Part 2 -- ActiveAffiliates:
Small Capitalists, Big Profits...The Story of Two, $5,000 Plus Earning Affiliates

Dear Friend,

P.S. Our training system comes with our affiliate program; feel free to sign up, just to see it in action, at http://www.activemarketplace.com/signup.html

PPS. Winning the Affiliate Game...From Its Readers

"I am writing to you for several reasons, but the most important is to thank you for the opportunity to learn such priceless information from each of your Affiliate Guides. In fact, this is the first time I have ever written anyone to thank them for products that I purchased from them! Your guides were so professionally written and packed with such powerful, well researched information, I believe that you just may have underpriced them by a few hundred dollars. Not that I am complaining..." Ron Gage, http://www.instantsales.com

"I am thoroughly enjoying the book. I am usually satisfied that I have made an intelligent choice in the purchase of informational material, be it books, presentations or classes (real-life or virtual) when I get at least one "ah-hah!" from that source. Well, by page 20-something, I had already collected four or five "ah-hahs!"--consequently I am already very happy."
Vivianne (Viver) Israel, http://www.nextmillen.com

"My first ad went out this AM... Cool.. I have never made money in less than 24 hours before.. How awesome..!!!" Stay Great, Dusty Young

"I have already read the Winning the Affiliate Game Twice.It is the best web marketing tool I have ever read. I was working at planning my website. When I read Winning the Affiliate Game, It changed all my perception of how a website should be. Thank you for this great product. " Kamil Sahin

The Fine Line Between Advertorial and Editorial Space

The Best Form of Affiliate Advertising Does Not Appear to Be Advertising

Next time you visit the Wall Street Journal online and see them favorably review a product or service, see if there is a link to buy that product.

From top information sites like the Journal to affiliate programs, the power of the "advertorial" is sweeping the Internet. Putting an advertisement or endorsement into the context of the Web Site and/or information is an excellent way to generate sales. An advertorial is content that appears to be reporting or sharing information, but which is in reality a sales message.

Statistically, the advertorial approach has proved to sell much more products. People still love to post banner ads and can drive lots of traffic.

Advertorials yield less traffic, but better traffic. These are people who are interested and driven from a trusted resources who honestly endorses your product.

This endorsement is critical. Merging the right offer to the right person, an "advetorial" is a preferred form of affiliate marketing. In fact, one of my $5,000 plus afffiliates insisted on an advertorial...

As usual, he was right, and a brilliant direct marketer....remember that this was only a test.

In our first few weeks, we were getting an amazing 8% sellthrough on our visits. This has to due with the extreme targeting of the message and our conversion piece. Now we generate more traffic for the programs, but often through banner ads. The conversion rate drops.

While you can cite the early acceptance as a spike, in reality this was a very limited test which showed amazing results. We are continuing to develop this and target the estimated 1 million affiliates cited in a recent ZDNet article.

What The Advertorial Means to Content

The advertorial will bring challenges to traditional models of advertising. In print, editorial space and writers, who are "unbiased", generate readers. Masses of viewers generate advertising dollars from outside sources

Online, a different model is emerging. You will still have unbiased news reporting, but even newspapers online are integrating more and more advertorials.

The knee jerk reaction is to think this is the worst thing to do; in "brick and mortar" terms, this amounts to pure bias and has no place. In the old form of publishing, ads were separate from content.

Ads were designed to interupt unbiased content. With advetorials, the advertising is embedded in the content. Now look at an affiliate program; the focus is to place your advertising in their site.

If the ad is from a stranger, an outsider like a banner ad, it does not work as well. If the ad seems to be within the context...from that site...it is read with greater interest.

On the Internet, this is emerging into a hybrid model; like infomercials, this form of advertising works because it mixes information with advertising. If it works well, it is respectable. Poorly presented it can be extremely harmful, because customers may feel like you are tricking them.

The print model of selling ad space does not work for most online. Selling advertising space on the Internet is tough; even for those who do it well, there is always dead advertising space, which leads to affiliate programs and advertising within the context of a Web Site.

The logic is simple:

1. Print media attracts advertisers through unbiased reporting. Advertisers interrupt the information through classified ads, display ads, and full page advertising. Businesses buy space. Consumers buy if they stop reading the information and respond to the ad.

2. Online advertisers reach audiences through endorsement and recommendation. Placing an ad to interrupt a Web Page, like a banner ad, simply does not yield performance in terms of sales or traffic. But if the article favorably recommends a product, and there's a link, the sales will increase. Businesses don't buy space, they try to work into a favorable positioning within the Web Site. Consumers buy the recommendation within the information.

