Design Web Site Around Affiliate Programs

When starting a Web business, most people choose a topicfor their Web site and then look for products andaffiliate programs related to that topic. In this article,I suggest searching for a group of related affiliateprograms first, then designing your Web site around thoseprograms.There are many affiliate directories and affiliate networkWeb sites where you can search for the best programs. Forthis example, I use Commission Junction http://www.jc.comThis affiliate network site provides a vast amount ofsearchable information on over 1200 affiliate programs.On Commission Junction's front page, click on the link"Search all advertisers". This will take you to a pagewith a drop down list where you can select a category. Inorder to search the information on Commission Junction,you must be a member, but membership is free. After youlogin to Commission Junction, go to the bottom of the pageto "Find Advertisers & links". Here you can get a list ofall advertisers, search advertisers by keyword, or browsefor advertisers.Click on "Browse for advertisers". This takes to to atable where you can arrange the affiliate programs basedupon "EPC" or "Network Earnings". EPC is the averageearnings per 100 clicks. It reflects the affiliateprograms ability to convert clicks into commissions.Network Earnings is a rank, on a scale of one to five, ofan affiliate program based on the amount of commissionspaid. In the head of the table, click on the name of theparameter you are interested in. This rearranges theentries based upon that parameter.After you arrange the entries, you have to page past allthe "New" programs. I guess Commission Junction puts thenew programs at the top of the list to help promote them.As you analyze the data you will discover that theprograms that pay the highest earnings per click do notnecessarily provide the highest total earnings.Some important points:- Commission Junction is not the best affiliate network.Their fees to advertisers are too high. Search Google forother affiliate networks and affiliate programs.- Join several good programs. You don't want to build yourWeb site around one program that may be discontinued.- Don't join too many programs. It takes time and work topromote each program.- Don't be in a rush to join affiliate programs. Take yourtime and select a profitable category and high qualityprograms.Most people get an idea for a Web site, and then look forrelated affiliate products to sell. Why not researchaffiliate programs first? Then you can learn whatcategories of affiliate products and services are goingyou earn you the most money. You can then design the topicof your Web site around the most profitable productcategories and affiliate programs.