Free Tips and Tricks

1. Reputable Sponsors & Products

Make sure the affiliate program you choose works with reputable sponsors who are selling products that you would be comfortable buying yourself.

2. Product Prices

Choose an affiliate program that offers products in a price range that is high enough so you'll actually make money from them but not too high that none of your readers can afford them. Choosing products in the $10-$500 range is generally a good balance.

3. Commissions

In order for an affiliate program to be worth your while, the commission attached to the product you advertise on your blog has to be adequate. Look for commissions > 20%.

4. Payout Schedule & Method

Before you join an affiliate program, make sure you'll be paid at least once per month. Also, check the minimum payout amount. $100 is typical for a minimum payout amount. Naturally, payout amounts less than $100 are even better. Finally, ensure that the payout method (PayPal, check, etc.) works for you.

5. Tracking

Choose an affiliate program that provides adequate tracking tools, so you can see where your earnings are coming from and tweak your participation to maximize future earnings.

6. Customer Support

If you have problems with your affiliate program, it's imperative that you can get the assistance you need in a timely manner. Be certain that the affiliate program you choose offers adequate customer support via email/telephone, so you can get the help you need when you need it.

Examples of Companies Offering Affiliate Advertising Programs to Bloggers:

• Amazon: You can choose from a wide variety of ads such as text links, banner ads & more. If you’d like, you can also select the exact Amazon products you’d like to feature on your blog.
• eBay: You can choose from eBay’s auctions & find the specific products you want to advertise on your site.
• AllPosters: You can choose from 400,000 products to advertise on your blog.

What is an Affiliate Directory?

You could sign-up to monetize your blog through an affiliate directory where various online merchants post their affiliate ad opportunities. You can review the ad opportunities and apply to host a specific ad on your blog.

Most advertisers on these sites will have restrictions related to the blogs they will work with. Typically those restrictions are related to how long the blog has been active & the amount of traffic the blog receives. For those reasons, an affiliate directory is most helpful if your blog is well established.

Take some time to research each affiliate directory to find the right one for you and your blog. Different affiliate programs offer different payments & credibility. Take your time & investigate your options before you jump into anything.

Examples of Popular Affiliate Advertising Directories:

• Commission Junction
• Associate Programs
• Affiliates Directory
• Refer-It

Factors to Consider When You Select an Affiliate Advertising Program to Monetize Your Blog

1. Read all the details about the opportunity including the pay, the terms, etc.
2. Select affiliate program ads that are consistent with your blog’s content. Ads that don’t match your content will undoubtedly be clicked on less frequently (meaning less revenue for you) & can decrease the credibility of your blog (meaning fewer readers will return to your blog because it's cluttered with irrelevant ads).
3. Don’t go overboard with affiliate ads. Too many ads not only make your blog look suspiciously like spam to readers, but search engines will think so, too. Sites that are covered with affiliate ads & little additional original content will be marked as spam by Google & other search engines which will hurt your traffic & page rank overall.
4. Don’t expect big profits (at least not at first). While many bloggers can generate a decent ancillary income from affiliate advertising, most bloggers can’t boast those kinds of results. Boosting your income through affiliate advertising takes time & practice. Don’t be afraid to test new ads, placement, programs & more until you find the best mix to meet your goals for your blog.