More than ever, there is often something missing in affiliate marketing–the marketing!
Value-driven information about the product is the secret ingredient that helps some affiliates deliver quality results and bigger commissions. By forging the link between the consumer and the product, smart affiliates help create long-term value and profitable partnerships.
How can you use marketing to increase your profits? Follow the examples of super-affiliates who put marketing back into affiliate marketing.
Jim Kukral – the Flip Monger.
Jim is a great example. Featured in the first issue of FeedFront Magazine, he leads the way in using video to provide content that actually “markets” Flip cameras to the world.
I don’t own a Flip. But if and when I do, I’ll certainly credit that purchase to one man: Jim. Now here is an example of a true affiliate MARKETER.
He has created many sites such as thedailyflip.com and onlinevideotoolkit.com, written hundreds of posts, and posted tons of videos all about the Flip camera.
He is marketing their product because he either really believes in it – or does a very good job pretending that he does.
Real Stories Versus Spam.
I recently took a trip to Hawaii. I stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Waikiki, enjoyed local restaurants, and visited nearby attractions.
My family loved it. We were crazy about Waimea Bay and the cliff we all jumped off, the perfect sand, awesome views, and the sea turtle that swam along side of us. Great family fun!
Now, I’m fired up to do affiliate marketing based on my experience–blogging, photo galleries, videos, articles, and reviews.
See, marketing isn’t hard–you simply promote things, places, services you love, need, or seek (or you do a really good job of pretending).
Giving Marketing Back it’s Groove
Building valuable content that drives results takes effort. Don’t waste effort on shallow sites that waste visitors’ time. Instead, take the time to convey your passion about a subject.
Make the site look great, include pictures of your own use of the product, and don’t forget to write, write, and write some more about it.
Google loves finding real content, and will reward you with traffic when it sees lots of unique valuable information.
Google can be an affiliate’s best, or worst, friend. Help the consumer imagine themselves using the product. Go crazy, the possibilities are endless.
As Kevin Webster of 72kilowatts.com recently wrote in a related ABestWeb Forum post, “What have YOU done to put value into a click today?”
Remember, the way to put marketing back into affiliate marketing is to be great at creating relevant content that actually sells the products you feature. It’s the smartest way to become a part of the super affiliate elite.
You’ll have passion about what you do, and be justified earning all those big commission checks many companies are dying to send you!
Mark Olsen is the Senior Affiliate Manager at SchoolClick.com
Download issue 2 of FeedFront at http://feedfront.com/feedfront-issue2.pdf
Articles from issue 2 of FeedFront will also be posted at http://feedfront.com/archives/category/issue-2/
