Basics of Web Affiliate Programs

One advantage is the magic of web collaboration - people and organizations working together for mutual benefit. Affiliate programs allow you to work with major e-commerce sites: connects to them on your site, both pointing to the main site or specific products. They get more traffic, and you get some money when a visitor buys something from the site. While affiliate programs are rarely a way to get rich on the web, you can have different performance fees earned.

Getting started is easy and free. On Amazon.com, for example, you can set up an affiliate account by simply providing some basic information about your site. Then you walk though the process of creating links that tell the system that the Amazon link has come from your own site. With Amazon, you get 5 percent of the purchase price of your visitors purchase items from Amazon, 15 percent if you buy the specific object connected. The buyer does not pay more, and you are reimbursed for pointing in the right direction. At any time you can access your Amazon account and check how many clicked links, purchases and expenses you have collected.

Amazon is just one example, though - just about any site that sells stuff will probably have some sort of affiliate program.

One pitfall to avoid is the signature for each affiliate program you can get your hands on. The so-called "link exchange" can be particularly damaging to your reputation online. You've probably seen those sites with front pages littered with giant graphic links to other sites. This not only ugly, also dilute your message. Try to find one or at most affiliate programs, the two that correspond to the mission of your site. Amazon is a good general choice, as they sell products so different, not only books, but also household goods, clothing, toys, gourmet foods, and much more.

In addition to the referral fees you earn, affiliate programs have two major advantages for your site.

1. Fundraising. If you are a non-profit organization, you can use affiliate links as a low impact way to raise money. For example, if all those involved with your organization used your affiliate links whenever you buy on Amazon, you can painlessly raise funds for your projects. This idea takes promotion - people should be encouraged to do their shopping in this way. But if you are a supporter of an affiliate site, and do a lot of shopping on Amazon, why not follow their link? You can also show people how your favorite links to Amazon, so that there is no need to go to your site in order to give Amazon affiliate fees.

2. Promote your expertise. If you use affiliate links to recommend products, books, etc. that fit with the mission of your site, you can promote yourself as an expert in the field. An example of the state teachers union could start an online library for education related titles with links to Amazon. A site policy could recommend titles liberal or conservative, a site of food, books by up-and-coming chefs. If you decide to do this, put a little 'effort in keeping the list current - that will keep people coming back for more choices.

Like anything on the web, you must put some 'hard to make an affiliate program for you. What sites / products would be of most use and interest to the public? Highlighting individual products is better than just plopping a general link on your home page - you can earn higher commissions for each link, and you'll get the "know-how" benefit I mentioned. You probably will not get rich, but it is a simple and useful tool to add to your toolbox web .......