In this file, you can ref free useful materials about online affiliate marketing software and other materials for online affiliate marketing software such as affiliate programs, affiliate tips…
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Online affiliate marketing software
1. Online affiliate marketing software
In this file, you can ref free useful materials about online affiliate marketing software and other
materials for online affiliate marketing software such as affiliate programs, affiliate tips…
If you need free ebook:
Top 21 affiliate marketing programs
Top 12 secrets to be successful in affiliate marketing
Top 8 free affiliate marketing ebooks for beginners
pls visit: affiliatemarketingaz.com
I. Affiliate marketing guides
If you want to increase sales and broaden your reach without spending a lot of money, starting an
affiliate marketing program may have occurred to you. Affiliate marketing can give you instant access to
third party marketers who will help promote your products through advertising, email, and online links
in exchange for a commission. Although setting up a program can be quick and easy, it pays to do some
critical thinking up front.
If you already have an online store and products to sell, you’re arguably ready to start an affiliate
marketing program. If you have been in business for a while and have a handle on the core operational
issues, you’re ready. If you are brand new to online selling, you have a lot to learn generally, so carefully
consider whether now is the time to use affiliate marketing.
If, however you decide to launch an affiliate marketing program, you can set up your own proprietary
program or you can join one of the many affiliate or cost-per-acquisition (CPA) networks like
Commission Junction, LinkShare, and ShareASale, assuming you meet the network’s acceptance criteria.
For example, Commission Junction requires that you have been in business for a year and have minimal
online sales of $50,000 per month. Alternatively, you can connect to some of the third-party networks
via shopping cart software. The same shopping carts usually allow you to set up your own proprietary
program.
Affiliate Marketing Is Big Business
In Forrester Research’s U.S. Affiliate Marketing Forecast for 2009-2014, it estimates that the affiliate
marketing industry will grow from $1.9 billion in 2009 to $4 billion by 2014. The growth will presumably
be driven by better affiliate site content and increasingly transparent dialog between affiliates and
marketers. (At the present time, some networks hide the identities of affiliates from advertisers to avoid
direct conversations between the parties. Many advertisers consider transparency the top priority
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2. because they want to know who their affiliates are, what they’re doing, and how to contact them if an
issue arises.)
Forrester Research also expects paid and organic search programs to remain areas of focus for affiliate
marketers, while social media and display advertising will lag behind. Retail, financial services, and
online education will be the top three spenders.
Joining an Existing Network
Companies join existing networks because they get instant access to an established and usually large
community of affiliates who are eager to earn new commissions.
Networks vary in terms of the markets they serve, as well as policies and business practices. Nearly all
networks have stated policies in place, but not all networks enforce their policies equally. Some target
large online retailers while others target lead-driven businesses such as financial services, insurance, or
online education.
There are also other important differences worth noting. For example, some networks have fraud
prevention programs in place that monitor the actions and reputations of affiliates for the purposes of
protecting advertisers and the network’s overall quality. Some of those are also extremely particular
about who can sign up as an affiliate (and they may be creating and/or using blacklists to keep
disreputable affiliates out). Other networks make it easy for anyone to sign up.
Fraud comes in several forms, including click fraud, shady rebill schemes that lure consumers into “free
trials” that result in one or more unwanted subscriptions. There are also other practices that may be less
obvious to honest merchants. These other practices include redirecting traffic to a fraudulent web
address or altering the marketing materials provided by merchants in a manner that is deceptive or
fraudulent. Fraud costs real dollars and can hurt brand images, so make sure any network you engage is
capable of supporting your company’s policies.
Some networks also provide campaign management features that allow advertisers to track the success
of aggregate campaigns, individual campaigns, and depending on the network, campaign success by
affiliate. One obvious benefit of the tracking is campaign optimization, which can increase the overall
effectiveness of programs. Another benefit of campaign management, at least in some networks, is the
ability to post creative assets such as pay-per-click or display ads that affiliates can simply grab and use.
Some networks track any changes affiliates make to the ad copy or images to help mitigate errant
behavior.
