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Understanding Affiliate Commissions

Now that you have decided to become an affiliate marketer your next step is to search out affiliate programs to join. There are lots of affiliate programs and one consideration to make when selecting them is to see what type of commissions they offer.

An affiliate commission is the payment you receive for sending a buyer to a certain website via your affiliate link. After the sale has been made you will be notified that you have earned a commission.

The thing about commission rates is that they vary. Some affiliate programs can offer as much as 75% while others such as the Amazon program pays out less than $10%.

When looking at commissions you need to take the actual product into consideration as well. If you are promoting a high ticket price such as a diamond ring or necklace then a 10% can still mean a nice pay day! But if you are only going to earn 4% on a $5 ebook then you have to determine if your effort is going to be worth the paycheck!

If you were to promote internet marketing products on a site like JV Zoo, then you can expect to earn higher commission rates. Plus the added advantage is that you can get paid instantly, which is always a nice benefit. The thing to remember with this type of product is that they are often only on sale for a week or so and then disappear from the marketplace. So unless you change your links they will point to a dead link.

If you are looking for longer term products to promote then look at the programs offered by sites such as CJ Affiliate, Amazon and Clickbank. You can find specific programs to promote such as car seats, yoga equipment, running shoes, lawn mowers and more.

Another aspect to look for when it comes to commissions is to see if they offer a two tier commission structure. A two tier network is when you, as the affiliate, get other affiliates to join the company's program. Then each time one of your referred affiliates get paid, you earn another commission. This can be a great way to add to your monthly affiliate commissions, so it is worth seeing if this option is available or not.

Some companies will actually increase your commission rate by your performance level. If you can demonstrate that you can send them lots of new customers they will be happy to reward you.

Even if they don't offer this it never hurts to ask, they will most likely be happy to reward top affiliates.

How to Set Up an Affiliate Site

Once you have selected the type of products you want to promote as an affiliate, your next step is to set up your website. While this is not really difficult, it can be a little confusing for the first timer. Let's take a look at how to easily set up your affiliate website so you can start promoting with your affiliate links.

In this example we will cover setting up an affiliate site for weight loss supplements.

Step One: Purchase a related domain name for this site along with hosting. This could be something like New Weight Loss Supplements, Weight Loss Supplements Reviewed or Buy Weight Loss Supplements.

Step Two: Install Wordpress on your site then choose an appropriate theme. You can use images from free photo sites to create a header. The basic Wordpress theme is also great for beginners and you can switch themes later on if you like.

Step Three: Sign up as an affiliate for the products or program you wish to promote. Market Health or Sell Health would be good choices here.

Step Four: Create pages on your site including a blog page, contact us page, product reviews and privacy pages. Refer to your affiliate program to ensure you abide by their terms and conditions.

Step Five: Create content for your website. This includes writing blog posts and articles about the supplements. Check the affiliate program to see if they have samples that you could use. Don't just copy the articles try to rewrite them and add your own thoughts and opinions to them.

Step Six: Add your affiliate link into your articles and posts.

Step Seven: Write product reviews pertaining to each product and include any images from the main website. Link the images with your affiliate link too.

Step Eight: Create general posts on your pages about the benefits of taking supplements, the best supplements, the worst supplements etc. This way you are providing readers with lots of facts and figures about weight loss supplements in general

Step Nine: Start promoting your site across your social media sites as well as via bookmarking sites.

Step Ten: Create product review videos and upload them to YouTube as well as embedding them into your website.

Step Eleven: Consider adding an Opt In form to your site to create your own mailing list. This way if the product suddenly stops being sold you still have access to your customers. Then it is just a matter of promoting a different supplement.

Step Twelve: Your website is never finished, continue adding new reviews and information. This keeps your readers coming back and it helps to increase your website rankings with the search engines.

How to Set Up an Affiliate Site

Once you have selected the type of products you want to promote as an affiliate, your next step is to set up your website. While this is not really difficult, it can be a little confusing for the first timer. Let's take a look at how to easily set up your affiliate website so you can start promoting with your affiliate links.

In this example we will cover setting up an affiliate site for weight loss supplements.

Step One: Purchase a related domain name for this site along with hosting. This could be something like New Weight Loss Supplements, Weight Loss Supplements Reviewed or Buy Weight Loss Supplements.

