Monday, February 16, 2009

Transparency and Truth in a Web 2.0 World… How to Build Trust

Utilizing an affiliate marketing strategy in a Web 2.0 world offers many additional opportunities for customers and potential customers. To set yourself apart as an affiliate marketer, you must establish yourself as an expert and potential customers must believe you are credible. Transparency is key to a successful affiliate marketing program. You must be careful to maintain a good reputation online using carefully thought-out strategies, but not manipulative tactics. Being open and above-board with your readers is the best way of establishing credibility. Don’t tell them; show them.

One way to illustrate your expertise and credibility as an affiliate marketer is to create and maintain a blog. Free services, such as blogger.com or wordpress.com, offer you a space to create your own blog with little experience needed. Blogging is one of the most important steps you can take to set yourself apart from other affiliate marketers. Just be sure to set yourself apart in a positive way.

Blogger.com

Blogger.com is a free blogging service. It is run by Google, so if you have a Google email account (Gmail) you can use that username and password to create your blog. If not, you can click on “Create your blog” to get started. You pick your blog name, and consequently your URL. With just a few clicks, you are ready to begin posting new content to your blog. The best way to show your credibility and expertise on your affiliate program is to begin posting about your industry. Set yourself apart as the expert in your affiliate marketing program and the customers will come. You can include links to your products within your blog posts. By establishing an affiliate marketing blog to attract the attention of search engines, you will draw a following of customers.

Wordpress.com

Wordpress.com is another free blogging service and is also quite easy to set up. Similar to blogger.com, you choose your blog title and the URL. In just minutes, you can begin posting original content to grow your affiliate marketing program. By adding unique content, you draw potential customers to your site through search engines. Your growth potential as an affiliate marketer is endless. Just be sure you are building a positive name for yourself because a negative reputation can spread much more quickly.

Search engines are constantly looking for fresh content so building a blog and posting original content will draw a following to your site – and to your affiliate marketing program. Remember that transparency is the key. Blogging allows you to build an actual relationship with your readers. Treat them fairly and they will become your customers. They are you greatest asset. The product you are selling may, and probably will, change over time, but your customers will stay with you and buy repeatedly – if they trust you!

image credits to galleryquantum

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