Pay Per Lead

Find out what they determine as a lead. If it is just their email address, and as long as it’s a genuine working email, then it’s likely that you will get paid as all they are asking for is a genuine email. So go to their website and if the form looks a simple one with a two-line form requesting the first name and email then it will be likely that you will get paid something. So as long as it’s a decent amount they are paying, i.e. in excess of 50p or so, you can expect to potentially earn something from promoting their site.

If they determine a lead as someone filling out an eight page contact form asking their age, where they were born, their nickname at school and the size of their inside leg and only deem it to be a proper lead if they can contact the lead within five minutes of the merchant receiving the lead, then it is unlikely you will get paid. If there are too many obstructions to them paying out, like having too many questions or impossible contact times, then forget them. Stay away from these merchants as they are unlikely to pay out and all they want is free leads.

Pay Per Sale

If you are affiliating stuff relevant to your reader then the best test is to ask yourself ‘would I buy it?’. If ‘no’ still ask yourself ‘would I consider buying it under different circumstances?’ like a different price, extra features, etc. If ‘yes’ then consider promoting it. You are the best acid test. If you would consider buying it then it will probably sell. Just because you think it’s expensive or it doesn’t do enough it doesn’t mean that it is not attractive to someone else. Try to be unbiased about it and do not get seduced by the high commission rate. Step back and try to look at it realistically.

Not Using Middlemen Websites

Some merchants (including me!) do not use middlemen websites. This is because they ask for too much of a cut or they simply have too high quality control procedures. In these circumstances you have to deal direct with the merchant themselves. This does not mean you have to speak to them or anything because you can sign up directly on their site. All you have to bear in mind, other than what has been said in this chapter is:

Final Note

Do not go overboard and clutter up your site with a load of affiliate links. Be selective. Go for the ones that convert, pay out and look good. Since you are associating yourself with these websites you need to make sure they’re good ones with good customer support, easy to use, working websites and reliable. You are potentially putting your reputation on the line as you are endorsing their product so choose wisely.

Remember the saying: ‘show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are’.