Step Two: Install Wordpress on your site then choose an appropriate theme. You can use images from free photo sites to create a header. The basic Wordpress theme is also great for beginners and you can switch themes later on if you like.

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Why use Webinars for your Business

Have you been considering using webinars for your business, but still feel confused? Not to worry, many marketers feel the same way. While you may realize that using webinars can really boost your business, the thought of presenting a webinar can be totally frightening.

Before deciding one way or the other, you should look at both sides of the webinar scenario. The benefits and the disadvantages. Let's start with the disadvantages.

The main issue for any business owner not to hold their own webinars boils down to three main things.

Be scared of running one

Costs associated with webinar software

Not knowing how to use the software

The main objections of not knowing how to run one and being scared of doing one are common fears. Both of these will disappear quite quickly. Once you have access to the software you can easily learn how to use it. After you have held your first webinar your confidence level will increase and you will look forward to holding your next one.

The money issue can be a deterrent for many people too. Some of the popular webinar platforms such as Go to Webinar, can be expensive and out of the reach of many small business owners. It is possible now to use Google Hangouts to run webinars and this will not cost you anything.

Now to the benefits of why you should hold webinars.

Great way to connect with people regardless of location

More cost effective than travelling to different parts of the country or world

Webinars can be recorded and the recording can be given to attendees

Perfect for coaching businesses

Many platforms allow you to show attendees slide presentations

Great vessel for teaching as well as training

One of the biggest advantages has to be that of reducing travel time to events and seminars. Some webinar platforms are capable of handling 500 or more attendees at one time. So your potential reach to your audience is huge.

Having the ability to show slides and hold presentations means that a webinar can become a learning tool very easily. It is often much easier to show people visually than try to explain concepts to them.

Another benefit of holding webinars is that you can literally hold a quick webinar or meeting at any time. If something comes up and you need to connect with other employees, you simply schedule a webinar meeting.

Hopefully you can now see why running webinars can be advantageous for you.

The Best Ways to Promote Your Webinar

If you do any type of online marketing there is one common issue that runs across all niches and businesses. That is how to effectively promote your products, sites, webinars etc. online. You can set up as many webinars as you like, but without attendees you are dead in the water.

Use the following tips to help you promote your webinar and achieve the best results possible.

Social Media

Make use of all of your social media sites and advertise your webinar. This should start at least 10 days before your expected webinar date. Keep in mind that while a lot of people may register, only about 25% of them will actually show up. This is why it is a good idea to send out the replay link to everyone.

On some social media sites you can create an Event and then invite people to your webinar. If you are running your webinar via Google Hangouts, then advertise your webinar on their Communities page.

You can also share events on Eventbrite, send out an email to your connections on LinkedIn and Tweet your event out.

Affiliates

If your main goal for holding webinars is to sell products then you should set up an affiliate program. Getting affiliates to promote your webinar will save you time and effort. Plus you are getting access into new markets.

To promote by using affiliates you have to set up a program where the affiliate will receive a commission for each person they refer that purchases your product. This could be anywhere from 25% and up. Remember that commission amounts act as incentives, so the higher the commission rate the more time and effort the affiliate will put into promoting your webinar.

You can set up an affiliate program in different ways. This includes using JV Zoo for internet marketing related products and Clickbank. Or you can use a specific affiliate software platform. Popular choices include Amember and I Dev Affiliate.

Video Marketing

Promoting via videos is also an excellent choice. Good videos can rank high in Google and provide you with lots of extra exposure. Just remember to add the sign up link to your webinar in your description. Or send them to a specific page on your website for this purpose.

As you can see you have lots of choices when it comes to promoting your webinar. Using social media and affiliates are the top two that we highly recommend you use. They are both a wonderful way at getting your event notice out there.

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Key Components of an Online Coaching Program

There are several key components that should be included with any online coaching program. Continue reading to discover what they are and then ensure that you add these elements into your own coaching program.

The first set of components are based around marketing your business.

Who Is Your Client - before you can attract clients you need to know what type of client you are looking for. Then you can spend time marketing to this particular group. Write down all the characteristics that you want your clients to possess. Are they from a certain ethnic group, age, income bracket for example?

