succeed online for instance, followed with many more ways to “earn as you learn” offers. Building good client trust – to me that is the marketers’ best mission for residual success.

    Thanks for all you do…
    Davine at VoipStar Communications
    http://voipstar.mywirelessrep.com

  • Chris Peterson

    Reply Reply September 15, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    Excellent article! Yes, affiliate programs are an excellent way to multiple income streams.

    I agree with you, that you should never put all of your eggs in one basket as fads will come and go.

    What is “Hot today, may not be tommorrow.”

    Thanks
    Chris Peterson
    http://www.affiliate-homebusiness.net

  • admin

    Reply Reply September 15, 2008

    @Fabian very good tips as usual, btw you interesting in started to be a guest blogger here?

    @Bryan you bring up a valid point a lot of people bounce from one product to another and they need to focus on one and make some money perhaps have a goal of make that first commission then $100 or $1000 a month from it then $X per day etc… then they can move to the next.

    @Jim I agree people will have greater success with what they love. However anyone who reads this is passionate about internet marketing and has probably bought something related to it so I still think that’s a good place to start for many. Yes it’s competitive but if they do it right and build relationships they can build their business through joint ventures and not spend any money on traffic

    @karren not sure if that was meant for this blog or not but ok.

    @Kenny just added that today 🙂

    @Jerry thank you

    @Davion great points

    @Emmanuel thanks glad you like it

    @Laura yes I agree many cliches hold true

    @Peter not sure what you are getting at?

    @William in that case I’d focus on making the first sale and then making sales on a consistent basis before attempting multiple streams

    @James thanks 🙂

    @Anatoly keep trying them and I’m sure they will help you

    @Bill great points

    @Afam thank you, glad it helps

    @Liz yes one step at a time. Baby steps is what most of us need to do

    @Mike awesome, I will look forward to hearing about your success

    @Ayn just added it the other day, I think it’s really cool.

    @Davine great points

    @Chris I agree with you we need to follow the trends

    @topwebbusinesses, @thegameoflove, @i-goldmine thanks for the trackbacks

  • www.JuanitaOsborne.com

    Reply Reply September 15, 2008

    Great article and pointers. Another great way to have multiple streams is to go with one solid organization that has a duplicatable multiples streams of income marketing system that has a built in autoresponder to sell the system for you and is FREE to use.

    You can find this kind of system at http://www.JuanitaOsborne.com/spiderweb

  • admin

    Reply Reply September 15, 2008

    @JuanitaOsborne that could but it’s not exactly what I’d have in mind since things can go wrong with a company or they may delay sending a check.

  • Jussi Koiranen

    Reply Reply September 16, 2008

    Enthusiasm really is contagious! Diversification is always good. Filsaime and his JVs have been ranting about this integration marketing last few weeks. Having multiple products that support each other, means more money so you should create your site/sites from the beginning so that people would be interested to return to get your opinions and updates

  • admin

    Reply Reply September 16, 2008

    @Jussi integration marketing is a fantastic way to make money.

  • Mutiara Hobbs

    Reply Reply September 18, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    Thanks for the post! Awesome advice!
    I love the part where you said it is recommended to pick an affiliate product that we are interested in. I believe it will be easier to write and share my opinion/review about something that I’m so passionate about. It won’t be a drudgery for me! And since I’m having funm writing and sharing my opinion/review about an affiliate product, even without the instant gratifications of instant sales, I am fine with it. Just like any other business, affiliate marketing is also a business and should be treated as such – it needs a good business foundation which will be built overtime.

    Mutiara Hobbss last blog post..Internet Network Marketing – Step by Step Guide

  • admin

    Reply Reply September 18, 2008

    @Mutiara keep me posted on your success.

  • Sophia

    Reply Reply September 19, 2008

    Well put Reed! I love reading your “stuff”- it always puts me on my focus mode.

    😉
    -Sophia
    Made by making the right decisions.

  • admin

    Reply Reply September 23, 2008

    @Sophia awesome, I’m glad to help you with focus.

  • promosyon

    Reply Reply September 25, 2008

    This is the best observation i have ever seen for this subject

  • admin

    Reply Reply September 25, 2008

    @promosyon thanks.

  • Mohamed Akram

    Reply Reply October 24, 2008

    great post Reed

    but here is some notes

    I think when I call “Multiple Streams of Income” it doesn’t stop at affiliate marketing only, People could use Google Adsense Program, Kontera or chitika as other methods to get Money Online

    also while they market other people product, they must make their own product whether it is a software or ebook or membership site…etc
    like you said “USE ALL WHAT YOU CAN” but not in affiliate marketing only.

    I hope you respond to this comment Reed

    Thanks

    Mohamed Akrams last blog post..Is Clickbank Legit?

  • Mohamed Akram

    Reply Reply October 24, 2008

    Modification comment after you modify you can delete this comment

    “but here is some notes” change it to “but here are some notes”

    sorry for this

    Mohamed Akrams last blog post..Is Clickbank Legit?

  • Teresa Rothove

    Reply Reply February 23, 2009

    Dear Reed – I was given your link from an email I received by Matt. I was very impressed with your blog, and have a question. One of the people who responded to your blog mentioned not only multiple streams in IM but also by different niches.

    My question is: Can you have more than just im’s on your blog or can you link to other niches from that blog? or do you have to have separate blogs and not link to the niches from an IM blog.

    Hope this is clear enough and look forward to your response.

  • Ryan Martinez

    Reply Reply May 20, 2010

    I have used Kontera on one of my blogs and i earn good from this ad program.,`,

  • Robert Ahmed

    Reply Reply July 25, 2010

    i would prefer Infolinks over Kontera because they pay much better.;*`

  • Owen Bell

    Reply Reply September 10, 2010

    Kontera pays well even if they do not pay as high as other advertisers;-`

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