Affilliate School House – Affiliate Marketing Education And Internet Marketing News

Commission Junction And Others Strike Back Against Internet Tax

// April 17th, 2009 // No Comments » // Affiliate Marketing

While checking my stats over at Commission Junction this morning, I noticed that they had a very bright graphic on the welcome screen that stated, “We oppose the CA internet retail tax!”

I had to click it because I agree that this internet taxation is a bunch of bologna, and well the call to action was beautifull designed – lol! I think it’s a weak attempt on behalf of state officials to penalize affiliate marketers and the businesses they run in order to dig themselves out of a bad situation. Shawn Collins, over at AffiliateTip.com, isn’t too happy about it either – read what he has to say over here. Anyways, CJ has posted up the submitted documentation that explains the potential pit falls of putting the nexus tax – internet taxation into place. This coalition is comprised of many powerful companies that are standing together in opposition of the proposed bill in the state of California. I applaud them all. It’s gonna be a cliffhanger for sure.

Here is the opening statement on behalf of the coalition against the proposed internet tax in California:
Threatens California Technology Sector Jobs and Harms California Online Marketplace
Companies, E-Commerce Companies, Small Businesses, Nonprofits, Many Others

The below-listed business and employer organizations and companies must respectfully OPPOSE AB 178 AND ABX3 27 (Skinner and Calderon) which we believe could harm highly-coveted California technology sector companies, such as online marketplace and other e-commerce companies, by placing them at a severe competitive disadvantage, nationally and globally.

AB 178 AND ABX3 27 would establish that California nexus is created when any retailer enters into any referral agreement with a California resident in exchange for compensation or commission, such as by a link, website, or otherwise, which generates referrals in excess of $10,000 in sales. “Nexus” refers to the U.S. Constitution’s requirement that an out-of-state retailer have a sufficient physical connection with a state before the state can force the retailer to collect the state’s sales or use tax.

Here is a snapshot of the businesses and employer organizations backing  the opposition.
See any companies you know?

Keep your eyes and ears open.

Preston
“The Dean” of Affiliate School House

How To Select The Best Affiliate Programs and Products

// March 2nd, 2009 // No Comments » // Affiliate Marketing

The Beginning:
In order to get started in affiliate marketing, you have to find products to promote. The task of selecting affiliate programs can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. In this post we will discuss the best methods for selecting great affiliate programs that both complement your passions and have a buyer’s market, which is key (if there isn’t a buyer’s market, then you will not be making any sales). Typically, new affiliates feel the need to sign up with every big affiliate program company (cj, linkshare, etc.), corporate affiliate program, information product,  etc. that they can sign up for because they believe that being a member of more affiliate programs will yield more money. In most cases this is just not true.  Those of you who have done this, please raise your hand. I know I have. It’s ok, it happens. At first, the prospect of making money with affiliate programs fills the new affiliate marketer with hope and excitement. As a result, most new affiliates end up running around signing up for everything under the sun and end up gassing out before actually promoting any products or seeing any money come in. I have been there too.

So, what is the best method for getting on the right track from the very start?
There are several key factors that when combined will yield the best returns.I think the best way to illustrate this is by giving you a list of questions and statements that will help you make the right decisions in regards to what will work best for YOU and YOUR business.

Selecting Affiliate Programs:
It’s important at first that you select some items that you will have fun promoting. If you are interested in what you are promoting, you will work harder and put in the extra efforts because you have a genuine interest in the products. It will make the journey more tolerable when you come across bumps in the road and will make it that much sweeter when you taste success.

The Best Method/Approach For Selecting Great Affiliate Programs: A Quickstart Guide

1. Assuming you don’t have a blog or website – What things are you passionate about? (cooking, sports, fashion, toys, electronics, etc.)
2. Assuming you don’t have a blog or website – What items from your passions do you think you would have the most fun promoting? Select some niche products.
3. After selecting some niche items, use Google and other research tools to determine if there is a buyer’s market with good volume for those items.
4. If you currently have a blog or website, what is it about? Is there room to promote products within it? If so, select items that complement your site/blog.
5. Use sites like commissionjunction, sharasale, and linkshare to search for affiliate programs.
6. Use Google to search for your selected niche products. Review the results and try to locate products. Look for affiliate programs on those sites.
7. Get involved in the affiliate marketing communities and ask other people which affiliate clearinghouses/programs they like the best.
8. Sign Up for several affiliate programs/products. DON’T GO OVERBOARD!
9. This goes without saying, BUT, select the associated programs that have the most traffic and the best commission rate/structure.
10. Deploy your affiliate links via your website, blog, articles, forums, etc. <— more on this later.
11. Optimize your pages/articles for your related affiliate items with current SEO tactics
12. Review your traffic and conversions. Maky any necessary adjustments.
13. Rinse and Repeat…

How To Get Started in Affiliate Marketing – Part 1 from Preston Taylor on Vimeo.

Talk with ya soon,
Preston

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