Affiliate Marketing: Money for Nothing?

Affiliate Marketing is a sales process where merchants (a.k.a. advertisers, retailers, brands) can sell and promote their products and services by allowing websites to promote them in exchange for a reward, usually a commission payment. There is no cost to become an affiliate and, if you're ambitious and creative, you can literally make money for nothing!

It can really be as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Decide what you'd like to do.

What are your hobbies? What's your passion? What do you know a lot about? There are affiliate opportunities for just about everything and everyone. Fit-2-Prosper focuses on sports and fitness, but I also work affiliate programs for musical instruments, wireless communications, consumer electronics and business services!

2. Get a website. Build a website.

This can be done for little or no cost. You can even use MySpace! While free hosting sites may seem appealing, there are a few drawbacks.

• You don't get a unique, easy to find/remember web address. www.whatever.com/your_account and http://your_account.sitehost.com don't communicate professionalism or uniqueness which are important for online shopper appeal.
• Free sites are funded by ads which tend to be unsightly, obtrusive and  loaded with Java scripts which can slow or stall slower computers and connections. Those ads may also conflict with the theme of your site, your personal principles and, most of all, your affiliate sales!
• When a free site host decides to make changes, your site is also affected, which usually changes the layout and access away from what YOU want, and there's little to nothing you can do about it.

Building a website is easier than you may think, but if you'd prefer to have someone else do it, there are many affordable options. Use the SERVICES link in the menu above to view our recommended design and hosting services.

3. Join affiliate and network marketing programs.

Once you have your site registered and ready to roll, find and join the Affiliate Marketing programs

that best suit your interests, join them, and tie them into your website(s). All affiliate programs give you access to your own account management area where you will find links and HTML and/or Java scripts specifically for tracking sales from your site, which is how you earn money. Just copy the scripts from the affiliate management area, paste it into your web page (perfect for MySpace), and voila! You're now active in e-commerce as an Affiliate Marketer!

Of course, there is a bit more involvement than this if you want to make the most of Affiliate Marketing, but these are the vital essentials. To learn the terms and definitions associated with Affiliate Marketing, read "A brief introduction to Affiliate Marketing".

 Please keep in mind that you are never alone in your Affiliate Marketing ventures. Not only do the companies provide great support to help you succeed, but I'm always happy to work with you one-on-one to help you understand and apply what learn.

Your partner in success,
Shawn "Bud" Lyte