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You Need to Monetize!

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I cringe when I come across sites like these — great niche, lots of content, customer reviews — and yet little or NO attempt to monetize.

It's especially frustrating when I see that the site has been online for a few years, ranks on the first page of Google for some of its targeted keyword phrases and that there are scads of products to market via affiliate programs — yet the webmaster has nothing more than one instance of Adsense per page of his or her site.

Take a look at the following video and if your site looks anything like this one does — you NEED to monetize using affiliate programs!

Comments? Questions? Need help to monetize your site?

Comments, questions or suggestions? Please leave a comment below!

Cheers,

Ros

Looking for just one program that will take through the entire process of building an affiliate marketing business on the ‘Net? Check out Affiliate Blogger PRO.

Affiliate Blogger PRO combines the affiliate marketing industry’s standard training manual (the Super Affiliate Handbook) with video tutorials, an active community forum and much more.

Start your training today!

Affiliate Marketing in May: Mom’s the Word

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Recession or not, Mother's Day is still one of the most commercially successful occasions in North America.

Over the past 5 years, statistical reports from various associations indicate that:

  • Mother's Day is now the most popular day of the year to dine out at a restaurant in the United States.
  • In 2006, Americans spent approximately $2.6 billion on flowers, $1.53 billion on pampering gifts—like spa treatments—and another $68 million on greeting cards
  • In 2008, Mother's Day generated about 7.8% of the U.S. jewelry industry's annual revenue, with custom gifts like mother's rings.

Better yet… According to a report released by the National Retail Federation this week, 21.5% of consumers will turn to online retail sites, up slightly from 19.7% last year — with each spending an average of $219.40 on gifts for mother.

You can promote flowers, spa treatments (gift certificates), chocolates and all the usual assortment of typical mother's day gifts, OR you can try to be a little more unique by meshing your niche with your favorite mom's interests. Here are a few ideas:

Sell the romantic, intriguing, and mysterious Message In A Bottle
Promote health and love with a gift that helps her quit smoking
Offer Dinner of the Month Club certificates through Restaurant.com
Encourage your readers to buy their mom's her own domain name and web hosting for a year. 🙂
Go eco-friendly and promote trees through Nature Hills Nursery
And my personal favorite, Amazing Clubs which has wine, beer, dinner, cigar, cheese, movie and many more monthly clubs.

In May, other popular events, holidays and special days coming up this month are:

Holidays in May 2016 in include:

  • 1 May Day
  • 1 Loyalty Day
  • 1 Mother Goose Day
  • 1 Save the Rhino Day
  • 2 Baby Day
  • 2 Brothers and Sisters Day
  • 3 Lumpy Rug Day
  • 3 National Teachers Day (Tuesday of the first full week of May)
  • 3 World Press Freedom Day
  • 4 Bird Day
  • 4 National Candied Orange Peel Day
  • 4 Renewal Day
  • 4 Star Wars Day
  • 5 Cinco de Mayo
  • 5 National Hoagie Day
  • 5 Oyster Day
  • 6 Beverage Day
  • 6 International Tuba Day – first Friday in May
  • 6 Military Spouses Day the Friday before Mother's Day
  • 6 National Tourist Appreciation Day
  • 6 National Nurses Day
  • 6 No Diet Day
  • 6 Space Day – first Friday in May
  • 7 Birth Mother's Day – Saturday before Mother's Day
  • 7 National Tourism Day
  • 8 Iris Day
  • 8 Mother's Day second Sunday in May
  • 8 No Socks Day
  • 8 V-E Day
  • 8 World Red Cross Day / World Red Crescent Day
  • 9 Lost Sock Memorial Day
  • 10 Clean up Your Room Day
  • 11 Eat What You Want Day
  • 11 National Receptionist Day the second Wednesday in May
  • 11 School Nurses Day the Wednesday during Nurse's Week
  • 11 Twilight Zone Day
  • 12 Fatigue Syndrome Day
  • 12 International Nurses Day
  • 12 Limerick Day
  • 13 Blame Someone Else Day – first Friday the 13th of the year.
  • 13 Friday the 13th – the only one in 2016
  • 13 Frog Jumping Day
  • 13 Leprechaun Day
  • 14 Dance Like a Chicken Day
  • 14 International Migratory Bird Day the second Saturday in May
  • 14 National Train Day- date varies
  • 15 National Chocolate Chip Day
  • 15 Police Officer's Memorial Day
  • 16 Love a Tree Day
  • 16 National Sea Monkey Day
  • 16 Wear Purple for Peace Day
  • 17 Pack Rat Day
  • 18 International Museum Day
  • 18 No Dirty Dishes Day
  • 18 Visit Your Relatives Day
  • 19 Boy's Club Day
  • 20 Be a Millionaire Day – now we all can go for that
  • 20 National Bike to Work Day – third Friday of month
  • 20 Pick Strawberries Day
  • 21 Armed Forces Day – third Saturday of month
  • 21 National Memo Day
  • 21 National Waiters and Waitresses Day
  • 22 Buy a Musical Instrument Day
  • 22 World Goth Day
  • 23 Lucky Penny Day
  • 24 National Escargot Day
  • 24 Victoria Day(Canada) – usually the 24th
  • 25 National Missing Children's Day
  • 25 Tap Dance Day
  • 26 Sally Ride Day
  • 27 Sun Screen Day
  • 28 Amnesty International Day
  • 28 International Jazz Day – Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.
  • 29 Learn About Composting Day
  • 30 Memorial Day last Monday of month.
  • 30 Water a Flower Day
  • 31 National Macaroon Day
  • 31 Save Your Hearing Day
  • 31 World No Tobacco Day

