The term, "Affiliate Marketing" has been quite overused lately.
Everywhere you turn to on the Internet, there are these outrageous claims of "making money overnight without a list or website".
Is this really possible? Is there a secret that escapes most of us? The answer is "Yes" - it is possible.
And "Yes" - there is a secret.
Now you weren't really expecting that, were you? Well it's true.
You can essentially become an Affiliate Marketer within the next 10 minutes - all you need is an email address for verification by the merchant and a preferred method of payment.
You are then granted an affiliate id and given access to products to promote - within some pre-established restrictions, of course (e.
g.
no promotions on porn sites).
So, with the click of a few buttons, you are now effectively in business for zero dollars.
So now what do you do? Well, choose a product that looks like it has some value and a possible market following and then promote the heck out of it and get commissions flowing to your bank account (or Pay Pal or mailbox depending on your chosen payment options).
At least that's what you most probably have heard.
What you haven't been told is that this method will forever have you working for dollars and if you are seeking freedom - you won't get it following this model.
So in order to make sure you truly understand your options, let's look at the different affiliate business models available.
1) Direct Linking Affiliate - this is the affiliate who does exactly what was stated above.
Gets an affiliate id with a desired merchant, chooses a product to promote, purchases traffic (or uses free traffic methods) and sends visitors directly to the merchant site.
The pros of following this model are basically well known - no site, or customer service or support required.
The cons - you have no idea who your customers are, you're completely relying on the merchant's site to do the selling for you and you rely on the game of numbers to really become profitable.
2) Review Affiliate - This affiliate takes a bit more control over the process by setting up a review site.
On this site, the Affiliate would provide valuable information about comparable products and services that would assist the buyer in making an informed decision.
The affiliate would then offer his or her recommendation and would get paid once the buyer uses their link to visit the merchant's site and purchase the product or sign up for the recommended program.
The good thing about this model is that you, as an affiliate, are at least playing an active part in ensuring that the buyer is "pre-sold" before they visit the merchant's site.
The cons are that, in most demonstrations that I have seen of this model, there is no efficient follow-up process to leverage buyers for future sales.
3) Email Affiliate - This is the affiliate who is serious about building a long term business and focuses on building a list first.
He or she truly understands the difference between a sale today and consistent sales in the years ahead.
This model does take a little longer to build and profit from than the other two, but the truth is that you stand to benefit much more in the longer term by building a list, establishing a relationship with your readers and then promoting products and services to them appropriately overtime.
So, which model is a fit for you? · If you want income today and only want to focus on generating traffic, then either of the first two options might be a good fit.
· If you want a bit more control over the sales process, then options 2 or 3 would be a good fit.
· If you want to build an asset that you can leverage over the long term, both for affiliate products and eventually for your own products, then option 3 is the only way to go.
Which model do I follow? The ones the gurus use.
Guess which one that is..
..
Carpe Diem!