Tuesday, October 10, 2006

20 Things To Check Before Joining Someone Else's "Pay Per Sale" Affiliate Program

Online Home Based Business is the best possible way to earn a decent living online. I have been running my own home business for last couple of years and I must honestly admit that I am doing well at it. In my past 4 years experience of online business, my top money making period started with the beginning of Affiliate/Reseller Programs such as Clickbank and Commission Junction. There were times when I used to hear something like "Earn $1,000 per day from your home" and my reaction would have been "Yeah, yeah another scam artist". But now thanks to places like clickbank, it is really possible to make that amount per day! That’s no more a dream.

If you are thinking that this is bogus and impossible than I do not blame you. People thought the same when some one talked about going on the moon or when someone simply said that the Earth is round! The whole point is in believing and trying to reach out for it. So, if you are really want to make some serious money online then Affiliate Programs are definitely the way to go. You will find more elaborate information about it on my website http://www.profitfrominternet.com/

Here I discuss some serious points that you must absolutely consider before joining or promoting any "Pay Per Sale" (You are paid commission on every sale you make) Affiliate Program.

1. Does the affiliate program offer you a free way to join without buying the product or service?

2. Contact other affiliates already in the program to see if they have had any problems.

3. Is the product or service related to your target audience?

4. Can they notify you by e-mail when a sale is made?

5. Do they offer backend products so you can get repeat sales from the same person?

6. How often will you receive a commission check?

7. Do you get credited for a sale if people come back in month and then make a purchase.

8. Can you get around-the-clock help online or offline? Message Board Support?

9. Do you get a large percentage of each sale as commission?

10. Do they provide you with proven sales material? (Links, banners, classified ads, content, sales letters etc)

11. Will they give you the leeway to create promotional ads?

12. Do they offer you access to an online sales stats page?

13. Do they use a reputable system to track your sales?

14. Does the affiliate program pay commission for sales of people who sign up under you?

15. Can they offer customers a lot of different ordering options, so in return you won't lose sales.

16. Will they keep in contact with you on a regular basis by e-mail?

17. Do they offer datafeeds or web services?

18. How well do they fight scumware?

19. Do they allow you to encrypt the LINK, link in frames, or do a .htaccess redirect?

20. Do they allow you to place your own orders through your own affiliate link?

Although you will never find all the above factors at the same time with a single affiliate program. But according to me the general rule of thumb is if you get any 5 matching points then the program is a sure winner. Just don’t be skeptical like me or you will never know what you can get out of it.