Get Your Expenses Paid With Affiliate Programs

Home > Profit > Affiliate Programs > Getting Started

by Dwight Brown

As a Webmaster you are always encountering costs. From Web hosting, business overhead, to advertising, these monthly costs seem unavoidable. Or are they? I have found a terrific method that will not only pay for your Web hosting, but cover much (if not all) of your overhead costs, plus much of your advertising budget each and every month! This method will free up all of your profits for yourself and fatten your bank account. (Now have I got your attention?)

How can you do it?

It's simple. All you have to do is join a topnotch affiliate program. If you are not familiar with affiliate programs, they are money generating ventures where on-line merchants (like Amazon.com) pays Web site owners (like you) for generating sales from your own Web site.

You can link to the merchant by either a banner or a link. The merchant will pay you a commission based on the business that is redirected from your Web site to theirs that results in a sale.

A good affiliate program is worry free, hassle free, and takes no time to set up. In fact, you don't really have to do anything but put the link or banner on your Web site.

The traffic you generate through your regular advertising will bring people to your Web site, and some of these people will make you additional money when they buy the goods offered via the affiliate program.

A good affiliate program is the ultimate residual income, because money is generated just by the very act of people visiting your Web site. Read on and you will see the answers to the most common questions about affiliate programs. See for yourself how a good affiliate program can benefit you.

"How much money can you make with a good affiliate program?"

Answer: Refer-it.com did a study recently and discovered that the range is from $0 to $3,000, with a median of $50. Some people join many affiliate programs, while others have joined over ten. Not only do these people use affiliate programs to make additional money, but to offer value-added content to their Web site.

I'll give you a real life example. The affiliate program I joined pays me a minimum of $65 U.S. per sale. I make around $300 U.S. from it each month... and I don't get Amazon like traffic to my Web site! To see this example go to http://www.makemegamoney.com/affiliate.html

"Wouldn't I be better off selling banner advertising on my Web site?"

Answer. Possibly, but it if you don't have 500,000 impressions a month you will have a very hard time getting the attention of an advertising agency or ad networks! If you are like me and have a small Web site then the traffic you get should be directed to an affiliate program. Affiliate programs enable small Web site owners to benefit from the traffic they currently have coming to their Web site.

"How much traffic do I need to make money with affiliate programs?"

Answer: Hmmm,... that really depends on the quality of the traffic that you are generating and the affiliate program itself. I know of some people who make a sale on 1 out of every 24 visitors... but the average is usually well into the hundreds. The affiliate program I joined pays me $65 U.S. for approximately every 75-100 click throughs on the link or banners set up on my Web site.

For example, if you have a horse lovers Web site and your affiliate program offers financial computer software, you're probably not going to make a lot of money... there isn't a targeted audience on a horse lovers site for financial software. But regardless of the affiliate program you join you will learn what it takes to get a conversion. A general rule is that the more targeted your traffic, the better your affiliate programs will do for you. One method I use to boost affiliate sales is to send out e-mails to my established database (remember, NO SPAM!) Your opt-in database will probably generate a higher percentage of sales than the visitors you get to your Web site.

"What are the best affiliate programs?"

Answer: There are many great affiliate programs out there, but there are also some really lousy ones. Needless to say, the one I joined is top notch. I would recommend you go to http://www.associateprograms.com where you will find a list of all the good affiliate programs on the Internet. You should judge an affiliate program by the generosity of their commission, the quality of their product or service, and the quality of their affiliate resources.

"How do I join an affiliate program?"

Answer. Almost all affiliate programs provide an on-line application form. You are usually sent an e-mail after you have filled in the on-line application form with instructions on how to add banners, logos, and/or a text link to begin making money right away.

Look for an affiliate program that gives you the ability see your sales, a detailed monthly commission summary, or real-time online statistics. Before joining an affiliate program, make sure to note the payment terms. Some affiliate programs do not send commission checks unless the amount owed to you is more than $50.

"I don't live in the U.S. Will companies still want me?"

Answer. Most will, but some won't. I live in Canada and the affiliate program I use has no restriction as to where you live. Some companies may not accept international affiliates into their program. They will usually state this in the on-line application form.

"Should I promote an affiliate program in my signature?"

Answer. Absolutely. I do! I put a signature with the URL http://www.makemegamoney.com/affiliate.html on all outgoing mail. This is a great way to promote your affiliate program. Make sure you include the entire URL so that you will get credit for any sales you generate.

"Can I make all my Web site revenue just from affiliate programs?"

Answer. Most Web sites use affiliate commissions to cover some or all of the costs involved in hosting a Web site. But I know of some people who generate their entire online revenue from affiliate programs. You can realistically make between $50 a month to $3,000 per month with the right affiliate program.

So there you have it. Will you join an affiliate program? I would strongly recommend you sign up with a top notch affiliate program and let it cover many of the costs of your Internet business, or make additional money for yourself. I know of no easier way to make money quickly, effectively and easily from the traffic you are already getting!