Affiliate Programs For Easter

Looking to make a few extra bucks by cashing in on the Easter Holiday? Well, join the ranks and help what the Affiliate Networks will hopefully be a successful holiday. But what sells well for Easter, obviously it's a religious holiday, but what could an affiliate sell online that they normally wouldn't.

Think Candy!

Yes, people order candy online all the time, but really start placing online munchy orders during the Easter season. Thankfully, many popular and brand recognizable programs offer promotions this time of year to get people to buy candy online, rather than at the local dollar store.

Easter Affiliate Promotions:

JellyBelly - 10% Commission on all orders, plus they have plenty of Easter creatives.
Gertrude Hawk Chocolates - 12% base commission on all orders, along with a tiered incentive that goes all the way up to 15% with referred sales of over $5000.
iGourmet - 8% tiered commission that can be raised to 10% if you refer over $5000 in sales.

How To Join These Programs

Joining these Easter affiliate programs is easy, since all are under one affiliate network at Pepper Jam. Simply sign up to the PepperJam Network and apply to the individual online candy merchants. Then, just start earning that extra holiday affiliate income.

Happy Easter everyone and don't forget to brush!

Creating Affiliate Focus

Perhaps I'm not the only one in the situation where my mind races and I get a ton of ideas in any single day. It's a curse, that doesn't allow me to focus on a single program and perhaps maximize my earnings before moving on. Arguably it's a benefit, since not all my eggs are in one basket, but it's a hindrance since I won't realize the upper tier earnings of one specific program.

Although it's been working for me in the past 3 years, I'm really hoping to start focusing on specific affiliate programs. Create true quality focused landing pages and websites that will help bring in the bonus's that many affiliate programs offer.

For example, CallawayGolfPreowned.com offers a sizable increase in commission rate for sales totaling over $2,000 and then $5,000. This is a perfect program that focuses on a quality known brand, Callaway Golf, and are a high cost item that can quickly total up some high sales. This makes the tiers easily reached, if the affiliate marketer could focus on it more than the hundreds of other golf affiliate programs on the market.

Why PepperJam Network

I've been a member of a number of affiliate networks, including but not limited to Commission Junction, ClickBank, Affiliatefuture, and Shareasale. All of these networks offer some great programs, interesting tools, and some sort of customer service. However, in the past 3 months I've been using PepperJam they have went above and behond in all aspects of what I look for in an affiliate network.

The Programs

Pepperjam network has so many great programs in their arsenal and seem to be adding 100's monthly. Each of these programs are a great way to diversify your affiliate income sources and even give you some great ideas. Program managers can also solicit you to be their affiliate partner, not just the other way around like on other networks.

Payout

Pepperjam pays me every 2 weeks via PayPal on locked commissions. Each affiliate program has it's own requirements for what means 'locked' but generally speaking I've been keeping my plate full and who can argue with fast immediate deposits in a PayPal account?

Ease of Use

Whether I'm searching for a new program to affiliate for, checking my reports, or just finding out what the latest news is, PJN navigation and use is top notch. Almost all aspects of my account are reachable from the main dashboard and affiliate programs I've already partnered with are readily available through one click, no need to filter results. Furthermore I'm treated with 4 very distinctive reports immediately, every time I login.

Affiliate Tools

Affiliates are only as good as the tools they are given, the more tools, the happier I am. PJN offers plenty of standard tools, like banner generation, text links, and advanced javascript ads for some programs, but in the past month they released a monster tool, Pepperjam Store Builder. This tool allows you to create mini-stores through a point and click interface, then simply copy the code generated into any standard web page environment. Also, don't forget their PepperJam Ads tool as well, which will create Adsense like ads to display on your website, though all or any programs you select.

Affiliate Customer Support

I just cannot speak highly enough about the support I've received from the employees of the PepperJam Network. There have been a number of issues, not necessarily problems, that have creeped up that have allowed me to speak through email and on the phone with my account rep. Every time has been a pleasant experience and messages have been promptly responded to. Unfortunately I can't say the same thing about other networks where human contact is required. Also, what other network allows you to meet the entire Pepperjam Network team, even the bulldog on YouTube?

Closing Statements

I'm not a huge affiliate with the Pepperjam Network, on average about $400 per month, but I'm working on expanding and moving over some of my sites and replacing some other network programs. Even though I'm not what would be considered a super affiliate, I can vouche for the kind of support I have received from them, it's phenomenal and a network I can feel good about recommending to anyone.

