The Pros and Cons of Earning Money with Affiliate Programs
| Category: Affiliate Marketing - Basics | Date: 2003-04-28 |
"I dont have a product. I dont even have a product IDEA!"
This is one of the most common concerns I hear from people interested in starting a business on the Internet. Its obvious that you need to sell either a product or a service in order to make money.
Thats where affiliate programs come in. Many beginners start online by joining affiliate programs; you sell another companys product or service for a commission. Affiliate programs are available in practically every market you can think of. If you want to see what I mean, visit http://www.associate-it.com/ to view an extensive list of affiliate programs.
Affiliate programs are a convenient way for people to get a jump-start online without the time, effort, and money necessary to create a product of their own. However, theyre not a perfect solution. Heres a list of the positives and negatives to building an affiliate business...
Negatives to affiliate programs:
- You have to share the profits. You earn a commission, which typically ranges from a measly 5% to a generous 50%. The rest of the money goes into the companys pockets.
- You pay all marketing costs. The company is providing you with a product or service to sell; its your job to actually make the sales. This is no easy task, unless youre a natural-born marketer! You can choose to use only free methods of advertising... but these methods arent necessarily the most effective. Marketing can get expensive -- and you pay for your own marketing, regardless of whether or not it results in any sales.
- You can get sidelined. Building an affiliate business is hard work; if you intend to eventually market a product of your own, you may find that the affiliate program is taking up too much of your time.
- Youre at the mercy of the company. You rely on them to pay you on time - or at all. If they decide to change commission rates (usually to lower them!), you typically have no say, except to cancel your affiliate contract. And finally, if the affiliate program decides to close shop - well, youre simply out of luck.
Positives to affiliate programs:
+ Youre free to concentrate on just one thing: marketing. The affiliate company handles everything else - billing, inventory, delivery, customer service, and all the other stuff that goes with the territory. This is one reason why affiliate programs are so popular; they give you the opportunity learn how to market online without being overwhelmed by everything else.
+ Startup costs are lower than if you had your own product. There are numerous costs associated with the research, development, and delivery of your own product. When you run an affiliate business, the only thing youre responsible for is marketing - and you have the option of using free methods only.
+ You get a head-start while researching product ideas. Affiliate programs allow you to sell a product or service while youre still trying to come up with a product of your own. Thats not to say that theyre an easy way to riches - theyre not - but you can learn how to market while earning an income.
+ Multiple streams of income. A bunch of smaller pay cheques can really add up! Its even better if you already have your own product or service and just want to use affiliate programs to add another stream of income.
Many people from all walks of life make hundreds or even thousands of dollars every month through affiliate programs alone. Affiliate programs arent perfect, but they provide a great option for those who are willing and able to put in the necessary time and effort.
(c) Copyright 2002, Angela Wu
About the Author
Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, an exclusive newsletter for eBusiness beginners. OBB features ongoing tutorials on how to build a profitable Internet business on a shoestring budget. You dont need a million-dollar budget to be successful! Find out how you too can join the thousands quietly earning a living online: http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com/article.html
angela@onlinebusinessbasics.com
http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com/
This is one of the most common concerns I hear from people interested in starting a business on the Internet. Its obvious that you need to sell either a product or a service in order to make money.
Thats where affiliate programs come in. Many beginners start online by joining affiliate programs; you sell another companys product or service for a commission. Affiliate programs are available in practically every market you can think of. If you want to see what I mean, visit http://www.associate-it.com/ to view an extensive list of affiliate programs.
Affiliate programs are a convenient way for people to get a jump-start online without the time, effort, and money necessary to create a product of their own. However, theyre not a perfect solution. Heres a list of the positives and negatives to building an affiliate business...
Negatives to affiliate programs:
- You have to share the profits. You earn a commission, which typically ranges from a measly 5% to a generous 50%. The rest of the money goes into the companys pockets.
- You pay all marketing costs. The company is providing you with a product or service to sell; its your job to actually make the sales. This is no easy task, unless youre a natural-born marketer! You can choose to use only free methods of advertising... but these methods arent necessarily the most effective. Marketing can get expensive -- and you pay for your own marketing, regardless of whether or not it results in any sales.
- You can get sidelined. Building an affiliate business is hard work; if you intend to eventually market a product of your own, you may find that the affiliate program is taking up too much of your time.
- Youre at the mercy of the company. You rely on them to pay you on time - or at all. If they decide to change commission rates (usually to lower them!), you typically have no say, except to cancel your affiliate contract. And finally, if the affiliate program decides to close shop - well, youre simply out of luck.
Positives to affiliate programs:
+ Youre free to concentrate on just one thing: marketing. The affiliate company handles everything else - billing, inventory, delivery, customer service, and all the other stuff that goes with the territory. This is one reason why affiliate programs are so popular; they give you the opportunity learn how to market online without being overwhelmed by everything else.
+ Startup costs are lower than if you had your own product. There are numerous costs associated with the research, development, and delivery of your own product. When you run an affiliate business, the only thing youre responsible for is marketing - and you have the option of using free methods only.
+ You get a head-start while researching product ideas. Affiliate programs allow you to sell a product or service while youre still trying to come up with a product of your own. Thats not to say that theyre an easy way to riches - theyre not - but you can learn how to market while earning an income.
+ Multiple streams of income. A bunch of smaller pay cheques can really add up! Its even better if you already have your own product or service and just want to use affiliate programs to add another stream of income.
Many people from all walks of life make hundreds or even thousands of dollars every month through affiliate programs alone. Affiliate programs arent perfect, but they provide a great option for those who are willing and able to put in the necessary time and effort.
(c) Copyright 2002, Angela Wu
About the Author
Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, an exclusive newsletter for eBusiness beginners. OBB features ongoing tutorials on how to build a profitable Internet business on a shoestring budget. You dont need a million-dollar budget to be successful! Find out how you too can join the thousands quietly earning a living online: http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com/article.html
angela@onlinebusinessbasics.com
http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com/
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