The implications of advertorials are tremendous, as advertising and editorial space start to merge. This gray area of advertising will fuel many controversies, and remember that this is being done by many famous Web Sites, like the Wall Street Journal. It is a way of marketing on the Internet.

For affiliate programs, advertorials are the most effective form of affiliate advertising. Here's why:

A. Advertorials appear to be part of the Web Site, woven into the context. Even if sent via email, the power of an advertorial is the power of a recommendation. When someone is trusted, and the offer appears to be from them, or with their support, sales increase.

B. It's all about being a familiar face, not a stranger interrupting. Trust is embedded in the content; when you step outside, you make people aware that they are being sold.

C. When the advertising appears to be an advertisement, it is less successful than when it appears to be an editorial comment.

Ethical issues abound in this approach and could fill an entire article on its own. For purposes of affiliate programs, the challenge is clear. Here's what you should focus on:

1. Get your affiliates to promote your offer as an integral part of their Web Site. If they list you with 50 other companies, it is all about selling, and consumers will not react as well. If you can get them to recommend or endorse what you do, the power of that recommendation carries weight.

2. Encourage believable testimonials. If your affiliates stretch the truth or exaggerate, it does not bode well for your offer. It is better to be believable and credible, than to try and impress someone. If your offer is not believable, they will not buy it.

3. Weave your advertising into the Web Sites of your affiliates, and teach them how to do this. Teach them how to write a testimonial, how to place your ad copy within their site...with their personal embellishment. If you just give them banner ads and forms of advertising, that is all they will focus on, and you will lose sales.

4. Teach your affiliates how to do it right. Train them.

Advertorials are one of the most successful means of marketing for affiliate programs. The challenges this will present to the industry go beyond the actual content, and into the believability of what you read.

Look at it this way; Forbes and the Wall Street Journal are looking at this because it makes sense. This is not something being done by fly by night companies. It is being put into action by the mainstream media who realize that advertising on the Internet, perceived as advertising, does not work.

Stay tuned as the trend grows within and without affiliate networks.

What Does Cooperation Mean to Your Affiliate Program?
"Winning the Affiliate Game" Announces a New, Co-Op Advertising Plan

When I began my affiliate program for "Winning the Affiliate Game", I really wanted to do something different. Every program seemed to be announcing a new way of thinking, but eventually the truth crept in...

Few programs are really working together with their affiliates, in the spirit of cooperation.

So I looked up the definition of cooperation in an old, Reader's Digest Dictionary:

"Cooperation

1. A working together toward a common end; joint action.

2. The association of laborers, farmers, small capitalists, etc. in a common endeavor for mutual economic benefit."

Think about the keys to these definitions - small capitalists...working together...in a common endeavor for mutual economic benefit.

Now look at your affiliate program; most are set up for you to market for them. They may send you an ezine, possibly some training, but outside of that, you are on your own.

Many businesses use the Internet's automated mechanisms to literally avoid their customers, and their affiliates. Automation makes things easy, but to really succeed, you have to do something different.

You have to help others, help themselves; it is the spirit of co-op advertising.

To improve my system, I remembered my days as a sales manager with a hip, San Francisco computer reseller. We sold Apple Computers, which in those days was a good, profitable thing to do. Apple would share co-op advertising money with us when we promoted Apple Products.

Why wouldn't they? Even though we sold other kinds of computers - Compaqs, IBMs, etc. - Apple supported our efforts when we promoted their products. It just makes sense for Apple, and for me, to do this!

Now look at your affiliate program again; don't they get this? Do they just focus on the quantity of affiliates they gather, or are they sharing some of the advertising costs to improve the quality of their network?

While I cannot change other affiliate programs, I can affect my growing circle of affiliates...the small capitalists joining me in a common endeavor for mutual, economic benefit. So I posted this on our ActiveMarketplace Web Site, empowering affiliates to join in cooperative marketing called affiliate programs:

"Advertising is the key to building your network and increasing your sales. I believe in your success and am willing to invest in your sales potential by paying half of your advertising costs. That's right -- I will match you dollar for dollar and together we will profit from effective advertising."

Our affiliates love it!

• For example, an affiliate in Australia had been advertising in newspapers. He is a small capitalist with limited resources. He wanted to advertise in the USA Today, but it seemed too expensive. We reviewed what he wanted to do, and paid half of his fees. Now that ad will help us both.

• Or take the affiliate who has a free Web Page, and needed some help selecting opt-in email advertising and setting up autoresponders. We set him up with consulting, assistance, and advertising; we paid half. Now he is doing things the right way, with our assistance.

