Spicing Up Your Affiliate Site
Author: ©Lyn Troyer

Virtually all affiliate internet marketing programs provide their members with premade marketing creatives. Some even go as far as providing already built websites for their affiliates.

This of course is very convenient for the affiliate and allows them to get started right away by driving traffic to their website. However, often an unforeseen dilemma results because of this convenience.

All the affiliate sites begin to look like clones. The marketing material loses its punch and appeal, making it increasingly difficult for the affiliate to get the prospect to take action.

Therefore even as an affiliate you have to take a personal creative approach to your business. You cannot rely too heavily on supplies from your merchant. However, you don't have to be a marketing maverick to stand apart for your affiliate competitors here are some ways to do this.

1. Add pictures. Images are an exceptionally easy way to make your site stand out. They not only add color but interest. The picture can directly relate to your niche or it can be thought provoking, but using images sparsely throughout your site and content is a good way to spice up your affiliate internet marketing.

2. Add quick content. Not all your affiliate internet marketing content has to be a thousand words long, sometimes just a quick 300 word article can both get search engines and prospects to notice. You can write a quick how to article, or an update of an already existing piece of content. Content can also be in the form of a quick video. Create a 1-3min long video for entertainment and educational value and upload it.

3. Add widgets. Widgets are both useful and fun ways to spice up your affiliate internet marketing. If you belong to social network sites you can find widgets that will automatically post your participations and updates on your website or blog. Depending on the affiliate program you are with you can even find widgets that show product and top products, service updates, and even reviews.

4. Add testimonials. The company often has their own reviews that they use for their site but you can get your own for your affiliate internet marketing site. Two ways to do this is by asking people in forums and social sites if they used the products and services, and if they wouldn't mind leaving a review for your site. Even without an incentive people will reply. But you can encourage them by giving away something for free like an ebook.

5. Add an ezine. Set up an autoresponder and produce a weekly or monthly ezine with tips and updates. Through your ezine you can answer questions, set up polls, ask for testimonials and provide information. This is one of the best ways to spice up your affiliate internet marketing.

6. Use the newest banners and textlinks. Within the marketing material provided by your merchant look for the freshest newest ones. If the same material is still in use for more than 3 years ask your merchant when he plans to create new ones.

7. Change your textlinks and banners every 3 months. The average life span of any online marketing material is 3 months some experts argue 1 month but 3 months is good time frame to stick to. Every three months change your banners and textlinks. Seasons and seasonal holidays a good thing to keep in mind when placing banners. Don't use a summery banner if Christmas in is in the air.

Spicing up your affiliate internet marketing so it stands apart is not difficult. You may have to get a little creative but most of the tips are easy to put into practice.