Super Affiliate Handbook The Super Affiliate Handbook: How I Made $436,797 Last Year Selling Other People's Stuff Online By Rosalind Gardner, Super Affiliate 2 Super Affiliate Handbook Copyright © 2003 Rosalind Gardner, WebVista Inc. Published by Rosalind Gardner, WebVista Inc. All rights reserved. All content contained within the "Super Affiliate Handbook" is copyright © 2003 Rosalind Gardner of Webvista Incorporated. All literary work contained within the "Super Affiliate Handbook" belongs to and is the sole property of its respective authors and is reprinted with permission. Reproduction, copying, or any other form of use of the pieces contained within the ebook is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN without express permission from the author him or herself. If perjury is discovered the offenders will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Note: The owner of this ebook is permitted to print ONE copy for his or her own use. These rules have been established to protect the rights and ownership of the authors and to ensure that their work is upheld as their own. National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Gardner, Rosalind, 1959- The super affiliate handbook : how I made $436,797 last year selling other people's stuff online / authored by Rosalind Gardner. ISBN 0-9733287-0-3 1. Internet marketing. I. Title. HF5438.35.G37 2003 658.8'00285'4678 C2003-904359-2 iii Super Affiliate Handbook Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................... II INTRODUCTION................................................................................ 1 Thank You & Congratulations....................................................................... 1 Make No Promises, Tell No Lies (Disclaimer) ............................................... 2 Acknowledgements...................................................................................... 3 About the Author.......................................................................................... 4 How to Get the Most from the “HandBook”.................................................. 5 LET'S TALK BUSINESS ...................................................................... 6 Debunking the 6 Biggest Internet Marketing Myths..................................... 6 Profile of an Entrepreneur.......................................................................... 10 Quiz: Are YOU an Entrepreneur? ................................................................ 12 Can You Handle the Lifestyle?.................................................................... 14 AFFILIATE BUSINESS BASICS......................................................... 16 How Do Affiliate Programs Work?.............................................................. 16 15 Reasons to Become an Affiliate Marketer.............................................. 18 What is a Super-Affiliate? .......................................................................... 20 A Brief History of Affiliate Marketing.......................................................... 21 Affiliating vs. Reselling............................................................................... 22 How to Become an Affiliate........................................................................ 24 Overview of the Business-Building Process................................................ 25 SETTING UP SHOP.......................................................................... 27 Basic Knowledge........................................................................................ 27 Computer Codes and Macros......................................................................................27 File Management........................................................................................................28 Basic Hardware & Services......................................................................... 30 Computer.....................................................................................................................30 Internet Connection.....................................................................................................30 Telephone....................................................................................................................31 Printer..........................................................................................................................32 Router..........................................................................................................................32 Basic Software........................................................................................... 33 AntiVirus Software.....................................................................................................33 Browsers.....................................................................................................................35 Compression/Extraction Utility..................................................................................35 STUFFIT EXPANDER CAN BE DOWNLOADED FROM THE FOLLOWING SITE................................................................................................ 36 Email Software............................................................................................................37 Accounting Software..................................................................................................38 File Transfer Protocol (FTP).......................................................................................38 ii Super Affiliate Handbook Firewall.......................................................................................................................38 PDF Reader.................................................................................................................39 Spreadsheet Software..................................................................................................40 Text Editor..................................................................................................................40 Business Expenses..................................................................................... 41 RESEARCH PROFITABLE IDEAS....................................................... 42 What's Your Passion?................................................................................. 42 Targeting a Market..................................................................................... 47 Market Research Tools............................................................................... 48 Keyword Research Tools............................................................................................49 Top 200 Searches in 60 Days......................................................................................56 Search Toolbars..........................................................................................................62 Google Search Engine.................................................................................................64 Pay Per Click Search Engines.....................................................................................65 Market Research Begins............................................................................. 66 What are the Trends for this Industry?.......................................................................66 Is there Sufficient Demand?........................................................................................66 How Much Competition Are You Up Against?.........................................................73 How Much Does it Cost to Advertise?.......................................................................77 WHO is Your Competition?.......................................................................................79 Will Your Niche be Profitable?.................................................................... 82 WHERE TO FIND PRODUCTS & SERVICES TO SELL ONLINE............. 86 Affiliate Networks...................................................................................... 