The key to remember is mutual economic benefit. My affiliates help spread the word about my company; I should help them.

Just like Apple helped a company become the leading reseller in the Bay Area for several years, and reach INC Magazines Top 50 Fastest growing companies when I was there...in the spirit of cooperation.

One business on its own is easy to break; two businesses sharing resources have a better chance. One hundred businesses working together are almost impossible to beat.

Cooperation is the key to your affiliate programs. It just makes sense, for me and for you.

The Ideal Affiliate Profile --
Passion Marketing: Your Best Affiliate Is Someone Who Would Buy Your Product

When many companies open their affiliate programs, the assumption is to target only the following:

1. Sites with high traffic counts

2. Sites related to your product or service

3. Email lists with many subscribers

4. People who sign up at affiliate program directories such as Refer-It, AssociatePrograms, ReveNews, or CashPile.

Yet there are other ways to approach this. A recent email from Outpost.com to its affiliates points out one of the crucial factors in affiliate marketing.

Of 7 affiliate sites that generated over $15,000 in revenue for Outpost.com in February 1998, guess what common characteristic 5 of the 7 shared?

1. Let's go through our initial list; none of them is a "high" traffic site. They get decent traffic, but not great.

2. All of the sites are related to computer products, but that's obvious. Anyone with an Internet business does something related to computers.

3. Email lists are not the driving force of these sites. And they may or may not have signed up from affiliate program directories.

4. What they really had in common was passion, for something that might surprise you. Here's their secret...

Each Site Feeds the Passionate Market of Macintosh Users

Think about Macintosh users and you may think they are a small percent of the market, which of course they are. Most Internet studies, and most computer studies, are dominated by Windows users. Obviously there are fewer Mac users than Windows users, but there is more passion for the Macintosh.

If you have ever owned a Macintosh, you know what a passion it is; Mac users are almost religious in their fervor about their operating system, their computer. Mac users are also affluent, having consistently paid more money for their computers and software, year after year.

Think of it this way; when did someone brag about using Bill Gate's Windows, or a Windows machine? They may like them, but they are not passionate about them like Mac users.

So if Outpost.com went out to create the traditional affiliate program, you would think that Windows related sites would do the best. Perhaps they do well, but let's focus on the core success of these 5, Macintosh related affiliates.

This kind of spending power, this kind of passion, is helping to drive sales for Outpost.com for the following reasons:

1. Macintosh computer users will revisit those sites that give them the best information. These sites obviously have a loyal audience with repeat traffic.

2. . The traffic counts at these sites are not that high, but the buying power and loyalty of these visitors outweighs raw traffic claims.

3. These Mac sites generate quality visitors who buy, not quantities who may or many not buy.

4. Finally, Outpost.com has helped their affiliates build Macintosh related storefronts at their sites. This kind of key marketing targeted to a passion makes all the difference.

The next time you go out to your affiliates and think in terms only of traffic, think in terms of passion. This kind of passion for a specific Web Site, information product, or even computer is powerful.

As the old saying goes, the Internet is filled with niche markets an inch long, and a mile deep. Outpost.com is mining those inches and gettting back sales in miles.

Be sure to apply the same logic to your program.

The Single Most Overlooked Affiliate Resource is Training!

How Most Affiliate Programs Are Wasting Their Efforts...When They Could Be Building A Sales Force Within The 2-3 Week Affiliate Window of Opportunity

The news from affiliate programs keeps focusing on the tools that we use to track the sales, but there is so little information on the affiliates themselves.

The reason for that, surprisingly, are the affiliate programs themselves. Internet companies are assigning one or two people to manage an entire affiliate program. This person or persons are overwhelmed; they have to learn how to do it, how to sign up affiliates, and how to market.

Meanwhile, they are overwhelmed by answers for frustrating, technical problems, much resulting from lack of knowledge on the part of the affiliate. The poor affiliate program manager spends so much time putting out fires, that they have no time to contact their affiliates.

Within 2-3 weeks, most affiliates completely forget about you. Consider the following to improve the results from your system:

1. Industry estimates range between 20-60% of affiliates every posting an ad for your program. You need to contact everyone quickly and frequently within the 2-3 week window of opportunity.

2. Automate your follow up for the majority of your affiliates.

3. Be sure to answer emails personally as well; combine your standard messages with the personal touch, and again, if you do this right the first two weeks, they should be on autopilot.

