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Introduction to The Affiliate
Monetization Model
In 1997, Amazon.com
launched the concept of affiliate programs into prominence (they
weren't the first, but they were the first to do it big-time!). For
the one person on the Net who doesn't know, Amazon sells books (and
tons of other merchandise now) online... and only online.
Books, of course, offer information on millions of different
specialized subjects. And there are millions of Web sites out there,
on an incredible variety of subjects.
So Amazon figured, "Why not convert those sites into specialized,
niche book shops for us? We'll pay a commission when a site refers a
customer who buys a book."
And that's how Amazon started one of the first affiliate programs (AKA
associate or referrer programs).
Here's how an affiliate program works, using Amazon as the
example...
The affiliate provides links from his site to certain books on the
Amazon site, books that are related to the affiliate's site content.
Amazon uses special software that tracks who sends each visitor. If
and when the visitor buys, Amazon pays the affiliate a commission.
The affiliate never has to...
- write a book
- process an order
- ship a book
- answer customer support e-mails.
And the same applies to any product that is sold in this way... CDs,
travel, domain names, and some affiliates pay
several hundred (even thousands of) dollars (WMI).
An Affiliate Example...
How It Works
Let's say that you've created a fun site about New York City. Tens of
thousands of people search for information on all kinds of topics on
New York, every day... "Broadway Plays" or "New York Mets" or "Central
Park"... etc., etc.
They find your site... They read your pages, enjoy your content, and
check out your recommendations. And so...
They click your link to go to TravelNow.com to book a cheap flight.
You get paid a commission.
And they click your link to AllHotels.com and book a hotel room. You
receive another commission.
Finally, they click your link to Amazon.com to buy a New York tour
book and street map.
Yup, one more time on that commission!
Getting the idea?
It is one of the best opportunities for the average person interested
in e-commerce. And it is a tremendous monetization model for those who
publish information (whether as their primary business, or a means to
attract and PREsell traffic for their primary business). But...
affiliates are not immune to the standard rules of the business world.
Those who work, and work well, succeed. Those who are looking to "get
rich quick" are once again heading for disappointment.
Find out more
here
Interested in becoming a MASTER Affiliate? You can
do that ... Find out more
here.
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