WebDiggin.com: An Adventure to Make Money Online

There are some great online deals out there - everything from limited time offers to special discount coupons. But here’s a way that you can save some extra money on top of whatever the company is offering. Become an affiliate marketer and get back the commission for the products that you buy.

Here’s what you do. Join an affiliate network like Commission Junction or LinkShare and scan the list of advertisers. You’ll see hundreds of merchants - some of the very brands that you already purchase. Check out the deals and the links that are being offered. When you buy those products, simply use your own affiliate link to get to the merchant’s page. When you close the sale and finalize the transaction, you’ll get your commission for the sale - which is kind of like getting a secret discount for a product that you would already buy.

There are two catches that you need to watch out for.

Problem #1: You need to reach a minimum payout before you get paid. 

First of all, affiliate programs have a minimum payout amount that you have to earn before the company will send you your cheque (or in Commission Junction’s case, a direct deposit into your bank account.) Different companies have different minimum payouts. Google AdSense has a minimum payout of $100, so I haven’t seen a penny of the $46 that I’ve earned through them. However, Commission Junction has a minimum payout of $25 which is considerably easier to reach. (In 2007, I received nearly $400 in commissions from them.) If you’re going to try to get an additional discount through affiliate marketing, be sure to sign up for an affiliate network. That way there are several products to choose from, and any commissions you make from the sale of any product works towards you reaching the minimum payout. (By the way, it usually takes a few months for the transaction to be closed and paid into your account. That way the merchant doesn’t loose money for sending you the commission if the product is returned.)

Problem #2: Some companies will ban you if you use your affiliate links on your own purchases. 

The second catch is that not all merchants approve of you using your own affiliate links to buy their products. Some merchants explicitly encourage you to use your own links to save a little money. For example, in the advertiser detail on Commission Junction for VistaPrint, they state the following: “We’re affordable, fast, easy & convenient to use. If you use your own links, it’ll be like saving 50% to 100% off!” So not only can you get 50% Off All Postcards, but you also get an additional secret 16% off the transaction when you get paid your commission. Not bad.

However, some merchants expressly forbid it. For example, bodybuilder.com states the following on their advertiser detail page on Commission Junction: “Opening an account for the purpose of placing orders for yourself is not allowed.” So, although you might be tempted to get the 10% commission kickback in addition to their coupon promotion (i.e. Take $5.00 Off Your $100 Order! Use coupon code aff5off100f9j72), don’t. Why would you put your other commissions in jeopardy by violating their terms?

Bottom line: If you’re already doing affiliate marketing, it’s always nice to save a few extra bucks for products that you buy anyways. When you’re picking affiliate products to promote, you should be picking products that you feel comfortable endorsing, anyways.

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