4. Training makes your job easier, not harder; one affiliate manager asked me how to get their 4,000 affiliates active, when they hadn't contacted them in 3 months. It is hard to get someone started after 3 months; if they had an automated training system within the first 2-3 weeks, their success rate could only be higher.

5. Take advantage of the free affiliate sales training system from the ActiveMarketplace.

To help your efforts, we've created an automated, ActiveAffiliate sales training program. It works simply:

A. You invite your affiliates to sign up for the training. It is delivered via email, and includes a free report to help them get focused.

B. We teach the techniques that work; this will help your affiliates succeed, and combined with your efforts, can get them focused quickly.

C. If you want to maximize their revenue potential, we can also co-brand or private label your advertising so they know it is from their network.

Our goal is to create a network of ActiveAffiliates, within the many programs on the Internet. We have the tools to keep them Active. Many of the leading affiliate networks are taking advantage of this now. Call me and I'll share who is tapping into this powerful system.

In the meantime, be sure to put some training into your affiliate program. Imagine if a child went to school and was left alone without any teachers?

Leave them alone and they'll go home...you know the rest. Look around; if this is so obvious, how come it isn't rampant?

My guess is that good will isn't exactly the center of most affiliate programs. Seems silly, doesn't it? No where else in business would people ignore their assets, except the Internet...where we are all taught to avoid the customer.

Try being different; interact with your customers...enjoy it. It is ancient as business itself. Treat your affiliates, and customers right, and you'll be in business in a few years...or even in a few months.

You can show your affiliates what works, and spotlight those who are working well. See the following for more information.

AssociatePrograms interview

This is part of an email interview with Allan Gardyne, from http://www.associateprograms.com. The interview covers the quick ascent of Declan Dunn's Winning the Affiliate Game to Number 1 on Allan's Top List of Affiliate Programs.

1. To market your latest book, "Winning the Affiliate Game" , you have chosen to use a two-tier commission structure, automatically approving everyone who applies to join. What have you found to be the advantages and disadvantages of such a system?

I find absolutely no disadvantages to this system. Let me share why.

I believe the Internet can empower small businesses to succeed. In my 13 years of business, I have never seen anything so powerful and easy to use as affiliate programs.

For an industry in its infancy, many affiliate programs are showing arrogance. Big companies sign up thousands of affiliates and really don't care if they do anything at all! The waste is incredible and to me, undermines the democratic power of e-commerce.

My mission is to create ActiveAffiliates, who build their own long term business through their own network. If each affiliate would simply target 250-500 sites that they work closely with, the economic power is exponential...because out of those sites, it is likely that a small percentage will yield results.

That small percentage can be the difference between life and death for a small business online.

This is one of the primary reasons I demanded a two tier system. I want the small affiliates, as well as the big ones, to benefit and build their own networks.

Of course I receive numerous emails with confusion on how to place links, how to get going, and trying to make sense of this brave, new Internet. To me, that is part of the joy, not a burden.

It really is a state of mind; the minute you think your affiliates, and your customers, are a burden, you should give it up. If I can help just one person make a difference in their lives, generate a bit more money, or even more importantly, a bit more time to do the things they like, that makes it worthwhile.

This system is designed to help people help themselves...to learn, adapt, and be amazed. Instead of signing up and leaving them alone, I try to send training. Like any teacher, I try to show the beginner how to set realistic goals and test them, in a market that offers little if any start up cost.

If my purpose was to just sell books, I would limit my membership. But by opening it up, I've tapped into people who are working hard to take advantage of what the Internet offers.

My background in training shows me that anyone, given a bit of encouragement and guidance, can improve.

I have a passion for empowering people to succeed. Two tier programs are really where affiliate networks build long term businesses.

In the affiliate industry today, people are getting rejected daily. Even when they sign up for a program, they rarely if ever hear from that network again. A token ezine a month later is often the best effort.

Signing up thousands of affiliates is not a burden to me; if it is, you shouldn't be in this business. The chance to help someone realize their goals, whether it is just breaking even, making a side income, or hitting the jackpot with carefully selected programs, is simply amazing.

A two tier program is one of the most realistic ways for someone to start building their own network, within the bigger, more powerful affiliate programs.

These programs will likely be limited to those companies who have the margins to offer them. Remember that a company with 10% margins on a book won't be able to break that down to a two tier program.

For certain things, it works. For other products, it doesn't make sense. For our ActiveAffiliates, it makes total sense.

For me, the advantage of a two tier system is that I can help people learn, and earn. I remember and still believe in the dream of the Internet. I've seen people who didn't even have a computer at first generate tremendous results.

My two tier system is a belief in that spirit, and something that brings me joy far beyond anything money can deliver...

