Brilliant Bloggers is a weekly series here at BlogWorld where we look at the best posts from around the web all surrounding a specific topic. Every week, we’ll feature three of the most brilliant bloggers out there, along with a huge link of more resources where you can learn about the topic. You can see more Brilliant Blogger posts or learn how to submit your link for an upcoming edition here.
This Week’s Topic: Affiliate Programs
Affiliate programs are great for making a little extra money with your blog, and for some people, they’re major money makers. I’ve personally used Amazon’s program with some success, and you can also consider working with individuals to promote their products (for example, I have an affiliate program for my Freelance Writing ebook). Affiliate programs are often most closely associated with Internet marketers, but they can work for all bloggers, whether you blog about making money online or parenting or gardening or sports or anything in between. Today, I’ve got some great advice for you on this topic from some truly brilliant bloggers!
Advice from Brilliant Bloggers:
20 Tips I Used To Make $90,336.65 With Amazon by Chris Guthrie
Who doesn’t want to make nearly six figures as an Amazon affiliate? I met Chris randomly for a few minutes at BlogWorld 2010 while making a video about the event, and afterward, I looked up his site – and was so glad I did! To call Chris brilliant is an understatement. This post about his success on Amazon is a great place to start, but don’t be afraid to explore – there’s a lot of gold on his blog. After checking out the site, make sure you follow him on Twitter @ChrisGuthrie.
Are You Practicing “Spray And Pray” Affiliate Marketing? by David Risley
Many bloggers don’t find success as affiliates because they just send out a message (spray) and hope that some people bite (pray). In this post, David talks about the problem with this approach and better ways to make money with affiliate programs than just crossing your fingers that someone will click your link and make a purchase. After you check out the post, don’t forget to follow David on Twitter @davidrisley.
8 Principles for Effective Affiliate Marketing on a Blog by Pat Flynn
I love this post from Pat Flynn because it isn’t the typical “here’s how to rank high on Google for a search term and add affiliate links” post. While that can be a great approach, it’s not going to work for every blogger. Pat’s post instead gives advice on how to be successful as an affiliate with a site full of awesome content. Check it out and then follow Pat on Twitter @patflynn.
Even More Brilliant Advice:
- 5 Lessons on Making Money with Affiliate Programs by Darren Rowse (@problogger)
- Affiliate SEO: How Websites Are Ranking in The Most Profitable Niches by Glen Allsopp (@viperchill)
- Blogger Disclosure and the FTC by Shawn Collins (@affiliatetip)
- Dealing with Dodgy Merchants & Affliate Networks by Stuart (@thegyppo)
- How to Choose the Right Affiliate Program by The Lady Bloggers Society (@theladybloggers)
- How To Make Money Setting Up Your Own Local Affiliate Program by Jeremy Schoemaker (@shoemoney)
- Interview With Chris Guthrie – Super Affiliate Dominates With Amazon! by Fazal Mayar (@fazalmayar)
- No Precedence For Social Media – Amazon Hangs Us Out To Dry by Joshua Odmark (@joshuaodmark)
- Successful Affiliates Out of Business Overnight by Travis Campbell (@mpdotcom)
- Tips for Selling to the Affluent by Mark Ling (@affilorama)
- The Top 7 Pitfalls of Affiliate Marketing for Publishers by David Vogelpohl (@marketingpilgrm)
- Why Can You Never Be Successful in Affiliate Marketing Programs? by Ryan
- Why I Am Not An Amazon.com Affiliate by John Chow (@JohnChow)
Did I miss your post or a post by someone you know about affiliate programs? Unintentional! Help me out by leaving a comment below with the link!
Next Week’s Topic: Working with a Virtual Assistant
I’d love to include a link to your post next week – and if you head to the Brilliant Blogger Schedule, you can see even more upcoming posts. We all have something to learn from one another, so please don’t be shy! Head to the schedule today to learn how to submit your post so I won’t miss it.
Hey Alli,
Nice to “see” you again 😀 thanks for the mention and yes I’m still using Amazon’s affiliate program and loving it :). Working on building out some other blogs now and am using a wide range of other affiliate programs to monetize them.
Not sure if I can make it to the next BlogWorld conference in NY but I may attend LA. Perhaps I’ll see you there!
Chris
See you there too Chris! Can’t play texas hold em this year though. Cheers buddy!
All great posts from great bloggers.
But David Chris and Pats really stand out.
Mainly because I have followed all 3 for a long time and have learned a lot.
But have to say Pat is the main.. smart dude and a normal down to earth personality. I have chatted with Pat a few times and each time I walk away trusting his “real advice.
Just a great resource..
I enjoy many bloggers and podcasts, but I have to say that I find Pat Flynn to be in a category all his own. It’s not just the fact that he’s not always trying to sell you something. It has to do both with his transparency in sharing how much he makes online and where he makes it…and his “regular guy” approach. He’s not as polished as a lot of the guys out there, and it gives people hope that they’ve really got a shot at doing this stuff. I have recommended him to more friends than I can count, and they all really enjoy him as well…even those who listen to NO other podcasts and read NO other blogs. He’s the real deal. Glad to see him featured here!
