Points to Avoid When Choosing Your Affiliate Program
Many people join an affiliate program to make extra money, or even use this as full time job, and you can make a decent income by doing so. The problem is that when a newbie like me comes along, I want to make my money fast and with the first offer I see. This is not a good thing and I will tell you why, if you have no clue what is going on you could end up not making sales, or even wind up getting ripped off. One thing I learned is, you must do your research on the affiliate program. Now what is a affiliate program? This is when you go out and promote someone else’s product or services, and they pay you. There are many affiliate programs out and as long as you do your research on the vendors, you should be fine. I am going to go over some of the bigger points for you right now. This might help you when you go and sign-up for your affiliate program. Keep in mind that I too am a newbie, so you bigger marketers might know this already. For you other guy’s here are some points for you so you won’t go in blind when picking your affiliate program.
#1 Bad Support
Make sure that the affiliate program (Vendor) has good support, and care for their affiliates by touching base with them. This is a BIG one here, and this will sink you fast. It is very important to make sure they have good support system in place. Do some research on Google or the forums using their name and see what others say. Do they have complaints, or is their support good. I heard of people promoting products and not getting paid, cause they couldn’t get a hold of the vendor. This never happened to me, but it happened. No support, often means affiliates waiting for day’s without an answer. A good thing to look for is an affiliate program that ensures you assistance round the clock if possible, or at least easy to get a hold of to touch base with. If not, keep looking till you find one, don’t fall into the trap of choosing without researching the vendor. Another thing to look for is training, or help to get started. I seen some vendor’s offer training and they want their affiliates to do good cause their name is on the line.
#2 Competing Affiliates
Just like you would pick a niche, make sure you don’t go with affiliates that compete with each other, unless you are doing this for a while and know what you are doing. You don’t want to start out by swimming with the BIG fishes, start by going into the little ponds, and then go into the lakes and seas. This way you will get you feet wet and possibly see some income coming in. Other wise you will get swallowed up hole, by going up against the bigger marketers. Instead look for an affiliate program that will grow with you.
#3 Low Commissions
A good rule of thumb I learned is that you don’t want to go with a affiliate program that pays less than 50%, even 60% is better. You also want to look for recurring income, or up-sells, but don’t go for nothing lower than 50%. Also try to go for the highest item, like when using amazon. That way, you only have to make a couple of sales, rather than lower and having many sales. Try to avoid getting paid by credits like I did, you won’t make any money there. Unless you have some sort of membership with the vendor where they put them towards your membership, or something like that.
#4 Stale Ideas
You want a program that has fresh ideas, not one that has the same as everyone else. Look for a vendor that has the ads all done, banners, and even articles. Then re-write them and put the banners up and you are good to go. You don’t want to have the same as everyone else, you want to be unique. If you are going to be the same not different, Google will see you as copying and will penalize you.
#5 Outdated Data
You don’t want an affiliate program that provides outdated data, or no longer valid. You want one that provides real time statistics that are solid and up to date. Do your best to find one, because there are not to many out there that are going to provide such services. Just make sure that you are also tracking and keeping a record of it, so you know what your stats are.
In closing by using these tips, I hope you will be able to pick out a good affiliate program and not get the shaft. Just keep your eyes open and do your research on the vendors. Look for the best offer to promote, with low competition, and apply these tips and you should do well. Keep in mind, the most effective affiliate programs will see their affiliates as a relationship with you and merge great support with high commissions so that you can start generating income promoting their products and services as immediately as possible.
I am a disabled and enjoy internet marketing and helping people. For the latest projects I am working on, visit my personal blog at this address: Newbie Affiliate News and join my newsletter for more goodies, and tips.
Author: Rich Beagle
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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