<< back |
Home |
Site Map |
Articles
Affiliate Pie?
Sign up here. Do what I do. I pay commission. You'll get rich, too.
Little Jack Horner sat in a corner, eating affiliate pie.
He stuck in his thumb and tossed me a crumb and said;
"What a smart boy am I!"
It was one of those nights. Wide awake.Tic toc, two o'clock.
My thoughts were on the websites
I'd reviewed that day. On the people flocking to the Internet looking to build their future online. Hopes and dreams rolled up into a series of associate programs, banners and affiliate id tags.
The next morning, Jack was still kicking around, hawking;
"Sign up here. Do what I do. I pay commission. You'll get rich, too."
Money for nothing? What's next, chicks for free?
Not unless you're a rock star, daddy-o. Sadly, it is people with the highest hopes that are so easily blinded by the glitter
of money for nothing. Dreams die hard, and hope doesn't pay the bills.
All too often, people end up disillusioned, saying; "This Internet thing doesn't work."
Disappointed, they quit. Throw in the towel.
The Internet does work! There are many, many people making great profit online.
It is not so different than having a small or home based business and distributing flyers
or brochures to reach people... except that the reach is so much more vast.
Do you want to show people how much you know? Or how little?
If there is one secret to website success, it is in remembering that your website is
supposed to appeal to people. People with feelings
like yours and mine. People that need to feel welcomed and respected if we want them
to come back and visit us again. People that want value for their hard earned dollars.
Think of it this way. If you were an avid fisherman, would you buy your fishing supplies
from someone who'd never held a fishing rod? And if your wife is buying a gift for you and
buys the wrong kind because the bozo running the site assured her that was for bass fishing,
are you going to be impressed with the site and tell your fishing buddies about it? I think not.
Don't be that bozo.
Here's my suggestion. Pick something you like, whether it's fishing or cooking.
If you know nothing, research it. Learn. Remember that word? Build the best darn website you can on that subject.
As a side note, if you're re-selling marketing programs, what makes you think you can compete with the person
that wrote it, as well as the bazillion existing affiliates in order to sell enough to make a decent income? Think
about that one really hard. If you don't have an angle, find one, or find a new product category to sell in.
Choose Your Affiliate Programs With Care!
If you include affiliate goods, choose them carefully, and with your
visitors in mind. Your choices will reflect upon your reputation.
If you highly recommend a product because of the generous commission, and it ends up being
a scam, or (worse yet) causing health (or other) problems, don't you think that might
refect upon your reputation just a tad?
Give your website the ultimate test;
Don't be a silly enough to ask your spouse for an opinion. Or your mother. No matter
what you say, neither your spouse nor your mother can be objective. And they aren't going to
buy enough to keep you in business, anyway.
No, no. Show the site to your spouse and ask him/her if you should buy from it.
Don't say it's yours. Trust me, you'll get a more honest opinion that way.
Then again, you could just put it online and let reality tell you if it works.
But make no mistake. The web works - if your web site doesm and if you do.
Feel welcome to reprint my articles as is. Please don't change them. All I ask in return is a
credit link to my site. Thanks.