An affiliate is someone who simply promotes other people’s products. Meaning you don’t have to go through the headache of developing your own product, providing customer service, marketing, processing payments - nothing. 

You simply refer people to someone’s website and get paid every time they buy something. It’s a great concept as described below by Anik Singal:

Let’s say that with our step by step coaching, you start a website about dogs because you love dogs. All you have to do is put a link on your website to another site that sells dog products.

Anytime someone clicks your link and buys something, you will automatically get paid!

You never have to be concerned with processing the order, shipping the order, providing customer service - you do nothing more than get that person to that website!
 
There are many reasons to promote affiliate products, and there is solid income to be made in affiliate promotions.

Benefits:

-  No Customer Service
-  Access to unlimited niches
-  No product creation time
-  No need to invest time and money in product
-  Bi-weekly/Monthly/Quarterly checks
-  Self-generating income
-  Choice to promote more than one  program easily
-  Minimum business investment

The main reason an Internet marketer should be involved in affiliate promotions is because it allows them to promote a product to any niche in just minutes. Secondly, affiliate promotions allow everyone to build a secondary waive of income that generates itself when properly implemented.

Carol-  Clifton Web Group

Adding your new site to the major directories is a key task if you want to build traffic and page ranking. While the list below is not exhaustive, it will get you well underway in your directory listings.

Anik Singal offers a few points to keep in mind as you add your site to these directories:

1)  Directories are not search engines. Directories are edited and managed by human beings, whereas search engines are programs that troll the web looking for pages. Your site might be recommended to a directory by one of the site editors, or a very enthusiastic fan of your site, but most likely you will have to introduce yourself if you want to make a directory’s list.
 
2)  Be sure the directory is indexed in the major search engines. A quick search at Google, Yahoo & MSN will do.

3)  Be sure the directory is not banned by Google. You probably won’t get flagged by Google if you are listed there, but the risk is too great – there are hundreds of other places for your link.

4)  Page Rank isn’t everything. Don’t skip sites just because they have a low page rank. While Page Rank is extremely helpful, it changes over time. A directory with a PR of 3 this month could jump to 6 next month. Also, take note of the Page Rank of the specific page of the directory your site will be listed on. Just like it says, Page Rank is for pages, not for sites. A directory could have a PR of 7, but the page your link appears on might be a humble one.

5)  Directories are not overnight traffic. Look around the submission guidelines and to see how long the editors will take to review your site. Free sites can take up to four months to get approved.
 
6)  Go after the older directories first. Google values a site’s age, and you should to.

7)  Review the directory’s guidelines and don’t abuse them. Don’t submit your site every week. Don’t add an unrelated site to a niche directory. Don’t try to trick the editors into adding your site to more than one category if that goes against the guidelines.

Now that you know the basics of evaluating and submitting to directories, here’s a short list of the top sites:

1)  Yahoo http://submit.search.yahoo.com/free/request 
The world’s best-known directory. This free listing form may take months to result in a link back to your site, but it is well worth a try.

2)  DMOZ  www.DMOZ.org
This is the granddaddy of all directories, and is greatly respected by Google and the other major search engines. Listings are free, but the wait can be long. According to the DMOZ site, expect your site to appear in the listings at Google, AOL and other major engines about 2 weeks after you’re listed in DMOZ.

3)  Zeal www.zeal.com
A free listing after you register. Zeal is owned by Looksmart.

4)  Best of the Web  www.botw.org
Requires a $49.95 yearly fee, or a $149.95 one-time fee. Online since 1994. Listing pages usually have a page rank of

5)  Directory World www.directoryworld.net
Requires a reciprocal link, but is otherwise free. Good page ranks for listing pages.

6)  Clickey www.clickey.com
A free link. Also sorts companies by country.

7)  Seoma    www.seoma.net
Requires registration and a $15 paypal fee for a link, but the high page ranks make it a bargain (compared to buying a text link).

8)  ExactSeek  www.exactseek.com
A free link at an established site. You can also upgrade to a “top ten ranking” for $12.

9)  What You Seek     www.whatyouseek.com
Standard submissions cost $24.99 and will be posted in eight weeks. Velocity submit takes two days and costs $49.99.

10)  Really First www.reallyfirst.com
One of the largest directories with over 40,000 links. Poor navigation, but a free link if you add their link to your site.

This not an exhaustive list, but a great start. If you have a new site, getting listed here will help your website get indexed by search engines.

Ricky-  Clifton Web Group

With people spending a lot of time and work on their blogs, it is critical to drive traffic to your blog, or no one will be aware of your efforts.

1.  Perform your SEO and keyword research

Ensure the HTML of your site is search engine friendly. Outlined below is a basic search engine optimization checklist:

• Do your post titles have appropriate keywords?
• Do your anchor links have keywords in them? Using “here” as a link is a missed opportunity.
• Does your domain name include a primary keyword?

2.  Submit your site to the 1st and 2nd tier engines like Google, Yahoo, Dmoz, MSN and Looksmart, and to the blog directories.

