DO
YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO
MAKE MONEY AS AN AFFILIATE
CARA'S
CORNER
I love it when my interaction with my clients inspires an article.
I'm very excited about this one. It helps put affiliate marketing
in perspective.
I've also have extraordinary response from my last two articles.
Two prospective clients responded, one within an hour of my posting
my emagazine and another by finding my article on the internet.
Articles do attract new prospects.
Having said that, I just want to remind you that I have a very
strong home study course Article
Magnetism, How to Write Articles that Attract that
can help you master this powerful advertising strategy in three
weeks. I have also added article writing to my copy writing services.
See my Magnetic Marketing
100 Article Campaign.
Besides
writing articles, I'm having a great time writing sales pages
for other people. If that interests you check out Magnetic
Content Development and Copy Writing for the Internet
Affiliate marketing is a great way to earn money but here are
some ideas of what you need to have in place to make it happen.
Enjoy
the article.
Warmly,
Do
You have What it Takes to
Make
Money as an Affiliate
by Cara Lumen
I've had several calls lately from people looking
for help in making money from affiliate marketing. The general
impression is that all you have to do is sign up and the money
will start pouring in. And it pops me right back to square one.
What are you passionate about?
The best businesses are built on our passion.
When what we are passionate about is also something we are good
at, it means that is probably a great way to make our income.
We cannot just put up an affiliate link on
our sales page and expect things to happen. We cannot just choose
a bunch of unrelated products and expect to sell them. Well, maybe
some people can, but only a handful and that's because they simply
like to sell. The average affiliate marketer will benefit from
selecting affiliate programs that are close to her passion.
You sell to your list
New marketers don't always get this, you sell
to your list. 80% of your sales will come from 20% of your prospects
so a magnetic marketer spends the majority of her time cultivating
a relationship with her present list and designing programs and
services specifically for them and their needs. Of course you
want to continue to build your list though great opt ins and making
yourself visible. But sales come as you build trust with those
who have already been attracted to you and your work.
Magnetic Marketing is focused
You can't be all things to all people, you'll
end up being nothing to everyone. You can't write targeted copy,
you can't post on relevant blogs, you can't even find your target
audience unless you have identified them. And the smaller the
better. Niches are riches. Focus on the people that share your
passion, and as you share your excitement you will organically
attract the perfect client, those who very much need and want
what you have to offer.
How to make affiliate marketing work
My most lucrative affiliate associations are
with products and services I use that would also be helpful to
my clients if they used them. For instance, because I coach people
in content strategy for their web sites, I have an affiliate association
with the shopping
cart I recommend, the merchant
account, the web
hosting company, and the blog
hosting company I use myself and can enthusiastically recommend.
My clients come to me for internet marketing information. They
do not expect or want me to try to sell them vitamins. Stick with
what you yourself successfully use. Then you can genuinely share
your enthusiasm and people will be attracted to what you have
to offer. Keep your affiliate selections relevant to your target
audience.
Keep building your list
Back to square one. If you have a list, great.
If you don't, you need to build one. And it's not just about having
a list, it's about having a pre-qualified list, people who see
what you offer and give you permission to keep them posted on
your new services and products. Simple ways that can be done are
through a compelling web site with an strong opt in offering or
relevant blog postings on a specific topic that builds your RSS
feed list. However you choose to build your list, you have to
have one topic and one target audience.
For instance, I can have a niche as a holistic
health resource and find all sorts of affiliates to feature. I
can have a niche as a marketing expert (I do) or a copy writer
(I'm working on it) but each niche will draw a different audience
so I will need to focus my content and affiliate resources to
their specific needs - to the reason they came to me in the first
place.
Have your own affiliate program
If you have active services and a number of
products, it's great to have your own affiliate program. However,
like anything else in busyness, you need to support your affiliates
with html banners and text links and suggested email copy and
special promotions. You have to cultivate your relationship with
your own affiliates just as you cultivate your prospects. My affiliate
program is from Easy
Web Automation
My resource page
on my web site is filled with affiliate links. Sure I recommend
things that don't have an affiliate program, because I am in service
to my web site visitors and want to give them as much value as
I can. But when I can, it's an affiliate link.
Follow your passion
I still think the desire to earn money by itself
is a poor choice. People won't buy because you want to sell. They
buy because they want it even more than they need it. They buy
because they trust you. When you can get them caught up in your
passion and excitement about the product or service they will
purchase. Emotion sells. My suggestion for what it takes to earn
money as an affiliate - follow your passion, stay in service and
choose affiliate associates that fit your niche.
©
Cara Lumen 2008
www.caralumen.com
WANT
TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EMAGAZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as
long as you include this bio with it:
Cara
Lumen, The Vision Distiller, helps you work with your
passion to distill your vision into a specific and profitable
course of action. Her specialty is internet marketing, content
strategy, copy writing, and signature product development. Through
her Magnetic Marketing Method, Cara offers innovative, inexpensive,
and impactful ideas for the proactive entrepreneur. Learn how
you can become a Success Magnet at www.caralumen.com
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