How to make money with Linkshare

Among the most popular online affiliate marketing programs I can admit LinkShare, having over 10 million affiliates in their network. It was launched in 1996, and today it is one of largest and most trusted affiliate networks on the Internet. They offer and manage tons of affiliate marketing programs for a great number of merchants with various kinds of businesses, products and services that you can join including many big name and brand companies. It also has over 6,000 affiliate site members in its network. The main profit source for LinkShare is the setup fees, monthly account maintenance fees and commissions. The main function of LinkShare is the connection merchants with online affiliates who then sell products through their own websites in order to earn a commission.

Once you join the LinkShare network, you are given access to a wide variety of merchants and products. You then select items and place links on your website. Every time someone follows one of these links and makes a purchase, you earn a commission on the total amount of the sale.

Whether you are a merchant (advertiser) or an affiliate marketer, you need to research well on your partners in order to choose the best for you. LinkShare provides the facility of acquiring access to a large network of advertisers (merchants) who offer their affiliate programs to publishers (affiliates) who are willing to promote their products. In the same manner, it gives the merchants access to a large network of affiliates who are searching for affiliate marketing opportunities. Joining networks like LinkShare can be of great help in establishing your online marketing business.

1. LinkShare provides access to a great number of merchants including the biggest Dell, Disney and Apple iTunes, Hallmark, American Express, Disney, WesternUnion, AT&T, Delta, 1800flowers, Drugstore, Target, etc. If you want to offer brand recognition and popular products on your website, Linkshare is a great choice.

2. LinkShare also has a good reputation for reliability. Linkshare affiliate partners are able to choose from a wide range of products and link types, which can then be easily added to a website or blog. This allows you too quickly add new product links or modify old links to feature new or updated items.

3. Convenience. LinkShare is especially beneficial for an affiliate in choosing his partners since he can find his options all in one location. You save time and effort looking for affiliate programs or merchants. It would be easier for him to compare products, commission rates and other benefits given by the merchant. They offer all the standard types of creatives ranging from banner ads to pre-written e-mails.

4. Tracking and statistics. It’s also easier to track your business partner’s performance through monthly reports and statements, as well as its sales and commission rates, so you know whether the affiliate program is still worth continuing. As earlier mentioned, if you have signed up for several affiliate programs, you can check all your statistics for each merchandiser you are affiliated with by logging in just once. LinkShare helps you manage and maintain all records of your visitors’ click-through rates and sales transaction. It takes care of your commissions and gives it to you monthly in lump sum. Especially when you have more than one merchant partner, it would be easier for you to manage your accounts and track your earnings when you are affiliated through a marketing program network. Furthermore, every information you get is accurate and secured, so you are protected from all the risk you might encounter.
You have the option of tracking your affiliate operation through six different reports. It allows you to run all the reports for any time period and for any group of affiliates you want. Each report can be instantly sorted by any of the performance variables and some of them can be downloaded into Excel. Main disadvantage is that reporting is not real-time: this information is not available to affiliates before 24 hours and only contains standard impression, click-through, order and commission counts.

5. You can enjoy LinkShare’s benefits for free. You just have to go to their site and register your website. Instantly, you get access to a great variety of affiliate programs available for you. Linkshare affiliate login click here

6. LinkShare offers many different affiliate programs that match your web site's content such as PPC, PPA, and PPL. Main focus is on pay per action affiliate programs.

7. They also have educational training for publishers and when you join the link sare network you’ll have access to a highly experienced team of Network Development experts who can provide guidance on how to get the most from LinkShare tools and technology as well as tips on how to improve your conversion rates. Plus you’ll receive regular communications that include the latest information on new advertiser programs and publisher incentives plus ideas and suggestions that will help you fine-tune your business model and your Web site.

8. Products are easy to sell because their brands are known worldwide

9. There payments have always been on time and prompt

1. The commission percentages tend to be very small. Merchants offer lower commissions to affiliates who partner with them through the third party program network. This because they still have to pay for the use of service and the technology provided by LinkShare. Direct partnership with the merchant cuts costs of advertising through the network and so the affiliate has bigger potential to earn more.

2. LinkShare seems bent on making it as difficult as possible to use their service. Passwords must repeatedly be changed. Affiliate company information must continually be updated. Cookies do not work right - bouncing you out of the system. And just wait until you try to create an affiliate link to a specific product. It is absolutely terrible trying to do this. The statistics available do not measure up, not even close, to those offered by other affiliate networks.

3. Their customer service isn't as good as some of the smaller networks.

4. Statistics is not accurate

Once you have selected a number of items, you need to determine which type of link will be most effective. While LinkShare offers several linking options, most website owners report the greatest success with text links that point directly to a specific item. Graphic buttons and banners are sometimes useful, but they tend to slow down page load times and clutter up your site. Many of those new to affiliate marketing mistakenly believe that simply adding a number of product links to their website will result in instant income. In reality, you need to give your readers a reason to purchase items through your website.

How can you inspire people to make a purchase? The best way to generate sales is to offer valuable consumer advice, including product reviews and personal recommendations. Choose products that you genuinely believe are high quality and then explain to your readers both the strong points and possible weaknesses of each product.

While LinkShare offers a good way to earn money through an affiliate network, but your success depends only on you. By considering your audience and giving readers a reason to buy from your site, you can establish a successful affiliate networking website.