Here’s a short list of sites that offer free blog listings:

Blog Search
http://www.blog-search.com/blogclicker-submission.html
Technorati
http://www.technorati.com/
Bloglines
http://www.bloglines.com/
Blogdex
http://blogdex.net/
Blogwise
http://www.blogwise.com/
WeBlogALot
http://www.weblogalot.com/
Globe of Blogs
http://www.globeofblogs.com/
BlogHop
http://www.bloghop.com/
Blogarama
http://www.blogarama.com/

3.  Ping like you mean it!

This is a way for you to raise your hand to the blog trackers when you’ve posted new content. You can do it site by site at places like Technorati, or go to Ping-o-matic and mass-ping your blog to over 20 sites. Make sure your blog is set up to ping the appropriate sites every time you publish a post.

4. Feed your RSS!!!!

Make sure your blog has one and that it’s working. An RSS feed is a bit of XML that allows your blog to push content to RSS readers. That way people don’t have to visit your site to get your latest insights – they just open their RSS reader and read the news. If your blog is at Blogger.com, don’t worry about an RSS feed – its already been created for you. If you’re not at Blogger.com and your current blog doesn’t have RSS functionality, visit Feedcraft.com and sign up for their free service that will set up an RSS feed from any website (blog or not).

5.  Swap links

Make a list of relevant sites you’d love to link to your blog. Write them a short friendly note and offer to let them use a few of your posts as content on their site in exchange for a link back to your site. Also, link to their sites from within one of your posts.

6.  Be part of the blogging community.

Go to other blog sites you admire. Contribute to their blogs in ways that add real value. Write good, thoughtful comments that are content rich. Give away what you know. Do it a lot – at least 3 posts a week. Over time you’ll become recognized as someone who has something worthwhile to say. As your reputation grows, people will seek out your blog. This is not an overnight process, but by paying your dues and building an audience you are positioning yourself to become a star.

7.  Write your blog!

Put everything you’ve got into it. Make it great. Post as frequently as you can. The search engines will note frequent postings. A blog that has a new post every day is obviously more active – and important – than a blog that was set up in 2003, has 4 posts, and has been dead since 2004. To really make your blog get noticed you’ll need to post at least 2-3 times a week.

Rick-  Clifton Web Group

A huge tip is to record your thoughts and tips immediately when you think of them. If you don't, I can assure you that five minutes later you will not recall what you wanted to write down. I can't emphasize this enough. You might be driving in your car and think of a good story or example that you would like to use in your book. If you don't pull over and write it down or record it into a hand held tape recorder, I guarantee you will forget about it by the time you get to your computer.

This practice will work for both tangibleand intangible products, or downloadable products. Whatever you do, get the ideas recorded no matter what it takes to do it.

Rick-  Clifton Web Group

A quick start to publishing an informational product is to use a booklet format. This is an effective alternative to publishing lengthy books, or costly audio visual media. This informational format is often used when there is not sufficient content for the creation of a book, or CD.

A booklet is very cost effective, can produce significant income streams, and is great for viral marketing. For example, if you email your booklet to an individual, who in-turn forwards it to another person,  you have created a viral marketing channel. Make sure you embed links to your web site so they can learn more about your products and services.

Once you have developed several booklets, you will have enough content for that book or CD that you have always wanted to publish.

Matt-  Clifton Web Group

Most informational books and audio visual products are a set of instructions that focus on how to do something that will improve your performance or well being. If you have experience within a certain area and can document your major points , these types of books are easy to write.

For example, begin to write notes about how to do a specific skill that you have developed through your experience. Make these notations as quickly as they come to your attention. Otherwise, you may forget meaningful input by delaying their entry on your list. 

Sooner than later you will have enough content to write your book, because major points deserve a chapter, and supporting thoughts require multiple paragraphs.

Carol-  Clifton Web Group

It is more important to document what you know that will offer informational insight to your targeted audience. Your subject matter expertise is more important than knowing the rules of grammatically structured sentences and paragraphs.

Once you have developed your subject outline and documentation, contact your local university and inquire about the availability for English majors who provide fee based editing services. Secondly, search the Internet for freelance writers who will offer you a bid to edit your book for publication.

If you choose CDs, or cassettes you have the option to use your voice. If you aren’t comfortable with the way you sound, select an outside source to read your informational content.

Rick-  Clifton Web Group

One of the most affordable ways to finance the printing of your book is to solicit sponsors who can benefit from having their company names and products reflected in your content.

This is a very cost effective way that companies can advertise through the efforts of others who will be distributing and selling their books, and any other form of publications.

It is important to select those sponsors that have products and services that offer real value. In this way, you can recommend the use of these products to ensure ongoing commitment from your sponsors.

Ricky-  Clifton Web Group

If you create your own informational products, your profit margins are extremely high as opposed to buying and re-selling someone else’s product, or service.
 
When buying someone else’s product for re-sell, you receive a discount, or wholesale price that you sell at a marked up retail price point. Your profit margins are dependant on the product, and several sales transactions must occur to make any significant income.

By creating your own informational product that is based upon your own subject matter expertise or experience, you eliminate your wholesale cost. Secondly, the costs associated with creating informational products are very minimal.