86 Affiliate Fuel...............................................................................................................87 BeFree/Reporting.net..................................................................................................89 Casino Coins Network................................................................................................95 Casino Rewards..........................................................................................................96 ClickBank...................................................................................................................97 ClickxChange..............................................................................................................98 clixGalore....................................................................................................................99 Commission Junction..................................................................................................99 Commission Soup.....................................................................................................102 Dark Blue Affiliate Network....................................................................................103 FineClicks.com.........................................................................................................104 LeadHound................................................................................................................105 Linkshare...................................................................................................................106 Quinstreet..................................................................................................................108 ReferBack.................................................................................................................109 ShareaSale.................................................................................................................109 WebSponsors............................................................................................................110 Affiliate Networks - Quick List................................................................................112 How To Search the 'Net for Merchant Sites.............................................. 113 Affiliate Program Directories.................................................................... 113 "Ready-Made" Affiliate Marketing Business ............................................. 115 Great Product - No Program - Now What?................................................ 117 HOW TO CHOOSE PRODUCTS & PROGRAMS.................................. 120 5 Ways to Assess a Product or Service..................................................... 120 iii Super Affiliate Handbook How to Choose an Affiliate Program......................................................... 121 Let's Play 20 Questions.............................................................................................121 Is the Company Reputable?......................................................................................122 Is there an Affiliate Agreement?...............................................................................123 What are the Conditions of the Agreement?.............................................................123 May I Terminate the Agreement? How?..................................................................123 Is My Site Eligible for this Program?.......................................................................124 Is there a Fee to Join the Program?...........................................................................125 Does the Program Require Exclusivity?...................................................................125 What is the Program Type?.......................................................................................126 How Much is the Commission?................................................................................126 Do I Get Credit for Recurring Sales?........................................................................128 Does the Program Pay Lifetime Commissions?.......................................................129 Is the Program 2-Tier?..............................................................................................130 Are Cookies Used to Track Sales?............................................................................130 Are Sales Statistics Reported in Real Time?............................................................131 Are Sales Tools Offered?..........................................................................................132 Is Co-Branding Available?.......................................................................................135 When Do I Get Paid?................................................................................................135 How Do I Get Paid? In Cash? Credit? Food Stamps?..............................................135 Does the Merchant use Third Party Billing?.............................................................136 Is There a Minimum Payout Amount?......................................................................136 Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Moe … Choosing Between Affiliate Programs ......... 137 Commission Rates....................................................................................................137 Brand Name Products...............................................................................................139 Should You Affiliate with Bookstores?...................................................... 140 Sorry, Your Application was Rejected....................................................... 141 You're Fired! ............................................................................................ 142 A Good Program to Join............................................................................ 144 A Program to Avoid.................................................................................. 147 Programs to Drop..................................................................................... 149 Spammers..................................................................................................................149 Inconsiderate Affiliate Managers..............................................................................149 Customer Complaints................................................................................................151 Slow Payments..........................................................................................................151 DOMAIN ISSUES........................................................................... 153 Free Domains - Worth about that Much.................................................... 153 How to Choose a Domain Name................................................................ 155 Register Your Own Domain Name ............................................................ 157 Web Hosting - How to Choose A Home for Your Domain .......................... 158 Key Hosting Features................................................................................................158 Support......................................................................................................................159 Value.........................................................................................................................159 Recommended Hosting Services..............................................................................160 PLAN YOUR WEB SITE .................................................................. 162 Don't Build a Mall… Build a Theme Park!.................................................. 162 One Topic - Multiple Domains?................................................................. 164 Site Structure - 'Micro' or Content?.......................................................... 165 Develop a Site Plan .................................................................................. 166 iv Super Affiliate Handbook BUILD YOUR SITE......................................................................... 171 4 Site Building Options............................................................................. 171 Do it Yourself...........................................................................................................171 Use a Template.........................................................................................................171 Get A Web Site Package Deal..................................................................................172 Hire a Designer.........................................................................................................173 Design Software....................................................................................... 175 Graphics Software.....................................................................................................175 HTML Editor............................................................................................................175 HTML/Graphics Combination Software..................................................................175 Web Site Essentials.................................................................................. 177 Logo..........................................................................................................................177 TAG line / Slogan.....................................................................................................177 Privacy Statement.....................................................................................................178 Contact Information..................................................................................................179 'About Us' Page.........................................................................................................180 Ezine/Newsletter Sign-Up on Every Page................................................................180 Design Rules-of-Thumb............................................................................ 