As online purchasing continues to grow at triple-digit growth levels, online retailers have figured out that one great way to “spread the word” is to offer a commission to outside, but related Web masters who sell their products. Known as affiliate marketing, the process is basically available to anyone who owns or runs a Web site. If you haven’t yet started using your Web site as tool for promoting more than just your services, it is never too late to start. Below are my five favorite online, affiliate programs as well as two bonus sites to consider.
Google AdSense
One of the easiest way for a Web master to earn money from their site is by installing a third-party advertising campaign through the Google AdSense program. A relatively simple program to install, Google will search your site for its most relevant keywords and serve up ads that are related to the content on the page. This is done automatically, so your Web master enters a code and the ads appear automatically. Web masters are paid per click and the payment can range from a few cents to dollars in some cases. Payments are sent automatically; once you’ve earned a certain monetary threshold, usually $100. Google AdSense is free to join.
www.google.com/adsense
Amazon.com
If you are recommending books, or any other products available at Amazon.com, make sure to join the Amazon.com affiliate program. Amazon.com was among the first online retailers to offer commissionable programs on the Web and the site continues to offer one of the largest affiliate programs online. Acceptance into the program is free, but it is not automatic, and it takes several days to be approved. Commissions are paid on a tiered level, but most starting associates can expect to make 4 percent per sale. In essence, the program works in such a way that vendors embed their affiliate code in every outgoing link from their site. If users click the link (with the code) and purchase the product recommended, or any other product they see on the same visit, the Web site will receive the commission. Amazon.com also pays automatically at a certain threshold, usually $25.
https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/
Fodor’s Travel Guide Books
Travel providers who wish to specifically promote Fodor’s Travel Guide Books should sign up directly with Fodor’s Travel, as the base commission they offer can be double — or more — than what Amazon.com offers. The company, which is a leader in guidebook publishing, offers hundreds of guide books for destinations around the world, as well as traveler’s language books. Commissions begin at eight percent and increase as sales reach a certain threshold. Certified travel agents who prefer to do their selling in person are also eligible to purchase Fodor’s guidebooks at discounted rates starting at 50 percent off of the cover price.
Fodor’s affiliate program is managed by Share-A-Sale, a company that specializes in affiliate programs. Share-A-Sale has more than 2,000 participating merchants in its network, so once a Web master signs up for the Fodor’s program, he/she is also eligible to apply for other companies in the network, including such travel friendly organizations as such as Luggage.com (10 percent per sale), Cabo L’Estancia ($140 per sale), and the International Student Identity Card ($3 per sale.)
www.fodors.com/about/us/ftp_affiliate.cfm
www.fodors.com/travelagents/
www.shareasale.com/
Lonely Planet Guides
Guide book giant Lonely Planet also makes it worthwhile to join its affiliate program directly, in lieu of using Amazon.com. The commissions begin at a whopping 15 percent for affiliates based in the Americas (different campaigns apply for agents in other parts of the world). Payment is for most items in the Lonely Planet shop, which includes guide books, DVDs and travel goods such as backpacks, tents and sleeping bags. Lonely Planet manages its affiliate program through Commission Junction, which is one of the largest affiliate networks in existence. Other travel-related merchants at Commission Junction include the Discovery Channel Store and TravelZoo.
www.lonelyplanet.com/about/affiliate.cfm
CityPASS
CityPass, the nationally known museum and attraction marketing company that bundles a city’s most popular museums and attractions in a slim ticket book offers several ways for travel agents to earn revenue. Online marketers can sign up for the affiliate program, receive a special embed code and then earn ten percent on all sales made directly off their Web site. Travel agents can also purchase the books at a ten percent discount and then resell the books as part of the face-to-face travel planning they do. Commissionable CityPass booklets are available in 10 North American destinations: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Hollywood, Atlanta, Toronto, Canada and Houston, Texas, and retail anywhere from $34 to $74 depending on the location.
www.citypass.com/affiliates.html
Bonus Recommendations
Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity
Although this isn’t among my Fave Five, it is worth mentioning that sometimes people are just going to buy their travel online. It’s annoying, it’s frustrating, but it’s also a reality. And while airlines have all but done away with commissions for travel agents, the big three online travel agencies (as well as many smaller OTAs) do pay a slight commission for online bookings. If you have developed a popular, well-trafficked site, why not give the online lookey-loos a place to book their travel? As with most affiliate programs, Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity require Web masters to register and be approved, but the process is free of charge. A Web master with some technical knowledge can even parse what information should appear on a site. For example, a site can promote airline sales only, or just hotels from a certain destination.
www.orbitz.com/App/Affiliate
www.expedia.com/daily/associates/default.asp
http://svc.travelocity.com/about/main/0,3280,TRAVELOCITY:EN|AFFILIATE_PROG,00.html
ClickBank.com
While ClickBank.com is also an affiliate network, this site specializes only in informational, electronic products, also known as downloadable e-books. Products here range from “Disney World Vacation and Savings Travel Guide” to “Free Flight Upgrades & Travel Guide” to “Your Thai Girl,” so it goes without saying that there’s a lot of junk available at this site. Downloadable products, however, do pay among the highest commissions online, often topping out at more than 50 percent of the selling price. The savvy web master who takes the time to find just the right product could see commissions of $15 and more per download. There’s clearly room for quality products in the travel category, so the wisest travel agents might just consider teaming together to write their own downloadable e-book and offering it in ClickBank’s product line up, thereby earning money when others sell their product.
www.clickbank.com/marketplace.htm