There is a huge market for informational products, because market place is constantly evolving and people need information to manage to these ongoing changes.

Matt-  Clifton Web Group

Your experience and subject matter expertise can be used as content to informational products that are in high demand in the market place. People will pay for information that will help them grow their businesses and increase their income potential.

If you have experience in sales, Internet marketing, how to select the best home business that fits your needs, wealth management, or best ways to generate leads for your business you can earn a high profit on informational products. These subjects are in high demand by people who are willing to pay for your information on these subjects.

Rick- Clifton Web Group

A fast way to generate quick sales in your associate program is to:

• Place your associate links on high traffic sites that attract visitors who would be interested and capable of buying your products, or services.
• Educate your associates. Provide automated sales training tools to associates when they sign up.

This quick start strategy is very cost effective, and the returns are significant.

Rick - Clifton Web Group

Once your affiliate program is in place, be selective with those that want to join. For example, the best profile to consider are those that have high level web site traffic, because they will produce a high rate of sales. For those who don’t have adequate traffic, few sales will be generated. In this case, you will waste precious time with the administration of your program by dealing with their several issues and questions.

Rick - Clifton Web Group

The use of banner ads to promote your web site is no longer an effective option. Instead, people are having great success in using articles, blogs, and text links to drive traffic to their sites, which   create highly lucrative income streams. Furthermore, if you aren’t driving traffic to your web site, banner ads will not be effective anyway. To that end, the first priority is to set up a system that will drive traffic to your site. Once this is in place, affiliate programs can be very profitable. If the traffic to your web site is at an average level and has tapered off, there are Internet marketing tools that are quite effective in increasing traffic to your web site.

Rick - Clifton Web Group

Consider affiliate programs that offer the following value propositions:

• Visitors that click through are tracked for years. In this case, you are paid regardless of when an order takes place.
• Commissions are paid on a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly basis.
• There are no high dollar thresholds that must be met before a commission is released for payment.
• Real time visibility into sales figures are available to view, monitor and track.

Rick - Clifton Web Group

There are certain associate programs to avoid if they meet the following criteria:

• No payment if someone clicks from your web site, but returns at a later date to order.
• No payment if someone clicks on your web site, and then calls in an order.
• No payment if someone clicks on your web site, and then faxes an order.
• No payment until a high dollar amount is due. This is a pre-set amount, and may take a very long time before it triggers payment.
• Sales tracking is not available, so you don’t know how much money you have earned and owed.

Matt - Member Team Clifton

In associate and affiliate programs, another company pays you commissions to market their products. This can be done many ways but often includes the use of ads, links, and banners. For example when a visitor to your web site clicks on that company’s banner and purchases their product, you get paid a commission for that sales transaction.

There are multiple ways to make income with affiliate programs. One can participate in other affiliate programs at no cost, and generate sales commission income by selling the products of   other companies. In addition, you can implement your own affiliate program and have others selling your products at a set rate commission schedule.

Carol - Member Team Clifton

Keep on the alert for email addresses that can be a real hassle. For example joeblow@joeblow.com is obviously not someone’s email. Invalid email addresses need to be removed from your lists. Most reputable email systems will do this for you by catching bounce backs. By sending emails to invalid addresses you are severely damaging your deliverability (The percentage of your emails that will reach the inbox, spam folder, or neither).

Matt - Member Team Clifton

The target market for your E-newsletter should be groups of people with the same, or similar interests. This strategy will generate the most sales from any E-newsletter regardless of your product, or service. For example, my target market focuses on people who want to learn how to market products and services over the Internet. Therefore, I offer products and services that I think will best fit their needs.

Since my business portfolio is comprised of multiple products and services, I have several target markets that I support by providing the best products and services that fit those needs. To that end, one can have as many target markets as they can manage.

Carol - Member Team Clifton

There are a couple of ways to manage your subscribers list that include:

• Outsource the management of your subscribers list to a list service company that will provide support activities for your subscribers and un-subscribers. If you choose this outsource option, make sure that you have backup files in case the need for disaster recovery occurs..
• Keep the management of your subscribers list in-house, and upgrade to a top tier software system that will better support mailings from your server, or host computer. In some cases, people will use both options dependant on their specific need

Again, Veretek’s “VereMail” works very well here and includes great management solutions.

Matt - Member Team Clifton

Tips on creating content for your E-newsletter:

• Develop subject matter expertise and express your views within your E-newsletter.
• Invite guest authorities on the subject to offer their input.
• Review industry publication overviews and provide summary input to your E-newsletter.
• Search industry web sites and white papers that reflect information that can be used within your E-newsletter.

Rick - Member Team Clifton

There are effective, proven methods used to get people to sign up for your E-newsletter:

• Driving traffic to an attractive website will generate new people that will register to receive your newsletter.
• Run ads in targeted publications that offer free marketing tips.
• Research reputable list houses, but be aware of some of those vendors that may get you kicked off the Internet if you use their lists.
• There are many directories that are available on the Internet, so list your E-newsletter in as many as feasible.
• Use Ezines to announce your E-newsletter.

Ricky - Member Team Clifton