How To Make Money With Blogs – Part 2
Posted by Mert Erkal on Feb 7, 2009 in Affiliate | 8 comments
In Part 1 of the how to make money with blogs series we take a look at Google Adsense. Now let’s talk about affiliate programs.
Affiliate programs allow bloggers to earn commission when they refer customers to other businesses’. Affiliate marketing offers bloggers the opportunity to earn a steady income by generating sales for some of the Web’s biggest e-commerce sites like Amazon.
Amazon Associates
Amazon Associates is one of the biggest affiliate programs. It is active since 1996. Once you have signed up to be an Amazon affiliate, you can place links to Amazon on your blog which contain your own unique tracking ID. When one of your referrals purchases a product, Amazon pays you a percentage of the sales.
The program enables you to target Amazon products that are likely to be of interest to your readers including books, electronics, kitchenware, etc. Depending on your blog topics there may be at least one product on Amazon that your readers might consider buying which in return you will generate some commission.
How To Use Amazon Affiliate Links
- Write a review of a new product or book, and place an affiliate link within the text that points straight to the product page on Amazon.
- Showcase products on your blog. Your blog’s sidebar is the best place. You may choose a specific product, or use a widget that randomly displays products.
- Take time to look around the Amazon Associates members’ area to see what’s available.
How To Create An Amazon Associates Widget
- Go to http://affiliate-program.amazon.com/join/
- Click on the Apply Now link, and fill out the registration form.
- Log in to the Amazon Associates members‘ area.
- Click on the Build Links/Widgets link under the Tools menu.
- Find the Product Links widget, and click the Add to your Web page button.
- Search for the product you want to sell.
- Click the Get HTML button next to the product you want.
How To Use An Amazon Widget in WordPress
- You can paste the HTML code into a text widget in WordPress.
- You are done!
In the next part I will introduce you some other Affiliate programs and networks.
I haven’t had a lot of luck with Amazon’s affiliate program. The last time I said that I got a check – hold on I have to check to mail
To be honest I haven’t spent a lot of time learning the best ways of using my Amazon affiliate links. I’ve had several niche sites in the past with niche and video templates but I didn’t promote them enough. I am considering taking a few of my parked domains and giving it another shot.
I hate Amazaon Associates! my girlfriend uses it on her blogs, I’ve bought something for Xmas via her AA link …. and she has found it in AA stats a few days before Xmas
but yep, from her side it’s a killer program
I think the best affiliate programmes are for selling digital products. The commission rate is usually at least 50%, with digital products overhead costs are low.
It’s hard to make the Amazon affiliate programme work. Amazon has huge product range and your site must be ideally targeted towards a specific niche, so to make relevent posts requires a lot of hard work.
I do not think that one can make money from blogging more then a real job. It can be a hobby which you can share information. But if it is a part of a complete internet business then it may be OK.
Internet marketing is a really rocket science for non IT geeks. For those who are really an IT freak it’s just a matter of hard work and research.
Thanks for your submission to the Thirty-Seventh edition of the Blog Carnival: Blogging. Your post has been accepted and its live:
http://thatsblog.com/?p=223
-ThatsBlog.com
I am running a very small but interesting Internet marketing business. I used your post as a helping hand for my written assignment on Internet marketing.
Thank you for your valuable sharing. I think the best affiliate programmes are for selling digital products. The commission rate is usually at least 50%, with digital products overhead costs are low. (: I still hate Amazon
Anyway, I wish you good work.