Are You Guilty of Affiliate Greed?

Drumming your fingers on the desk, you impatiently wait for the web page to load. Finally! After an agonizing five- minute wait it's done.

And what do you see? Links to dozens of products, from cyber-dating services to Internet marketing books that claim to make you $10,000 in 2 weeks, to all-natural pet shampoo, to the miracle herbal weight-loss remedy that will let you lose 20 lbs in a week without dieting or exercise! You're in consumer heaven! Or are you?

More than likely you're going to surf away - if you haven't already done so after being forced to wait for what seems like HOURS for the web page to load.

Entrepreneurs entering the world of eCommerce have been told that "multiple streams of income" is the best way to make a decent income online. That's true, BUT ...

... You have to *target* your market. People surfing the web are looking for information on a particular topic [note: I said they're looking for *information*, not necessarily for *products*]. If you're looking specifically for information on how to care for the iris in your garden, you probably won't be especially receptive to offers for the Ultimate Cheese Grater for a mere $12.99 (plus shipping and handling).

On the other hand, offers for gardening tools and specialized fertilizers may catch your eye.

You can still create multiple streams of income. Just group together all the similar products (eg. products of interest to one particular target audience) on one website. Group together others that go well together and promote them on yet other websites.

Only select a few of the best products to offer on each website. By limiting the choices, you will be helping your visitors focus on only those products that are of interest to them. Create a website that's high in relevant content (people are looking for *information*, remember?), quick to load, attractive, and well-written. The result? More affiliate sales.

Remember that "more products" isn't necessarily "better". By all means, create multiple streams of income - just be sure that you do so in a focused manner, by targeting your audience and selecting the best products you can.

This article may be reprinted on your website or in your opt-in newsletter, provided that it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification, and the following resource box is left intact:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angela operates the Online Business Basics website, which offers free marketing tips and articles for beginners to the 'net. Visit www.onlinebusinessbasics.com for more tips on how to effectively market your business on a limited budget.

Originally published February, 2002