Andy Charlson writes: Affiliate marketing is often referred to as a ‘win win’ business solution and quite rightly so. For the affiliate there is an opportunity to tap into often lucrative income streams at relatively low cost. For the merchant/advertiser there is a potentially diverse customer base that can be harnessed without commensurate advertising costs. So what are some tips for anyone considering branching into this form of marketing?

Cultivate your customers

Rather than randomly selecting products to promote based on what would appear to be bestselling items, a far more responsible strategy would be to target a subject relevant to what your web presence is already focused on. The key is not to simply present a series of hyperlinks to the outside world and entrust in random site visitors to be sufficiently enticed to click-through to your advertiser’s sales page, but rather to nurture your clients carefully. Consider far more proactive ways of seeking customer engagement. An important tip is to be seen as the voice of authority for your topic, offering site visitors your expertise. Produce video reviews of the product and promote these via your social media platform, demonstrating to clients the extent to which the product will be beneficial to them.

Above all, be honest about the units, developing a sense of trust. It would be very convenient to use an overtly sales-orientated pitch to facilitate promotion, but that would be a less satisfactory strategy in the longer term. Transparency is the crucial term here, always keeping your customers abreast of the sites you are affiliated to.

Utilizing affiliate networks

When planning your affiliate marketing enterprise another recommendation is referring to the many existing networks you can collaborate with. One of the largest of these is Sharesale. Listing over 4,000 merchants, of which around one-quarter are exclusive to this network, they offer a diverse range of products that can be promoted; covering everything from fashion to gardening equipment. You have the option of signing-up to this network as either an affiliate or a merchant, following a swift and streamlined procedure.

Using in-built metrics Sharesale also allows customers to drill down through the various offers to evaluate the most potentially profitable, and their remuneration scheme is prompt, paying out on the 20th of each month. As well as the merchandising side of this e-business, which is abetted with marketing tools, you also have the option of collaborating with other members in order to share ideas.

Another leading affiliate network is Flexoffers, who have over 10 years’ experience in this field. Again, they offer a range of programs for customers to choose from, as well as handy tools that can be incorporated in any affiliate’s website.

A terrific example of a site offering an overview of cost-per-action marketing is TopOffers. If you follow this link you can get acquainted with their business strategy, including a potential $1,000 welcome bonus for new clients. TopOffers offer optimization techniques that include Geo-targetting (analyzing visitor location), as well as a host of other factors, including browsers, device and age demographics. This streamlines the process of routing, so that there is a greater potential of converting users by switching them onto fresh affiliate offers.

This network allows a constant flow of ideas between the affiliates and advertisers involved in projects, the concept being to create a truly connected affiliate network of closely aligned businesses rather than simply offering a high-tech platform. This taps into the social media aspect of affiliate marketing where site visitors should never purely be seen in terms of customers who click-through hyperlinks – they are part of a wider community engaging with any particular affiliate market.

By Andy Charlson

This is a Paid Advertorial.

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

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