Learn Internet Marketing > Weekly Tips > SSWT 8/16/05
 

Creating & Promoting Affiliate Sites
(See Example Below)

   
If you've been reading my Internet Marketing Blog this week, then you already know that I've launched another new affiliate site. I don't generally share the links to my projects, for obvious reasons, but I decided to share this particular site as an example... to show you just how easy it can be to create and promote your own affiliate sites.

This is actually my preferred method for making money online. It is easy to set up, easy to maintain, and is a great passive income generator.

Read on and I'll share all of the details! A quick sidebar first, though - a few things I wanted to share with you:

Jimmy D. Brown sent me a very interesting report a couple of weeks ago that I enjoyed - and got permission to share with you. You can download the report, titled "How to Make Six Figures 0nline". (You have permission to resell or reprint this report)

WordTracker has a new Keyword Research Guide (free), which you can download here: Wordtracker Guide . The 75-page guide features leading experts in the SEO industry and asks them to provide keyword advice to a fictional company selling vegetarian dog food online. Should be interesting - be sure to grab a copy!

Also, our last issue on Link Strategy is now online.

These are the exact steps that I am using to promote my new affiliate site, so if you didn't get a chance to read that issue you'll want to check it out. It covers some great Q&A on getting quality inbound links and improving your search engine ranking.

And new on the SSWT Forum - You can now post your Link Exchange Requests and find new Link Partners. (Be sure to read the Guidelines before you post, please)

 
With all of that out of the way, let's get back to the good stuff: "Creating Affiliate Sites". I wont go into the step-by-step "how to" spill here in this email, but you can find a 3-part series that I wrote a few months ago on the main site at: Affiliate Marketing

This tutorial will actually detail out every step for you that I use in developing my own affiliate sites - from keyword research, to niche analysis... and right into creating the actual site and promoting it online.

 
And if you look around the site, you'll find a lot more great information on the topic, such as:

Finding Niche Markets - Easy Niche Market Research

Market Research

Keyword Analysis

  - and plenty more. Of course, if you run into any questions along the way, there is a link to the discussion forum at the top of every page. Feel free to pop in and join us there - it's a great group!

 
So there you have it: Everything you need to know to be able to step out and create one affiliate site after the other, creating multiple streams of inc0me for yourself with a successful Online business!

 
But... I'm still hearing questions every week, mainly on "how to develop content (and lots of it!) that will presell affiliate products". Everyone tells us "Content is King!" and that a large content-based site is what you need to build. It's a good strategy, yes - and if this is your aim, then you should definitely see this:

http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2862

 
But "content" (as in articles, information, reviews) is not the *ONLY* way to create an affiliate site. In fact, here's a good example of one such discussion on the topic at the SSWT Forum:

http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4334

You'll hear my response to: "I guess what I am uncertain about is how to 'come up with' enough content variety and quantity to provide a satisfactory amount of info for returning visitors, and perhaps how to best organize this content?"

Again "content" is not the *ONLY* way to create an affiliate site. Don't underestimate the simplicity of a basic "online store"...

As an example, I'll show you my newest affiliate site. It's a work in progress (aren't they all?) but you can at least get a good idea of how easy it is to set up a similar site in a niche of your own:

http://www.CorkitUp.com

 
This is a site that I have quite a bit of personal interest in. The product is "dart supplies", and the idea came about because I've been playing in local tournaments all summer... and had to buy all of my supplies online. Not only are there NO local stores that carry dart supplies (the nearest one being over two hours round trip), but there are very few sites that I buy from online (due to pricing, shipping costs & selection).

You can read more on the development of this site here...

 
Using an affiliate program through the NetShops network, I had this new site up and running in under 3 days. If you are interested in looking into a good variety of affiliate programs that focus on physical products in various niches... NetShops may be a good solution for you too!

Check out this post on NetShops for more information:
http://clicknewz.blogspot.com/2005/08/check-out-netshops.html

I hope that gives you some new ideas to bounce around :)