Basics of affiliate marketing

Inner Voice Designs · 09-08-2009, 09:20 AM

I have an online jewelry business. I am interested in any new means of marketing available. I just dont understand how these affiliates work. As a seller do I need to join one of these companies and offer a certain amount of money per each sale that I get from a user directed to my site through an affiliate? Anyone have any information explaining the details of the process and the pros/cons?

5StarAffiliatePrograms · 09-08-2009, 01:01 PM

Hi Inner Voice Designs,

1st off make sure you have good conversion rates before deciding to launch an affiliate program.

Then you can either join an affiliate network like ShareaSale which is a respected one that's very reasonable, or you can buy your own in-house software like iDevAffiliate or PostAffiliatePro. There are MANY advantages to starting with a network however and it's much easier.

After you launch the affiliate program you need to recruit affiliates into your program which is one of the hardest parts (but easier if you are on a network). Then you need to approve them and support them. It's sort of like having an outside sales force so supporting them and realizing the more they make, the more you make, is key!

One downside to starting an affiliate program is it's not as quick and easy as most merchants think it will be. But if you do it right, after a few months affiliate marketing can be your most cost effective marketing channel.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

TechGuy1 · 09-15-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5StarAffiliatePrograms

Hi Inner Voice Designs,

1st off make sure you have good conversion rates before deciding to launch an affiliate program.

Then you can either join an affiliate network like ShareaSale which is a respected one that's very reasonable, or you can buy your own in-house software like iDevAffiliate or PostAffiliatePro. There are MANY advantages to starting with a network however and it's much easier.

After you launch the affiliate program you need to recruit affiliates into your program which is one of the hardest parts (but easier if you are on a network). Then you need to approve them and support them. It's sort of like having an outside sales force so supporting them and realizing the more they make, the more you make, is key!

One downside to starting an affiliate program is it's not as quick and easy as most merchants think it will be. But if you do it right, after a few months affiliate marketing can be your most cost effective marketing channel.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

Great Advice

PALifeQuotes · 09-27-2009, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5StarAffiliatePrograms

Hi Inner Voice Designs,

1st off make sure you have good conversion rates before deciding to launch an affiliate program.

Then you can either join an affiliate network like ShareaSale which is a respected one that's very reasonable, or you can buy your own in-house software like iDevAffiliate or PostAffiliatePro. There are MANY advantages to starting with a network however and it's much easier.

After you launch the affiliate program you need to recruit affiliates into your program which is one of the hardest parts (but easier if you are on a network). Then you need to approve them and support them. It's sort of like having an outside sales force so supporting them and realizing the more they make, the more you make, is key!

One downside to starting an affiliate program is it's not as quick and easy as most merchants think it will be. But if you do it right, after a few months affiliate marketing can be your most cost effective marketing channel.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

Let me ask you guys this...

We are setting up our own insurance agency website and another site strictly for life insurance quotes. Ultimately, the goal is to have traffic coming through and with our quote engines they can find, compare, and buy life insurance products quickly.

Can I use an affiliate program for our websites? I have no problem with paying out for each successful conversion that is a sale. Does the affiliate marketing approach fit insurance? Would any of the affiliate networks be appropriate?

5StarAffiliatePrograms · 09-27-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PALifeQuotes

We are setting up our own insurance agency website and another site strictly for life insurance quotes. Ultimately, the goal is to have traffic coming through and with our quote engines they can find, compare, and buy life insurance products quickly.

Can I use an affiliate program for our websites? I have no problem with paying out for each successful conversion that is a sale. Does the affiliate marketing approach fit insurance? Would any of the affiliate networks be appropriate?

Sure there are LOTS of insurance affiliate programs. However most don't pay per sale they pay per lead. So you need to see what other insurance companies pay and see if the numbers make sense for you. You need to be competitive with what other companies are offering in order to get affiliates to market for you.

Join CJ.com and see what other insurance affiliate programs are doing and see if it makes sense for you. Typically the lead commission varies quite a bit based on what type of insurance it is.

seopeter · 09-28-2009, 02:38 AM

For quick traffic..use social media

lxh · 09-30-2009, 07:46 PM

that is exactly what affiliate marketing all about. your affiliate will promote your product and then once you sell something through your affiliate you will offer them something in return.

TrustedOne · 09-14-2009, 08:50 PM

If you're going to join an affiliate network, do some research about what other products that network has affiliates for. If eg its niche is bicycles and bike parts with lots of bike manufacturers looking for affiliates on the network, you may want to look at another network.

mobilekaren · 09-15-2009, 01:48 PM

Best take a look at a site like CJ (com) or Tradedoubler, there are hundreds of others and some will tend to specialise in a certain sector and have expertise there.

All in 1 SEO · 09-27-2009, 09:05 AM

PALifeQuotes, I would say go for it. I am sure there are some, but I struggle to think of any situation where an affiliate scheme wouldn't be appropriate.

At the end of the day, why pay an advertising agency $$$$$ to do your advertising and marketing campaigns if you can just reward your customers (who are then happy because they feel they are getting something for nothing) and also build up a reputation as it is generally agreed that whilst people may be hesitant of a recommendation on a TV advert or some random website, they are much more trusting if the source is a friend or associate.

So, go for it, and good luck!