The Handbook of Ezine Publishing

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With online sales projected to be in the $20-30 billion range this year, you can safely say that online purchasing is not regarded as a novelty any more.

The Internet has evolved as a marketplace in both business-to-business and consumer-to-consumer purchases. Many consumers are influenced in their buying decisions by information available to them online. You can use this piece of information to improve your success with affiliate programs by implementing them into an  E-zine Marketing Plan.

WHAT IS AN AFFILIATE PROGRAM?

Affiliate Programs are as old as business itself. The concept is simple. Simply put, an affiliate program is a revenue sharing arrangement between a Website owner (the affiliate) and the manufacturer or provider of a product or service (the Merchant). The merchant pays the affiliate for sales or leads based on referrals, click-throughs or sales.

WHY?

Affiliate programs are a win-win situation. Merchants can quickly and easily develop a sales force on the Internet, and affiliates have instant products or services to sell on their Websites, thereby adding another revenue stream to their businesses.

What Sells?

What are the top products being purchased on the Internet? Do any of these products match up to your target market? Are there affiliate programs for these products?

Research from major firms tell us that the most popular purchases on the Internet are computers, books, software, music and travel related services. Making big gains are apparel sales. You can find books and software to match every target market on the Internet. And pretty much everybody wears and buys clothes.

Which Ones Should I Choose?

-> Select the best affiliate programs for you and for your website.
Determine the best affiliate programs by focusing on your target market and offering products or services that will be of interest to your online audience.

-> Select quality products.
When selecting your affiliate programs, compare commissions and the quality of products or services offered. One of the most effective ways to market your affiliate programs is to make a personal recommendation for the affiliate's products or services. Do not risk your name by endorsing shoddy products or services. Equally important, do not make personal recommendations for products you have never seen or used.

-> Select affiliate programs that pay well.
Promote products that offer you the chance to realize some income. Some successful affiliate programs offer two-tier payment plans allowing you to collect a percentage of the sales from those whom you sign up as affiliates.

GET PAID

-> Read and understand your affiliate agreements.
How long is the term of the agreement? Can you opt-out? Is there an exclusivity clause, meaning that you cannot sell similar products for another company while selling this merchant's products?

-> Learn how your sales will be tracked.
Is a third party audit available? Can you view your sales to date online? Via email?

-> Understand the payment system.
Is payment in cash, credit, or products? Read the fine print so that you know if there are minimum payments. Some programs only pay you after you have accumulated a certain amount in commissions.

-> Review the marketing process.
The most successful affiliate programs offer marketing supplies, including banners, buttons and ad copy.

-> Learn about your products.
If you are selling books or training courses, are you giving personal recommendations for products you have never seen or used?

-> Develop your opt-in email list or newsletter.
Write reviews and recommendations and publish them in your
newsletter.

By following these basic guidelines, you can increase your success rate and your revenues through the use of carefully selected, quality affiliate programs!