How to Set Up an Affiliate Marketing Site for $9 (or Less)

If you think that setting up an affiliate marketing site is expensive, think again. In fact, you can set up an affiliate marketing site for about $9. You can even set it up free. Here’s how it works.

Find a Vendor That Has an Affiliate Program

First, find a vendor who has a product you’d like to promote. The best way to begin is to find a company that you’ve already done business with, go to their website, and see if they have an affiliate program. Check their website to see if they have an “Affiliate Program” link. You may be surprised to know that your favorite companies offer affiliate commissions.

Many of the high-profile companies that get a lot of exposure offer affiliate programs. One example is Amazon.com. Let’s talk about how their affiliate program works. They call their program Amazon Associates. You can find this program by going to the Amazon.com website and clicking on the “Associates Program” link on the left side of the page. (You’ll have to scroll down to see it.)

Joining this program is easy. In fact, they’ll walk you through the process onsite. When you join Amazon Associates, you’ll earn money selling their products. They’ll set you up with links and banners, widgets, and a self-contained store that you can display on your website. When someone orders a product on your site from Amazon.com, you’ll get a percentage of the profits. It’s that simple.

Create Your Affiliate Marketing Website

Next, create the name of your website. It’s best to put the name of your product in the domain name to make it easier to locate. For example, if you’re selling computers, you’ll want a domain name with the word “computers” in the title.

Once you’ve covered these steps, register your domain name. You can do this fairly cheaply, for less than $2. GoDaddy.com can walk you through the steps. You can also get Deluxe Hosting for $6.99 a month.

Set Up a Twitter Account

Another cheaper option you can use is to link your affiliate account with your Twitter account. This way, you can set up your Twitter account and promote products free. You won’t even need a website if you choose this route. You can market products through your tweets.

Once you set up your account, you’ll have to complete some basic information to get started. Using Amazon.com’s program as an example, you can actually choose your payment method: gift card, direct deposit, or check. However, if you choose to get paid by check, there is a fee associated with that option.

Start Selling!

Once you get everything set up and have an inventory of products, you can start selling through Twitter. There’s no need to spend a pile of cash to make money. Just become an associate and the products will sell themselves.

To succeed in affiliate marketing, you have to think outside the box. There is no one-size-fits all method for success. If the recession has emptied your pockets and you need a quick and easy way to set up an affiliate marketing business, go with a high-profile company that generates a lot of sales. That way, you can market products for a company with a proven track record and earn the cash you need.