There's still plenty of time to plan for and promote the latter 2 holidays, which traditionally represent the first weekend of outdoor activities throughout most of the U.S. and Canada. Think barbeques, camping and baseball!!

Have fun.

Did you find this post informative and useful? If so, please share it with others! If you have a comment, question or suggestion, please leave a comment below!

Cheers,
sig-ros

Video: How Affiliate Marketing Works #2

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After my recent debacle with YouTube in which they took down some of my most informative videos, I decided to remake my “How Affiliate Marketing Works” video.

The newest version demonstrates how I make money from my personal blog at RosalindGardner.me and covers blog content, finding and installing your affiliate links.

Of course, to learn all about how affiliate marketing works, get the Super Affiliate Handbook – the affiliate marketing industry's standard training manual OR join my multi-media affiliate coaching membership site at Affiliate Blogger PRO.

Did you find this post informative and useful? If so, please share it with others! If you have a comment, question or suggestion, please leave a comment below!

Cheers,
sig-ros

Affiliate Marketing in March: Go Green

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Affiliate Marketing in MarchCheck out the holiday calendar and you'll notice that there are a number of holidays and observances which lend themselves to affiliate marketing opportunities in March.

The most popular dates and events are:

  1. St. Patrick's Day – March 17th
  2. Spring equinox – March 20th
  3. NCAA March Madness

Month-long Celebrations in March

  • Irish American Month
  • Music in Our Schools Month
  • National Craft Month
  • National Frozen Food Month
  • National Irish American Heritage Month- designated by Congress in 1995.
  • National Nutrition Month
  • National Peanut Month
  • National Women's History Month
  • Red Cross Month
  • Social Workers Month

Celebrations by Date in March 2016:

