THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO
AFFILIATE MARKETING
ON THE W E B
How TO USE AND PROFIT
FROM AFFILIATE MARKETING
PROGRAMS
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction 12
Affiliate Marketing Options 18 Who Is This Book For? 19 HowThis Book Is Organized 20 Affiliate 101: The Basics You Need to
Know About Affiliate Marketing 20 Market Research 21 How Do I Get Started? 21 Becoming an Affiliate of Others 21 Hosting and Implementing an Affiliate Program 22 Optimizing Your Web Site and Affiliate Program 22 Affiliate Program Software & Networks 22 Marketing and Promoting Your Web Site,
I, and Affiliate Program 23
Other Revenue-Generating Techniques to
Use With Affiliate Programs 23
Chapter 2: Affiliate 101 -The Basics You Need to Know 27
Our Affiliate Marketing Case Study 28 History of Affiliate Marketing 32 Crash Course in Affiliate Marketing 32
Affiliate Marketing Networks 33 Affiliate Marketing Principles 34 Picking the Right Product 41 Effective Product Web Copy or Sales Material 41 The Sales Letter Style of Web Copy 41 Advantages of the Sales Letter Web Copy Approach: 42 Midwest Book Review 46 Affiliate Links and How to Deal With Them 46 Promoting Your Affiliate Program 48 Affiliate Program Payment Methods 49 The Challenges of Managing Affiliate Marketing 50 Tiered Affiliate Marketing 52 Cross-Selling and Up-Selling 52 How to Attract Affiliates 53 Hiring an Affiliate Manager 53 Promoting Your Affiliate Program on Your Own 54 How to Make Your Affiliates More Effective 56 Growing Your Affiliate Numbers 56 Cookies and Affiliates 57 Multi-Tier Marketing and Commissions 59
Chapter 3: Market Research 61
Performing a Market Analysis and Market Research 62 Establishing Marketing Strategies 66
Chapter 4: How Do I Get Started? 69
Affiliate Networks 69 Affiliate Networks 72
Become an Affiliate of Others 73 Establishing Your Own Affiliate Program 7A Joined a Great Affiliate Program — But No Commissions? 79 Soggy Cookies 79 Multiple Payment Methods 81 Monitor Your Affiliate Arrangements 84
Chapter 5: Becoming an Affiliate of Others 87
Signing Up as an Affiliate 90 Logging Into Your Affiliate Account 96 Integrating Affiliate Links Into Your Web Site 103 Monitoring Affiliate Performance and Tracking Sales 106
Chapter 6: Hosting and Implementing an Affiliate Program 111
How to Get Started With an Affiliate Program I l l Affiliate Network Service Agreement 112 Managing Your Affiliate Program 119 Data Feeds 124 Customer Returns 125 Communicate With Your Merchants 128 Dealing With Merchants 129 Demonstrate Your Web Marketing Prowess 130 Be Professional in Your Communications 130
Chapter 7: Optimizing Your Web Site. Blog & Affiliate Program 133
Organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO) 134 Organically Optimizing Your Web Site and Blog 134 Google Webmaster Guidelines 135
Google Webmaster Central 135 Site Status Wizard 136 Google Webmaster Tools 137 Adding Your Web Site or Blog to Google 140 Other Google Search Engine Optimization Resources 140 Search Engine Optimization Techniques 141 Successful Search Engine Optimization 142 MetaTag Definition and Implementation 143 The Title Tag 146 The Description Tag 146 The Keywords Tag 148 The Robots Tag 149 Other Meta Tags 149 ALTTags 150 How to Use the Correct Keywords 152 Optimization of Web Page Content 153 Optimize Your Web Site 154 Web Site Optimization Tips, Hints, and Secrets 155 Web Design & Optimization Suggestions 159 How Do Search Engines Work? 163 Using a Search Engine Optimization Company 164 Search Engine Registration 167 Search Engine Optimization Checklist 170 Free Web Site Search Engine Submission Sites 171 Things NOT to Do on a Web Site or Blog 174
Chapter 8: Affiliate Program Software 175
Key features include: 182
Chapter 9: Marketing Your Web Site and Affiliate Program 191
Affiliate Directories 191 Promoting Your Affiliate Program 192 Affiliate Content Pages 197 Marketing Your Program 198 Affiliate Program Directories and Forums 198 Affiliate Networks 199 Personal Approaches 200 Buying Lists 201 Screening Affiliates 201 Combating Affiliate Fraud 203 Communicating With Your Affiliates 204 Going the Extra Mile 204 About the Author: 208
Chapter 10: Other Revenue-Generating
Techniques to Use With Affiliate Marketing 209
Google AdSense 209 Google AdSense Program Policies 212 Setting Up Google AdSense on Your Web Site 212 How to Set Up Your Google Referrals 216 Hints and Tips for Maximizing Google
AdSense on Your Web Site 217 Introduction to Pay-Per-Click Advertising 219 Pay-Per-Click Advertising Walkthrough 221 Google AdWords Pay-Per-Click Benefits 222 Cost of Google AdWords Pay-Per-Click Advertising 223
Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Google
AdWords Pay-Per-Click Advertising 224
Chapter 11: Affiliate Mistakes 235
Spam and Phishing 241
Chapter 12: Ideas to Grow & Stimulate Your Affiliate Program 250
Promoting Your Business in the Media 250 Gaining the Trust of Customers and Clients 252 Increasing Your Public Profile 252 Ideas to Improve Your Web Site and Affiliate Program 253
Chapter 13: Summary 255
Apopendix I: Affiliate Marketing Case Studies 257
Appendix II: Interviews with Affiliate Marketing Experts 271
Appendix III: Expert Affiliate Advice. Tips and Hints 333
Appendix IV: Glossary 349
Appendix V: Recommended Reference Library 355
How to Use the Internet to Advertise, Promote and Market Your Business or Web site—
With Little or No Money 339 The Complete Guide to Google Advertising—
Including Tips, Tricks, & Strategies to Create a
Winning Advertising Plan 340 Online Marketing Success Stories: Insider
Secrets from the Experts Who Are Making
The Ultimate Guide to Search Engine Marketing:
Pay-Per-Click Advertising Secrets Revealed 342 The Complete Guide to E-mail Marketing:
How to Create Successful, Spam-Free Campaigns
to Reach Your Target Audience and Increase Sales 344 How to Open and Operate a Financially Successful
Web-Based Business (With Companion CD-ROM) 346 The Secret Power of Blogging: How to Promote and Market Your
Business, Organization, or Cause with Free Blogs 349 Word Of Mouth Advertising Online & Off:
How to Spark Buzz, Excitement, and Free Publicity for
Your Business or Organization-With Little or No Money 351 How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful
Web site Design Business: With Companion CD-ROM 353 The Complete Guide to Writing Web-Based
Advertising Copy to Get the Sale: What You
Need to Know Explained Simply 354 Internet Marketing Revealed: The Complete Guide to Becoming an
Internet Marketing Expert 355
Author Biography 372 Index 375