Christmas Affiliate Programs

I'm willing to bet it's not too late to start creating an affiliate site dedicated to selling Christmas items. As a matter of fact, now is the time you can capitalize on some great deals by affiliate programs looking to hook holiday buyers early. According to industry analysts this will be a down year for Christmas and holiday sales, so the longer you wait, the less of the pie you will get.

I've broken down a few great Christmas Affiliates that I'm using through PepperJamNetwork.


ChristmasTreesGalore.com has a great affiliate program setup through PJN that is currently offering 10% revenue sharing.


ChristmasLights.com is also offering a program that pays out 5% revenue sharing.


WreathsGalore.com is currently paying out 8% revenue sharing on all purchases.

Now, these may not be the highest paying affiliate programs available right now, but they are certainly the most targeted for a quickly approaching major holiday. I'm not too up on affiliating for Thanksgiving or even Halloween, but this Christmas I will be ready with the previous affiliate offers.

Pepperjam Network Special Offer

Sign Up for Pepperjam Network and Get a $10 Sign On Bonus

Affiliate Network Referrals

What's better than finding a great affiliate network full of great programs? Well being paid to tell your friends about them, of course. The majority of networks out there will offer commissions in some manner for other affiliates you refer to their network. Furthermore, the payout for referring other merchants is even higher, but I'm just going to focus on the affiliate referrals for now.

PepperJamNetwork - Pays $7 USD per affiliate you refer to their network.



MaxBounty - Earn 5% commission on every affiliate you refer for up to 1 year.




ShareASale - Earn $1 per referred affiliate.



AffiliateFuture - Pays 5% commission on every affiliate you refer.




I currently or have used in the past all the networks mentioned above. Through my sites I've earned comparable income from all and had no issues in receiving payments through their programs or referrals.

This post was not a paid for post, however the banners do contain my affiliate link, so any support is appreciated.

Commission Junction Changing Payment Threshold

Are you a CJ affiliate? Do you get paid via paper check? I do and it looks like the threshold for receiving a check in the mail is being raised. This change effects all locations, not just the US as well.

Starting on August 28 to receive a direct deposit for your commissions from CJ.com you must have built up earnings of $50 or more and to receive a paper check you must have earned $100 or more. Nos this isn't too big of a deal and I can see how it will vastly improve their efficiencies and even cut down on their man hours.

Just be warned, in case you were expecting a small check or deposit next month from Commission Junction.

When Is It Changing?

1. The change will be effective August 28, 2008, and will affect the checks you would receive as part of September’s payout.

Why Is Commission Junction Making This Change?

1. To streamline our publisher payment process.
2. To offer publishers an incentive to switch to direct deposit because paper checks are less efficient, more costly and slower than the electronic option.
3. To drastically cut down on paper consumption and better support environmentally conscious commerce.
4. To better align our process with the industry because our minimum commission threshold to receive payment is, almost without exception, far below the current standard.

How Will It Impact You?

1. Simply stated, beginning in September you will be paid once your earned commissions meet or exceed the amount in the chart above (based on functional currency and payout option).
2. If you wish to change payment methods, log in to your Account Manager, click the Account tab>Administrative Settings tab>Payment Information>Edit button. Changes should be made no later than August 28, 2008 to be in effect before the payments are processed in September.
3. We hope you will be able to utilize the direct deposit method of payment if you are not yet using it – it will ultimately benefit you and the environment.

MaxBounty Affiliate Referral

MaxBounty is an affiliate program management company that offers a lot of different programs to fit almost any niche. I've found that they have one of the largest selection of 'email lead' programs, where a visitor only has to register their email for a product and then you get a lead commission. This has worked great in the past on my video game blogs, especially when the Wii first came out and everyone was trying to get a free one...or get one anywhere for that matter.

Also, it's no secret that they offer a great commission to affiliates for recommending other affiliates to their website. Currently they offer 5% of earnings of the referred affiliate to the person who sent them there and this percentage is paid out for a full year. If you get a few good affiliates under you this can really add up and even suppliment some of your affiliate income.

If you are interested please sign up via my referral link below.

Targeting The Less Web Smart

Not exactly sure how to say that, but generally speaking it's easier to get leads from those who are not as familiar with the way the internet works. For example I have a MySpace Content site that provides themes, pictures, and different code to make their profiles fun and generally these visitors are not as web knowledgeable as say those visiting this site. So an ad that we see as obviously an ad, will for them be a potential score for a free product, by simply entering their email.

