Part 2 of "Affiliate programs and your Home Business"

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Part 2 of "Using affiliate programs effectively with your Home Business"

Here is the conclusion of the home business and affiliate program article by home business expert author Brett Krkosska. More information about Brett and the home business tools website is located in the resource box at the end of the page.

Weave the links to your affiliate programs into your site. Let the links fit within the framework of your site's theme. You will have much greater success by leading your visitors to the links, rather than simply displaying the links.

Recommend your programs rather than advertise them

You can increase your success by offering commentary and recommending the programs instead of just slapping an affiliate banner on your website. Think of yourself as a customer instead of an advertiser. As a satisfied customer recommending a product, your success is greatly increased. Let your visitors know why you recommend a service or product. Has it helped your business, for example? Most affiliate programs do not require that you purchase their own product in order to promote it. But if you actually are familiar with the product your editorial will be richer and more compelling. You might want to promote the product or service for a while before promoting the affiliate program itself. A two tiered income program that pays each month will incur more long-term revenue from product sales rather than from signing up other resellers.

Choose the right programs for your site

Do you know who the company is that offers your affiliate program? Go with established companies. Do not waste time with companies that have no track record. If they go out of business, so are you. Find programs that fit well within the overall theme of your site. Turning your site into a virtual potpouri of various programs will probably reduce the number of click-thru's.

Choose programs that actually pay

As a broad rule, you will want to earn commissions of twenty percent or more. But this is not a hard and fast rule. For example, I have a program that earns an average of only nine dollars each month. But since it only took me a few minutes to add the link, and it fits well into my site, that is nine dollars I might not otherwise earn. Ideally, programs that are 2 tiered will increase your bottom line. Recurring commissions come from programs such as Web hosting or Autoresponders and pay monthly for as long the account you referred stays active. 2 tired programs allow you to earn commissions from the sales made by sub-affiliates.

Personally welcome your customers and sub-affiliates

You will want to e-mail a personal welcome message to your customers and affiliates that join your program. Help them succeed by educating them on the facts about affiliate programs. The hallmark of a long-lived home business is one that establishes and maintains relationships. The ingredients I have spelled out in this article do in fact work. I employ them in the promotion of my own affiliate programs. You can use these techniques also. Apply them to your site and build a home business that makes money!

Brett Krkosska provides how-to advice on small business and home-based work issues. His site, http://HomeBizTools.com, helps small businesses reach their fullest potential. He is also the publisher of Straight Talk, a fresh and original newsletter that offers a unique perspective on today's business issues. mailto:enews@homebiztools.com

Disclaimer: This home business article is not the property of home business match. It can be reprinted with the permission of author Brett Krkosska alone.