Setting Up Your Own Network
Forrester Research also estimates that direct payments to affiliates (vs. payment through networks) will
account for 57 percent of affiliate marketing spending by 2014. The benefit of setting up your own
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3. proprietary network is the ability to control all aspects of the network including fraud management,
campaign management, and community make-up.
If you set up your own network you do not have to worry about a third party having visibility into your
program and you can avoid being affected by third-party policy changes that can instantly affect your
business. On the other hand, you will be solely responsible for setting up and maintaining the network,
recruiting affiliates, establishing and enforcing policies, and monitoring fraud.
If you want to establish your own network, you may be able to do so through your current shopping cart
vendor, as previously stated. For example, GoECart supports proprietary networks and so do 3DCart,
1ShoppingCart, and many others.
Bottom Line
The operative word for a good affiliate network is “sustainability.” You will want to attract good quality
affiliates who can help you grow your business and your brand. Regardless of whether you set up your
own network or use a third-party network, make sure you establish policies and practices that help
ensure the success of your program. A little homework and critical thinking up front can save you costly
mistakes later on.
II. Affiliate marketingstrategies
Affiliate marketing is a low-cost
way for merchants to build
awareness and showcase their
products and services. The model
is simple; it works as a
commission-based referral
system. A partner or affiliate
markets a merchant's products
for a "piece of the pie."
Affiliate marketing experts often make an income that can tally over five figures
per month, however only 1 to 5% of thousands of marketers achieve this level.
When an affiliate reaches this elite level they are often referred to as a "super"
affiliate.
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4. How does one become a super affiliate? Can anyone do it? Super affiliates have
common tactics that they embrace and put into place. Anyone can become a
super affiliate, but it will not come without blood, sweat, and a hefty time
commitment. The typical super affiliate possesses the following traits:
Persistence
Patience
Thirst for Knowledge
These three traits combined with the following strategy gives you the formula for
the makings of a "super" affiliate.
1. Find a Unique Niche
The mistake that many affiliate marketing hopefuls have in common is that they
try to offer everything under the sun rather than focusing on a specific niche
market. Do not scatter your efforts, focus on your niche, promote it, and sell it
well.
2. Search Engine Marketing
Once you've built your affiliate storehouse you will need to promote it. Many
affiliates use pay-per-click engines. I suggest that you learn how to achieve organic
search results or hire a search engine marketing company. This will save you from
spending all your profits on pay-per-click engines. Only use pay-per-click engines
if you know what you are doing, otherwise all your profits may end in the hands of
Google Adwords or Overture.
3. Know Your Product, Know Your Audience
Create a resource. By taking the time to learn about the products and/or services
that you are offering you can create information that builds your credibility. That
credibility builds trust. If your viewers do not have trust in you more than likely
they will not purchase from your storehouse. If you want more information on the
psychological process that an online buyer goes through I suggest that you read
my article on the Five Levels of Internet Marketing and the Sales Process. This will
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5. help you in creating a web site that converts well, which in return will increase
your cash flow.
4. Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
Promote products from different merchants. This way if you have a problem with
receiving payment from a merchant, or their products do not convert well the
effects on your business will be minimal. Watch out for exclusivity agreements;
remember this is your business. Protect yourself and diversify so that you do not
feel the famine effect if something goes wrong. There is absolutely nothing wrong
with promoting niche products from different merchants.
5. Seek Knowledge and Embrace Change
If you are familiar with Internet marketing at all you know that what worked three
months ago may not work today. Stay on top of the trends. Seek knowledge, start
by learning something new about affiliate marketing daily. For example remember
those marketing tools called "banner" that use to drive sales at an astronomical
rate a few years ago? Well those banners developed a term called "banner
blindness." That means most online viewers will not click on banners even if they
do pertain to what they are looking for. To be a "super" affiliate you must always
spend time reading, learning, and embracing the changes in Internet marketing.
6. Don't Give Up
It's hard to do, and most of the time those dabbling in affiliate marketing give up
way too soon. Monitor your statistics, watch to see what is working and what is
not. Make changes when necessary. Do one thing daily to promote your storehouse
and be patient. Before you know it you will start getting payments.
Remember that it will not happen overnight. Encompass and develop the
persistence, patience, and knowledge. Then follow the tactics I've mentioned
above and you are on your way to becoming a "super" affiliate.
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