Two tier systems are the real opportunity for affiliates, because they allow them to form their own networks, their own relationships, their own foundations. Being part of this is incredibly fun.

2. What percentage of webmasters are achieving sales? Is the old 80/20 rule applying?

First, from what I have seen of affiliate programs, the 97/3 rule applies; only about 3% generate anything. And that's sad, in fact you are lucky if 50% of your affiliates even post one ad on their site! Really, how many times have you seen a network with thousands of affiliates, and only 10 making any sales? Remember that this is our initial test, and in that we have 15% of our initial affiliates who will receive a check.

From what I've seen, that is a huge percentage, and much of it comes from the second tier. My goal is to keep training and honing that, and working closely with my ActiveAffiliates who generate significant traffic and sales.

For those who are not, we have patience and will keep encouraging them. Most entrepreneurs either quit too early or stay too long with an idea. The key is to keep your goals realistic, and to check your progress each month.

Again, some people may take months to make a sale, but I'm willing to work with them. That is how much I believe in what we are doing here...I have no illusions that I can change the nature of people or affiliate networks, but I will do my best to support my part of it...and encourage people to succeed, no matter what they are doing.

3. How large is the potential market. How many copies do you think will be sold?

The potential market is any Web Site who wants to offer affiliate products from their site, or in addition to what they already offer. It is virtually limitless; in fact, the biggest problem with affiliate networks is that people don't really know about them. The lack of understanding is incredible!

We're here to inform, educate, and spread the word. I see this book as showing people what is going on, referring to the excellent sites that can help them learn more like yours, and starting from the bottom up, from the thousands of Web Sites out there that do not understand how to convert Web visitors to sales.

My goal for copies is simple, and a dream; I'd like to share the empowering message of this book with anyone who has a Web Site. My somewhat lofty goal is the reach that Cory Rudl's book, Car Secrets, achieved; perhaps not that volume, but I'd like to see this get 10-20,000 copies out there.

The best part of this goal is, even if I don't reach it, the more people I teach, the more comes back to me. I really believe in the abundance of the Internet and the success of this book is dependent on our two tier program, on our affiliates.

I have a passion for teaching; where else could I find so many amazing, energetic learners, who teach me as well?

4. How much time and money does maintaining a two-tier program like yours involve?

Wow, what a question; I've been going 24/7 and adding staff the past month like crazy. It took us months to create our own two tier program, that we must keep improving. Our emails are piling up and I'm focusing on customer service.

With this abundance comes some amazing opportunities; we just brought on Paul Galloway as our inside programmer with our system. I've been such a fan of Paul's work and having him spearhead the technical/marketing end is amazing. Patrick Anderson is another partner who teaches me everyday the simplest way to get things done.

Remember that our vision is far beyond this two tier program; we are creating a system of success and honing it every day. That is the best part, sharing the information with people and seeing these networks get started.

We want to empower affiliates to sell more and build their own networks. My ultimate goal is to do for affiliate networks what LinkExchange did with banner ads, but with a twist.

Instead of just having thousands of members, I'm looking for 5,000 ActiveAffiliates with whom I can work closely, coach, and share our knowledge. And believe me, it won't just be with this book. We have niche products ready to go and plug into our system, and spread the word to our friends.

We are trying to build a community of affiliates and help them learn, and earn. It takes time, it takes money, and we invest what we generate to help our affiliates.

5. What lessons have you learnt in your couple of weeks of marketing "Winning the Affiliate Game"?

What I have really learned is how to delegate; every day I learn how to help my affiliates build their own networks. I have also learned that the Internet builds up this instant gratification mania on the part of some people; everything is so immediate, so impatient.

I know that the patient person is the one who wins in the long run, and I need a way to share this within an Internet culture that teaches you that nothing lasts.

For me, I know that good things do last, and that to build something lasting, you have to approach it the right way.

Believe me, there are many more lessons, but what I've learned is the lesson I try to teach...patience. Understanding. And having a grasp of the bigger picture.

It is easy to get caught up in the mania of a hit record, but we are really building something for the long run here. What I have learned most is to keep focused on the bigger picture, and clean up the glitches that come with any business.

All in all, our system has been terrific, thanks to Paul and Patrick. They are so great to have on our team, and I look forward to seeing this team grow even more with our affiliates.

6. For me, your new book, "Winning the Affiliate Game" is selling much faster than your first book, "The Complete, Insider's Guide to Associate & Affiliate Programs". Is that the general trend?

