How to Be a Successful Affiliate Marketer

You will, no doubt, have seen the far too many to mention affiliate programs available who claim to be the best of all.  Quite a few of them put the idea in your head that all you need to do is display their banners and links and then sit back and wait for the dollars to come rolling in.  This can be true but more often than not it relates to large sites with a great deal of web traffic.

How to Choose Banners

You are likely to be offered a selection of banners to put on your website with most affiliate programs and the reason for this is that very few of them will be at all effective.  Size is a big problem as far as banners are concerned and if you opt for one which is high, a long time will be taken to implement and use the banner. It is best, therefore, to stick to banners under 15kb.

Keep the theme of your website in your mind when you choose kinds of graphical advertising.  Graphical advertisements are intended to stand out and catch the attention of the visitor but they should not over shadow everything else on the page.

Pop Ups and Unders

Many companies now offer the opportunity to use pop up or pop under ads to their affiliates.  However, quite a few visitors become annoyed by pop ups and close them before they even get the chance to load so they are rendered useless.   Instead, pop unders or those ads which only appear once per visit should be used as an alternative.

Text Link Ads

Text Link Ads are one of the most successful ways of advertising.  They do not take up much space, are easy on bandwidth, and can be simply implemented into most kinds of page layout.    Reasons why your visitors should look further at your offers are usually included in good text links.

Email Advertising

Promotion in a direct way by email has become more and more popular over the last few years even though huge amounts of spam have resulted from this method of advertising.  If you intend to use this way of making people aware of your products, it is important that you make yourself available to answer any queries or questions which may arise.

Patience

There is nothing to stop you contacting and negotiating with companies you feel your site could generate great sales for.  However, you should remember these companies are approached by many affiliates on a daily basis attempting to find better deals, so it is important to be patient if they do not appear to be as enthusiastic as you are from the start.

Companies are aware that in many cases affiliates cannot come up with what they promise and this makes them a little hesitant to say the least.

Setting up advertising takes does not happen quickly so you should give it a little time to work before making any other type of decision.  It may not occur over night but hang in there for a couple of weeks or months and you could be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.

29 Comments

  • Rivers

    Reply Reply October 15, 2008

    Reed…you write many great blogs but this one rocks big time. The timing is great as we deal with the economic changes today and the fact that you are straight up with people on the realty of business..patience etc..is refreshing.

    Cheers
    Rivers

  • normz2

    Reply Reply October 15, 2008

    Good coverage. I prefer to use a combination of text links and banners. Banners show better, but should have some preamble to grap attention.
    norm.

  • Brian Carelse

    Reply Reply October 15, 2008

    Hey Reed,

    With Rising Stars almost over it is important to remember that all buttons and links are advertising.

    Banner ads do really well when designed as skyscrapes … vertically as oposed to traditional horizontals. They should also appear as text information and not just as graphic ads.

    Check my website http://www.e-marketingsolutions.info

    Thanks

    Brian

  • DAVE

    Reply Reply October 15, 2008

    Reed this info is so valuable to a newbie like me
    great down to earth info so refreshing

    i wondered if anybody has had problems with affilate links not showing up on thier sites if accessed through AOL I have found that some of ny affilate links on my othere sites do not show up in aol but show up in mozilla firefox? this can cause affilates to loose payments is there a cure for this?

  • Chris Shouse

    Reply Reply October 15, 2008

    Reed do you have any suggestions for Real Estate Blogs?

    Chris Shouses last blog post..Summerlin Real Estate Market October 4th-October 10th 2008

  • You should always try as many ways as you can track then do more of what is working and less of what is not working.

  • Liz Nichols

    Reply Reply October 15, 2008

    I have seen tests that show that banners with plain text and a white background do better than busy, flashy ones.

    Liz N

  • Affiliate-Blaster.com

    Reply Reply October 15, 2008

    This business is one where patience is a diffinte virtue. You need to gain as much knowledge as you can and test, test, test.

    Many are surprised to learn that the gurus who have made it often failed 10-15 times before they finally found what worked for them.

    But, when they found it, they took off!

    Check us out for more free tips for affiliate marketers.

  • Dr Curt

    Reply Reply October 15, 2008

    I really enjoy this blog…if everyone could be successful we would not have the economic crunch we are experiencing! Washington needs to take notes from the small guys in business, not the big corporations that are sucking us dry!

  • Chris Imamshah

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    Great information, especially about being patient. I’ve heard internet marketing and affiliate marketing described as pushing a boulder up a hill.

    The problem is that most affiliate marketers quit just as they have got the boulder to the top of the hill and then it rolls backwards instead of full speed ahead down the other side of the hill which represents massive success.