Positioning Your Program - this includes making your coaching program attractive so clients want to join. Most clients have a problem they are looking to solve, so use this when you position and market your business. Another key element here is to outline your program for your clients. This way they know exactly what they are getting in return for their money. This includes tools used, what formats your content is delivered in and more.

Now we will move onto the components for your actual program.

Your Packages - you should clearly outline the details of your coaching program including how it is delivered. Will you be using workshops, webinars, work books or video and audio files? If you have different packages at various price points then put this on your sales pages.

Sign Up Process - you need to have an easy to use sign up system for your students. You may wish to offer new students a complimentary consultation first. This way you can both ensure that you will be happy working together. This can also help to build excitement in prospective students. After your consultation they will be eager to hit that buy button!

Test your sales process in advance to make sure it works. Make it easy for your students to make their payment. They should then be directed to a page where they either create a membership account or are told to check their email for further instructions. Have clear instructions for how to contact you as needed. Of course you may have to answer lots of additional questions before someone enrolls in your program. You may wish to set up a Frequently Asked Questions page on your website for this purpose.

Marketing System - even if you get lots of new students immediately. You want to have a marketing system in place for securing students on a regular basis. This includes making use of social media sites, joining forums for coaches and reading blogs to stay up to date on coaching methods for your field.

Questions to Ask a Prospective Coach

When hiring an online coach you are going to be shelling out some good cash. Because of this you should have a list of questions to ask them. Your prospective coach probably has their own set of questions for you, so why not do the same? Here are some typical questions you might like to use.

How many years have you been coaching?

How many students do you coach each year?

Are your coaching session's group based or individual sessions?

Did you take an accredited coaching program?

Are your coaching credentials up to date?

What type of businesses do you usually work with?

What type of people do you coach, business professionals only or other?

Do you have former students that I can contact?

How many sessions of coaching will I get per week?

What is the main reason why I should hire you?

Not all coaches will have certification, it really depends upon the area of coaching you are looking for. If the coaching is health related, then the coach should have some form of accreditation.

If you are looking for coaching to do with online marketing or setting up a business. Then no courses are necessary, but you would want to see some type of proof. If the coach offers selfpublishing programs then it only makes sense that they would have books published. If they don't, they you should be wary about using them.

It is important not to settle for the first coach you come across. Ideally you want to interview at least three different coaches. Always ask them for references.

Your coach will be working with you on a personal level and this is why it is important that you feel some type of connection with them. This will be very important if you have to have in-depth and possibly emotionally based conversations. If you feel that you can't open up with them, your money is going to be wasted.

Any prospective coach is going to want to know your reasons for hiring a coach. Make sure your objectives and goals are clear, write them out in depth so you can explain them clearly.

Working with a coach is a two-way street. You need to know what to expect and you must be willing to take criticism as well as advice. Sometimes growing internally involves hearing things you really don't want to.

Serving Your Online Coaching Clients

Now that you have the outline of your coaching program in place, do you know how you are going to serve your clients? What we mean by this is do you know how to actually deliver your coaching program?

When it comes to delivering content to your online students you do have several choices. You may still prefer to offer coaching that is done over the phone or via Skype. What some coaches like to do is offer the first session in this manner and then follow up with online tutorials. So how would you set this up?

One of the easiest ways to deliver coaching content is by emailing it to them. With free services such as Yahoo or Gmail the minute you add an attachment you can run into delivery issues.

A good solution to this is to set up either a membership type of software or use an autoresponder service such as Aweber. There are differences between the two that you will need to take into consideration.

Membership software often has the added benefit of being a shopping cart as well. So you instantly have a way for your clients to pay you, once the payment is received the software creates an account. The student logs in and has access to all the available content. You can even set this up so that new content is delivered on a weekly or monthly basis.

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Read this Before Signing Up for Web Hosting

When signing up for a new web hosting account there are a few things you should be aware of. These include those small details that aren't included on any sales pages.

When first signing up you may be tempted by the low prices that are offered over the long term. This may include signing up for a one year deal or more. While this option may sound great, what happens if you have problems in the first few months? Does the company offer a refund? Many do not so this is something to be cautious with. Your best bet may be to try out the company first and then sign up for a longer term offer when you are completely satisfied.

