How Do I Earn Money With Affiliate Programs?

A SAHM recently asked if it was possible to earn some extra money for her family by becoming a professional affiliate. She thought perhaps she could add affiliate links to her Myspace page, if this was allowed by the affiliate program’s terms of service.

I agree that you can earn money from being an affiliate — but it’s not as easy as just setting up a website or Myspace page, tossing some links onto it and waiting for people to show up in droves.

It’s like any other online business. You need to determine who your target market is and get to know them. Setup a website that speaks to them — gives them information they want. The affiliate products you promote should solve their related problems or be items that your market is passionate about.

For example, someone might create a site that has tons of pregnancy information. Throughout their site, they can recommend products for which they are an affiliate. This is done through product reviews or recommendations in or after content. You can also add some links and graphics in side columns, but this is not as effective.

Someone who is already selling their own, or wholesale, physical products can increase her income by adding product recommendations with affiliate links to her site. She can add information that her target market is seeking and make affiliate recommendations. In this case, I do suggest that you pick affiliate programs that offer complementary products. And that you try the products before you recommend them.

Promoting the site is just like promoting any other business site: Word of mouth marketing, article writing, blogging (this is a good platform for the whole site, if you’re a good, information, popular writer), press releases, etc.

The main keys to running a successful affiliate site, are getting to know your target market and giving them information they want, in addition to recommending related products and services.

For more information on affiliate marketing, I recommend you read my friend Alice Seba’s Affiliate Marketing Sweetie. Alice, who is a successful online affiliate and copywriter herself, teaches you how to build a long-term affiliate business with proven marketing and website building techniques.