[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Micheal Savoie and Jeanny, Jeanny. Jeanny said: Recommended reading: What Affiliate Marketing Is? http://goo.gl/fb/GYgt [...]
What Affiliate Marketing Is?
At this point you might still be confused about what affiliate marketing is. To give you a clear picture of it, let me talk about what it is and what it is not.
Affiliate Marketing Is….
Pay-for-performance
In order to earn money as an affiliate, you need to produce results for the merchant or network: whether it’s sales, clicks or registrations. Please remember that you earn a portion of the sale or commission when a product is bought by a customer. Some companies will pay you if somebody clicks on the affiliate link the company provides for you or when a customer registers for free to an affiliate website.
A Legitimate Business
Affiliate marketing is a legitimate business and the most successful affiliates run their affiliate businesses seriously and treat it as a real business.
A Big business
Affiliates around the world earn billions of dollars each year. In 2006, it was estimated that the affiliates in the UK alone earned over 2 billion dollars. Affiliate earnings ranges from over millions of dollars a year and around $20 dollars a week for small time affiliates.
A long established business model
When people realized that the internet could be a good medium for commerce, affiliate marketing was born. One of the earliest big affiliate programs was started by Amazon.com in 1996.
Internet-based
When it comes to earning commissions, all the tracking and processing is done through the internet though you can promote your product or your website using offline method. The handling of products is handled by the company and there is no door-to-door selling.
Open to anyone
You do not need to have special qualifications to be an affiliate. Most affiliate programs are open to anyone: whether you are experienced or a complete newbie. You also do not need to be a computer genius to be a successful affiliate. Everyone goes through the same learning curve. Since it is a pay-for-performance, it is for anybody who wants to make money online.
Now that you have seen what affiliate marketing is, here’s what affiliate marketing is NOT.
Affiliate Marketing is Not…
Creating and selling your own product
Creating your own product is a different business that requires a lot more risk than affiliate marketing. When you create a product you invest money in creating the product, marketing the product, handling payments and delivery, providing customer support, and ongoing development. An affiliate is simply responsible for sending prospects to a merchant! The product owners get affiliates to make more sales.
Being an affiliate first can be a stepping stone to create your own product later on when you have gained more experience of the business.
Just about pharmaceuticals, pornography, online dating or gambling.
You might have encountered a lot affiliates promoting the above products. But there are more hundred of products you can promote in different niches according to your interest like e-books, electronic products, health products, pet care and many much more.
Becoming a spammer
You might be annoyed receiving a lot of emails in your inbox promoting one product or another from persons you don’t know. These people are spammers. Spamming is one method of promoting a product but it is illegal and is not encouraged.
You might make a sale from spamming but it would not build your reputation as a true affiliate marketer.
Learn more about what is affiliate marketing and get step-by-step guide on how to be an affiliate marketer at Affilorama.
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11 comments - add yours
michealsavoie – | Underground Trafficking
February 6, 2010
[...] What Affiliate Marketing Is? | Money Makers Hub(author unknown) says: …name and email below to get this ebook and otherinternet marketingebooks.…This post was mentioned on Twitter byMicheal Savoieand Jeanny, Jeanny.… [...]
Gundam
February 7, 2010
Nice Job. I am blog walking. Marketing internet ? i want it.
What the bleep
February 8, 2010
All the tracking and processing is done through the internet though you can promote your product or your website using offline method.
Jean
February 10, 2010
Affiliate marketing is the best way to go for a beginner internet marketer. As you gain more experience in internet marketing you can apply other strategies to make money online.
cross country moving companies
February 11, 2010
Does anyone here use affiliate marketing? How is that working out for you? Curious.
Jean
February 12, 2010
@crosscountry I make more sales on digital products than physical products.
Referral Guide
February 26, 2010
This is a nice, in depth post. Affiliate marketing has never really been my thing so I was interested to see just what it was. I’m guessing most online stuff is graphics and traffic building?
.-= Referral Guide´s last blog ..Yahoo Ansers =-.
John
March 5, 2010
Great Post buddy, great website too. There is another online people magazine
.-= John´s last blog ..Best Social Bookmarking websites =-.
Credit Card Processing
March 12, 2010
I manage an affiliate program for a client of ours. We were also blessed to have had complete control over the program structure, as well as the tracking and reporting system. Should any of you have a need for a good business oriented affiliate partner, visit http://www.1nbcard.com/affiliates
The company provides merchant accounts to businesses that want to accept credit cards. You can earn $10 to $75 per application submitted depending on the structure you choose. Llast month our top affiliate was responsible for about 100 online application submissions. Our highest converting affiliate (apps filed to apps approved) is just over 30%, so it’s no doubt profitable. You can do the math 
Earn Money At Home
March 25, 2010
Hi Jean,
I really like your post here. You have done a great job of providing a lot of factual information. Affiliate marketing is truly a great way to earn money online but like anything else in life, it takes hard work and dedication and I agree that it does need to be treated as a real business.
There are affiliates out there earning in excess of $100,000.00/month doing nothing more that marketing other people’s products as an affiliate, so it is not to be taken lightly.
An affiliate marketing business is also probably one of the easiest home businesses out there to start simply due to the fact that you don’t need much money to get started. I have been involved in affiliate marketing for about 5 years now and have learned a whole lot along the way. In fact, I learn something new nearly every day.
There are a lot of affiliates that start and fail but I have found that most of the failures are due to a lack of long term interest. One does have to have a passion or at least be very interested in what they are doing or they will eventually give it up.
I find affiliate marketing to be a very fun and rewarding business.
Thanks again for the info and keep up the good work
Take Care,
Chris
