| Affiliate Magic - Get Your Share of the e-commerce
Revolution Timothy Hyde May 2001
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##### Overview #####
Affiliate programs enable you to get a slice of the e-commerce
revolution!
I’m continually amazed that more people do not take up the opportunity to create
additional steady income streams by using selected programs.
They develop a website, explore the ways to drive people to it,
but fail to really capitalise on their earning potential.
This part of the e-commerce revolution is in it's infancy.
Now is the time to get involved, before everyone finds out how easy it is!!
The basic concept is that you refer someone,
(a client, colleague, visitors to your website or friend)
to a product or service that you recommend.
If they buy that product,
or in some cases just take a look at it,
the seller will pay you a commission.
Sounds simple? It is!
But to do it well, you may need some advice
and that's where we will be able to help. Read on...
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Amazon.com was one of the first and their affiliate program
has been hugely popular and widely copied. Hundreds of
thousands of people belong to their program and affiliate
programs as a whole are now widely regarded.
There are a number of flaws in the Amazon model,
that later programs have now addressed ... to our advantage.
More about this later.
If you have a Website or Newsletter then it really is
quite simple to sign up as an Affiliate with them
and start recommending specific products.
Obviously if you are an expert
in the field that you are talking about,
then people will listen to your
recommendations with much more interest.
For Example...
As I speak and write about comedy
I have a list of recommended books on writing and
performing Comedy on my website.
When I write Issues of my MagicCoach newsletter
that goes out to 1600 subscribers around the world,
I often suggest books that I know will be of interest
to them.
At a Presentation or Speech, if I give out a handout,
there is sometimes a link to a product mentioned.
When any of these people buy, Amazon gives me a commission
that can range up to 15%. Not bad considering
you don’t carry stock, don’t pay postage, in fact
you don’t do much at all.
##### NOTE #####
I’m explaining the Amazon model first,
but I actually think there are much more
exciting Affiliate programs out there.
However Amazon has such a range of
Books and Videos, that it is easy to
find products that will fit your website or newsletter.
You can join as many programs as you wish
but it is best to focus on just one or two
and do them well.
##### NOTE #####
You must sign-up with a program first, and they
obviously then provide you with either snippets of HTML
that you can place on your website
or URL information that you can include in e-mail messages.
This tracks the people who you refer and enables you
to be paid your percentage.
Now don't panic. This is very easy to do
and most Webpage design packages like Frontpage
easily do it for you.
(I have yet to see a program that charges you to join
and you should be very wary of any that did.
The fact that you don't buy any stock to re-sell
or samples to show people, is what makes
Affiliate Programs so interesting and easy to
get involved in. You are not required to "use the product"
but obviously a good understanding of it will help you sell it.)
And I stress throughout these pages,
use affiliate programs to ADD aditional income streams.
They are a BONUS addon to the content that you provide
in your Newsletter and Website.
Follow your passion and interest and then find the things
you can recommend and promote that relate to that.
Don't just start recommending something because it pays a great commision!
This is as phony as it can be and although it could possibly work in the short term, your
long term core business will suffer if you follow this approach.
You are an expert in something.
Find the product, reports Videos books etc that relate to that.
The people who are interested will listen.
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Some Affiliate programs will support you extremely well.
They provide Hints and Tips, Logos, Newsletters,
Training manuals etc.
The big winner in this respect is Ken Evoys SiteSell
and his Five Pillar Club Affiliate program.
They offer a HUGE amount of support
and a HUGE affiliate commission : )
And I strongly suggest you join if only for one thing.
(remember it’s free)
As a member, you can then download
a huge 224 page manual that is really the bible of Affiliate marketing.
And it's FREE.
How to write great copy, build traffic to your website,
niche marketing, promoting products etc.
These lessons can then be applied to ANY Affiliate program.
In fact, the lessons can be applied to any business
because they are great ideas.
Download this and study it.
Then if you just want to recommend
a few books on your WebSite,
join the Amazon or Barnes & Noble program.
But use the lessons Ken Evoy gave you for free.
He could be selling this info for huge amounts.
He gives it away as he knows it will build everyone's business. Yours and his.
The Seven Steps Report shows you how to get this information.
##### NOTE #####
I’m a big fan of the two products that they
already sell and have used both of them extensively.
That’s the only reason I recommend them.
They fit my readership. They will interest you.
I’ve used the Make My Site Sell
manual
to dramaticaly multiply the number of people who
visit my site and read my three newsletters. (1500 people)
I’ve used ideas in Make My
Knowledge Sell
to develop and market two MasterClass manuals.
And his 5 Pillar Affiliate program,
widely regarded as the best in the field,
has resulted in a steady stream of extra money for me.
I would never promote or recommend something
to the readers of my newsletters ,
that I was not a big fan of, just to make quick money.
The short term gain would not be worth
the long term damage to my newsletter readership .
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So, what's the 5 Pillar Program
and how do I get involved ....
CONTINUE
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