How to Become a Network Affiliate

Creating a Good Affiliate Website

A well constructed website is a must for individuals considering becoming network affiliates. According to Website Design Network, in order to stand out in the crowd, an affiliate "needs to be in charge of search engine optimization, custom content, quality web design and financial management." Website copy should be carefully constructed and compelling. In addition, an affiliate's website should be tailored to the product being sold. For example, an individual attempting to drive traffic to a pet supply retailer should maintain a site that deals with animal care and/or information, and the affiliate for an online book dealer might consider maintaining a site that deals with literature, creative writing, or an online book club where members gather to discuss their favorite literary works. Consumers interested in visiting your website (referred to as "leads"), will very likely be interested in your affiliate's products. Interested parties simply click on the affiliate's link, which appears on your site. Unique visits and subsequent sales originating from your unique affiliate ID are tracked so that you may be adequately compensated.

Specific strategies must be used to draw people to your website. Because there are literally thousands of websites covering every subject imaginable, even sophisticated websites can become lost in the shuffle. Offer informative content on your website. Bear in mind that many people turn to the Web for advice and instruction. In addition to promoting your affiliate's merchandise, consider a how-to site that deals with a subject related to their product.
Make sure that your product descriptions are detailed. Accurate information will keep people coming back and garner repeat referrals. According to ePractical Commerce author David Young, site usability is a key factor in promoting repeat business. Young maintains that "when your site's navigation and usability make it easy to find products and necessary information, they [customers] will return again and again."
Construct a website that is search engine optimized. This is accomplished by utilizing relevant keywords and a title that reflects the site's contents. Repeat keywords. An appropriate keyword should appear approximately every 80 words for optimal results.
Submit your URL to popular search engines such as Yahoo and Google, which can optimize exposure to your site.

Not all affiliates are created equal. Conduct comprehensive research on would-be affiliates before joining their program.
Affiliates who offer deep linking are highly desirable. Deep links are hyper-links that direct clickers to a specific page rather than the affiliate's homepage. Consumers who are directed to a homepage are very likely to return to the merchant's homepage for future purchases, effectively eliminating the affiliate's role as "middleman." Deep linking ensures that the affiliate is compensated repeatedly.
Affiliate yourself with merchants who offer marketing support. Good marketing support offers valuable assistance in areas such as article marketing, lead generation systems, maintenance of ecommerce, press releases and directory submissions.

Careful research can save would-be affiliates time and money. Individuals considering partnering with online retailers should examine the demand for that company's commodity. Visit a number of sites to learn what's hot. Sites such as Ebay list their hottest-selling items, and the Google Toolbar can be used to measure a website's link popularity (PR), within search engines. Look for websites with a PR of five or higher.
In addition, potential affiliates should seek merchants whose product line promotes repeat business. Affiliates who partner with merchants offering a single product face the task of continually generating new customers, while a diversified product line that caters to the same demographic is likely to attract repeat customers. Consumers pleased with their first purchase are likely to return when the need for another item from the product line arises.
A niche market refers to a select segment of the population interested in a product. Many well-known retailers have gained success by filling a market niche. Look for companies whose products are not readily available, but attractive to specific demographics. "Generic" products are readily available from a multitude of sources. For example, ad copy that reads, "Look 10 Years Younger in Three Weeks" is far too commonplace. Conversely, an ad that reads, "Youthful Skin for Men over 50" is far more likely to draw a larger number of individuals from that demographic.

Individuals considering becoming affiliates can locate prospective partners by entering the query "affiliate programs" into a search engine. In addition, a number of websites provide comprehensive lists of merchants looking for affiliates (see Resources).