Of course, and it makes sense; the Insider's Guide is not for everyone. After all, there is one Amazon and 180,000 or whatever affiliates. It only makes sense that one is a mass market, and the other is more select.

Setting up an affiliate network is sophisticated, and takes alot of time and money that many companies don't have. What's interesting is that my experience with the Insider's Guide led me to the new book, because I saw a need that could be fulfilled.

Two tier programs are a way to democratize affiliate programs as well; it allows the smaller players to get their ongoing share of business, if they coach and support their networks.

As one of my mentors taught me, two tier programs are really a Mastermind of businesses. Bring one business sharing resources with another, you have strength; bring 100 businesses together sharing resources, you have power.

Many of the big affiliate networks don't see their programs as Masterminds; they see them simply as cheap sales channels. That's why I love Winning the Affiliate Game and our two tier system. It really empowers from the bottom up, spreading the power out and building Mastermind groups if done correctly.

For me, I would only invest my time in two tier programs now, because I can build a long term business there. And help others do the same.

7. What are some of the things the successful sellers are doing to achieve sales?

This is one of the most amazing discoveries for me; what the most successful people are doing is opt-in email. From ezines to lists developed over time, the power of email cannot be understated.

I still can't believe how most programs are based on banner ads; it is shown that people won't return to your Web Site, unless you are some rich portal like Yahoo. People, on average, receive 25 emails a day, according to a recent study by eMarketer.

The fact is, they will check email every day; they won't visit your Web Site every day.

My most successful affiliates build trust and credibility through emails. When they endorse a product, that trust moves the offer from being one from a stranger, to being familiar, recommended, and approved. This is so critical for any business; establish trust and enhance it only with the best products that you really believe in.

If you don't believe in them, your customers won't. And I do everything in my materials to encourage people to build their lists.

As my friend/mentors Planet Ocean Communications taught me, everything depends on your list. If your business shuts down tomorrow, you should be able to take your list of happy customers and open up the next day.

If you don't have an email, opt-in list, you are going to stress and waste huge amounts of time and money in low percentage advertising.

The Internet is so ancient, and so traditional; trust, respect, and being there for the long term is crucial. Email is based on writing letters, notes, and remembering people. There is nothing cutting edge about that!

8. Based on my how my sales have gone, I imagine you're thrilled with the results?

Of course I am, but I am even more thrilled by the people I am working with. Sales are great, but what is even better is when someone who has been struggling sends you an email and lets you know that they generated sales in 24 hours, for the first time, without a Web Site!

You've got to keep your perspective in these things; I love sales, but I really enjoy the ability to help people grow their business. Money without passion is boring; passion with money is just a heckuva lot of fun!

Helping others generate money for themselves is just a great part of any affiliate network. I'm thrilled to be working with my affiliates.

9. Are you prepared to divulge any details of sales?

At this early stage, no; what I will tell you is that I'm writing over 80 checks to my affiliates this month, at least. Some are big, some not so big...but helping my affiliates start making money is what this is all about.

I will divulge the most important details; people are thrilled with the book. They are thrilled with the opportunity. They are just plain tickled to actually work with a network that responds to them in a hopefully personal way.

This is no pie in the sky, but we do our best, and keep our eye on the bigger picture.

Good will is what we aim for, and it is coming in droves...and for that, I am thankful and will do everything I can to support your efforts.

10. Why do think Winning the Affiliate Game" is so popular?

The goal of this book is to empower affiliates to sell more and benefit from affiliate programs, within a two tier system that encourages them to build their own, independent, networks of businesses.

Affiliate programs are about the democratization of e-commerce, which is what the Internet represents to me. Spreading the opportunity to create a business with little or no overhead, with the flexibility to choose your partners based solely on performance, puts control in the hands of the affiliates.

That is why this book is so popular; it is an Internet marketing system in a box called affiliate programs. It is not based on expensive Web Sites or hoping your product will sell.

It offers the opportunity to set up shop and offer products, where all you have to do is market.

It is popular because the time is right; for someone without a business, what better way to start and build. For someone with a business online, what better way to add more products and services to what you offer.

It is popular because the promise of affiliate programs is not in the sales of products, but in building up your network. On the giant, international network called the Internet, this will be critical to survival, now and in the future..

Visit http://www.activemarketplace.com and see for yourself now.

Affiliate Programs Explained in Plain, Simple English

This article was written in response to a request for an easy to understand presentation of affiliate programs. I wrote this to deal with people unfamiliar with the Internet, but interested in the possibilities.

There are certain days when you feel your life change profoundly, days you remember for a lifetime.