  • 1 National Pig Day
  • 1 Peanut Butter Lovers' Day
  • 2 Old Stuff Day
  • 3 I Want You to be Happy Day
  • 3 If Pets Had Thumbs Day
  • 3 National Anthem Day
  • 3 Peach Blossom Day
  • 4 Employee Appreciation Day first Friday in March
  • 4 Holy Experiment Day
  • 4 Hug a GI Day
  • 4 National Walk to Work Day
  • 4 National Salesperson Day – first Friday in the month
  • 5 Multiple Personality Day
  • 6 Dentist's Day
  • 6 National Frozen Food Day
  • 7 National Crown Roast of Pork Day
  • 8 Be Nasty Day
  • 8 International (Working) Women's Day
  • 9 Panic Day
  • 10 Middle Name Pride Day
  • 10 Popcorn Lover's Day second Thursday
  • 11 Johnny Appleseed Day
  • 11 Worship of Tools Day – guys, you can relate
  • 12 Girl Scouts Day
  • 12 Plant a Flower Day
  • 13 Ear Muff Day
  • 13 Jewel Day
  • 14 Learn about Butterflies Day
  • 14 National Potato Chip Day
  • 14 National Pi Day- Why today? Because today is 3.14, the value of Pi.
  • 15 Everything You Think is Wrong Day
  • 15 Ides of March
  • 15 Incredible Kid Day
  • 15 Dumbstruck Day
  • 15 National Agriculture Day – date varies
  • 16 Everything You Do is Right Day
  • 16 Freedom of Information Day
  • 17 Submarine Day – the hero sandwich or the boat??
  • 17 Saint Patrick's Day
  • 18 Goddess of Fertility Day
  • 18 National Agriculture Day (date varies)
  • 18 Supreme Sacrifice Day
  • 19 National Quilting Day – third Saturday of month
  • 19 Poultry Day
  • 20 International Earth Day
  • 20 Extraterrestrial Abductions Day
  • 20 Proposal Day
  • 21 Credit Card Reduction Day
  • 21 Fragrance Day
  • 22 National Goof Off Day
  • 23 National Chip and Dip Day
  • 23 Near Miss Day
  • 24 National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day
  • 25 Good Friday – date varies
  • 25 Pecan Day
  • 25 Waffle Day
  • 26 Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
  • 26 National Spinach Day
  • 27 Easter Date varies
  • 27 National “Joe” Day
  • 28 Dyngus Day always the Monday after Easter
  • 28 Something on a Stick Day
  • 29 National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day
  • 29 Smoke and Mirrors Day
  • 30 National Doctor's Day
  • 30 I am in Control Day
  • 30 Take a Walk in the Park Day
  • 31 Bunsen Burner Day
  • 31 National Clam on the Half Shell Day

The defining color for the month is decidedly green.

But your blog doesn't need to be dedicated to basketball, holidays, all things Irish, green living or gardening to profit from those topics.

Here are examples of how to integrate these topics into a number of different niche topics.

  1. Community blog – Write about planned festivities in your town.
  2. Personal blog – Post about how you plan to celebrate the events.
  3. Sports – Not a basketball fan? Blog about teams that go green for St. Patty's.
  4. Fashion blog – pretty green handbags for spring.
  5. Cooking blog – your favorite green recipes… and don't forget to talk about the green beer!
  6. Health blog – Best greens for healthy nutrition.
  7. Travel – spring break destinations. Greener travel.
  8. Mommy blog – kids' St. Patrick's Day party.

Use your imagination. Almost any two niches can be married successfully with a little thought.

What should you sell?

Well, you can sell just about anything related to the niche and the theme – i.e. t-shirts, cookbooks, team jerseys (any type of clothing), event tickets, gift cards – you name it.

Be unique in both your content product offerings.

Search your favorite affiliate networks for St. Patrick's and spring specials. Shareasale in particular always has “Prepare for the Upcoming Holidays” near the top of its interface with holiday names linked to promotions from your affiliated merchants.

Here's a unique product / service that I came across recently that would work for so many different types of blogs, and not just in March.

It's called Going Green Today and it's on the Performance Based ECO affiliate network. What they do is create action plans for 90 day Green Makeovers through free lifestyle assessments. Visitors take the assessments to see if they can save $2000 from their costs of living.

Look for it in the near future on http://RosalindGardner.com which sports a Greener Living section.

See… no matter what the month, you can blog about almost anything. 🙂

So, what are you blogging about in March?

Did you find this post informative and useful? If so, please share it with others! If you have a comment, question or suggestion, please leave a comment below!

Cheers,
sig-ros

2011 Holiday Calendar

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2011 Holiday CalendarHere's a list of holidays and observances for 2011.

Use it to help you plan your publishing schedule for 2011.

For example, you now know that Chinese New Year will be on February 3rd. Write a post now about Chinese New Year and schedule it to be published on that date.

You will find that these types of preparations make your workload over the course of the year SO much easier!

