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Electronic commerce is a business model that has demonstrated lasting power — and the ability for those with insights to make money on it. That’s where “The Complete Guide to Affiliate Marketing On The Web” by Bruce C. Brown comes into play. His subtitle, “How to Use and Profit from Affiliate Marketing Programs” neatly sums up the “why” behind this comprehensive 384-page book.

Basically, this type of marketing links a product or service to other online sites, thus increasing exposure and potential sales. It also levels the playing field, so even mom-and-pop shops can compete with big-box retailers. As Brown puts it: “Unlike many endeavors, affiliate marketing gives everyone an equal opportunity to make money with their passions.”

One of the book’s better parts is the way it discusses common mistakes others have made along the way and prevents new merchants from falling into those traps. Along with offering insider tips, Brown provides “tricks of the trade” that otherwise could take years to pick up. Also provided is a handy list of affiliate networks to choose from to get under way and useful advice on creating and maintaining a profitable Web site that attracts customers.

A hint such as don’t cram a page with flashing banners and graphics is the type of suggestion an entrepreneur who is new to this field needs.

Another positive aspect of Brown’s book is his use of case studies and interviews with those who have been on the front lines. Example: His interview with Alexander Gutin, whose company, Web Scribble Solutions, makes Web-based software that powers hundreds of online affiliate programs.

For someone just starting out, Gutin’s advice includes giving “some sort of incentive to your affiliates to join your program. There

are thousands of affiliate programs; find a way to distinguish yours.” Also, “automate everything from the beginning. Find a software package that will handle sale tracking, commissions, payouts, and so on.”

Those are the types of helpful guideposts a reader can use in his or her own business.

Brown is careful, however, to point out that this endeavor requires lots of research and homework in order to click. However, do that and there’s no reason why it can’t work, he says.

Rating: 4 / 5

Bruce Brown’s The Complete Guide to Affiliate Marketing on the Web is a crash course for those who want to learn how to successfully host an affiliate program on their Web sites or join an affiliate network. This book provides an in-depth look at all of the basics of affiliate marketing, including managing, promoting, and growing programs; helping affiliates who are technically challenged, managing cookies, developing multi-tier marketing, and writing a marketing plan. It’s clear the author has a firm grasp of where affiliate marketing is today and where it’s likely to be headed over the next few years.

I was worried that this subject would be too technical and, therefore, hard to learn. Fortunately, the author provides simple, step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions for novices who are learning how to become affiliates. He also describes how to maximize search engine optimization, how to become a power affiliate, affiliate mistakes, and effective ways that to deal with click fraud and scumware (commission stealing applications).

The book is chock full of useful resources regarding website development techniques that will enhance affiliate marketing programs, the best software to use (and it’s often free), and ways to select the most reputable affiliate programs. Also, the last part of the book features case studies and interviews with several experts in the field–I learned a lot from reading what they had to say. Though the book is big (nearly 400 pages), I found reading The Complete Guide to Affiliate Marketing on the Web to be profitable and worthwhile, and I would highly encourage anyone who is interested in a good introduction to the subject to read this book.
Rating: 5 / 5