How To: Affiliate Programs

We all say we are going to do something, but we never actually get around to doing it.

"
The first step is the hardest"
-Madame De Vichy-Deffand

I know it's not the deepest quote, but this is very true in just about any situation- including making money on the web. There are a number of reasons the first step is the hardest. Maybe you are scared. Or you don't have the tools you need. Or maybe you just don't know how to begin. In the rest of this post, I'll cover exactly what you need to get started as an affiliate marketer.

Affiliate marketing is the best type of marketing to get into. I say this because first of all, you don't have to spend any money at all! You don't need to have your own product, you just use someone else's! But as you may or may not know, choosing your marketing niche can be a difficult task. Think about it this way when trying to choose your marketing niche:

• What is popular these days
• What products are in a price range that most people can buy
• What do I know a lot/reasonable amount about

Create a list of things you can sell and cross out the niches that do not fit the criteria. Once you've finished, just select one out of the remaining topics.


So you've got your niche, but you still have no idea where to find a product to sell. Websites like Affiliate Guide can simplify your search. They've categorized affiliate programs by niche, so you'll easily locate what you're looking for. Or you could use something like Commission Junction to find affiliate programs.


Usually, affiliate hosts will provide you with your own site. It may have a long url, but a url redirection service is ideal.
More advice on affiliate programs is coming soon! Stay tuned!