Unlimited bandwidth does not really mean unlimited. Most hosting packages are run on shared servers. This means that your site has to share resources with a ton of other sites. If one site uses too many resources it can cause all of the sites to go down.

One reason for this is sites that use too much CPU usage. If your site goes over a certain limit, the hosting company will suspend all of your sites. Some companies do this without any warning. One morning you will discover that all of your sites are offline.

It is important to know what your limits are and to pay attention to what scripts and software you are using on your site. Basically this means not uploading and activating all those latest and greatest programs and software. Especially when you never get around to actually using them. Just leaving those running can eat into your CPU limits.

If you purchased your web hosting during a special offer, check what your prices will be when the offer has expired. Sometimes a low upfront offer may lead to a much higher price after your trial period has expired. This is similar to buying a new domain name. You can often pick a new domain up for a couple of dollars, however when it comes time to renew it the cost has jumped to $15 or more.

Another word of caution is to look at what type of scripts are included in your package. Some companies will charge you extra if you decide you want a certain application installed.

Before signing on that dotted line, ensure that you understand what you are getting for your money. Ask questions on any area that you are not clear on.

Web Hosting General Features

Selecting a web host is not always as easy as it seems to be at first glance. When you start looking through the various websites you will see all kinds of features being offered. While some may be self-explanatory others may not be. This article will provide you with a quick overview of some of the most common features that web hosting companies offer today.

The two main features you will see are Disk Space and Bandwidth. Bandwidth simply refers to the amount of data that is transferred from your website to the server over the course of the month.

Disk Space refers to the amount of space the hosting company provides for your site.

Databases are essential as a way to access and retrieve data, the most common one is the MySQL Database. Look for unlimited when it comes to this feature.

Domains - this feature refers to the number of domains you are allowed to host. This can range from just one to unlimited. Choosing a larger plan allows for future growth but will ultimately increase your monthly payment. If you are just starting out selecting a plan with one domain may be sufficient.

Another feature will be the Control Panel, this is often referred to as C Panel and will work a little differently depending upon your web host. Your C Panel allows you to control all aspects of your site. From installing your domain, creating sub-domains, managing email address and installing software and plugins.

Some hosting companies offer a Website builder which will help you get your site up and running. This may or may not be something that you need. If you are planning on running your site on the Word Press platform, it is an un-necessary feature.

1 Click Installs allows you to add platforms, such as Word Press, to your site in literally just one click. This helps to reduce any need for programming on your sites.

Another popular feature is that of the Shopping Cart one, especially if you don't want to use a third party script. Ecommerce sites require some type of shopping cart so check that the hosting company can support your chosen one.

As you research the topic of web hosting in more depth you will start to see a common thread in some of these features. Think about what your future plans are for your website and then select a plan accordingly. It is much better to upgrade your plan within your hosting company than to have to go through the hassle of moving to a new company down the road.

Tips for Choosing a Web Host

At one time you may have not put much thought who you chose as your web hosting company. In recent months this has all changed. As you may have seen companies such as Hostgator have been experiencing tons of outages and down time. This has seriously impacted their performance and reliability issues. It also leaves the question about just who you should use when it comes to choosing a web host.

There are several things that you will want to consider before making your final decision. Items that are important include:

The type of website you are planning on hosting: business, personal, ecommerce

How many websites you want to host

Any special scripts or software that you need to use

Price point

Location of servers - this can have an impact on customer downloads

How many uploads and downloads you expect to do per month

Amount of traffic to your site

The most important factors include knowing how many websites you will be hosting, your business type and any special requirements for scripts. For example if you are planning on just hosting a personal blog you will need less bandwidth than someone who wants to run an ecommerce site.

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So, you've decided that you could benefit from developing an app. That's great! Now you just need to figure out what it should do. Obviously, this is very much dependent on what kind of business you have, so instead of listing general app ideas, here are a few thoughts on how to make your app an extension of your business.

Make your core offering as easy and slipstreamed as possible

Unless you're building an app strictly for marketing purposes, your primary goal is probably to get app users to buy something from you, make a reservation or otherwise conduct a commercial transaction. Perfecting this feature is where you should spend most of your effort, since this is what will make eventually make you money. Think Amazon's "1-click checkout" - it doesn't get more easy and slipstreamed than that!

