“When I Got Out Of Bed This Morning, I Discovered I”d Sold $870.55 Of My
Products While I Was Asleep!” You”ve seen this line on most famous Internet
marketer Neil Shearing”s website. Not only the Neil but many other big marketers
are doing the same. You must be wondering how somebody can make sales if he
is Asleep. It”s possible because they have an army of affiliates.
Affiliates are other internet marketers with a good number of opt-in subscribers.
They seek for new products and recommend to their list. What you have to do is
to provide them a good product and promotional material. So they will create
more buzz for your product and you earn a handsome amount of money. It”s a
win-win situation for both.
Now the question may arises in your mind that how to find new affiliates. This
fear is a stumbling block that stops many site owners from getting started with
affiliate marketing. Interestingly, with a proper marketing strategy, getting
affiliates may not be very difficult. Given below are some tips that may wipe
your fear about finding new affiliates.
1. Affiliate Program Directories
There are several sites on the Internet dedicated to listing affiliate Programs.
Get your program listed in these directories. Affiliates usually look these
directories to find new products. By listing your program you”ll get more
exposure. Just make a search on Google for “Affiliate Program Directories” and
submit your program.
2. Find Complimentary Sites
“Complementary” sites are a sites that sell products or services that compliment
your offerings. If you sell “gardening tools”, a site that sells books on “gardening
tips” would be a perfect affiliate. If you sell software, try looking for sites that
sell computers or computer parts. Finding sites that already attract your target
market, and can benefit from recommending your product or service to their
visitors, is the goal.
3. Find content sites
There are many sites that do not sell any kind of product or service but are
mainly content-oriented sites. Such sites promote an idea, concept, study or
belief. Content sites that are used as a resource for your target market are ideal
affiliates.
4. Place a link on your Sales Page
One of the ways to find affiliates is to place a visible link of your affiliate
program at your home page. A healthy side of this coin is that you can convert
your visitors in to your affiliates. You can offer your affiliate program to your
customers also.
By doing this youll get a decent number of affiliates. Now the Second Step is to
provide them promotional material so they can make more sales. Each of your
affiliate will have different needs so you should focus on each type of
promotional material.
Here are some basic things to look for:
1. Email Ads:
Your most affiliates may be interested in placing ads in e-zines or their own
newsletters. Try writing a few ads in different lengths. While writing email ads
always try to use hypnotic language and emotion trigger words so it increases
your Click through rate (CTR).
2. Signature Files:
Some affiliates may even add your tag to their signature line. Give them a few
witty lines to choose from.
3. Articles:
These are great for affiliates that need content for their websites and
newsletters. Write some good articles and allow your affiliates to republish it at
their website and newsletter. It will improve your search engine ranking also.
Make a pin point that your article must be a healthy reading for your readers so
they read it again and again.
4. Banners:
Though banners aren”t much effective as other methods but are still widely
used. Make banners in a variety of sizes to fit tops of pages, bottoms, toolbars,
sidebars and other miscellaneous areas.
5. Product Images:
Give your affiliates images that show and link directly to specific products.
They”ll be able to choose an image specific to their site, or choose several
images to display.
6. Brandable Reports:
This is probably the best tool in my opinion because it adds a viral effect in your
program. Make a short report so your affiliate can brand it with there own
affiliate link and give away.
To add viral effect just place a line at first and last page of report like “Click
Here to make this Report your 24/7 digital salesperson” and add a link to your
affiliate page.
These are some points to start and run your affiliate program. Once you have
your affiliate program properly set and your system under control, consider
developing promotions for your affiliates. Give them special incentives to sell
more during a certain time frame, move seasonal products, or increase business
during your slow months. Offer them additional commissions, or even bonuses for
reaching a specific amount of sales.
In conclusion, if you follow the steps I have just outlined and if you are ready
for a little work and a lot of organization, your affiliate program should be up and
running in no time.
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Raamakant S.
