AFFILIATES - STEP-BY-STEP SECRETS TO STARTING AN E-COMMERCE STORE

37. Affiliates
 
Affiliate programmes are networks where a Merchant or Advertiser who wishes to market their product further pays an affiliate Publisher a commission (usually a percentage of the sale) for any sale generated from the publisher’s website or blog. If you are the Merchant/Advertiser you can have your products placed in a publication which can generate direct sales.
 
The affiliate website has software that places a link tracking online transaction.
 
These Publishers publications often help get the message of your product/service out there by:

• Product Integrations in their Shop or publication 

• Exclusive e-commerce Articles 

• Inclusions in Thematic E-commerce Articles
• Email Newsletter and Social Promotions 


 
 
A publisher will join an affiliate network program to make commissions by recommending products
affiliate programs to join in standard categories like web hosting, website builders, VPNs, travel, finance, fashion, beauty, and fitness.
 
Affiliate networks (eg Rakuten (formerly known as LinkShare), AWIN, Sharesale, Skimlinks, Amazon Services LLC Associates Program) connect Publishers and merchant/Advertisers and provide tracking technology to record when a sale has taken place that derived from the Publishers link. f you click on one of these links, the URL contains an ID code that identifies product links from the Publisher’s website. Joining a network is usually free to the Publisher and the Advertisers pay a set-up fee, monthly and/or percentage fee of their sales depending on the affiliate scheme.