Affiliate Internet Marketing and the new FTC Guidelines

I recently blogged about the new FTC Guidelines, which “address endorsements by consumers, experts, organizations, and celebrities, as well as the disclosure of important connections between advertisers and endorsers”. The revised guides require “disclosure of material connections between advertisers and endorsers”. While the intent of new guides appear to be more focused on bloggers who get free products and get paid to endorse a product, the language is sufficiently broad enough that it applies to bloggers that embed affiliate links, even if your review of the product is neutrally biased and not really a testimonial.

Prominent internet marketers seem to agree. Ken MacArthur and SiteFling, both have posted a notice on their blogs disclosing of their affiliate relationships.

Affiliate Marketing – Make More Money During 2009

With the recession looming no one would blame you for wanting to shut up shop and hold on tight praying that you survive this crisis financially. But pay a thought to do this:

Maybe now is a better time than ever to start making more money and improving your business. It has often been said look at what everyone else is doing and do the opposite. Well at the minute everyone is holding onto their money and making sure they stay in a safe position.

I’m not saying go out and blow all your money on some wild venture but have a look at the various opportunities that may be presented to you. The beauty of the Internet is that us marketers don’t have to spend a fortune to see if an idea/product/service will pay of. We can test for very little expense and in return get some promising feedback.

We don’t need to spend hundreds of thousands on a marketing campaign to see if a product will sell or not. I can tell you that right now there are many products out there flying off the shelves. I have no idea where the delusion has come from that trade has totally stopped.

When you go out shopping ask yourself what are all the other people around you doing? Spending money is the answer.

More and more people are coming online and doing the exact same thing, shopping, more so than ever right now thanks to this recession.

You see people want to find the best deal, so they come online and search about. That is why review sites are so powerful. Too often people create review sites and they are total bullshit. You need to be honest and straight talking. Provide 3-4 products within the niche you are targeting and give a straight up, *real* review of each one.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t pitch but don’t just go overboard and be the corporate sales person no one trusts….”I discovered this awesome product that does this and does that”.

When you are writing a review it’s natural to name a few flaws, it makes the review look more credible. This product is great in this area but there were a few small things that I didn’t like such as…(list them) but all in all I would recommend this as a good buy.

Seems a lot more honest…

If you want to read more of my ramblings and stay in the loop of what’s going visit: chris fox says. Get a free walk through including video tutorials that will help you to setup your own affiliate marketing website for free by going now to make money online 2009 (You don’t even need to opt-in to get it).

Affiliate Marketing – Some Thoughts And Ideas.

Affiliate Marketing – what is it?
It is a very simple process where you as the affiliate sell or promote a merchant’s product or service for which you will receive a commission . This process is probably the lowest cost business model when starting an Online Business, and as such is the most popular method with many newcomers to Online Marketing.

This business model exists in many different forms and are commonly called Affiliate Programs. You join the affiliate program that the merchant is operating that is selling the particular product you are interested in promoting. The most common types of programs are as follows:
1 – Pay per click – each visitor you send to the merchant’s site will earn you a commission.
2 – Pay per lead – each lead you send to the merchants site will earn you a commission.
3 – Pay per sale – commission will be paid by the merchant for each sale made at his website.
Each one of the above returns a certain payment for delivering the click, lead, or sale. By far the largest number of businesses utilizing this model work on a Pay per Sale system.

Many Internet Marketers will guide the beginner into Online Marketing & Affiliate Marketing because it is considered to be the simplest business model to get started and develop. It is also considered to be the cheapest method of starting your Internet Business.

Your prime costs will be in the promotion of the product or service. All costs associated with the product, sales page, delivery, after sales services, as well as merchant services set up and costs, will be to the merchants account.

When starting your Internet Business through affiliate marketing there are five steps to follow:
1 – Find your niche market which shows enough demand as well as a reasonable supply, as well as one that would support future business growth.
2 – Find out what the market is searching for in terms of solutions to problems, or a product/service for which there is a shortage of supply or even a deficiency.
3 – Research the available affiliate products and services for something that will fill the deficiency or fix the problem.
4 – Promote the product by every means available to you.
5 – Although this is not necessarily essential, owning your own website can increase your methods of promotion, but more importantly it allows you to presell the product before redirecting them to the merchants sales page.

The final item regarding your own website needs serious consideration as it will be the way to go to develop and grow your business and to start creating an opt-in list of targeted potential customers.

Creating a trust between you and your customers, as well as your partners, is of prime importance to your business. This trust will serve you well as your customers will gradually consider you to be their expert in this niche and they will take your recommendations and buy. Do not think for one minute that without it you will be able to succeed. Affiliate Marketing, like any other business model, relies entirely upon the trust you painstakingly build over a period of time. For more information please visit Marketing