I will remember today forever, because it is the day I found out how to finally make the Internet profitable for virtually anyone.

My name is Declan Dunn and since 1994 I have been running my business on the Internet. I have consulted with companies ranging from ABC and PBS to my local real estate appraiser. Working out of my home office in the secluded foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, I thought I had it all.

Problem was, I really did not have a passion for making ABC a success. What I do have a passion for is helping people find a way to tap into this economic engine called the Internet. Six months ago I dropped all my major clients and went looking for a way to help the average person take advantage now.

Today I am writing checks to affiliates who live from Shanghai to San Francisco, empowering themselves to succeed. A journalist in Australia works one day a week and makes $1,000; I am part of his success. And this is just the beginning.

If you grant me a few minutes, I will share with you the power of what I discovered and how you can benefit.

Where the Internet is Going

The Internet is in the midst of a great consolidation. Make no mistake about it, the brick and mortar powerhouses are sinking their teeth into the Internet, trying to turn the vast array of stores and Web Sites into portals, or entry points, that they own.

How can an individual survive on the Internet today? Two words; affiliate programs. Let me explain...

In the early days, people tried to join Internet Malls, where they were given Web Sites and "self replicating" Web Pages. The result were Internet flea markets filled with all sorts of products, and very few sales.

Never have so many worked so hard to create so little. It was like having a bunch of lemonade stands sitting around, and no one driving by.

Worst of all, the overwhelming amount of choices actually stop customers from buying. Mix this with the lack of decent marketing materials and support, and you discover why this dream is quickly slipping away.

That is why affiliate programs are so powerful; you are given the marketing tools and excellent products to sell for free. All you have to do is market.

Look at affiliate programs and you see the ultimate business opportunity on the Internet; no cost, no obligation, and free testing until you find the products that move from vendors who are the backbone of the Internet revolution.

These are not fly by night companies; from Amazon.com to OfficeMax to Sony, the big companies are embracing affiliate programs. They need you to complete the picture.

Discover the Quiet Internet Revolution Called Affiliate Programs

A powerful, new marketing tool is emerging on the Internet called affiliate programs. The most famous example is Amazon.com. If you have ever clicked on one of its sales links and bought a book, you already know how easy it is. You get the book, the Web Site gets paid for the sale, and Amazon.com adds another customer to its multimillion dollar business.

That Web Site is called an affiliate of Amazon; they take two minutes to sign up, grab the book cover and descriptive text from Amazon, then point people via their special link which tracks the order. All an affiliate does is market; there is no risk, no inventory, no shipping, and no order processing. You just cash the check from Amazon.

Now everyone is focusing on how to be Amazon.com, a pipe dream that would take millions of dollars. What I found was that Amazon has over 150,000 affiliates, people who want to sell books from their email lists, Web Sites, and even in the real world.

I have dedicated my efforts to showing affiliates how to succeed in this amazing market. The success stories come from around the world, from people just like you, including:

1. The writer in Australia who was working for a newspaper with 10,000 subscribers. A few months later, he quit his job. He writes on the beach to an Internet subscriber list of over 6,000 people, with little cost. He makes his money as an affiliate, selecting products to offer. With one email, he moved over 100 of my books to his subscribers in less than two weeks.

   Best of all, his subscribers signed up as affiliates and in my system, he continues to make 10% for every sale they make. Talk about putting your business on autopilot!

2. The engineer who started a Web Site about his passion, robots. He sells books, videos, and toys, generating extra income with little effort. He recently doubled his monthly sales, and will likely achieve even more growth with little effort.

3. The Web Site that donates part of its earnings from affiliate programs to needy non-profits, generating over $180,000 to 40 plus non-profits in its first year.

Where else but the Internet could you have this kind of freedom, this kind of democracy, this kind of economic clout, without mortgaging your house or taking food off your kid's table.

If you are an affiliate you have:

• No Inventory, Delivery or Stocking of Products

• No Order Processing or Merchant Credit Card Account Needed

• None of the risk or headaches of an expensive, debt-ridden retail business

• The opportunity to test out products virtually for free, determine which ones pull, and focus solely on marketing. All you have to do is get people to the door and buy.

Thousands are profiting with affiliate programs, people who are no smarter than you are, no more experienced, but who seem to know exactly what to do. If your Internet business isn't generating significant income (and I mean at least $2,000 a month), here's the reason why.

You probably don't yet understand how to get customers to buy online, easily.

With affiliate programs, you may hit upon a powerful opportunity that you have never considered, even though it is right before your eyes.