You should require as little user input as possible. Anything that can be stored for later use, like addresses or account details, should only have to be entered the first time they run the app (unless the user specifically chooses otherwise).

Integrate with their life

Again, this is dependent on the type of business you have, but if you can make the user's life easier in any way by integrating with their contacts, camera, calendar, e-mail or anything else, do it! This is exactly why they're using an app instead of going to a website. Going back to the yoga class example, you could have their scheduled class show up in the calendar automatically. It's just a small detail that makes their life a little easier.

Offer value-adding features

This one is harder to define, but generally means offering something useful beyond the core functionality. Continuing with the yoga class example, they could offer a calendar with daily yoga exercises the user can do at home, or assemble a collection of healthy recipes suitable for the yoga lifestyle. Again, it may be a good idea to survey users before actually building out something, to make sure the idea is solid.

Encourage easy sharing

Just as a few well-placed sharing buttons can work well on a website, so can sharing features in apps. Generally it's best to require active sharing, and not sneakily try to do it behind the scenes (like posting to the user's timeline on Facebook - even if the app technically does have permission to do so).

Start small

Don't try to build out a ton of features right from the start, before you've seen that there actually is a demand for your app. Focus on the core functionality to begin with, and then gradually expand on it.

Outsourcing app development

Before you embark on the long journey that is app development, you should make sure you understand every part of it from idea to finished product. Flere's how the general process works:

Run your idea by customers, friends & family

You need to be 100% sure this is something you want to do, and that there is a demand for the app you're thinking about developing. Outsourcing development is a long process, and even if you hire the cheapest programmer(s) you can find, it will still cost quite a bit. Also, remember that sometimes people prefer telling you what you want to hear over what they really think, so keep that in mind as you're asking around.

Draw up your requirements and specifications

Once you've decided to push on ahead with the app project, you need to sit down and draw up a plan. Even if you're not technically minded, try to write down exactly how you want the app to work, what it should be able to do, and what it shouldn't do. The more detail you can put into it, the less unexpected problems you'll run into during development.

You should also start thinking about how you want the user interface to look. It may be a good idea to look at similar apps, and write down what you like and dislike about their interface.

Find a developer

There are a few different routes you can take here. If your app is very simple, you may get the best bang for your buck on one of the online freelancing sites. Not that there aren't talented developers there, but if you're looking for something complex with a larger scope, you may want to seek out and talk to a larger firm that specializes in app development. Usually they have more experience and more professional processes than individual freelancers.

You can, of course, also try your luck on Craigslist, or ask around locally. Some people prefer working with someone local that they can talk to, while others welcome the savings that outsourcing it online often bring.

Whatever you choose to do, make sure you show the developer the specifications you've drawn up previously, and get them to provide their thoughts on it. Most likely a good developer will have a few suggestions - if they've got nothing at all to say about your plan you should probably move on to someone else! You want a developer who takes an active role in the whole process and thinks for himself, not someone who'll just blindly follow the plan.

Also, make sure they can provide references and show you projects they've done previously. You probably don't want to go with someone who's completely new to the business, unless you have very good reasons to.

The trick when outsourcing anything is to never settle for someone just because you're anxious to get started and you haven't found anyone better. In the end you'll only regret it, likely after having spent hundreds, or thousands, of dollars already. Take your time and be diligent - it will pay off in the long run!

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Is the name Sophia Amoruso new to you? She is the founder and owner of Nasty Gal, which was named one of the fastest growing companies in 2012. Her Nasty Gal company sells clothing, shoes and accessories for young women.

Sophia has a target customer in mind for all of her products. She describes her customer as a woman who is:

In her lote teens or eorly-mid-twenties and super body-confident. She knows how to dress for her shape and isn't afraid of wearing makeup and short skirts and being sexy. She's into fashion but her taste doesn't just apply to what she wears: It applies to food, interior design, and travel. She wants to have awesome experiences and be the best-dressed girl around — without spending an arm and a leg.

Having such a defined customer in mind is just one of the reasons the Nasty Gal Company is still growing by leaps and bounds.

