Affiliate Marketing & Adsense

1. Affiliate Marketing & Adsense ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

2. What is Affiliate Marketing? • Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing in which a business rewards one or more affiliatesfor each visitor or customer brought by the affiliate's own marketing efforts. • Four main players: • Retailer (or brand being sold) • Network (where products are sold – Commission Junction, Amazon, etc.) • Publishers (the affiliate) • 3rd Party Vendors (affiliate management agencies, etc.) ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

3. Facts About Affiliate Programs • Brings in more sales than would otherwise occur by using affiliate’s contacts, followers, fans, etc. • Affiliate programs of two main types: • Individual – stand-alone aff program for one company • Networks – handles affiliate products and payments for many companies / brands • Percentage paid varies by products / service sold • E-Goods typically 25% - 75% with 50% being average • Physical goods typically 4% - 10% with 6-7% average ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

4. Levels of Payment • One level payout is standard • Some companies offer two tier payouts • Example: • First level affiliates receive 25% • Second tier affiliates receive 25% also, but their “sponsor” receives 10% of that. (This system tends to expand the affiliate network.) • Two level (tier) payout is perceived by some to be multi-level marketing (MLM) • May limit how affiliates get paid – PayPal can NOT be used to pay out on two tier affiliate programs ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

5. Major Network Players • Amazon.com • Offers affiliate commissions on its own products as well as on most sold as part o Amazon’s network • Payouts range from 4% - 10% based on type of product, as well a sales volume of the affiliate (4-6% is the norm) • Note: some states excluded • Commission Junction • Promotes numerous individual brands • Must apply to Commission Junction first • May also require acceptance by individual brands • Payout varies by brand (mostly 4 – 8% physical goods, up to 25% other) ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

6. Major Network Players (cont) • Other Large Networks • Linkshare.com • OneNetworkDirect.com • ShareASale.com • Clickbank.com - Largest e-Product Affiliate Program • eBooks • Software • Training Programs • Payout typically 50% -- may be higher ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

7. Using Affiliate Links • Use your unique links or banner ads coded to you • Recommended that you “cloak” links • Wordpress – Pretty Link Lite plugin ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

8. Successful Affiliates • Develop quality content around affiliate topics • Do NOT put up “junk sites” that are ONLY for the purposes of getting affiliate commissions • This worked 2-3 years ago – does not work now • Know best practices for positioning products • No sell, sell, sell – best to describe pros and cons both • Cloak their affiliate links • Mark links as “no-follow” • Build lists! ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

9. Setting Up an Affiliate Program • Decide on one level or two (or more) payout • Select your network OR choose affiliate software • Determine how you want to pay your affiliates • By check (usually set at higher pay amount / may be fees • By PayPal (easy and efficient with good tracking) • Determine when you will pay affiliates • 1st of month? 15th? When certain sales achieved? • Determine how often you will pay affiliates • Monthly? Quarterly? etc. ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

10. Popular Affiliate Software ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

11. Promoting Your Affiliate Program • Promote on your website and blog • Promote to your social networks • Promote to your LIST! • Lists are where the money is made • Promote your program in affiliate directories • http://www.associateprograms.com/directory/ • Fiverr – http:impactonlinemarketing.com/fiverr-aff-directories ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

12. GoogeAdsense • Google’s program to share advertising revenue in return for you (publisher) allowing their ads on your website / blog - The flip side of AdWords ads (network ads) - Go to Google.com/adsense to apply • Brand new sites may need to be online for a while prior to being accepted • Need to confirm you are a “serious” site vs. spammy one • If possible, apply with an established account and then add new sites to the account ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

13. GoogeAdsense – How it Works • Select the types of ads you wish to show on your website or blog • Insert Adsense code where ads are desired • Google serves up the ads to display • Generally they display highly relevant ads • Google splits the revenue with you (60% to you, 40% to Google) • Payment made monthly or when threshold met • Direct deposit into your bank account ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

14. Adsense Ad Blocks • Select the types of ads you wish to show on your website or blog • Insert Adsense code on page wherever where ads are desired • Top of copy • Mid copy • Bottom of copy • Sidebar • Examples of Adsense text ad layouts: • https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/185665?hl=en ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

15. Successful Adsense Marketers • Develop quality content around popular topics • Do NOT put up “junk sites” that are ONLY for the purposes of getting Adsense commissions • This worked 2-3 years ago – does not work now • Research topics that have high Adwords cost • Use Google Keyword Planner to check this out • Select topics where there are good related ads • See what is being advertised on Google • Drive traffic to their sites! ImpactOnlineMarketing.com

16. Adsense “Must Know” Guidelines • Never, ever, EVER click on Adsense links on your own sites – this is “click fraud” • Never, ever, EVER have friends click on Adsense links more than once in a blue moon – more “click fraud” • Abuse will get your site BANNED from Adsense (and perhaps banned from Google) ImpactOnlineMarketing.com