It is probably the number one question of the Internet Age. Are there real ways to make money online?
The US and World economies have changed forever in the instantaneous information rich world that is fueled by the Internet. So many people that used to count on regular income from jobs that you used to hold onto for life are struggling.
As they search for answers, one place these individuals look is how to make money online. A quick search online can lead one to a dizzying, almost overwhelming number of online money making opportunities. But, how do you know which ones are real ways to make money online?
And, what do you need to know to have making money online be a reality for you? Where do you even get started?
One of the most proven, achievable and real ways to make money online is through affiliate marketing. You can earn commissions through marketing and promoting someone ele’s product as an independent affiliate.
In other words, you do not work for the company that produces the product or service in any sort of direct marketing or sales capacity. Instead, the company is willing to pay you a commission, think of it as a referral fee, whenever someone purchases that product because of your promotional efforts.
Affiliate marketing is a powerful business model for both the company with a product to sell as well as affliate marketer who will promote it in exchange for a commission percentage of the sale. It is a proven, achievable, and real way to make money online because the company with the product only has to pay you once a sale is made.
It is a real and achievable way for you because you don’t have to create anything or set up a web site to sell the product. Your focus is on how to promote the product and drive Internet traffic through your unique affiliate Internet address. And, it is possible for you to get started making money without needing to have a website, an email list, or a bunch of technical Internet skills.
Here is the basic process and what to look for along the way.
Find a reputable company and product to promote. This is where a little research can certainly go a long way. You will want to find a product or service that people actually want to help them solve a nagging problem, issue or challenge. This could be topics like real ways to make money online, weight loss, or relationship advice. The best advice here is to find something you are intensely interested in or know a lot about.
And, you want to be sure you check out the creators behind the product. Do they have real credibility online or do they appear to just be pushing a ‘too good to be true’ product? Your success as an affiliate will be much greater if you are working with those who have a reputation of success online.
In addition to a reputable company and product, you want to be sure the commission plan makes sense. Affliate marketing commission plans can vary greatly so you want to make sure you are earning a fair commission for the effort in promoting any product.
Now that you have an affiliate product to promote, you need to have a marketing and promotion plan. There are a number of effective, low and no-cost ways to market affiliate products online including blogging, article marketing, video marketing, and social media marketing. None of these methods are terribly complex, but do require some regular and consistent effort to make them work.
One of the great aspects of the Internet is that these efforts can be done in your spare time at night or on weekends if that is all you have available. The Internet is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is always someone online searching for information and answers for their nagging problems, issues and challenges.
Effective affiliate marketing is best achieved by creating interesting, useful, and helpful content that can help answer questions. It is a proven indirect way of promoting the actual product. Once someone consumes that content, they become more likely to click on a link that leads them to the product you are promoting.
Is this something that everyone can do. Well, probably not. The opportunity existe equally for everyone, but for many people it is a matter of follow through. Affiliate marketing is absolutely one of the real ways to make money online. In fact, it is probably one of the easiest ways for anyone to start making money online. But, it will take commitment and work.