Why Join Affiliate Programs?

When you are looking for a way to monetize your business, or even start one, why should you consider joining one or more affiliate programs? 

First let’s talk about what an affiliate program is.  Many times in business, when you help another person or company sell a product or service, they will give you a small percentage of the profit.  Basically, you get money for sending the business in their direction, since they would probably have not gotten the business if you hadn’t pointed the customer in that direction.  There are many companies that are more than happy to share their profits with you if you spread the word about their website.  You can become an affiliate of the company, and when someone buys something through your link, you will get a portion of the profits.

Now, you might be thinking…why would I want to help someone else sell a product, when I can make more money if I sell my own?  Here are a few reasons it can be very profitable to join affiliate programs:

• You don’t have to figure out a product to create, or spend the time doing research, designing, and creating the product.  You have already made products right there to promote!
• Many of these companies have spent countless dollars trying to figure out how to best market their products.  This benefits you since many times you can just use their advertising on your sites!  You have the use of these great advertisements without having to spend the time or money to get them created.
• Many affiliate programs are for companies you have heard of before.  Let’s be honest…do you think it will be easier to sell a product you created – when no one has ever heard of you, or a product from Target, Circuit City, Barnes & Noble, etc? 
• You will get many products and companies to promote at just the click of a button!  Then instead of just the one or two products you created, you can promote many products, in any categories you want. 
• It’s an easy way to make money off of a website you already have.  Do you have a site about your favorite hobby?  Well you can join an affiliate program for a company that makes products for your favorite hobby, and put them on your website.  Then, when other people who are passionate about the same hobby come visit your site, they may purchase these products.

It can be very profitable to join an affiliate program.  On Monday I’ll share with you some of the many affiliate programs that exist, and what I think about some of them!