Sophia Amoruso is young, she was born in April of 1984 in San Diego. She began her fashion career at the age of 22 by running an eBay store that was called Nasty Gal Vintage. She sold vintage designer clothing. At that time she run the entire company alone. She would source vintage clothing from various places such as local secondhand stores and from the Salvation Army. One such item was a Chanel jacket that she bought for $8 and ended up selling it for $1,000.

In 2008 she was kicked off eBay so she decide to launch as a retail website called Nasty Gal. The name can be attributed to the Betty Davis album of 1975.

Sophia was able to develop a great following of young women on social media. This helped her company quickly grow. She went from $223,000 in 2008 to just under $23 million by 2011. In 2013 she was named to Inc. Magazine under 30 list. The following year Sophia released her book #GirlBoss.

Sophia managed to build her following by using Myspace to connect with other young women. She quickly built up a following of 60,000 followers on there.

After opening her online retail store Sophia hired her first employee, Christina Ferruci - who is now her Nasty Gal's Buying Director. As the company grew Sophia had to move into a warehouse space, which she did in Berkeley, CA. The warehouse was outgrown rapidly and another move ensued to Emeryville, CA.

The Nasty Gal headquarters is now located in Los Angeles, CA. Sophia always talks about the importance of how she incorporated social media into her business. In 2012 Nasty Gal employed 110 people and had opened another distribution center in Kentucky.

Who doesn't recognize the name Mark Cuban? He is well known for being the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and for his appearances on Shark Tank. In 2011 he authored an e-book "How to Win at the Sport of Business". Inside this book he talks about his experiences in business and in sport.

Mark started business at an early age, just 12 years old he was selling garbage bags. His goal was to buy a really expensive pair of basketball shoes.

He enrolled in university in what would have been his high school senior year. In 1981 he graduated from the Kelley School of Business with a B.S. in Business Administration.

Mark had lots of jobs including working in a pub, giving disco lessons and ended up in Dallas in 1982 where he became a bartender. He went on to become a salesperson for Your Business Software, which was one of the first PC software retailers in the Dallas area.

He made great business relations with his customers at Your Business Software who helped support his own company MicroSolutions. This company began as a software reseller. It eventually led to developments in technology which we know as Carbon Copy, CompuServe and Lotus Notes. In 1990 he sold MicroSolutions to CompuServe for $6 million.

Mark still loved basketball and in 1995 he and Todd Wagner started a new company Audionet. This company combined several interests including college basketball and webcasting. In 1998 Audionet became Broadcast.com. By the following year this company had grown to 330 employees with a revenue of $13.5 million in their second quarter. In 1999 Yahoo brought them out for $5.7 billion of Yahoo stock.

It was in 2000 that Mark Cuban purchased the NBA Dallas Mavericks for a reported $285 million. Under his ownership the Mavericks went on to win 69% of

their games during every season. In ten years they reached the playoffs nine times.

Mark is proving to be a heated owner and has been fined many times for his outbursts. Reports suggest that he has been fined at least $1.5 million for 13 infringements.

He definitely enjoys sports and has had discussions with owning other sporting franchises such as the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Texas Rangers. Both deals never went through.

Less well known is the fact that Mark Cuban started the Fallen Patriot Fund. This was set up to help military families who lost a family member, and for personnel who were injured during the Iraq War. Mark personally matched the first $1 million with funds from his own Foundation.

Marissa Mayer is the current President and CEO of Yahoo and has held that position since being appointed in 2012. Before that time she was a key spokesperson for Google. In 2013 Fortune named Marissa eighth on their list of most powerful business women in America.

Let's look at who Marissa is and how she achieved her current status.

Marissa Mayer was born in Wausau, Wisconsin. Her mother was an art teacher and her father an environmental engineer. Her grandfather was mayor of Jackson, Wisconsin for 32 years.

At school Marissa was shy and took a liking to chemistry, biology, calculus and biology. She was an active student and took part in many after school activities. She was chosen to represent her state at the National Youth Science Camp after graduating high school.

Marissa had every intention of becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon and took pre-med classes at Stanford. She changed to symbolic systems shortly afterwards. While at Stanford she taught a class in symbolic systems which was well received. So much so that she was asked to teach another class over the summer. She would graduate from Stanford with Honors.