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by Dan Gray

That's the title my five-year-old son suggested for my new book on affiliate marketing.

While the original working title was "Working the Web Sure Beats Getting a Paper Route", that title never made it past the proposal stage. And although "Wake Up With Money" was our house favorite, the publisher preferred, "Turning Clicks Into Cash - The Complete Guide to Associate and Affiliate Programs on the Net" (McGraw-Hill ISBN: 0071353100).

It's true. You *can* earn money in your sleep. Effective affiliates see a steady stream of funds into their accounts, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year. You don't need a rich aunt or venture capital to get into the game. Nor do you need to be a Web design guru. If you have perseverance, a willingness to adapt, and a great idea, you can learn how to turn clicks into cash.

Todd Schofield is a newspaper pressman by trade, whose interest in Web design began as a hobby. "About five years ago, my wife talked me into buying a computer," he explains. "I decided to build a web site with an emphasis toward children when my daughter was born." The site, Kidslaughing.com, which was launched in 1997, draws an audience consisting primarily of parents and educators. After becoming an eToys affiliate in 1998, Kidslaughing.com soon grew from a mere diversion into a solid money maker.

A successful affiliate site targets its audience, as it seamlessly weaves links into content. Todd's done an excellent job mixing products into the site's more than 750 educational and parenting links. "I've fully integrated the eToys affiliate program into kidslaughing.com," says Todd. "The links are built into the structure of the Website." The site's click-through rate has been maximized through a powerful combination of eToys product links, search boxes, and banner advertisements.

Be Free, the company that e-nablessm Todd to have an affiliate relationship with eToys, makes it simple for affiliates to integrate their content with some of the Web's leading e-commerce sites. Careful product selection and site organization have been key to Kidslaughing.com's success. "I look for products with educational value," says Todd. "Kidslaughing.com's pages are set up by age groups and grades. This helps folks quickly get an idea of what toys are out there."

Be Free makes it easy for Todd to generate graphic product links, so his site's content can be updated while he's off-line. Plus, through Be Free technology, Todd can access monthly reports on his affiliate link performance. Tracking commissions and sales has never been easier.

Along the way, Todd has implemented a number of methods to drive traffic back to Kidslaughing.com. A monthly newsletter filled with children's interest information, site update news, and special deals boosts site traffic by an average of 40-50% on the days following the mailing. Children's book giveaways are a huge hit, as well. After reviewing a book, Todd happily gives it away in a monthly contest.

Sometimes, it seems as if there's no end to the hoopla surrounding the business of affiliate marketing. This monthly column cuts through the clutter and the hype, telling the real world stories of people who have learned how to make the Web work for them. Follow their lead and you'll profit from their experiences: nail down the right merchant alliances, pick the right products, use the right strategies, and you can transform your Web site into a profit generating machine.

See you next month!

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