Article / Tutorial

Choosing the RIGHT affiliate program for a Home based business

There are hundreds of home-based business ideas and opportunities out there on the net. Every now and then a new one really seems worthy of a closer look. Sifting through these new opportunities and income earning businesses takes quite a while.

Sorting out those that are scams or just old hat keeps us occupied for days so we apply a very strict list of criteria, starting with:

You should NEVER have to pay to join an affiliate program. There should always be a free entry level to "test the waters" - if not, click the CLOSE button now! You are looking at an MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) site in disguise.
Who recommended the product - do we know him / her or not? Does he / she have a good reputation for solid offerings? Search for the product or program name and also for the affiliate program's owner name and see what comes up. Definitely check out any forums that may come up in the search. See what people are really saying about the product, support and service.
How active is the niche market in which it falls - what is the competition like? Can the target market afford the price of the product? Do some basic keyword research to find out what the demand is for the type of program or product. Who and how big is the target market (buyers) and how many searches are done each day for that type of product? How large is the competition i.e. how many other sites are offering the exact same product or very similar - the product or program may have reached critical mass.
First impressions of the sales page or website - does it really look and sound unique or just an old idea that has been rehashed? It is visually appealing and look appropriate for the target market at which it is aimed - or is it one of those enormously long sales letters that has you so confused by the end that you have forgotten what you read at the top i.e. is the information concise, to the point and somewhat believable? So many of those sales letters make and then break their own sale! If you can get to the website before signing up, does the website look professional AND work or does it have broken links, takes ages to load the pages or badly designed?
Do not be taken in by testimonials - we ignore them almost entirely (even if they are supposed to be genuine). A testimonial without a contact address or email does not impress us! Why have testimonials if you cannot contact them for more in-depth information?
Is the homebased business opportunity a global one or restricted to certain countries only? How do they make their commission payouts? Very important for an international affiliate who does not have a US Bank account.
Within the first month or so of a new product release it is possible to start getting feed back from forums and scam sites. Any whiff of user problems or the possibility of a scam - the product bites the dirt.
What is the commission structure like i.e. will your time and effort make it worthwhile or not? You should never earn less than 35% commission on an affiliate program "sale". If the site sells actual products, this commission may vary according to the type of product. Can you figure out what the hidden costs are e.g. a monthly membership fee?
If the program doesn't offer promotional material, live support or e-mail contact for quick answers to problems, etc. - BE CAREFUL. You may be signing up for an affiliate program with someone who doesn't give you the level of support you deserve. Always test the response by sending a list of questions and see who and how thoroughly they answer.
Finally and most importantly - read the affiliate terms and conditions carefully - if they are not available before you sign up - bail now! There are so many horror stories about people who work their butts off and think they have earned a ton of money, only to find that somewhere in the small print, the affiliate owner retains the right to withhold money without any explanation and freeze your account on a whim.
The litmus test: Would YOU buy it if you had the budget? Would you feel confident selling the product? Would you proudly tell everyone about it?

Author: The Work at Home Wizard @ www.248wealthwizards.com
Step-by-Step Wealth Creation | Helping ordinary people realize their dreams