    I found this to be a handy analogy. Hope you guys do too.

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

  • David Smyth

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    If I see another cheesy advertisement/ affiliate banner/ sassy text link, I think I’m gonna top myself on the spot. The Internet was always going to be Vegas bound – the sheer volume of P.T. Barnum style ‘dazzle ’em in the aisles – two for one, loved-up money gushers’ is just too much sometimes. Never guts a prawn chowder before hitting load.

    I read Reed and I wanted to donate worthwhile thoughts etc. Sometimes, when it comes to advertising, less is more! When I saw Nicole Kidman with that come-hither Chanel No. 5 catch me if you can gaze I didn’t rush straight to Bloomingdale’s and come home with toppling ribboned-boxes for the lady. But I never forgot the pitch line and that look! … Palms facing you, I’m a man O.K.!

    We’re all over-saturated with sale’s spin and the only real way to appeal to the masses is to cater to their inner world of fantasies. If you can gift wrap a private longing and serve it up in new and novel – ‘saleable’ ways, then you’re halfway to Sin City right there. No need to stop at Caesar’s …. the money flows like wine.

    Don’t tease me with some worn-out top of the Clickbank pile, #1 rated affiliate banner offer. I’m way ahead of you big guy; already caught the 4 o’clock to Philly! …. Sure, I’ll take your business card but don’t wait by the ‘phone.

    D.

    David Smyths last blog post..Online Advertising – How To Effectively Promote Your Business

  • make money now

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    Great knowledge for me as a newbies.

    thanks a lot

  • @Dave,

    AOL use adblocking, many internet users also use integrated ad blocking software in their browsers Firefox too. The only way around it for affiliate banners and links is to use redirected/cloaked links and host the banner images on your own server.

    That gets past most ad blockers, but maybe not all. AOL sucks anyway 😉

  • Tax Tips

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    That’s a good post. Perhaps you should also write a post pertaining the mindset of the affiliate marketer.

    Tax Tipss last blog post..5 Great Tips for Taxes

  • khalifah

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    hello reed

    goog way to apply and promote the information

    but rarely i have some probleum to get many user, but nevermind, i try many way with include PATIENCE to go to be succesful marketing

    from khalifah
    http://fendicenter.blogspot.com/

    khalifahs last blog post..JEJAK GEMILANG JUTAWAN SENYAP

  • Jorge EZ Affiliate

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    Patience… You hit a home run!

    So many people quit or get discouraged just because they are not patient and EXPECT instant results and gratification.

    Great post! 😉

    Take care.

    Jorge

    Jorge EZ Affiliates last blog post..I Need Your Input for EZ Affiliate Blog Please

  • Geoff Dodd

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    Reed, Hi.

    A lot of ideas about affiliate advertising in there.. Run a large Authority site with 4,000 pages and HIGH traffic. Use banners that are text-based, with several lines of text, animated, that really HOLD the attention. You’ve just gotta know.. what the ‘complete message’ is!

    Use in-context text links that appear to be natural in the paragraph as Google loves those. Build in psychological triggers, and pre-selling.

    I have been testing email campaigns too and they’re awesome when you write them well. Only then. Observe the Big Guns and how they entice, with compelling mail copy. The pros like Clayton M. have a ton to teach us about stimulating prospects’ interest in what you have to sell/offer. Learn from the guys who have been doing it for decades.

    Geoff D
    Australia

  • Timothy Millar

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    Hey Reed,
    Nice post,I do a lot of affiliate
    marketing while waiting for my product to get done but I use the emails that they give me
    and tweek them up a bit,Some of these guys really suck at writing a good catchy ad. Maybe
    I do too, I’m not rich yet!Say hello to the Fam buddy,Tim

    Timothy Millars last blog post..Why are we not Rich yet part 2

  • Nayanika

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    Hey Reed

    Nice post.
    Lots of ideas and a lot to learn
    will do as you say Kid
    You have a great head on them shoulders of yours
    Have a great day!!!!

  • Peter

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    Hallo Reed,
    nice Blog and it comes at an ucertain time for economy. As I said in all my comments whenever you want to be an good and effective affiliate marketer you have to work for. Try to bind in as much content you need to convince and not to persuade your targeted customers and you will win. But this is todays crux
    Peter

  • PV Reymond

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    Another great article about Affiliate Marketing, you are giving vital information.

    As you said many Affiliate Programs tell you that you only have to display their banners and links in order to make a lot of money… But it is not that easy.

    If you want to make a lot of money you have to come out with good strategies to stand out from the other affiliates, which are your competitors, you have to split-test and track your advertising campaigns.