[Read more…]

Affiliate Marketing in January: Resolve and Renew

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It would be easy to come to the conclusion that January is a lousy month for affiliate marketing, as it follows hot on the heels of the year's most expensive party and gift giving season.

Well, that's hardly the case.

Smart shoppers know that January is when some of the year's best deals are to be had in big appliances, linens, gift and occasion cards, outdoor gear, prom dresses, video games and winter clothing.

Moreover, January is the time when people start working on resolutions and ways to improve their lives… or, at least until the 17th which is Ditch New Years Resolutions Day. 🙂 So think self-improvement, weight loss, fitness, smoking cessation and debt solution products, the latter of which will go briskly once the credit card bills arrive.

To top things off, January offers a whole host of holidays and unique celebrations that can be monetized by affiliate marketers, many of which are listed below.

Month-long Celebrations in January:

  • Hot Tea Month
  • National Bath Safety Month
  • National Blood Donor Month
  • National Braille Literacy Month
  • National Hobby Month
  • National Oatmeal Month
  • National Soup Month

Most notable holidays and events in January:

  • 1 New Year's Day
  • Epiphany
  • Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Chinese New Year

Celebrations by Date in January 2016:

  • 1 New Year's Day
  • 2 Run up the Flagpole and See if Anyone Salutes Day
  • 3 Festival of Sleep Day
  • 3 Fruitcake Toss Day
  • 3 Humiliation Day
  • 4 Trivia Day
  • 5 National Bird Day
  • 6 Bean Day
  • 6 Cuddle Up Day
  • 7 Old Rock Day
  • 8 Bubble Bath Day
  • 8 Male Watcher's Day
  • 9 Play God Day
  • 10 Houseplant Appreciation Day
  • 10 Peculiar People Day
  • 11 Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend's Day
  • 12 Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day
  • 12 National Pharmacist Day
  • 13 International Skeptics Day
  • 13 Make Your Dream Come True Day
  • 14 Dress Up Your Pet Day
  • 15 National Hat Day
  • 16 Appreciate a Dragon Day
  • 16 National Nothing Day
  • 17 Ditch New Years Resolutions Day
  • 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday , celebrated on the third Monday
  • 18 Thesaurus Day
  • 18 Winnie the Pooh Day
  • 19 National Popcorn Day
  • 20 National Buttercrunch Day
  • 20 Penguin Awareness Day
  • 21 National Hugging Day
  • 21 Squirrel Appreciation Day
  • 22 National Blonde Brownie Day
  • 23 National Pie Day
  • 23 National Handwriting Day
  • 23 Measure Your Feet Day
  • 24 Beer Can Appreciation Day
  • 24 Compliment Day
  • 25 Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day – last Monday of month
  • 25 Opposite Day
  • 26 Spouse's Day
  • 27 Chocolate Cake Day
  • 27 Punch the Clock Day
  • 28 Data Privacy Day
  • 28 Fun at Work Day
  • 28 National Kazoo Day
  • 29 National Puzzle Day
  • 29 National Cornchip Day
  • 30 National Inane Answering Message Day
  • 31 Backward Day
  • 31 Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

For more ideas on how to monetize early in January, read my article “How to Make Money from New Year’s Resolutions“.

And if you want to make sure you don't ditch your own resolutions to improve your Internet marketing business this year, read Make Your Resolutions a Reality and 10 Resolutions for Better Online Business this Year.

Did you find this post informative and useful? If so, please share it with others! If you have a comment, question or suggestion, please leave a comment below!

Cheers,
sig-ros

Affiliate Summit Pinnacle Awards

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Nominations are being accepted for the six Affiliate Summit Pinnacle Awards through November 30, 2010.

These awards recognize exceptional performance in affiliate marketing in the following categories:

  • Affiliate of the Year
  • Affiliate Manager of the Year
  • Exceptional Merchant
  • Affiliate Marketing Advocate
  • Best Blogger
  • Affiliate Marketing Legend

Submit your nominations at http://www.affiliatesummit.com/pinnacle-award-nomination/.

The Pinnacle Awards will be presented on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at Affiliate Summit West 2011, at the Wynn in Las Vegas.

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