How to Promote Affiliate Products Without a Website

How to Promote Affiliate Products
if You Don't Have a Website
Copyright 2004 Jude Wright

Okay, you want to promote affiliate programs. You have one or two that you are very interested in. But - you don't have your website created yet and you don't even have your own optin-in list. What do you do? Here are a few things you can do before you get your website created.

1. Write articles. Yes, I know. It's like being in school again and learning something for the first time. It's really not all that difficult. Think about the affiliate product that you want to promote. How does that product help the person using it? Now, think of a story of someone who is struggling (with whatever task they're trying to do without the product) and then provide the solution to that problem.

You must be careful, though. If the story sounds like a sales pitch, your article won't be published.

Let's take as an example: Autoresponders. Tell the story about a person trying to send out a message every week manually. Talk about the frustrations. Then, provide the solution by explaining how autoresponders work and why they should be used for that task. But don't mention the autoresponder product you are promoting in the article. That's what the article's Resource Box is for! The resource box will contain a "mini" ad of sorts with a link to your affiliate product's website.

Submit your completed article to article announcement lists, article directories and newsletter publishers.

2. Start your own opt-in list.

The gurus tell you that you must have your own list. Is that difficult? Well, yes and no. There are lists and there are Lists. It's easy to find names and email addresses to add to your list - just buy them from a list broker. However, to get a "responsive" list there are some tasks that must be done.

Before your actually create your own website, you can have a list. Simply use one of the free autoresponder or list server companies that are available, such as:

- FreeAutoBot: http://freeautobot.com
- Get Response: http://getresponse.com
- Yahoo Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com
- Topica: http://topica.com

One of these will get you started until you start making some money and can afford to go "pro." Most free autoresponder options will have ads on top of each message you send out.

When you have your website finished, put a subscription box on every page. You never know where your site visitor will be coming from so you'll want to cover all the bases.

3. Submit free and paid solo, top sponsor, and classified ads to newsletters that are in your affiliate product's niche. Most affiliate marketers are doing this already but are making two major mistakes:

1. They use the "canned" ads that the affiliate program company provides. Re-write the ad in your own style. Make the ad different and unique. For a few minutes of work you will get a much better response.

2. They don't mask the affiliate link. I would say that 90% of the ads that get submitted to my newsletter still have the affiliate ID showing. I have preached this many times but it bears repeating. Mask Your Link! Even if you just use a service like http://tinyurl.com or http://snipurl.com, it will save you from having your affiliate ID ripped off by someone else. Besides, your link will look a lot more professional and will meet the line length guidelines that most publishers require.

The best affiliate marketers have their own domain name and website. But these tips should help you get your start in affiliate marketing.