Why Affiliate Programs Give You The Unfair Advantage on the Internet

The real Internet revolution is not based on technology, but on the home. In the early part of the 20th century, most people worked from their homes or farms. By the 1980s, this totally reversed; most people worked at companies and factories.

The Internet is changing all of this back to the home. To succeed in a home based business, you have to get the right products to offer, and the freedom to pick and choose the ones that make you the most money.

Affiliate programs are so powerful because:

A. You control everything. Thousands of programs are available. You get the marketing materials and license to resell products with little or no risk. It takes a few minutes to sign up directly with each merchant. If you do not like a merchant, you drop them and find another. An abundance of affiliate programs exist, so they have to cater to you.

B. You do not have to put all your eggs in one company's basket. You pick and choose the best products, the best profit margins, and the programs that give you the best return. By selecting from a group of merchants who each pay you a check, you spread out the opportunity and minimize your risk. If one company goes belly up, your other programs continue to pay, and you simply replace the the old one with a new, better program.

C. The income potential is virtually unlimited. You can earn up to 50% margins, and hundreds of dollars, on a single sale. You have an unlimited selection of products to choose from. This business can be run in your spare time or as a full time business. Best of all, they do all the shipping, order processing, and headaches of employees. You are free to focus solely on making money.

D. Now is the time to take advantage of this dramatic shift towards affiliate programs. This industry is brand new and fueled by some of the richest companies. They want you and have to do everything to keep you happy. Rest assured that the ones who join now will be the ones profiting in the future.

E. It doesn't matter where you live; you can do this anywhere. I live near Paradise, California, living where I want and working with the people I like. Paradise is not a dream, it's not a place - it's a lifestyle you can choose. Whatever Paradise means to you - working for yourself, making more money, or just having more time to do what you want - you are holding the key to a lucrative door with affiliate programs.

F. It is so much fun. You determine your own worth and join with people who, just like you, don't want someone telling them what they are worth in terms of salary. Think in terms of time, how much free time you can have while your affiliate programs run on autopilot. There is nothing like coming home from a relaxing walk in the woods and finding ten new orders on your desk, and knowing that you don't have to do a thing. You have done your work.

G. Start up costs are virtually zero. All you need is a computer and an Internet connection. Some of my most successful affiliates don't depend on Web Sites, they rely on email to remind people to buy from them. This is the type of business that doesn't even need a garage. All you need are two plugs; one to plug your computer in, the other to plug your phone line into your computer. It's that simple.

H. You get free, effective training. You must have an easy to follow system that people can use and share with others. For example, in my affiliate sales training system, I give my affiliates five immediate lessons on how to profit with our program. Any of my affiliates who sign up others get this automatically, empowering them to build their network.

In fact there's one company out there right now who is using my system as a means to increase sales and help their affiliates learn how to effectively sell on the Internet. All they do is sign people up to learn how to:

1. Create an automated system that pays you to just market.

2. Generate visitors and put your Internet sales system on autopilot.

3. Offer products that people are buying. Sounds simple, but few people are doing it!

4. Offer products that are easy to sell to your target audience.

The real power of affiliate programs is in the tested, proven system that you plug into.

As the saying goes, why create mediocrity when you can copy genius?

The Internet is not about bits and bytes, it's about people working together in a network. From Shanghai to San Francisco, affiliates are tapping into the power of this revolutionary system.

I invite you to check it out at:
http://www.activemarketplace.com/win/

Don't settle for high risk ventures; affiliate programs are the next wave of Internet business. Most people have frankly wasted years with Internet malls and self replicating pages.

Rarely in life do you get a second chance to succeed. Affiliate programs can give you the chance to live where you want, build your business in the long run, and earn residual income while you stroll the beach, walk in the woods, or simply spend more time with the people you care about.

It's that simple...and that profound. And it is happening right now, as you read these words.

Linking for Conversion

About the Author

Brian Clark is the President of Orlando-based content and technology developer GMD Studios. GMD Studios' software division -- Radiation SiteWare -- also uses affiliate marketing techniques to fuel their sales of interactive website tools. Brian is the Producer of ReveNews.com.

This site is provided from Revenews, http://www.revenews.com

        A C T I V E A F F I L I A T E
        I N T E R V I E W

   
   _5_  Choosing the right affiliate programs for you.
   _1_  Targeting a specific audience for what you offer.
   _3_  Internet marketing techniques.
   _2_  Good advertising and marketing copy.
   _4_  Ability to update Web Site
   _7_  Ezines and/or opt-in email
   _6_  Good, trustworthy affiliate program company.
   __  Other (fill in what you like)