The affiliate model is a "high reward/low risk" Web site monetization option.

[usasparrow]

..
* you don't have to develop excellent products -- it has already been done for you. You simply judge and pick the best available ones, from the best available merchants!
* you don't have to spend large amounts to manufacture and store inventory
* no need to take and process a single order, or worry about getting paid (you don't even need a merchant account!) -- you simply send people to your affiliated merchants, then get paid when they buy
* you don't have to handle or ship a product -- your merchants do that
* you'll never have to answer customer e-mail (inquiries and support are 24/7 issues that can easily eat up 50% of your day)
* they cost nothing to join (beware of the few that do)
* your affiliate business can be started part-time, on a shoestring.


Most people fail at anything because most people would rather go FIRE-READY-AIM. They jump the gun and FIRE, rather than invest some time to get READY and to AIM.

Yes, it feels "unproductive" to prepare and set up a system... But it's how the successful succeed.

The solution? Upfront thinking and planning...

Develop best site concept/theme
Brainstorm most profitable topics
Select best related affiliate programs.

People who do not know HTML (HyperText Markup Language, the code of the Web) are largely shut out. After all, most folks can't afford to hire Web site developers and graphic designers.

What about those who do know how to code a Web site? Well, almost everyone makes more than one of the following mistakes...

* design an amateurish look and feel
* fail to build a list of topics that will be profitable (i.e., that are in-demand, without too much competition)
* create poor content that does not hold a visitor's attention and respect
* build poor site structure and organization
* produce low value gateway or doorway pages
* host at a free Web hosting service (#1 credibility destroyer)
* fail to master the Search Engines.

All of these kill affiliates. They never even figure out why!

* make the content of their Web pages "attractive" to Search Engines
* track how each page performs on the major Search Engines, from submission, through spidering, indexing and finally to how each page ranks
* develop more than one way to drive traffic
* analyze Click IN and Click Through patterns meticulously, as if their businesses depended on it (because it does)
* follow key traffic stats from a good log file analyzer
* execute well, having assembled or created a wide variety of expensive tools.

Do these solutions sound out of reach for you? They used to be, not any more...
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