A few days ago, a member of one of my affiliate program downlines contacted me with this email:
‘I’ve been promoting this product for nearly 5 months now and I haven’t sold anything. I’ve tried everything you can think of! I’m about ready to give up. Do you have any suggestions?’
After looking at his website and a couple of his ads, I wrote back with a simple question:
‘Did you buy the product yourself?’
His answer: No.
Maybe I’m coming from a biased point of view (as his affiliate sponsor), but to me, it was obvious that he didn’t know the product very well.
Most people don’t want to believe it, but one of the best ways to sell an affiliate product is to *buy the product*, use it, and then provide a personal testimonial (assuming it deserves one, of course).
‘But that costs money!’ some people moan. Yes, it does; but so does wasted advertising dollars and effort. You’re in business, remember? The phrase, ‘you have to spend money to make money’ is well-known for a reason: it’s true.
Oh, you don’t have a spend a lot; that’s the beauty of the Internet. But think of it this way: why should your visitors buy a product that you wouldn’t buy yourself? Investing in the product gives you several advantages that you can use towards making more sales …
Now I can understand putting off the purchase of an expensive, high-end product … but if your affiliate product is only a few dollars, then why hesitate? Many people spend far more on advertising than it would cost them to purchase the affiliate product.
So what can you do if you don’t have much money to spare?
Can you make good money selling affiliate products without buying them yourself? Sure. No doubt there are a few people who do. But most people have trouble selling *anything* online, let alone a product they know nothing or very little about. Which path will YOU take?
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Angela is the editor of Online Business Basics, a practical, down-to-earth guide to building an Internet business on a beginner’s budget. If you enjoyed this article, you’ll love the book! Visit http://www.onlinebusinessbasics.com or request a series of 10 free reports to get you started.