Pepperjam...the Next and Newest Generation

Pepperjam is one of the newest affiliate programs partnering with such big brand merchants as Baby Phat, Sean Jean, Blockbuster just to name a very few, with new merchants signing on often.


They have a 'Pepperjam Store Builder' for some of their participating merchants. See this example, from one of my own 'Pepperjam' merchant partners. I have inserted one of mine into the side bar of this blog...be sure to check it out!

Even though I am still relatively new to the business of affiliate marketing, I am signing on with new merchants everyday. The more quality merchants (like those found on Pepperjam) that I partner with, the greater the chances to make a full time living with my new career in, affiliate marketing.

10 Steps Necessary for Affiliate Success

10 Steps Necessary for Affiliate Success

1. Set Goals. -- This is important and really needs to be done first. I wasted weeks because I didn't do this FIRST. It's hard to if you've reached your destination, if you don't know where you're going. Keep a notebook...'get it in writing'. You're going to get 'information overload', even if you pay for a top program...the information comes pretty fast and furious...and you might get lost if you don't write it down.

2. Start out with 'small expectations'. If you go too 'great' you might get discouraged and give up on your goals. So, if you set a goal..to earn $200 or $300 a month, with your affiliate marketing, Adsense, etc...you've given yourself a workable place to start. You can increase your expectations as you learn and refine your knowledge and experience in affiliate marketing.

3. Discover your niche(s). What are you 'good' at, interested in, passionate about...? What is the one thing that others seek advice from you on? If you just can't find something from doing a little self-examination, go visit Clickbank and search their marketplace. You don't have to join to see what different products they offer, maybe something will strike your fancy there.

4.Get familiar with Google AdWords and Wordtracker and refine your keywords.

5. Take your niche and build a website around it. You can start with a blog, then expand it to build a Squidoo lens, do a little article marketing and then set up a website. This is where the keywords come into play.

6. Join an affiliate program, or two, or more. You will get 'automatic approval' from some of the merchants in the programs but, other merchants (with the exception of Clickbank) may want to review your sites before they give their approval. Once you've been approved, start putting the links in your blog, lens and on your website.

7. Start getting yourself 'out there'. Participate in forums, join social networks, visit other blogs and leave comments. It's time to start 'mining for gold'..and quality links that lead back to your sites are as good as gold.

8. Set a schedule. So that you don't overwhelmed or distracted by 'too much information', set a schedule. How much time daily/ weekly are you going to devote to your affiliate marketing? Don't go 'overboard' or 'underboard'..be fair to yourself and be fair to your new 'venture'.

9. Once you have one or two niches going, the blog, the lens, the website are all set up..start all over again and build more niche sites. You increase your odds and you increase the possibility of making a decent income.

10. Keep learning. But, don't sign up for every 'get rich quick' program that comes along. Chances are better that you'll make a lot more money on the programs that don't make the 'get rich' promises. I'll be listing some of those programs here soon..so you can check them out and decide for yourselves.

Share A Sale

Share A Sale is another affiliate program that I have joined. They have features that are unique and easy for their affiliates to work with.

See the page I was able to put together, featuring one of their merchants. It's waaay down at the bottom of this post...I just could not figure out how to fit it. But, I left it in anyway...just so you could see what different features they had.

Land Before Time 100 Piece Puzzle	Elmo Molded Handle Folding Umbrella	Curious George Loot Bags - 8 Per Pack
Caillou Party Hats - 8 Per Package	Cars Decorative Wall Hook	Mickey and Friends Holiday Cards (10 pack w/ envelopes)
Tinker Bell Magic Gloves	Caillou Placemat	Backyardigans Luncheon Napkins
Blue's Clues Night Light	Caillou 9 Inch Plates - 8 Per Package	Backyardigans 3 Foot Puzzle - 46 Pieces

LinkShare

LinkShare is an affiliate company that I joined.

Their program categories include;
auto
business and career
clothing and accessories
computer and electronics
department store
entertainment
food and drink
games and toys
hobbies and collectibles...

well, you see where I'm going here.

They have programs that fit in well with whatever niche you want to market.


Here's one of the merchants I am marketing, I love their easy to use promotional materials. It's so easy to advertise when the companies provide easily accessible promotional material that comes complete with your own affiliate ID number embedded.

Clickbank

Clickbank is one of the easiest affiliate programs and the one that most of the affiliates with whom I have communicated, start with. Their products are digital and immediately accessible, upon receipt of payment, to the purchaser.

