Affiliate Marketing: PayDotCom vs. ClickBank

The decision to employ an affiliate marketing strategy should not be taken lightly. As the stability of the economy remains increasingly unpredictable, many of those trying to find legitimate ways to make money online are adding affiliate marketing strategies to their online marketing plans. As a starting point, examine these affiliate marketing tips for PayDotCom and ClickBank and see if affiliate marketing is for you.

PayDotCom. As a relative newcomer to affiliate marketing programs, PayDotCom has made some improvements over the offerings of ClickBank that may appeal to both seasoned and green affiliate marketers alike. Here are some affiliate marketing tips that offer a sampling of what to expect from PayDotCom:

• Instant payment. Among the products available in the PayDotCom Marketplace, many have an instant payment option. Examine the availability of products that offer instant payment from each sale.

• Choice of product. The PayDotCom Marketplace is the affiliate marketers’ superstore. Similar to its competitors, PayDotCom allows you to search its categories and subcategories for the affiliate product that best suits your customers’ needs. Here are a couple of PayDotCom product highlights:

  • Physical and digital. Unlike its competitors, PayDotCom offers the choice of both physical and digital affiliate products for affiliate marketing.

  • Stat tracking. Using promotion tools, you can track the stats of any and all of your affiliate products.

• Blog Widget. As a registered affiliate, you are provided a PayDotCom widget you add to your affiliate marketing blog. Each time your customers click through your PayDotCom link within your affiliate marketing blog and make a purchase, you earn a commission.

Signing up with PayDotCom is free and simple. As an affiliate, you have the earning potential of up to 80% with PayDotCom sales commissions.

ClickBank. With a longer online history, ClickBank has created a larger affiliate base than its competitors. Check out these ClickBank affiliate marketing tips before finalizing your decision:

• Recurring billing. For those products that become long-term money makers for affiliates, ClickBank uses some affiliate-friendly practices to maximize profits.

  • No monthly fees. Neither initial nor monthly fees are imposed on affiliates.

  • Guaranteed payment. Every sale is accounted for and payment is guaranteed.

• Digital products. Explore the ClickBank Marketplace for products with which you wish to target with your affiliate marketing strategy. Choose your category and your subcategory, sort the results based on popularity, gravity, profit, or more, and you are on your way to success as an affiliate marketer.

• Customer first. Conducting business online does not exempt you from a customer-first mentality. ClickBank provides opportunities to put the customer first and improve you affiliate marketing strategy results.

  • Lower initial price. Attract your customers with an introductory price. You may increase subsequent pricing for recurring billing.

  • Trial period. Offer your customers a maximum of 31 days to sample your product before rebilling occurs.

Whether you choose to sign up with PayDotCom or ClickBank depends upon you specific needs as an affiliate marketer. Regardless of your choice of program, it would behoove you to create and maintain an affiliate marketing blog to direct traffic to your affiliate product.

image credits to the half-blood prince

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