| Affiliate programs have been around for a long time | | | | have to install two separate items: first the base |
| on the Internet. If you know what you're doing and | | | | software package (like WordPress) and then the |
| put in some hard work you can make good money | | | | plugins. While this is not that hard it does pose a |
| by participating in them. One of the programs that is | | | | support problem. The writers of plugins don't make |
| currently getting a lot of attention from affiliate | | | | money directly from you using the plugin. This is nice |
| marketers is the Amazon affiliate program. This | | | | because you don't have to pay anything (nothing |
| program is easy to join but getting your site set up | | | | invested, nothing lost) but it can make support take |
| with a product feed can be complex if you are not a | | | | a long time. If you instead look for a paid "all in one" |
| web coder. | | | | package support is usually included and this can be a |
| Fortunately for those who do not know how to | | | | great help to you. |
| code there is a simple (and cost smart) alternative: | | | | One such package is ProNicheStore. ProNicheStore |
| affiliate marketing software. These packages range | | | | (PNS) was written as an alternative to another |
| from plugins for blogging software (i.e. WordPress) to | | | | popular package called "Build-a-Niche-Store" or BANS. |
| full fledged websites-in-a-box (like ProNicheStore). | | | | PNS has a forum that you can post to even before |
| With either kind you will need your own domain name | | | | purchasing the product and since you are paying for |
| and some web hosting. There are plenty of good | | | | the product you are entitled to receive support |
| articles on the Internet describing how to get these | | | | according to certain conditions. BANS is also a paid |
| items and what selection is available. Network | | | | for product with a forum but the forum isn't as |
| Solutions is a common name for domain registration | | | | active as it once was. PNS is an emerging tool that |
| and HostGator or 1-and-1 are both popular hosting | | | | integrates both Amazon affiliate and eBay affiliate |
| providers. You can purchase domain names through | | | | feeds. BANS only support eBay affiliates. |
| the hosting providers but this can cause problems | | | | PNS is installed on you hosting account and then you |
| later on if you want to change hosting providers | | | | walk through a simple set up process. You will first |
| (usually because you found another host with more | | | | need a MySQL database and you can contact your |
| better features). | | | | hosting company for help in setting this up. Once you |
| You can use free hosting and subdomains (like | | | | are done with the PNS setup process you can begin |
| "myblog.blogspot.com") for affiliate programs but this | | | | creating a "niche store" that uses you Amazon |
| is often not the best solution. It's difficult to attract | | | | affiliate partner code to relate any clicks to you. You |
| web traffic to sites like this and you are limited on | | | | can post content relevant to your market (for |
| what plugins you can use. You also don't get your | | | | example, different golf clubs and how they are used) |
| "own" domain name under typical circumstances. It's | | | | and have pages that list latest product listings from |
| for these reasons (among others) that getting you | | | | Amazon. You can even place ads from other sources |
| own domain name and paid-for hosting is | | | | (like Google) all around your content. The more |
| recommended. | | | | relevant ads and content the better your chances of |
| Once you have a domain name and some hosting | | | | getting a click that ends up in a sale. |
| (either purchased separately or together) you are | | | | Being a successful affiliate marketer takes work, |
| ready to begin building an affiliate site. If you opt for | | | | even when you sign up with the Amazon affiliate |
| using plugins (like WP Amazon Ads or Amazon | | | | program. Some of this work can be cut out by |
| Reloaded for WordPress) you will need to download | | | | finding or purchasing pre-built packages designed to |
| the "base" software that these plugins extend. | | | | interface with various affiliate feeds. While |
| Popular software includes Joomla! and WordPress. | | | | downloading costs you nothing you also get little or |
| Joomla! is a full website package while WordPress is | | | | no support in many cases. Buying a package like |
| intended only for blogging. What you choose here will | | | | ProNicheStore or BANS might cost you a little up |
| be based on what you intend to do with your site. | | | | front but the support you get can be very helpful. |
| Both of these packages along with several others | | | | PNS is a good package for Amazon affiliates while |
| are pretty easy to implement and are well supported. | | | | BANS only supports eBay affiliates. Adding more ads |
| Search for "installing WordPress" or "installing Joomla!" | | | | to your site or using both Amazon and eBay feeds |
| for more information. | | | | can help boost your clicks and your sales. |
| The downside to the above approach is that you | | | | |