181 Font Face, Color & Size............................................................................................181 Links Should Look Like Links.................................................................................182 Color Scheme............................................................................................................182 White Space..............................................................................................................182 Page Width................................................................................................................183 Page Backgrounds.....................................................................................................183 Consistent Navigation...............................................................................................183 Bandwidth Hogs........................................................................................................184 Use of Pop-Ups.........................................................................................................184 Music/Noise..............................................................................................................185 Frames.......................................................................................................................186 Keep it Fresh.............................................................................................................187 Web Site Building Primers & Help..........................................................................187 9 Ways to Make Your Pages Search Engine Friendly................................. 188 Keyword-Rich Page Names......................................................................................188 Site Map....................................................................................................................189 Relevant Content.......................................................................................................189 Eliminate Clutter.......................................................................................................189 Meta Tags..................................................................................................................189 Dynamic Pages..........................................................................................................190 Avoid Tricks and Deception......................................................................................191 TURN CLICKS INTO CUSTOMERS................................................... 192 How to Write Compelling Product Endorsements..................................... 193 Learn the Art of Copywriting.................................................................... 194 Credibility Pays........................................................................................ 196 29 WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR AFFILIATE BUSINESS..................... 198 9 Ways to Get Traffic Fast........................................................................ 199 Google AdWords......................................................................................................199 Pay Per Click Search Engines...................................................................................200 Pay for a Yahoo! Listing...........................................................................................202 v Super Affiliate Handbook Google’s Premium Sponsorships..............................................................................203 Ezine Advertising......................................................................................................203 Build an Opt-In Subscriber List................................................................................204 Publish an Ezine, eCourse or Both...........................................................................205 How to Use Auctions to Sell Affiliate Products.......................................................206 Site Submission Services & Software.......................................................................209 9 Ways To Get Traffic To Your Site For Free............................................. 210 Joint Ventures...........................................................................................................210 Write Ezine Articles..................................................................................................211 Free Directory Listings.............................................................................................212 Search Engine & Crawler Listings...........................................................................213 Group and Forum Postings.......................................................................................213 Link Trading, FFA's & Banner Exchanges...............................................................215 Use an Email Signature.............................................................................................219 Start or HomePage Traffic Networks.......................................................................220 Refer-a-Friend Scripts...............................................................................................221 11 Ways to Market Your Site Offline......................................................... 222 Car decals..................................................................................................................222 Business cards...........................................................................................................222 Personalized Stationery.............................................................................................222 Speaking Engagements.............................................................................................222 Classified Ads...........................................................................................................222 Press Releases...........................................................................................................223 Trade Publications....................................................................................................223 Wear Your URL........................................................................................................224 Promotional items.....................................................................................................224 Tell Your Friends and Family...................................................................................224 Happy Customers......................................................................................................224 MANAGE YOUR AFFILIATE BUSINESS........................................... 226 How to Get & Stay Organized................................................................... 226 Regular Tasks........................................................................................... 229 Daily Tasks...............................................................................................................229 Weekly Tasks............................................................................................................230 Monthly Tasks..........................................................................................................231 Quarterly Tasks.........................................................................................................231 Evaluate Your Site's Performance............................................................ 232 Stats to Track & Numbers to Crunch........................................................................232 Collecting Data.........................................................................................................235 Recording Data.........................................................................................................238 How to Prevent Commission Theft ........................................................... 244 25 Avoidable Mistakes.............................................................................. 247 GROW YOUR BUSINESS................................................................ 250 How Much is Your Effort Worth? .............................................................. 250 Forums: Participate & Learn..................................................................... 253 RESOURCES.................................................................................. 255 Glossary of Terms .................................................................................... 255 Rosalind's Directory of Goodies................................................................ 266 vi Super Affiliate Handbook A Few of My Favorite Affiliate Programs................................................... 267 Recommended Reading............................................................................ 269 AFTERWORD................................................................................. 270 vii Super Affiliate Handbook viii