So You Want to be an Affiliate?

My site is aimed at confused bingo players, but that does not mean that affiliate marketing stops with just gambling. You will be surprised at how many websites have affiliate programs. Usually, there is an affiliate link on the bottom of the website page if they have one (see the image below for the link boxed in red). Affiliate programs usually take a few minutes to sign up, and once you have embedded the links and banners on your site, you are good to go.

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is based on the business or services. As an affiliate,  u will have to gain visitors to a site, subscribers, or, most importantly,  leads. It is usually referred to as paid-on-delivery. You will only get paid if you deliver.

What do I Need to Get Started?

A website or blog is crucial to get started in affiliate marketing. A blog or site that is well established will give you better results to start with than with a website you just registered today.

Before you start, you need to make sure if you want your site to be an informational site with the odd banners at the side or if you want your site to be an entire affiliate site, where the site's sole purpose is affiliate links.

Whatever you decide, you need to determine your site's niche. There is no point in having a site promoting TVs, watches, cookers, and gambling. You need to make a website that discusses and helps similar products. Having a site that reviews TV with an affiliate link at the bottom of the review is perfect. Bear in mind that you need to sign up for all the affiliate programs from the different manufacturers of TVs. Then, you, as an affiliate, will receive commissions for every person you refer to, the TV merchant who buys a TV.

But Wait

Many people believe you can make an affiliate site today and then be rich tomorrow. I am sorry to disappoint you, but it is not that simple. You would likely get results quicker if you had a humongous advertising budget. For the rest of us, however, it will take some time.

With Visitors to your site, you will make commissions. You can either use programs like Google Adsense to buy traffic to your site, or you need to get your site to the top of search engines. You will either have to hire an SEO (which could have adverse effects if you hire the wrong one) or learn SEO (search engine optimization) yourself.

The look and feel of your website can also play a big part. It is optional, but a site you think does not look professional will also have the same effect as others. Getting a Designer and Developer to make your site look and function better can be very expensive. Knowing how to do this yourself will save you a hell of a lot of money in the beginning. It is just taking the time to learn.

Most affiliate programs will not pay you the $5 you made last month if that is all you made. You need to read the small print as many affiliates have a minimum withdrawal and will only let you withdraw funds from your account if it exceeds this minimum.