How To Create Your Own Successful And Profitable Affiliate Program

How To Create Your Own Successful And Profitable Affiliate
Program
By Charles Kangethe
Most of the truly
successful marketers have three competitive advantages : They
run successful Affiliate Programs (Part 1) They own large Opt-
In Lists and have large traffic (Part 2) They create their own
products (Part 3)

Step #1 - Three Affiliate Program Opportunities

Opportunity 1 - Using Own Products and Services

Combining your own products with a successful Affiliate Program
is almost a license to write your own checks.

Opportunity 2 - Using Resell and Master Rights Products

Surprisingly, as you will see in step 4, you can create and run
an Affiliate Program even if you don`t have your own products
and services.

Opportunity 3 - Substitute Joint Ventures

All successful Affiliate Programs are joint ventures in
miniature. Your affiliate partners require as much of your
support and commitment as would any JV partners.

Step #2 - The Top Ten Features Of A Good Affiliate Program It
delivers consistent sales for Affiliates, by marketing
products with high consumer benefits. It operates on a
Leveraged I`ncome Pay structure, which extends a number of
levels deep. It operates on a Residual I`ncome Pay structure
giving Affiliates repeat I`ncome. A good program has high
quality marketing tools and incentives for the Affiliates. It
pays out big percentages of the sale to the Affiliates and it
pays promptly The administration function tracks and corrects
affiliate issues quickly, and effectively. A good program
trains and supports Affiliates enthusiastically. It offers
Affiliates complimentary, high value, front and back end
products for promotion. It handles all end customer care
issues. 10) A good program constantly tests new ideas to
support and strengthen ties with affiliates and end customers
alike.

Step #3 - "Own Product Affiliate Program"

Most people join an Affiliate Program on the strength and
reliability of its compensation plan.

* Compensation Structure Planning : Who can join the program
Is it open to anyone or just selected, approved partners ?
Downline matrix structure for Leveraged I`ncome
How deep is the matrix of downline earnings for Leveraged
I`ncome ? Residual I`ncome Payments
Does the program pay Residual I`ncome, on repeat subscriptions
for as long as the end customer renews ? Minimum Payment
amounts, and deadlines.
Policy on payments, returns and deductions from Affiliate
payments must be clear from the beginning. Affiliate
monitoring of the program
Affiliates must be able to easily monitor referrals and
earnings. Clear and accurate reports to Affiliates should be
available online or sent by e-mail.

* Marketing Plans

Develop high quality graphical links that Affiliates can use on
their own websites to point to your program. These include
Web Templates and copy Banner Links Button Links Text Links

Write e-courses coaching your Affiliates on what works best in
promoting your products and services.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that when they sign up the
whole thing will run on autopilot.

* Legal Issues

Consult professional, qualified lawyers to help you draw up
your program terms and conditions before you go to market. The
upfront cost involved may save you greater expense in the
future.

Step #4 - Resell and Master Rights Product Affiliate Programs

An Affiliate Program without your own products is possible, but
use caution - it is less likely to be a huge earner, than one
promoting your own stable of products.

Why would anyone join an Affiliate Program to promote a resell
or master rights product, that they could buy and sell earning
100% of the profits ?

The answer is reduced effort, time and money.

An Affiliate Program for resell or master rights products saves
the affiliate from having to buy, process, add value to and
give customer service to the resell rights product.

It becomes an easy I`ncome stream that people may want to join.

The trick in this situation is to Spot a product with selling
potential, that is relatively scarce and has not been over
marketed. Create the Affiliate Program where the product
owner has failed or is incapable of seeing the market
opportunity.

Remember caution - Do not spend huge sums setting up this type
of program because the "Return on Investment" is likely to be
low.

Step #5 - Mini Joint Venture

JV partners bring "something with them, to the party" - This
might be funding, a huge opt-in list, a product or service, or
ideas.

Affiliate partners on the other hand, bring only their desire
to promote your products and services.

However, the practical day to day administration of the two
types of programs is very similar.

For instance: You should coach affiliates and JV partners in
the best way to market the products. You must listen to their
issues and deal with them effectively and efficiently You
must make sure they are happy with the program arrangements,
in order that they promote it strongly and join up for future
promotions.

JV`s and Affiliate programs are different, but only in small
details. Treat them with similar care.

Step #6 - Affiliate Program Automation

Quality tools are indispensable for Affiliate Program
Automation Affiliate Scripts - These are commercially
available scripts that allow you to set up programs of various
complexity in terms of compensation plans, account management,
and program administration. Administration Tools - These
allow you to see in detail which Affiliates are performing and
deserving of more of your effort, time and attention and which
ones are not and can therefore be dropped from the program.
Sequential Autoresponder - Use this to coach and train your
Affiliates by sending them regular e-mail. VoIP Communicators
- These allow you to hold Cheap Live training and support
seminars where your Affiliates can virtually attend, see, hear
and talk to one another from across the Globe without the need
for expensive travel or phone costs. Payment Processor - This
is the facility by which your Affiliate partners will be paid.
Product Fulfillment - A successful program will generate many
sales and the fulfillment process must be able to cater for
the heavy workload. Customer Care - The extra sales means
that you may need to handle higher levels of end customer
issues including returns.

Step #7 - In a Nutshell

This may seem daunting at first reading, but in reality setting
up an Affiliate Program is straightforward.

The blue print is : Decide on the product type you want to set
a program up for. Decide on Affiliate entry and acceptance
criteria Decide on the compensation plan Decide on the
marketing plan Decide the legal structure Choose your
automation tools Market the program Train and support your
affiliates, especially your winners. Don`t be afraid to test
new ideas

Relevant Resources

Affiliate Program Setup Scripts TWSC Affiliate Lite! from http:/
/www.twsc.biz (http://www.twsc.biz) Affiliate Scripts from
http://www.affiliate-scripts.com/ (http://www.affiliate-
scripts.com/)

Affiliate Program Administration Tools AssocTrac from http://
shmyl.com/sjm (http://shmyl.com/sjm)

Sequential Autoresponders Getresponse from http://www.
getresponse.com (http://www.getresponse.com) Aweber from http:/
/www.aweber.com (http://www.aweber.com)

VoIP - Cheap Live Communicators http://shmyl.com/agz (http://
shmyl.com/agz)

Wealth Creation Strategies - F`REE 10 part e-Course http://www.
simplyeasier.com/wcs (http://www.simplyeasier.com/wcs)

Affiliate Programs - An example Promotion Template http://www.
simplyeasier.com/client/simplyeasierprofits.html (http://www.
simplyeasier.com/client/simplyeasierprofits.html)

Written by Gian Luigi Ruggeri © 2001 - All rights reserved
To find other tips, advices, as well as articles, tools and
resources to help your net marketing activity
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