Promoting Your Business Site Through Affiliate Programs
by Bobette Kyle

It is often a challenge to attract targeted, interested visitors to a business Website. There are several ways to do this, one of which is to cross promote your site through affiliate programs. Offering your own affiliate program gives others an incentive to advertise your site to those they think will be interested. Additionally, by participating in others' programs you can build relevant and useful content on your own site.

Affiliate Programs - Participating In

As an affiliate, you place an affiliate link on your site and the merchant agrees to compensate you for visitors arriving through that link. Many times the compensation is a percent of any purchase the visitor makes. Other types of compensation agreements include a flat fee per sale, a fixed amount per lead, or (less often) per-click compensation.

There are thousands of affiliate programs available to you. Multi-category affiliate directories include AssociatePrograms.com and iBoost Journal Directory.

Affiliate Program - Creating Your Own

Another way to leverage an affiliate program is to offer your own. A well-run program can enhance your business in several ways. Your affiliates will work to sell your product, leaving you to devote more time to other aspects of your business. Also, the links back to your site may raise your ranking in some search engines. Finally, the word-of-mouth created can enhance your company’s reputation.

Word-of-mouth is a two edged sword, however. Your reputation can be hurt considerable if you do not pay your affiliates as promised, provide insufficient support, or if you poorly administer your program in other ways. In other words, you cannot be successful by simply listing your program in an affiliate directory. The decision to offer an affiliate program is a serious one. Research your options carefully. Information sources include:

• Industry organizations such as The Internet Affiliate Marketing Association (iAfma).

• Affiliate program solutions providers such as the Affiliate Tracking network and My Affiliate Program.

• High-end providers such as Commission Junction.

• Low-cost providers such as Clickbank,  (digital products only.). Their site seems a bit confusing and incomplete to some. For a Clickbank summary, including advantages and disadvantages of using the service to accept credit cards and as an affiliate program, read "Taking Online Payments With Clickbank, http://www.take-payments-online.com/Clickbank.html.

About the Author

Bobette Kyle draws upon 18+ years of Marketing/Executive experience, online marketing experience, and a marketing MBA as inspiration for her writing. She is publisher of WebsiteMarketingPlan.com and MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com, as well as cofounder of Daysteps LLC.