There are plenty of places where we can read about an affiliate marketing business.  Unfortunately, it is much harder to find someone to do the actual difficult work for you.  Well, I may not have found that elusive source of free labor, but I have discovered what I think is the next best thing.

I do affiliate marketing, although I also sell my own information products and physical products.  I use websites and blogs for all of my online business activities.  I rely quite heavily on search engine optimization (SEO) to secure traffic, but that is a long term strategy.  In some cases, I have used PPC for affiliate products with success, but more often I am lucky to break even. 

Consequently, like many in affiliate marketing, increasing traffic at a reasonable cost is one of my most vexing challenges.  It is particularly difficult for those times when I discover a new affiliate product but for which none of my sites are well optimized.  How do I send my traffic to the vendor’s site?

My approach to directing traffic to the vendor’s site is just like many other affiliate marketers, I take them first to my own site, where I ply my skills of subtle persuasion.  Then I just hope that I have been sufficiently convincing to get them to click the link that directs them to the vendor’s site so that I have some small chance of earning my commission.  I have always wished that I could cut out part of the middle of that process.

I use content syndication for all of my sites.  While I get some traffic directly from the articles, my primary reason for article marketing is its SEO value, which is considerable.  There are two major problems with the traditional approach to article marketing, especially for the affiliate marketer.  First, the major article directories don’t allow contextual links within the body of the articles.  Typically, the links are isolated below the article itself in a sort of no man’s land called the author’s box or the resource box.  The second big problem, maybe the biggest of all, is that the top ranking article directories all refuse to permit affiliate links even in those little boxes.

Finally, there is an article distribution service that solves those two problems and allows direct linking using our affiliate links which can be placed contextually within the article.  Yes, you will be able to join the affiliate program of the amazing My Article Network once you become a member of the service.

My Article Network is like a consortium for article marketers and content publishers.  (That link will let you know what I have to say about it on one of my sites.) 

It would be smart of me to let the sales page of My Article Network speak for itself.  I’ve been using it for less than two months, and I am a complete convert to the system.  I joined it for the article distribution, but I became so enthused that I set up four new blogs to take advantage of the free content in some of my niches.  (Go ahead.  Click the link, you know you want to.)(Do it!  You know you want to click the link.  Come on…don’t you think I deserve it?

Technorati Tags: affiliate marketer, Affiliate Marketing, almost free traffic, Article Marketing, cheap traffic, my article network, myarticlenetwork, traffic

There are lots of good sources that can tell you a great deal about how to establish an affiliate marketing business.  Unfortunately, it is much harder to find someone to do the actual difficult work for you.  Well, I haven’t quite solved that problem for you, but I have discovered what I think is the next best thing.

I sell my own digital and physical products, but a sizeable chunk of my income still comes from affiliate marketing, where I began.  My online business is made up of a number of traditional sites and blogs.  I rely quite heavily on search engine optimization (SEO) to secure traffic, but that is a long term strategy.  For some of my affiliate marketing, I have tried PPC, but rarely have I had success over the long haul. 

Consequently, like many in affiliate marketing, increasing traffic at a reasonable cost is one of my most vexing challenges.  Especially difficult are those times when I have to pass on a new affiliate opportunity because none of my websites are optimized to bring in targeted traffic for the product, so I face the age old question:  How do I get the visitors to the vendor’s site with my embedded affiliate link?

I use the same, standard approach that most of you reading this use; I take them first to my own site, where I ply my skills of subtle persuasion.  I hope they’ll click the link that will take them to the spot where they might actually buy the product that will earn me my pittance.  I have always wished that I could cut out part of the middle of that process.

I use content syndication for all of my sites.  While I get some traffic directly from the articles, my primary reason for article marketing is its SEO value, which is considerable.  However, especially for an affiliate marketer, there are two major problems with traditional article marketing.  The first of those problems is that the top tier directories that publish and distribute articles do not allow links within the body of the article, contextual linking.  Instead the links stand alone in a section that they call the author’s resource box, but which screams, “Commercial!” to our readers.  Second, the major article directories do not allow affiliate links or even links to redirected pages or domains.

Finally, there is an article distribution service that solves those two problems and allows direct linking using our affiliate links which can be placed contextually within the article.  Yes, you will be able to join the affiliate program of the amazing My Article Network once you become a member of the service.

My Article Network is like a consortium for article marketers and content publishers.  (The link goes to some specific information about My Article Network on one of my sites.) 

It would be wise for me to let the sales page of My Article Network persuade you on its own.  I’ve been using it for less than two months, and I am a complete convert to the system.  In fact, I even set up four new niche blogs to make use of the free content that my colleagues provide.  {(Go ahead.  Click the link, you know you want to.)(Do it!  You know you want to click the link.  Come on…don’t you think I deserve it?}

Technorati Tags: affiliate marketer, Affiliate Marketing, almost free traffic, Article Marketing, cheap traffic, my article network, myarticlenetwork, traffic