One of the most profitable and exciting ways to make money online today is through internet marketing. The main monetary source around this income stream is usually through the use of affiliate links that are added to online content using various platforms. Links to products and services can be added to blog articles, social media outlets like Twitter, email communications, and more.
While using affiliate links to earn passive income is a great way to earn money, there are a few things to keep in mind. Usually internet marketing requires one to open up several accounts through various affiliates to get a good mix of products and services. Some popular affiliate accounts include Amazon Associates, Commission Junction, and Clickbank to name a few. Relationships are established through these sites between internet marketers and providers of goods and services. Once these relationships are created, the links are then placed in various online content by the internet marketer.
One downside of establishing multiple accounts with several different products and services is how to keep track of everything. Having multiple affiliate links through several partners can create a headache when you try to update or change the content of these links. Add on the fact that you may be using the same link through multiple media outlets like blogs and email – and it can easily get out of hand.
Create an Affiliate Link Journal
Keeping an affiliate link journal is one way that you can easily track where and what you are promoting. Create a simple spreadsheet or personal database with affiliate account and link information. Whenever a link is added, removed, or modified – simply make this change in your journal. This simple exercise can save a lot of time, effort, and money in the long run!
Here are a few of the data elements that should be included in your journal -
- Media Outlet – Examples: eHow, Blogs like Passive Family Income, EzineArticles, etc.
- Content Link (or where the link will be published) – Example: http://www.passivefamilyincome.com/how-to-improve-affiliate-links/
- Affiliate Account – Examples: Amazon Associates, Clickbank
- Affiliate Link – Example: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/…
There are several other fields that can be included in your journal besides what is listed above. Having this data documented can help you quickly identify your affiliate links that are working hard for you and earning income!
How do you keep track of your affiliate links?
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Very good points….. I think you’re like a mini-problogger here:) Related to this, is to keep track of your direct ad sales, too – who bought a link and when; the price; the duration, etc. I have to get organized on this point myself, actually.
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Honestly, I only keep track of my affiliate links through the tracking services/ tracking IDs provided by the affiliate program. I can see at a glance in Amazon which sources (ie eHow, a specific niche site, my blog, etc.) are bringing in clicks and purchases and revenue, but I don’t keep track of what link is on each article. People frequently buy things I didn’t even recommend, so keeping track is difficult in many cases.
And cj.com has great tracking and reports as well … maybe I am just lazy? I do take the easy route if it works for me!
Maria @ Residual Income Web’s last blog post..Niche Website Profit Report
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I disagree with you – I use software for a very good reason – I’m lazy! Thanks for the post – you reminded me I wanted to do a review of the product I do use to manage affilate links
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passive family income Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Lis – I am not at all against using software to track affiliate links and would actually promote it if I found something useful. I am all for making things simpler when building income streams! Unfortunately, I did not do a very good job of tracking where I put my links (i.e. eHow, EzineArticles, etc.) and now have to go back into every account one by one and check.
I look forward to your review!
passive family income’s last blog post..Stay Organized! – Keep Track of your Affiliate Links
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Lis - Passive Income Reply:
July 8th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
LOL -feel free to follow the link to my latest post – I am using the product and it works just fine for links all over the place like ezinearticles, hubs etc!
Lis – Passive Income’s last blog post..Online Income Tips: Managing Affiliates
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