AFFILIATE MARKETING TOOLS

Affiliate marketing tools offer an excellent way of getting your book sold by:

multiplying your selling outlets, and

predisposing visitors to buy your products.

But how do you find suitable affilates, and set up the affiliate marketing tools to handle such sales?

Recall the principles. You want your products sold. Another company or individual would be happy to sell your products on a commission basis. Affiliate solution providers bring the two parties together, charging a fee for the matchmaking, and for keeping tabs on sales.

And that's the beauty of the system. Traffic from other sites is redirected to yours, but you only pay commission on sales made, plus a share to the affiliate solution provider. Whatever the link type employed — and it may be a banner ad, a storefront, email or a simple text link — an embedded piece of code identifies the originating site, allowing automated records to be kept for inspection and settlement. Some large and very small outfits still use their own affiliate marketing tools, but the majority of companies have handed over the task to an affiliate solution provider.

You can run your own affiliates program, setting your own terms, conditions and commission rates, but we strongly suggest you do not because you'll have to:

write or purchase the software needed to create links and track sales.

maintain extensive records.

handle queries and difficulties originating at the affiliate site.

Finding the Software

Affiliate solution providers will generally provide the software required — to create links, store records of purchases, calculate commissions, allow commissions to be viewed, and to automatically send out payments.

Finding Suitable Affiliates

It's the job of affiliate solution providers to supply you with a list of suitable candidates, and these will have signed up to common terms and conditions.

What will you look for in an affiliate? Probably:

a popular and professional-looking site that enhances your reputation.

complementary interests: the site has to endorse products readers want or need.

good customer service: sales may be clinched at your site, but the affiliate should engender a sense of community and trust — check they answer faxes and emails promptly.

What will your affiliates be looking for? Much the same:

a fair contract.

quality products or services.

free offers and/or newsletter.

content sharing.

in-depth information on your products and services.

regular supply of market-tested copy that really sells.

proper backup for your products.

prompt payment of commissions.

transparent accounting procedures: industry-standard software that allows them to sales and commissions.

Working with an Affiliate Solution Provider

Dozens of affiliate solution providers exist, some very small and covering only a narrow range of products. Terms and conditions will vary, but all employ an editor to check that your product(s) and company are suitable. Therefore do your homework first, noting in particular:

client list. Ask for testimonials, and permission to approach clients.

fees. Three sets of fees are usually imposed: a setup or initiation fee, a monthly maintenance charge, and a commission on sales. All three vary widely, from nil in some categories to charges in the thousands of dollars per month. Find an Internet marketing affiliate program that won't break the bank if sales really take off.

exclusivity. You are not generally tied to using the one affiliate solution provider, but check should you ever want to complicate matters.

tiers of commission. Affiliates will want to know if they can introduce others to your product and earn a share of the extra commission.

specialization. Is the provider likely to find you the right sort of affiliate? Check their client list.

setup details. Your affiliates will probably be given a few lines of code to simply paste into their websites, but again ask: anything complicated, involved programming expense, will not be popular.

terms and conditions. Ensure you understand the regulations and can live with them. Your terms and conditions have to match those of the affiliate solution provider — e.g. you can't offer a "lifetime guarantee" if the provider limits the warrantee to 3 months.

The better providers can be choosy, so make sure your site is looking its best before applying. And get that product page up to scratch. It is to this page that affiliates will link, and the provider will go through its details with a fine toothcomb.

Affiliate Solution Providers

Affiliate solution providers are widely listed on the web. Here is a small selection:

WEBSITES