How To Define Affiliate Marketing

"Can You Define Affiliate Marketing?" Ryan asked me. "Well, ya. There are a few pieces to the puzzle, but the easiest way to think of it is like 'virtual salesperson'. It's that simple, really."

He didn't like that answer and wanted more.

"I think it was Rosalind Gardner, a Super Affiliate Marketer who makes about $500,000 a year, who described it as 'selling other people's stuff'. That's a good way to look at it too."

Ryan didn't like that at all. He told me, "Seriously... Tell me what affiliate marketing means or you're getting punched in the Wikipedia!"

Yes, he actually said "Wikipedia."

He uses that word all the time when he tells you where you'll get punched. He doesn't even know it's a website. Yes, that's sad. Must have heard somebody else using it... Don't ask.

But, it did give me a great idea - I did a quick search at Wikipedia.org, the kick butt online dictionary...

Wikipedia.org gives the following definition for Affiliate Marketing:

Affiliate Marketing is a widespread method of promoting a website, in which an affiliate is rewarded for every visitor, subscriber and/or customer provided through his efforts. It is a modern variation of the practice of paying finder's-fees to individuals who introduce new clients to a business. Compensation may be made based on a certain value for each visit (Pay-per-click), registrant (Pay-per-lead), or a commission for each customer or sale (Pay-per-Sale).

Yikes!

The "salesperson" idea is much easier way to define affiliate marketing, don't you think?

Ryan agreed, but didn't fully understand. So I said "Let's go over a really, really quick example..."

You've got a website about the best cookbooks from around the world
Your site gets lots of traffic
You join the Amazon.com Affiliate Program
You place a link on your site to Amazon.com's cookbook section

Ya with me so far? Good! Continue...

I go to your site and click your Amazon.com affiliate link
I'm immediately sent to the Amazon.com cookbook section
I buy cookbooks at Amazon.com
You get paid a commission from Amazon.com!

Just like a great salesperson, you've given me a way to buy the cookbooks I just read about on your website! How easy is that? Like taking candy from a baby! In fact, sometimes I think it's so easy, it should be illegal!

Finally, Ryan got it. Just in time too. I was beginning to lose my patience...

Does that help with your original question? The example sure helped me define affiliate marketing to Ryan.

He's not as bright as you, so I had to draw him a diagram too... At least he's able to define affiliate marketing now.

I really hope he doesn't read this or I'm sure to get punched in the Wikipedia.

... I'm starting to talk like him... Sorry.

Thanks for reading,

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