Q: How can I promote my affiliate links offline?

A: While most people promote their affiliate links online; depending on your target market you may be in for some stiff competition. Don’t stop your online promotion efforts and you can always add offline promotion to increase your commissions.

When promoting offline, you will need to redirect your affiliate links. This process is very simple. You can create a page on your domain that includes some HTML code that will automatically send your visitor your affiliate link. If you are promoting an auto responder, you may name the page www.yourdomain.com/autoreponder. All you have to do is add the following code:

It’s that simple.

Here are some suggestions that will help in your efforts in promoting your affiliate links offline:

* Try designing some flyers from home, and depending on the price of your printer’s ink cartridges it might be cheaper to print one at home, and then use a copy shop for the actual copying services. Take the flyers out with you wherever you go. Post them anywhere you see a bulletin board, whether it be at the local grocery store, the mall, post office, library or anywhere else. *Hint*- Using brightly colored paper will work best in grabbing the attention of people. Create a catchy headline and make sure the font is clear and legible.

* Get some car magnets made to stick to the side of you care. This will look as if a message has been painted on your car, and you can place them there when you are out and about running errands. This is a great form of advertisement and as your car is sitting in the parking lot at the local Wal-Mart, it will be generating traffic for you.

* Try doing a “free drawing” by taking a small cardboard box and decorating it with brightly colored wrapping paper. Put a sign on it that says, free drawing and offer some type of prize. You don’t have to offer anything of too much value. You can have some entry forms made at your local copy shop for a small price. Make sure they include a place for the registrant’s email address. Place a box in a variety of places such as convenience stores, grocery stores, salons and anywhere else you can think of. Let it sit for a week, and when you return, take the entry forms and email the contestants. Let the winner know they have won, and let the others people know they didn’t win, but always show your appreciation for their entry. In these emails, include links to your site and newsletter.

Depending on what you offer, you might also want to try a direct mail campaign. Mailing lists are available for purchases from companies that specialize in collecting and obtaining demographic information. Postcards may be purchased at a reasonable price from Vistaprint (www.vistaprint.com).

Affiliate Marketing Sweetie teaches you how to make the most of your affiliate marketing efforts.