What the marketing experts thought about generating income from affiliate marketing

Simon Hodgkinson: 

The answer here is pretty simple but there are actually three parts to it...

Number one is build a list of prospects you know are interested in what you're planning to promote... Nothing worse than mailing non related offers / promotions to people who don't give a damn they'll just end up hating you! And it's pretty easy to do if you start to segment your lists properly. To bring people in on these lists offer freebies or low price 'entry' products related to the higher ticket items you're going to promote down the line.

So for instance if you're gearing up to promote a high ticket launch for a course on copywriting, dig out some PLR materials on the basics of copywriting and throw up a squeeze page to "get the report for free" or at some crazy low price. All those interested who are on your main list are going to 'digitally' put their hands up and identify themselves by signing-up to download it. (And now you have a better targeted list to hit with your high ticket promos)

Next (I guess this should have been first) is make sure what you decide to promote is quality. Start with the promotion materials, then the sales copy (would you buy it?), then check the order process (could you order it... you'd be suprised how many vendors make buying their stuff harder than Japanese math) - Finally is it a good product. If you don't think that's particularly important, go ahead and promote crap a few times and watch your list fade away into the horizon.

Finally (step 3) offer a bonus... Most marketers are either too lazy to do it or not smart enough to do it. Add value, make the original 'must have' offer even more irresistible to your prospects. Not only will this increase conversion and bring in more commissions for you but it will also set you apart from other affiliates - Get known as the guy (or gal) that always sends relevant info (targeting), promotes quality products and adds value and people will start to buy more from your recommendations.

Sure that's not a simple fix and it takes a little more effort but you'll see your commissions go through the roof when you get rolling with it.