    In other words, you have to work hard because nobody is going to do the hard work for you… And in order to succeed you have to work hard.

    Thanks,
    ^PV Reymond

    http://www.pvreymond.com

  • Nayanika

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    Hi Reed

    This is the website from the company I telemarket with.

    It will be fantastic if we can make this popular since we are onto a fabulous stress program which is both proactive and interactive to make for rapid strides to know We are All One, and beads in the gigantic necklace .

    You are welcome my dear
    I am so honoured to be with your site

    take care
    regards best wishes my whiz kid

  • Ari Lestariono

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    Hi Reed,

    Your article alwys authentic and real practical experience within the size and scope to educate anyone into Internet Marketing no matter whether novice or pro’s, keep up the goodwork

    Ari Lestarionos last blog post..Natural Remedies to Quit Smoking

  • admin

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    @Rivers thank you

    @normz2 banner and text links are good but 99% of the time I’ll just send an email out it’s easier

    @Brian yes I agree I think skyscrapers stick out more to me than traditional banners

    @Dave interesting info regarding AOL I don’t recall hearing that before but thanks for the heads up

    @Chris my advice to all blogs it to build a list from it and then remind them to come back over and over again; my blog would be basically dead if I didn’t do that.

    @internet marketing yes testing, tracking and tweaking can really make a difference

    @Liz I can see why; oftentimes we see banner ads that are just plain annoying and they don’t make me want to click for fear of how annoying the site that is advertised would be

    @Affiliate-Blaster agreed I’d say many of us have failed more than 10-15 times even. I fail on a daily basis and I’m proud of it; if you aren’t failing you aren’t learning and if you aren’t learning you aren’t living!

    @Dr Curt agreed if more people utilized common sense, got second opinions and did their due diligence we wouldn’t have this economic crisis.

    @Chris great analogy

    @David you are right oftentimes less is more

    @make money glad it helps

    @Maurice interesting didn’t know AOL did that.

    @Tax Tips my friend Davion Wong wrote this on mindset http://www.reedfloren.com/success-principles-affiliate-marketing/

    @khalifah patience is key to IM success

    @Jorge thank you 🙂

    @Geoff agreed you can learn a lot by modeling others who have achieved what you want

    @Tim everyone has good ads and bad ads most of us have ads that learn towards “bad” simply because it’s easier to test and tweak then create something amazing from scratch

    @Nayinaka thank you, keep us posted

    @Peter there is definitely work to making IM work for you; thanks for bringing that up

    @PV I think you bring up a good point nobody (unless you employ them) is going to do the work for you so you need to take initiative and do something.

    @Nayinaka one thing you could do is create an information product to give away or sell and get others to promote it then you can call those leads and sell them

    @Ari thank you 🙂

  • John/Annette

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    You have a great article. Adding links into the wording is great and the search engines love it also. Everything takes time and we just have to keep working at it until it happens and it will.

  • Delords

    Reply Reply October 16, 2008

    Great Write Up Reed.

    The No 1 Reason why many New affiliates quit is lack of Patience,Most think after setting a good marketing system or site that the cash will start flowing in,and when they watch and nothing is calling they get disappointed and seek other opportunity.
    Affiliate marketing requires a great deal of patience, I was almost discouraged when i started promoting clickbank products cause it took several weeks before making my first sales.I really abandoned it all and didn’t bother about my clickbank account for some weeks but i was shocked to find out after logging in to my account that i had made 2 sales already since 2 weeks ago which gave me a commission of $152 without knowing,i was really excited about it and that got me back in biz as it inspired me to keep on with the programs.

    I hope newbies can work more with patience and use the best marketing strategies,that will lead to good success.

  • admin

    Reply Reply October 17, 2008

    @John thank you

    @Delords I wholeheartedly agree people lack patience we expect to be rich the night before we even start! congrats on the unexpected earnings I love getting checks for things I’ve forgotten about.

  • Brian Carelse

    Reply Reply October 17, 2008

    Hey Reed,

    One of the most overlooked affiliate marketing strategies is to setup outlook expresss to automatically deliver your marketing message to everyone.

    Simply setup message rules to answer all emails with a message

    Then type the message using outlook express and save it as themoney.eml

    now setup your message rule to respond with themoney.eml

    There you have it. Affiliate marketing to everyone, good… bad … even spammers will get the message

    Cheers for now

    Brian

    http://www.e-marketingsolutions.info

    Author of The Revolutionary Internet marketing System @ $2 special till month end

    and The Email Butler @ $2

  • admin

    Reply Reply October 20, 2008

    @Brian can you give us an example of what your email looks like that gets sent?

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