Etips is a publication of:
Your Guide to Professional Web
Site Design and Development
Hello,
Welcome to this week's edition of Etips.
If you're marketing affiliate programs, you know the competition is fierce.
With so many affiliates promoting the same products, how can you compete?
In today's edition of Etips, Bob Osgoodby will provide you with some excellent
tips to assist you in standing out among the competition and increasing your
affiliate sales.
I hope you will enjoy the publication.
To your success!
Sponsor Message
 A Great Opportunity
By
Bob Osgoodby Copyright
© 2004
Every time you turn around it seems
you see another affiliate program which promises you vast riches. They give
you all the sales material you need and even throw in a free web page. How
can I lose, one might think. Everything is all set up for me, and all I need
is a bigger PO Box to handle all the checks that will roll in. Your web site
will be carried by the search engines, you have the "pre-written" ads ready
to go - how can you loose?
A few ads are placed here and there, and the responses "trickle in" but there
are few, if any sales - time for a reality check. If you have seen one affiliate
web site for a particular product, service or opportunity, you have seen
them all. There are a number of affiliate programs, which have thousands
of people who have bit. Why should a person go to your site when they know
from the URL (address of your web page) what it is already? They won't. Am
I saying that affiliate programs don't work?
No - I am saying that the tools they provide "don't cut the mustard." It
is a proven marketing fact that it takes 5-7 exposures to your ad before
someone might purchase from you. If you have a "canned" web site, what are
the odds of them coming back to you to buy? Slim to none.
So how does a person who is serious about marketing an affiliate program
get you to buy from them? First, they "deep six" the affiliate web site as
their primary web contact, and create their own. On their web site they provide
content which is interesting for anyone who stops by. They also change the
content on a regular basis to keep them coming back, and let them know when
it does change. They also provide a link to their affiliate web site.
The next step is to try to get a listing on the search engines. Now, think
about this. There are most likely several thousand people who have an identical
web site to the one you get as an affiliate. What do you think the odds are
of someone "stumbling across" your site when surfing the web? Again - slim
to none. But if you have your own site, your chances take a giant leap forward.
The link to your affiliate site is a minor part of your web site, even though
it is where you want them to eventually wind up.
Now - can you use a site that is not your own domain? While not the preferred
route to take, it is "head and shoulders" above the link you get from the
affiliate program. Most ISP's give you web space free. Learn a little HTML
code and you're in business. Or, if push comes to shove, hire someone to
do it for you. Let's face it, if I see a URL that I recognize as an affiliate
program, and I've been there before, I will simply "click away."
The old saying, that if a "salesperson sells them self first, the sale of
their product or service follows shortly thereafter" is certainly true. Establish
yourself on the web and in the newsletters/ezines as someone who can be trusted,
and is knowledgeable in their field. If people get to know and trust you,
your recommendation to join your affiliate program will carry a lot more
weight.
Now that you have control over your web page, you should have a guest book
that visitors can sign. Now you have their email address. Folks, these are
literally worth their weight in gold. You can now send them email about upcoming
events on your web site, and not be accused of spamming.
Run a contest on your web site - the prizes don't have to be off the wall.
An ebook (and there are a number available free) can be your prize - and
again more email addresses. Write a free newsletter/ezine and publish it
on a regular basis - even more email addresses. As long as there is content
of interest, they won't mind a gentle reminder to visit your web site.
Consider a "non-competing" partner to help you with the site or to write
articles for the ezine. It makes no difference to you if there is another
link to another affiliate program on your site. If they are willing to share
the work in return for the link, it is to your advantage. The key here is
"non-competing."
So - are affiliate programs a good opportunity? If you simply join and sit
back waiting for the money to flow, no. If you are a "take charge" type of
person and are willing to work a little, it can be a great opportunity.
About the Author:
| Did you know
that subscribers to Bob Osgoodby's Free Ezine the "Tip of the Day" get a
Free Ad for their Business at his Web Site? Great Business and Computer Tips
- Monday thru Friday. Instructions on how to place your ad are in the Newsletter.
Subscribe at:
http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm |
|
Sponsor Message
| Web Design
Course |
 |
FR*EE Intensive 10-Day Web Site Design
Email Course. Learn how to design a professional web site.
|
| Tip of
the Week |
|
When designing your web site,
select your colors very carefully, as colors will have an affect on your
visitors' mood. Bright colors, such as yellow and orange, cause you to become
more cheerful. Colors such as blue and purple have a calming effect. Dark
colors, such as brown and black, have a depressing effect.
Today's tip is an excerpt from the highly acclaimed
Web Design Mastery series.
|
| Syndication
Feeds |
|
| Internet
Marketing and Promotion |
|
| Business
/ Sales |
|
| Web
Design |
|
| Dr. Kevin
Nunley's Biz Tips |
|
| Web Site
Design Tips |
|
|
Sponsor Message |
You are subscribed to Etips as {FIRSTNAME} @ {EMAIL}
Web-Source.net
Products: