What is Affiliate marketing
Throughout the world there are always people looking to buy
something and people looking to sell something. If the seller
offers what the buyer wants then there is a chance of a sale if
the buyer and the seller meet. The more active the seller the
more likely the meeting.
Companies physically located in a particular location who trade locally
increase their market penetration by using independent commission agents. They
show the goods to customers located further away who otherwise would not have
access to these goods. These agents are not company employees they are totally
independent, get no basic salary, only a percentage commission on sales i.e. no
sales equals no money.
When you work online physical location is not an issue. Anyone who has
internet access can theoretically find any website. However the more sites there
are promoting the product the more chance there is of buyer meeting seller and
this is where online affiliate programs are so helpful.
With online affiliate marketing instead of physically having to visit the
customer you send the customer to the vendor. The affiliate marketers role is to
drive traffic (customers) to the merchant. If that traffic converts to
sales, services, leads etc then you as the initiator gets a % of the sale as a
fee or commission.
Remember it is the merchant who deals with the customer. The merchant holds
the stock and ships the goods. Any queries, problems, refunds etc are handled by
the merchant. All you have is a revenue sharing agreement with the merchant to
promote products, services etc in exchange for some form of payment from any
sales, leads or clicks that result from your advertising.
Affiliate marketing process
discusses the building blocks in the process of setting up online as an
affiliate marketer.
Learn affiliate marketing pros and cons
looks at the benefits to both merchant and affiliate. There are significant
benefits to both sides which is what makes affiliate marketing so attractive.
As mentioned previously, some people are more likely to be successful in
affiliate marketing than others. While there are obviously exceptions to every
rule it sure helps to know which of your attributes will help and which will
hinder. Find out more here
Another area worth browsing through is the Frequently Asked Questions or
FAQ's section.
Click here to read what others are asking on the topic.