To Buy or Not to Buy? A Money-Making Tip for Affiliates

 A few days ago, a member of one of my affiliate program
downlines contacted me with this email:

'I've been promoting this product for nearly 5 months
now and I haven't sold anything. I've tried everything
you can think of! I'm about ready to give up. Do you
have any suggestions?'

After looking at his website and a couple of his ads, I
wrote back with a simple question:

'Did you buy the product yourself?'

His answer: No.

Maybe I'm coming from a biased point of view (as his
affiliate sponsor), but to me, it was obvious that he
didn't know the product very well.

Most people don't want to believe it, but one of the best
ways to sell an affiliate product is to *buy the product*,
use it, and then provide a personal testimonial (assuming
it deserves one, of course).

'But that costs money!' some people moan. Yes, it does;
but so does wasted advertising dollars and effort. You're
in business, remember? The phrase, 'you have to spend
money to make money' is well-known for a reason: it's
true.

Oh, you don't have a spend a lot; that's the beauty of
the Internet. But think of it this way: why should your
visitors buy a product that you wouldn't buy yourself?
Investing in the product gives you several advantages
that you can use towards making more sales ...

* You'll have first-hand knowledge of the product or
service, and can answer most questions that come your
way.

* You'll *know* the quality of the product you're selling.
Offer your visitors top-quality products and you'll have
a much better chance of converting them into repeat
customers. That means more money in your pocket!

* You can offer a personal endorsement of the product.
This goes a long way, particularly with those you've
developed a good working relationship with (newsletter
subscribers, for example).

Now I can understand putting off the purchase of an
expensive, high-end product ... but if your affiliate
product is only a few dollars, then why hesitate? Many
people spend far more on advertising than it would cost
them to purchase the affiliate product.

So what can you do if you don't have much money to spare?

* Bite the bullet; buy the product and eat the cost. If
it's only a few bucks it probably won't hurt you.

* Attempt to make a few sales. Invest in the product once
you make enough in commissions to do so.

* Buy the product, eat the cost, and go for some effective
no-cost advertising to offset your investment. For
example, you could swap or barter for website or ezine
advertising.

Can you make good money selling affiliate products without
buying them yourself? Sure. No doubt there are a few
people who do. But most people have trouble selling
*anything* online, let alone a product they know nothing
or very little about. Which path will YOU take?

About the Author

Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, a
newsletter for eBusiness beginners, featuring step-by-
step tutorials on how to build a money-making online
business without emptying your wallet! To find out
how it can save you time, money, and guesswork, visit
http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com/article.html

 Angela Wu

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