From products like Commission Blueprint, to Earth 4 Energy, to Secrets to Dog Training...and more.

It's pretty simple. You sign up with Clickbank, select the product(s) you want to promote and do pretty much what I'm doing...a little 'bum blogging and bum marketing'.

My goals and Reality.

"...these are the goals I've set up for myself..to date!
1. Have five 'bum marketing' sites up and operational..by the beginning of next week.
2. Set up five brand new 'bum marketing' sites every 7 days.
3. Write 1 'how-to' eBook every week, that I will offer as my own product."

These WERE the goals I set up for myself...and to be honest....it didn't happen!

Perhaps I was a bit too enthusiastic and wanted to 'do it all'...right out of the gate...but, being realistic..this is what I actually DID accomplish.

I wrote a lens on 'How to Promote Your Business For Free' , which I will work on how to monetize, at some point..

I signed up to write articles for Ezine articles and Hub pages.

I joined Pepperjam, Linkshare and Share A Sale affiliate programs.

I added affiliate links to my 'Idol Chat and More' blog.


I wrote a number of articles and outlined several 'campaigns' that I plan to 'launch' one at a time over the next few weeks.

Read my 'reviews' on Pepperjam, Linkshare, Share A Sale and Clickbank in the coming days.
I feel that each of these programs has a lot to offer and each deserve a separate post of their own.

I signed up for "Wealthy Affiliate" and this is my review!

(UPDATE) May 1, 2009
I wanted to be honest in the writing of this blog. So, this update is just to let you know that "yes, I did sign up for Wealthy Affiliate. I went through the two month program...followed all of the lessons...visited the Forum and asked questions. Then...I unsubscribed."
I don't have anything negative to say against Wealthy Affiliate. It may just be that "I didn't 'get' it." I took notes, followed step by step...and ended up more confused than I was when I started. I know the 'boys' are in 'it' to make money...but, I did get a little 'off-put' that several of the things I wanted more information on, cost more money.
Since I was trying to learn how to make money on the internet...and wasn't....I certainly did not have anything extra to spare.
I really needed more information than I received, to be able to...
1. Set up a website there. So I looked elsewhere.
2. Find low-cost or free methods to do my affiliate marketing.
3. Find a 'support-system' to help me by guiding, answering questions, etc.

A lot of the folks on Wealthy Affiliate seem to have found all of the above....unfortunately, I did not. I did find them elsewhere though. The links to 'where' I found what I was looking for .... are included in the above 3 examples.


I 'had' to do it! I recently signed up for "Wealthy Affiliate and have written a review about the program for you.

My original quest was to...find no cost (or low cost) programs that would 'teach' me the most effective ways to 'make money online'.

I ended up with 'head spin'...really! I tried this and that...and the majority of the time..hit a dead end..unless I wanted to 'buy into the programs'. To be honest..I couldn't afford it!



What I found though, on this quest, was that everyone who was talking about 'Wealthy Affiliate' had nothing but POSITIVE things to say! So, I purposely went out looking for 'negatives'. I mean, really...is there a program out there that isn't just 'taking your money' and giving only half the information? I'm sure there are...I just couldn't find any of them...except for the 'Wealthy Affiliate' program.



Honestly, I could NOT find anything comparable, for the value of what comes in this program.

With the 'head spin' that I was in...what this program is doing for me is, it is helping me set goals and focus on the 'right' ways to start making money right away.





The cost of the monthly membership is minimal in comparison to what I've received from the program...all kinds of tools that will help make my job so much easier.
Time is money...right? Well, the tools in this program are already helping me know...all about keywords and adwords....how to write the very best articles...how to market products 'for free'...or almost free!
I've got tools that tell me which programs to promote...and which, to probably stay away from.

There are so many tools...and a great forum with even more 'tools' that will help me make money online!

After joining, these are the goals I've set for myself..to date!

1. Have five 'bum marketing' sites up and operational..by the beginning of next week.
2. Set up five brand new 'bum marketing' sites every 7 days.
3. Write 1 'how to' ebook every week, that I will offer as my own product.

Since, I've only been a member a short time, I'm still learning...but, I also wanted to give myself the opportunity to start making more money...while I'm learning!

If you've been searching, as I've been, for that ONE program that you think will turn things around for you, and put you on the path to actually making money online, take a look at the Wealthy Affiliate Program and see what you think!