written on December 4, 2009 –
we are starting a series of articles to help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). in our first instalment, we review affiliate marketing products.
when considering a web-based venture, the first step is to determine what type of internet business is being sought. there are many to choose from. some require complimentary skills like creative writing – copywriting and blogging, for example. others are based on specific aspects of web-based businesses such as list-building, membership sites, marketing tools and techniques, and affiliate sales. depending on what your intentions are, you can assemble one or more of these building blocks to create a custom program suited to the particular needs of your own business. for example, one of our clients found that their online sales were surpassing their in-store sales, we recommended that they exploit their web clientele by developing a membership list in combination with online targeted marketing to boost returning sales and attract new sales to their cleaner and updated site. we also recommended they consider establishing an affiliate partner program and increase their product mix by including other complimentary affiliate products on their site. this provided them with more diverse revenue streams without increasing their overhead cost structure and at the same time, provided a complementary product mix suited to their target market demographic.
after sifting through several scams and non-value added web-based business products, we did uncover some that actually help neophytes get up and running quickly to make money online. we have concluded that features of good products include; money-back guarantees (trial periods), credible earnings forecasts, step-by-step startup instructions, templates, and an elaborate support system comprised of both online and offline support – if you can’t get in touch with someone to ask a question or for help, this is a big red flag!
let’s face it, there are no get rich quick schemes. there are, on the other hand, many successful businesses with internet-based revenue. the key is finding what’s right for your chosen niche.
