Four Reasons NOT to Promote an Affiliate Product

Sometimes it's better not to promote a certain affiliate product.

I bet you get a lot of emails from product owners and visit a lot of sites on the Internet that have affiliate programs they want you to promote. Each one says that they have the best. Each will give you several reasons why they think they have the best program since sliced bread. But wait! Maybe you shouldn't promote it - even if it sounds like a good thing. Why? Ask yourself these questions:

1. Does it conflict with a program that you are already promoting? Say you have a website about dogs. You have a good affiliate program that is earning you money called (as an example) "21 Ways to Train Dogs." Should you add another? How do you determine if the new dog training manual is better than the one already making you money? You do not want to have several affiliate programs that are basically the same.

However, if each dog training manual is targeted to a specific type of dog training, such as "10 Ways to Stop Your Dog From Barking," or "Potty Train Your Puppy," they could each be a good affiliate product to promote. You could have an affiliate product for each stage of training a dog. But, don't have too many products that will cancel each other out and make the customer have to work too hard to decide which is best. They won't. They'll go somewhere else where the decision is made for them.

2. How much time do you have? Will you be able to devote a substantial amount of time toward promoting another affiliate program? Do you already have loads of products that are not getting the attention they deserve? Don't waste your precious time adding an affiliate product to your arsenal that you won't have the time for.

3. Have you researched the affiliate product? I mean, REALLY researched it? Go to Overture.com and see how many other products are similar to that one. Are people paying good money to get a top listing? If they are, then it's probably a good idea. If not, you may be wasting your time.

4. Have you read the Affiliate Agreement? Are there any "tricks" you should be aware of? For instance, I recently promoted a product, made a sale, and THEN found out I won't get paid that $100 unless I make 4-10 more sales. Hmmmm. Yes, I too, make mistakes!

Take the time to ask yourself these questions. They will save you from wasting time later on an affiliate program that you don't have time for, or that will defeat your real purpose: building reven