Selecting Affiliate Programs 101

After working like crazy marketing your affiliate site, you see some decent traffic rushing to your affiliate site. Mission accomplished? Not quite. It's now time to select and sign up affiliate programs. So welcome to Selecting Affiliate Programs 101.  In this class, I am going to show you  a few principles you need to use to choose out of the thousands of affiliate programs populating cyberspace. They all look enticing, not to mention the salivating commissions that some of them offer. But do they relate to your affiliate site? Here are a few principles to consider when selecting affiliate programs for your site.

Affiliate Program Should relate to Site Focus

Make sure your chosen affiliate programs relate to your affiliate site.  Your affiliate site must have a focus or a theme which meshes with your chosen affiliate program. It does not make sense having an affiliate site about dog food  while you decide to promote  laptops..  It doesn't make any sense. Instead, sign up for affiliate programs that promote your favorite dog food. It will spare you numerous days of hair pulling. Or if you have a Forex site,  why not sign up for Forex affiliate programs?  You will be saving yourself enormous heartache that way.

Integrate Links Into Your Content

Affiliate programs work best when affiliates are woven into your content.  It tempts readers to click on the links that way. Let's say your site is about affiliate marketing, Super Affiliate Rosalind Gardner's Super Affiliate Handbook  will fit in just fine. A lot of affiliates have gained success using this method . In fact, it's a whole lot better than splashing banners all over your site. That's an absolute turnoff to readers. you can also use links in your product reviews as well. In fact, you will make a lot of money that way since you've tried the product and are in a better position to tell your readers your experience using this product.

Affiliate Program Must Also Relate to Your Readers Interests

Not only must your affiliate program relate to the focus of your affiliate site, but  your affiliate program must also relate to to your readers interests.  Your readers want information that relates to things they want.  If  your site is about laptops, try joining an affiliate program promoting laptop accessories and electronics. Your readers will obviously be looking to parts for their laptops, so you providing this service will be perfect for them. Or if you have an affiliate site relating to parenting, Try an affiliate program promoting toys.  I'm sure there are parents looking for toys to give to their kids and they'll definitely thank you for your kindness.

Generous Commissions

We are all in Affiliate Marketing to make money aren't we? so choose affiliate programs that pay you generous commissions. Affiliate programs with high item prices tend to pay high commissions, although not all do likewise. In fact some pay you peanuts, so watch out! Another factor worth considering is: does your merchant pay your commissions regularly and on time? The element of trust is absolutely crucial so you will be better served doing some research on their punctuality as far as paying on time is concerned. Try finding out at affiliate marketing forums. you should get information concerning the reputation of your prospective merchant.

Some affiliate programs pay you lifetime commissions. Meaning that, you get paid for repeat sales from the same customer. It's a great way of making money as you don't need to do much in this regard as the same person keeps buying from you. You just sit back and relax and watch it happen.

Affiliate Program's Performance

Before you start filling the sign up form, you need to evaluate your affiliate program's performance. Through your analytics, how many people are clicking on your  banners and links. This should clue you in what your visitors are interested in so you can explore ways of increasing sales. You also need to understand that good click -through rates does not translate into sales, so monitor your affiliate programs very carefully. If your product is doing well, find ways of of maximizing its exposure on your site and  better its performance. However, if you feel, it's not performing we, just drop it like a hot potato and find an alternative substitute.

That's a wrap on "Selecting Affiliate Programs 101" Make sure your selection of affiliate programs is influenced by the above principles. Do that and you should be laughing all the way to the bank.

Questions You Need to Ask before Saying Yes to Affiliate Marketing Program

So you've heard about the gold mine called called Affiliate Marketing. You check the online landscape and your eyelids keep flicking up and down at the numerous affiliate marketing programs online and  you are ever more tempted to sign up to as many as your heart's content. I don't want to burst your bubble, but you need to some research about these programs before filling the signup form of these programs. Some are good while others are scams. Researching these programs could help determine whether these programs could help you laugh all the way to the bank or sink you into major depression. Let me share with you questions you need to ask before saying yes to affiliate marketing programs.

Will It Cost Me Anything To Join the Affiliate Program?

The first question that should be topmost on your mind is "Will It Cost Me Anythingto Join The Affiliate Program?" Most affiliate marketing programs are free to join and if any affiliate marketing program asks you to fork out cash before signing up on its program, avoid it like the plague. They're just trying to steal your hard-earned cash.  Just look out for affiliate marketing programs that don't charge a penny and you cant join without blinking an eyelid.

When Are Commission Checks Payed?

Another question you do need to find out is "When Are Commission Checks Payed?"  You are in affiliate marketing to make money so you need to find out which part of the month the checks are sent out so you can set your mind at ease. Each affiliate program's payment schedule varies. Some pay once a month, others pay twice a month.  Some only pay when you've hit a pre-determined amount that you set for yourself when you joined the affiliate program.

How Referrals are Tracked and How Long They Remain in the System?

It's absolutely crucial that you know how referrals are tracked and how long the remain in the system. This is important because although visitors to your website may not purchase anything the first time, they may return to buy it a 2nd time upon comparing with other places. They need to window shop a bit before deciding whether to buy your product or not.  Even more important, you need to know whether you will get credit for the sale of the product to the repeat visitor. Some affiliate programs do, others don't. So make sure you are clear as to what the situation is.

What is the hit per sale ratio?

When we talk about the hits per sale ratio, we talk abt the the number of hits to a banner or text link that it takes a sale based on affiliate statistics. It also tells you how much traffic you need to generate to earn a commission from a sale. It also tells you whether your landing page is convincing enough for your viewers to click on your text link or banner.


Does Your Affiliate Program Provide Affiliate Statistics?
The issue of affiliate statistics is absolutely crucial. You want to know how much money you're making, how many clicks your banners or text links have record. Not to mention how may impressions  recorded on your site. For those who don't know, impressions refers to the number of times, visitors are viewing your text inks or banners. Your affiliate program must make this information available to you online at any time as you want to know how your products are doing.


That's a wrap on "Questions You Need to Ask before Saying Yes to Affiliate Marketing Program." These are  some of the questions you need to ask before joining an affiliate program.  If you start getting red flags in your head about an affiliate program, move on to the next one as there are thousands populating cyberspace. You are bound to run into an honest affiliate program.


If you are an affiliate marketing newbie looking to learn how the pro's do it? Download Super Affiliate Rosalind Gardner's Super Affiliate Handbook.