Affiliate programs have emerged as a whole new way of making easy, quick money online. If statistics are anything to go by, there have been affiliate programs mushrooming every single day. So what is it about these affiliate programs which make them so irresistible?

Easy money

Affiliate programs function on a very simple concept. The idea is to refer and advertise the affiliate program's products and services. You could have banner ads or links to the affiliate program site on your own blog. Or else you could post articles which talk about general topics related to the affiliate products. Then if a sale happens via your referral, you get a significant commission. The reason this money making tactic is so popular is because you don't need to have any products of your own in order to earn a tidy income online. Just by promoting other people's products, you can be on your way to riches.

Free programs

If you wish to maximize your earning potential, it makes sense to opt for the free affiliate programs online. These do not require you to pay anything to sign up. It helps to join such sites because nothing will eat into your profits in this manner. You could sign up and register on the site for free and then start earning your way to riches.

Incentive packages

Make sure you choose an affiliate program which offers a good incentive package. There are plenty of affiliate programs which even offer you a bonus joining incentive. That means, you get to accumulate funds just by joining a particular program.

Entry criteria

Be sure to check that the affiliate program is not imposing too much of a stringent entry criteria. Most of the time the programs which offer substantial incentives are the ones to lay strict conditions before you can start earning it. You certainly don't want to be kept away from your incentives for too long, do you? Therefore, it is probably a good idea to stick to programs which offer a moderate to high incentive package.

Get your own website

One of the best ways to maximize profits from your affiliate program is by building your own website. Ensure you have a central theme and message on the site. You could have a few products of your own which relate to the theme and content of the site. That way you can search for associated affiliate programs which are relevant to your site content. It also earns you more credibility online as you get portrayed as someone who knows the subject well.

Free traffic sources

You can divert loads of free traffic to your affiliate site by using pay-per-click campaigns. Also ensure you don't use too many highly competitive keywords as that could imply getting lost in the competition. Be sure to stick to a few search engines but the ones which are the most popular. That way you always remain more focused.

Optins

Optins are great ways to consolidate and keep adding to your database of customers. You could have free newsletters on a particular topic of interest. Ask customers to enrol for these. With these mechanisms you get to build on your email list - which can be great to divert traffic to your affiliate program site.

Video clips

You'd be amazed at how much profit a video clip could get you in your affiliate marketing program. Visual imagery has far more effect than textual information. Try making a short video clip of the products you're trying to promote. Use catchy attractive sales copy which will attract more customers to visit the affiliate site.

Know what others are saying

This is crucial if you want to know how popular your affiliate marketing program is. There are plenty of software and post directories which allow you to keep track of what others are saying or writing about your own site or blog.

Know your merchant

Most affiliate marketers presume their affiliate merchants are well known and performing well. Most do not take the time or effort to find out the true picture. It is crucial because you don't want to be associated with a lesser known product. It will decrease your sales and profits.