Lately Ive been trying to market ring tones to this crowd, but to no luck, since they have to register their text code to complete the lead and earn me a commission. Today I got an email from my affiliate manager at MaxBounty announcing a new program trying to push Rock Band 2, which as you know is a wildly popular 'younger crowd' video game. All that is required is a 2 page submit and confirmation of email, which I'm hoping will translate into some good leads and give me $2.60 per lead.

As an affiliate you know it's all about knowing your visitors and targeting what they find interesting. Obviously I'm not going to try and sell SEO services to a bunch of visitors looking to put pictures of Britney Spears on their MySpace profile. ;)

NewEgg Mall Affiliate Program

I'm not sure about you, but I am a massive fan of anything NewEgg. It seems like no matter what I am buying, if NewEgg.com had it, it was cheaper even with freight. The only problem was that their inventory of items was limited to electronics, but now they've got a whole line of products similar to Amazon at the NewEggMall. I've been biting the bullet waiting for them to release an affiliate program and now it looks like they are offering one through Commission Junction.

NeweggMall.com, a subsidiary of Newegg Inc., is a premier online shopping destination for general merchandise. Launched in 2008, this elegant e-commerce site boasts a wide-ranging selection of apparel, accessories, auto, home living, jewelry & watches, and outdoor & garden products to meet the demands of the most selective customers.

Building on the success of newegg.com, the second-largest online-only retailer in the United States and preferred destination for technology enthusiasts, NeweggMall.com brings the same customer-centric principles to the broader market: great product selection and pricing, fast delivery and outstanding customer service. With more than 15,000 unique products available on the site, NeweggMall.com continues to seek out, evaluate and add merchant partners who can deliver the high quality e-commerce shopping experience customers have come to associate with the Newegg brand.

Looks like the NewEggMall affiliate program will drop a 30 day cookie and earn you a 4% flat commission on whatever is purchased. This is lower than what you can get through Amazon, but a much better cookie length. Furthermore the regular NewEgg.com affiliate program only offers a 3 day cookie length, so you better get while the getting is good. Affiliate programs like Amazon only offer a 1 day action period and I think we will see NewEgg drop the length of their cookie after this site kick off as well.

Affiliate Incentives

It's important, as in any business, to familiarize yourself with the companies that you affiliate with. Knowing their business practices and strategies will help you become a better affiliate for them and also give warning to things you may want to step away from. By becoming entrenched with a certain company though, blinders can be put on to similar affiliate programs that may offer some nice incentives.

I operate a number of automotive themed websites and blogs, which I affiliate for parts warehouses and places like eBay. While eBay is my primary source of affiliate income I also subscribe to affiliate program updates in my reader from the operating affiliate network. This means that whenever an affiliate incentive is being offered by another affiliate, in this example AutoPartsWarehouse.com, I can take advantage of the bonuses they offer. Often these bonuses are time sensitive so staying on top of an offer is important.

Currently AutoPartsWarehouse.com is offering affiliates a $50 or $100 activation bonus. This means that for an accumulated sales amount of $300 or more, you will receive a one-time cash reward of $50. If you generate an accumulated sales amount of $500 or more, you receive a one-time $100 cash out reward. Obviously this can really add to a monthly income for affiliate beginners or long term marketers alike. Had I not been attentive to the updates from my Affiliate Network I would not have been privy to this great lil bonus that should be easy to accumulate for the month of July.

In addition to staying up to date with bonuses and incentives, often times companies will provide seasonal promotional material. Web graphics and banners for affiliate programs will be updated during the holidays for special promotions that the company may be running. Being July and the 4th is around the corner make sure you are using all methods possible to promote your niche and make those extra affiliate sales.

Affiliate News From The Web

What is my greatest tool in my arsenal of affiliate marketing endeavors, reading what others have done! That's right, take in every biscuit of knowledge you can from leading bloggers, newbies trial and erroring, anything. Just remember to apply what you know to what you read and don't expect someone to show you the Yellow Brick Road of affiliate marketing either, the best secrets are kept that way, secret.

I came across a great blog post by Dave Martinez that broke down the top 7 things to look for in an Affiliate Program. Believe it or not it's not just how much it pays and what he covers could save you some serious head aches in the long run. Furthermore, some of the topics he covers will make you more affiliate commissions than just going after something you know nothing about.

Check out 7 Things To Look For In An Affiliate Program