Get a Domain Name: Having your own domain name not only adds visibility among search engines, but it also adds credibility to your site. Which site looks more credible to a customer--http://www.freewebs.com/~trevor-1690 or http://www.roadtowealthnewsletter.com? Give yourself some credibility with your own domain name.

Pick a Web Site Theme: Pick a relevant theme that will attract customers. If your site's theme is based around something completely unrelated, you won't see too many click-thru's.

Target Their Market: "Trying to sell to everyone is selling to no one." You can't be everything to everyone. Pick a subject and stick with it. If you are promoting the One Minute Millionaire, you may want to create a site or at least a page that focuses on wealth creation.

Focus, Focus, Focus: I've said it before and I'll say it again: A page consisting of nothing but banner after banner is useless. "Sites like these do not succeed in earning money for their owners. Not only will they not attract traffic, but the affiliates will have little chance of converting the little traffic they do generate into actual sales, click-through's, or return traffic."

Keep the Site Simple: Graphic-intensive pages that take forever to load are rarely even seen. A visitor will hit the back button before your site even comes up. Flashy animations and distracting images may distract visitors from seeing your affiliate link. According to Shawn, "Putting [banners and links] at the top of [the] page will result in more hits and click-thru's."

Market Their Site: Building a site doesn't mean people will ever see it. Remember the value of search engine optimization. Submit your site to search engines and directories. You can also promote your site in the signature line of every email you send.
Keep It Fresh: Change the content on your page continuously to receive repeat visitors. "This is important because most products are not purchased the first time a consumer sees an offer. It may take several impressions before they make a buying decision."

Build an Opt-In E-mail List : This is an excellent way to contact people who have already visited your site in order to offer your services again and again. If they opt in they are probably interested and won't mind occasional emails with affiliate offers.

quote:

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Originally posted by Mark
In his book, Successful Affiliate Marketing For Merchants, Shawn Collins discusses the eight things EVERY affiliate should do to be successful. I have listed the eight points below with a few comments on each point.

Great affiliates...

Get a Domain Name: Having your own domain name not only adds visibility among search engines, but it also adds credibility to your site. Which site looks more credible to a customer--http://www.freewebs.com/~trevor-1690 or http://www.roadtowealthnewsletter.com? Give yourself some credibility with your own domain name.

Pick a Web Site Theme: Pick a relevant theme that will attract customers. If your site's theme is based around something completely unrelated, you won't see too many click-thru's.

Target Their Market: "Trying to sell to everyone is selling to no one." You can't be everything to everyone. Pick a subject and stick with it. If you are promoting the One Minute Millionaire, you may want to create a site or at least a page that focuses on wealth creation.

Focus, Focus, Focus: I've said it before and I'll say it again: A page consisting of nothing but banner after banner is useless. "Sites like these do not succeed in earning money for their owners. Not only will they not attract traffic, but the affiliates will have little chance of converting the little traffic they do generate into actual sales, click-through's, or return traffic."

Keep the Site Simple: Graphic-intensive pages that take forever to load are rarely even seen. A visitor will hit the back button before your site even comes up. Flashy animations and distracting images may distract visitors from seeing your affiliate link. According to Shawn, "Putting [banners and links] at the top of [the] page will result in more hits and click-thru's."

Market Their Site: Building a site doesn't mean people will ever see it. Remember the value of search engine optimization. Submit your site to search engines and directories. You can also promote your site in the signature line of every email you send.
Keep It Fresh: Change the content on your page continuously to receive repeat visitors. "This is important because most products are not purchased the first time a consumer sees an offer. It may take several impressions before they make a buying decision."

Build an Opt-In E-mail List : This is an excellent way to contact people who have already visited your site in order to offer your services again and again. If they opt in they are probably interested and won't mind occasional emails with affiliate offers.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Mark
Email definately has its troubles, but my retail business utilizes a newsletter which works pretty well for us. The last time we sent out a quick newsletter indicating new stock was in we got lots of orders that day.

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