Starting a Small Online Business: The Affiliate Marketing Rules You Should Never Forget

Even with the emergence of new methods of earning money online, affiliate marketing still remains to be one of the most formidable and proven methods. And why not, for one, you don’t have to worry about any inventory. You simply have to make your product offering to a selected market, direct them to the main seller’s or manufacturer’s website, and earn your commission if they buy. Moreover, depending on your chosen partner, you can earn as much as $50 or more for every successful sale from your website or coded affiliate link.

Affiliate marketing should be easy to do, right? Not really. Thousands still end up failing, even losing funds. That’s because they ignore the fundamental rules of affiliate marketing:

1. Focus on a number of niches only. It’s understandable why you’d like to affiliate in as many websites as you like. You want to earn big. The problem is you don’t have all the time in the world to properly market each one of them adequately. That’s why you have to choose your niches well. Initially, you could focus 2 or 3 of them simultaneously and effectively. Don’t move on to other niches, unless you can guarantee your existing ones already have stable customers and traffic and you’re consistently generating income.

2. Go for those that are saleable. Yes, it’s true. You have to pursue an online business that is your passion, one you’re truly inspired to do. However, going for those niches that don’t have any market is also a huge risk. It’s a whole lot easier if you look for a niche and find a product that fulfils their need than the other way around.

3. Help your buyers. You may not be the one to process their payments, but doesn’t mean you should leave them all by themselves when purchasing. If you want them to stick with you, then you’ll have to provide them with the best customer service possible. You should also be willing to help them every step of the way. One method is to create reviews. Tell them what products are great and why. Include the right link of the product to your website. If possible, provide them a 24/7 customer support. If not, allow them to send you an e-mail with their queries and issues. Make sure you can answer them within 24 hours.
4. Choose your program wisely. There are trillions of affiliate programs on the Internet. But only very few are suitable for you. One, make sure they’re selling the products and services that fit your target market. Second, you should have a good and responsive customer support. Third, evaluate their shopping cart security level. Is it safe for your customers to use? Does it allow your future customers to properly keep track of their orders?