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Are you looking to join an affiliate program hoping to make some extra cash? Affiliate programs abound on the Internet. In fact, in doing a search on MSN, I came up with about 145,000,000 links to affiliate programs. Since you probably don't have ten lifetimes to analyze even a small percentage of the available opportunites, you need to be able to narrow your search and focus on programs that optimize your earning potential. What are some of the characteristics to look for in a good affiliate program? As mentioned, there are literally thousands of affiliate programs selling all kinds of products and services. One of the toughest decisions is deciding on what kind of products to promote. While the scope of available programs are too numerous to list, they basically come in two different shades; 'real' physical products and digital products and services. Real products like automotive accessories, apparel, electronics, sports equipment, etc., generally pay a lower percentage of commission on sales but are oftentimes products that sell at a higher price. Digital products and services on the other hand usually pay a much higher commission ranging from 25% all the way up to 75% of the selling price. While you can make money selling either type of product or service, I would offer a few suggestions in choosing what type of program to be involved with; a) Don't chose an affiliate program strictly because of its commission structure. If you have no interest in selling maternity products then it makes little sense to try and sell them even if they offer a high commission payout. All things being equal, you'll do much better selling something that you have an interest in. b) Consider affiliate programs that offer residual income. Some companies offer products and services that are needed on an ongoing basis. Online businesses that provide services such as webhosting, autoresponders, etc., offer you the opportunity to earn income on a continuous basis. c) Some businesses also have a two-tier affiliate structure which allows you to earn money on people that you refer. Earning money on the efforts of others can increase your income substantially. While you shouldn't rule out an affiliate program if they don't offer this, it can be a boost to your earnings. For those having their own website, you should look for affiliate programs that match the content of your site. It's all about synergy, and you want to promote products that match what your site represents. Another thing to look for is the credibility of the affiliate program you're getting involved with. You can usually get a lot of information on a business just by doing a google search. Look to see what's been said about the business and corresponding affiliate program. Since the products that you're promoting will be an extension of yourself and your business, you want to promote products that have a good track record. Lastly, don't fall for ridiculous income claims. While there are some who make big money promoting affiliate programs, they have been at it for a while, and know a few things about Internet Marketing. Start with reasonable expectations such as making one sale a day. If you did just that, and earned $20 commission on each sale, you would be making $600 a month. Not getting rich, but not a bad start. Affiliate programs come in all shapes and sizes. They are an excellent place to start for those just getting their feet wet in trying to earn money on the Internet. Just be sure to do your due research, and keep the above tips in mind when chosing an affiliate program. Bill Thomas is actively engaged in E-Commerce and Internet Marketing. His current website is..Learn How to Generate Thousands of Dollars Monthly With..Secret Affiliate Marketing System ... Download Bill's Free Ebook on Building Traffic at...Free Traffic Secrets
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