Top 3 Affiliate Marketing Programs For Beginners
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David
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September 24th, 2012
Amazon Associates Check (Photo credit: liewcf)
If you're reading this, it's because you know the value of affiliate marketing but have absolutely no clue where to start.
I was there once, too. You barely even know what it means to become an affiliate marketer, yet you know you need ads for your site.
Many people stick to Google Adwords for web revenue, but that's not good enough for me. Sometimes, we want to sell specific products and services. Here's where to start.
Regardless of what you're blogging or writing about, there's a program for you.
Although there are many companies out there that link you to advertisers, I've had better luck with a few. In my experience, here are the top 3 affiliate marketing programs for beginners!
1. Commission Junction
What I like most about Commission Junction is their vast network of connections. Since I blog about a diverse set of topics (cooking gadgets to SEO), I prefer a site that lets me do everything all in one.
Commission Junction does that. It's connected to a large group of advertisers, including major companies and websites with built-in marketability (Hotels.com, Jelly Belly, etc). They provide both links and graphics, which allow you to communicate with your readers in several different ways. Plus, they also email you about special offers only available to affiliates. This makes you even more desirable and increases leads.
There's even something called the SmartZone, which allows you to create rotating series of ads for a variety of different advertisers with one simple link.
I like that diversity. It allows me to advertise more than just makeup to my audience, especially in key locations for conversions. I don't want to be affiliated with just one company. Instead, I want to provide a rotating series of high quality advertisements for my amazing readers!
2. ShareaSale
I feel like ShareaSale is quite a lot like Commission Junction, but I prefer the former in some ways. First, there seems to be a much larger pool of applicants on Commission Junction. But, ShareaSale is also easy to use.
Still, it is a great starting point for people new to the system. Again, you'll be able to advertise for great companies like Tiny Prints, Treat, and even bigger boys like HootSuite (also on CJ).
The initial payout is high. You have to earn $50 before getting a check. That's not bad, but just realize that affiliate success is never immediate.
3. Amazon Associates
Looking for a great, universal way to kickstart affiliate sales? Amazon Associates is one of the most user-friendly programs out there.
Although it can take some time to figure out all of its special features and the pay rate is a rather low percentage, it's easy. If you ever link to a product, simply use an affiliate link instead. Want to share resources about a series of useful books? Paste the code into the post, and that's all you need.
These are wonderful ways to increase conversions, but require determination to long-term website growth and development.
Absolutely none of these companies is immediate, and you must read all of the conditions completely before signing on. But, they are my preferred ways to get my affiliate kicks.