Conduct a quick Google search for the words “make money online” and it won’t be long before you’re led down the path to affiliate marketing. You’ll find thousands of people all endorsing affiliate marketing as the easiest way to make thousands of dollars.
Affiliate marketing can be easy and it can make you thousands of dollars if done properly. Here are five simple ideas you can implement right away. You don’t need a website or a mailing list, but some of these methods will require you to own a domain name.
1. Squidoo. Squidoo is a free website building platform where you build a page, called a lens, that is tightly focused on one specific topic. There’s no fee for setting up a lens, and it’s a great way to test the viability of a niche.
2. Social networking. Social networks are all about relationships, so what better way to earn extra money from commissions than by recommending products to your friends? I’m not telling you to go out and mass follow a million strangers on Facebook just so you can slam them all with affiliate links. That’s a great way to get your account banned. But well-placed, non-spammy links can work well.
3. Article marketing. Article marketing is a viable method of driving traffic to affiliate offers, but one or two articles are not enough to make an impact. Most successful article marketers write and submit several articles every day, so it’s best to use this technique if you love to write (and are good at it) and if you know your subject well.
4. Pay per click ads. Affiliate marketers can use this method to drive traffic to a product they’re promoting. Pay per click advertising starts with thorough keyword research to determine exactly where you want your ad to show up. Then you write a compelling ad that viewers will want to click. However, pay per click advertising can be a risky endeavor if you don’t have a clear understanding of how it works.
5. Ebooks and special reports. Similar to article marketing, free ebooks and special reports are simply a collection of useful information a marketer offers at no cost to his or her readers. In exchange for providing valuable advice, the author includes relevant affiliate links to products he or she recommends. Then he distributes the eBook or report through a variety of channels.
As a business model, affiliate marketing certainly has its attractions. The start-up costs are minimal, often no more than a few dollars. There’s no need for formal affiliate marketing training, special licenses, or even an office. All you really need to get started is an Internet connection and a PayPal account.
Welcome to my business and marketing blog. I write about ideas and products and other things to help keep your business healthy. As an entrepreneur it can be hard to find the info you need to succeed. I hope this blog helps you with that.