If you have your own product, one of the easiest ways to increase your visitors and sales is to start an affiliate program. Unless you have a high traffic site already, it can be difficult to find affiliates. In this post I’ll explain how to get more affiliates

Before you get started with finding affiliates there are a few things that you need to accomplish first:

• Perfect your website -  You should look your site over (or get someone else to do so) and make sure that it is professional. Check grammar and spelling as you don’t want someone to visit your site and be immediately turned off by plain errors you’ve neglected to fix. Also make sure everything works and that the sales process is in working order. Your site will need to be perfect.
• Create an affiliate information page on your site – Include details on the commission that you are paying, how to sign up, banners and images, sample email and ad copy, sample reviews and perhaps a brandable report. When you get prepared to list your program in the directories, you might be allowed to submit only one URL. If that is the case, submit the link to your information page.

Once you have done this, the next step of how to get more affiliates is RESEARCH. Locate all of the affiliate directories you can and make a list. These are the sites you will want to visit for information and links to the affiliate programs in the areas where you seek listings.  You want to be listed in as many places as possible, because others will be looking for affiliates and most likely come across your site in their search. Most of the affiliate programs directories in existence will think about placing a free link to your business on their site. It will help you to know what the rest are doing so you can surpass them.

After you are listed in the directories you also need to start the process of searching for affiliates. As you go along, you will have to consistently reorganize your plan and tighten up holes so that your affiliate program will be successful.

Search for products that are similar but not competing with your own product and contact the owners proposing a joint venture offering to promote their product in return for them promoting yours. This could be via a solo ad to your lists, or perhaps a back-end promotion after the sale of the product.

Finally you may also want to advertise your affiliate program. Find websites that are targeted at affiliates e.g. forums and consider advertising your affiliate program with them.

These are just a few ideas, but hopefully this will give you a head start on how to get more affiliates.