In the next couple of weeks I will publish a series of articles, each will detail a step on the way to a rewarding affiliate marketing business. The first article is written for people who are completely new to the subject and are still looking for information. I will suggest a simple definition of affiliate marketing and show some simple ideas for finding lucrative products.
This first article is not for experienced marketers neither is it for those who know and understand affiliate marketing and know how to find good products, as it covers only the essential basics. My following articles will hopefully discuss more complex steps and thus may be of interest even to experienced marketers.
Let’s start by trying to define “affiliate marketing”. I always say that there is a similarity between Affiliate Marketing and the California Gold Rush of the 19th century. The fortune is there and you have to uncover it. Anyway, back to the definition: the affiliate marketer (you) gets a nice commission from the product seller every time a purchase is made by one of the visitors that you have sent to their sale page.
Roughly, you’ll find three types of products: material ones – from shoes to yachts; information products – videos, software, ebooks, that are instantly downloaded to the purchaser’s computer; and subscriptions to newsletters, registrations to a course etc. Thousands and thousands of sellers pay commission to affiliates for purchases and for leads.
So, you see, the gold is there, all over Internet Marketing World. The question is how to find it. And, indeed, many people who decide to try affiliate marketing discover that the first step they need to take, i.e. finding the right product to promote, is the most difficult part of the whole process.
Let me suggest a few ideas for starters:
1. Have you ever purchased a product online which you really liked? Why not try to become an affiliate? Go to the product’s site or sales letter, click on the “affiliate program” link. You’ll find there all the information you need.
2. Start thinking about your hobbies, things you are interested in, things you have knowledge about. Perhaps you are a member of some forums in which you discuss your passion. This will help you a lot later, in your promotions. Let’s say you like basketball; you know everything about the game, the teams, and the players. Start searching for products that are associated with basketball, find their affiliate programs and start promoting them.
3. Think of products that are on the hot list in the United States, do a little research and find out if the Europeans heard about them. If not yet, promote these products in Europe only, using the different pay per click programs that let you choose the areas where your ads are shown. The same can be done with a product that you’ve found in any foreign country and is not yet known in the US
4. Talk to your children and/or other teenagers and try to find out what their newest fads are. Teenagers are great customers.
5. Make a habit of looking at the popular magazines. They usually report on the latest trends and fashionable products.
6. And let’s not forget the obvious: register to become an affiliate at Commision Junction, ClickBank and other Providers of affiliate programs. Search their marketplace to find their best selling products.
In Article 2 I will describe the second step on the way to rewarding affiliate marketing.