This is an opportunity for me to support one of my (er, my favorite blogger, Pat Flynn) Pat is a great teacher, isn’t full of himself and IMO he knows what’s important in life (or just say I agree with his values)
What I mean by that is I’ve never felt that Pat is trying to sell me something or that he’s being coy (you know “wait, there’s more or, this offer is only good for the next 14 seconds; or, the latest – oops wrong address”) People pick up on that stuff real quick and THAT is why he’s reached success as fast as he has, IMO. Because of that I go out of my way to buy a product from Pat (one I’d buy anyway) and the experience is more enjoyable! I’ve always said that a lot of Pat’s posts are like courses.
I enjoyed reading this post!
Mike
Thanks for the mention here Alli, I truly appreciate it! Such an honor. I hope to meet you in person this year in LA! Let me know where you’ll be 🙂 Cheers!
Alli-
Nice work! Thanks for including our site in your roundup. No doubt these are important times for affiliates.
Regards,
Travis
MarketingProfessor.com
Love to see Pat Flynn speak in LA! And I will be there with bells on 🙂 In fact, I don’t think I’ll be missing another Blogworld ;)! Thank you for a great post here, Alli!
Pat Flynn knows his stuff. Just look at his Monthly Income $ posts on Smart Passive Income. He shows everyone exactly how much money he makes through affiliate progams and more every month (it’s usually $20,000+).
His whole blog is about sharing (for free) information on how to do what he does to make that money.
Do I sound like a screaming fan of his? I sure hope so because I’m working on taking his advice to create my own small pot of monthly passive income.
Pat is a genuine guy and a great teacher. If making money online is something you;re considering take 5 minutes and check his site out but make sure you start with the START HERE page because you get all the best info quick and right up front.
Pat Flynn for Blog World President
Wow! I am so glad Pat Flynn will take part in this event. 🙂 Thanks for the awesome post Alli.
Thanks for listing my article in your post , Alli . I really appreciate it . Nice work !
That post by Pat is a great find. It showcases what Pat is all about — Making the internet better by actually helping people. Pat is an excellent speaker and has a message that people need to hear. Would be a great to see him on stage at blog world.
Pat Flynn should definitely be considered to speak at the L.A event in November. He has such a wealth of knowledge and has selflessly been sharing it with the world, all accomplished in just a couple of years!
All the great ones grouped up. Nice. I can’t wait until BlogWorld LA, too. It’ll be a blast.
Pat, look forward to meeting you at FinCon11 or BlogWorld LA, as I missed you in SD w/ ManVsDebt gathering.
Alli,
This is definitely a post I need to share, bookmark and reference back often. I am just starting my affiliate journey and need sound advise.
I have been a very loyal reader of Pat Flynn’s for a while now. I believe he is not only an amazing blogger, online figure, and resource but also a great person. He does it right by starting with intelligence, hooking you with trust and selling you with content. He was my first and biggest inspiration to get online and “crush it”.
Looking forward to exploring all the wonderful posts you have listed here.
~Allie
Love reading David and Pat’s stuff. Pat Flynn is my favorite blogger right now. He is doing what I want to do, but he does it better! I don’t know how I missed this article form Pat,but anytime he speaks I’m gonna pay attention.
Great post Alli & great Bloggers to write about.
I ‘m a huge fan of Pat Flynn he always shares great info with his readers! Hope he speaks at Blogworld LA 🙂
If you would like to find some affiliate programs, at http://1affil.com/ are 3500+ entries. It is new affiliate directory with detail informations about sites.
Hey Alli,
Thanks for introducing me to all of these people I didn’t know before!!!
This is part of what I love about posts like yours that include lists of awesome people like this; getting exposed to people I maybe wouldn’t have met for years or ever.
And this is the perfect time because I’ve been being a total wuss about using affiliate programs on my site and need to focus on one person’s system and work it.
Você tem computador em casa? (Sim), eu também, mas é muito difícil conseguir utilizar ele para alguma coisa realmente útil, eu me cadastrei em uma empresa e estou divulgando os serviços pela internet, cada pessoa que contrata algum serviço dela através da minha divulgação ela me repassa 30% do lucro que ela obteve.
= O bom desta empresa é que ela existe desde 1998 e nós não precisamos comprar, nem vender nada.
= Vou te dar o endereço do meu site, você acessa e se tiver alguma duvida entra em contato comigo ou direto com a empresa.
O meu nome e código para divulgação é:Hugo Filho 604903 Endereço do seu site:
http://www.frpromotora.com/44604903
That post by Pat is a great find. It showcases what Pat is all about — Making the internet better by actually helping people.
thanks for sharing.