Did you know that you can work at home and make money online without ever selling anything? There are very few home based business opportunities that are easier or cost less than affiliate marketing. Some people are earning thousands of dollars every year with affiliate marketing. The business plan is usually quite simple. Your clients are established online businesses selling a wide range of products and services.
You get paid for purchases made by customers from the client's website which you are an affiliate for. You get paid either a percentage or set amount of what the customer buys. The opportunities associated with affiliate marketing are numerous and growing every day. This is how it works. The affiliate places a banner or link advertisement on their website and each time a customer clicks through from the affiliate website to the merchant websites and makes a purchase the affiliate earns a commission.
Finding affiliate programs is not that hard. It has become so profitable and popular in the internet marketing business that almost everyone seems to be doing it. This does not mean you should settle for just any affiliate program. It is important to choose a program that is at least somewhat relevant to your website or business. This way you have the best possible chance of your customers clicking through to the affiliate website.
For example, if you sell cameras or photography equipment you might join an affiliate program with a company that sells photography books. Read the affiliate contract carefully. While there are many excellent affiliate programs out there, there is always somebody trying to rip you off while making a quick dollar.
Avoid these scams by reviewing affiliate agreements carefully and go with your gut about whether a website or program is legitimate. The nice thing about an affiliate marketing home business is that you're not restricted to doing just one affiliate program. You are able to sign on with as many programs as you desire as long as you have room on your website to place their banner or link. Here are some ideas for locating a good affiliate program.
1. Is the product appealing to your customers? 2. How much does the merchant pay and for what do they pay? Click throughs? Purchases? 3. Do they compensate exclusively for the first purchase only or do they give you a percentage of future buys made by that customer? 4.
How frequently are commissions paid? This information should be in the affiliate agreement. With some good research you can find the right affiliate programs for your home based business website and in no time you will be making money simply for referring customers from your website.
Paul Jesse is an author and webmaster providing free and low cost opportunities to make money at home. Paul would like to invite you to visit his website at http://www.sheamarketing.com
