So, you have a website but now are struggling to take it to the next level. You have probably read about affiliate marketing but are unsure if it is right for your business. The good news is that you are not alone. Basically, an affiliate marketing company is about partnering up with an“affiliate” who in turn, promote your products on their site, and take a commission off the completed sale. There are many different options when shopping for an affiliate network and it is important that you know what to look for before you lay down your credit card.

Every affiliate network will require some sort of financial commitment up front. Do not join a network that makes outlandish promises. These companies tend to require a huge upfront payment upwards of ,000 just to get you into their network. Some talk about how much money you will make and that it is easy to recoup your initial investment. Do not fall into this trap. There is not a guarantee in affiliate marketing so it is best to start small at a lower investment before selling the farm.

Make sure you check into the company before committing to anything and of course perform extensive research. You want to look for low commission rates, organized affiliate marketing programs, and access to the affiliates by phone or email. You will want to choose a network that also provides these services if your company has a limited tech or creative department. At times the services will be included in the package and other times you will have to make an additional investment.

The single most important thing about being successful with affiliate marketing is the landing page. A landing page is a 1 page lead or sales generation tool that users “land on” when they click on your ad or link on your affiliates websites. If your organization doesn’t have the greatest converting site, your landing page should still easily counteract this. Most affiliate marketing businesses will work with you to optimize the landing pages. You will want to build several landing pages and perform some testing and research to see which landing page is working the best. A great way to stir up some ideas is to search online for high converting landing pages. There are tons of sites that talk about what is working and not working on a landing page with examples from a variety of different companies.

If done correctly, affiliate marketing can be a lucrative aspect of your business. Just be mindful that not all affiliate networks and businesses are created equal.

Epicenter Network offers contextual advertising and CPA lead creation through its affiliates and web properties. Find out how Epicenter, an affiliate marketing company, can work with your business.

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