How To Make Money With CPA…

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In the online marketing industry the acronym CPA stands for Cost Per Action, or Cost Per Acquisition. You’ll also see this type of marketing referred to as PPA, Pay Per Acquisition as well. For our discussion today they’re both pretty much the same.

CPA is at the other end of the spectrum from the CPM (Cost Per Impression) on one end, with CPC (Cost Per Click) and PPC (Pay Per Click) somewhere in the middle (confused already?)

Let me explain.

Advertising to the “world”, even with the WWW is a major expense for companies. That’s where we come into the picture. We work cheap and know a lot of people…right? These companies will pay us to offer products to our LISTs, thereby reducing their advertising costs. It’s that simple.

CPA marketing has become very popular over the past few years. For many it is a relatively new concept but it really has been around for quite some time. It’s just one of those quiet little online businesses that entrepreneurs are using to make money online.

CPA has been a very common way to get started in an online business because there are almost no upfront expenses, and CPA marketing offers a ‘no selling’ income opportunity that is attractive.

As a CPA Publisher (that’s your new title because you are’ publishing’ info about the ‘advertisers’ product) you are simply directing potential customers to something they already want.

CPA marketing is attractive because the conversion rates of customers are usually much higher. There’s less apprehension from the customer in this type of transaction. People are much more prone to give you their name or email address than their credit card number.

Here’s how it works:

Scenario #1:

You are an affiliate marketer with a web/sales page. Let’s say you’re niche is everything about organic gardening. To maximize the income potential of your web page you insert a banner, coupon, etc., from a CPA ‘advertiser ’that offers something of similar interest to the visitors of your site.

In your case, this advertiser may offer a catalog with garden gloves, tools, organic fertilizers, etc.

Here’s the fun part! When someone visits your site and they notice the catalog ad and opt in for info or to buy…BAM, you get paid!

Scenario #2:

You’ve been able to steadily build your ‘LIST’; or you have an active blog or a sizable group of social network Followers.

You select a marketing ‘advertiser’ with a good product, then you insert a hyperlink to their web/sales page, a graphic about their product, content page, or maybe just a coupon graphic, whatever piece of marketing protocol they provide.

In all cases they will have an OPT-IN for your people to entry their name and/or email address for more info or to purchase their product/service. When they do…you make money.

The Money?

CPA marketing income varies tremendously because each advertiser is different and many have unique ways in which they want your people to contact them and the information they are seeking. Some just want a name and email address, others a personal bio, still others require a bio, background, and purchasing history.

On the low side the average is around 20 cents for a name and email address. To have someone complete a bio and shopping survey, commissions can be as much as $100. Some advertisers with hundreds of items will even offer you a percentage of the purchase.

And even better, there are many advertisers that will continue to pay you for a returning customer for a given period of time! You can do the math based upon the size of your LIST or your Followers. (Note too that you can have as many ‘campaigns’ going as you have time to manage).

Pretty simple right?

Not exactly. We need to talk some more. It’s important to understand who the players are and how you get paid! The quickest way to get started is to join a CPA network.

What’s that? CPA networks, like most everything else in the online industry have become extremely specialized. There are thousands of advertisers offering thousands, no millions of products and services for you to send to your LIST.

These networks serve as brokers or middlemen between you the affiliate and the actual advertisers (the folks at Target or Sears really don’t have the time!).

You “apply”, yes; you actually have to apply in many cases to some of the larger networks before you will be allowed to offer their products.

These companies want to know the size of your LIST, visit your webpage, etc. just to make sure you’re who you say you are (now don’t panic here…I know a group of people involved in knitting, yes knitting and yarn; they have a blog page and they advertise for JC Penny and make good money! So yes…YOU ARE A PLAYER!).

Once you are accepted by the broker as a worthy affiliate you are assigned an affiliate manager (really, your own manager!). This person will be your personal contact to walk you through the process. Pretty cool. These managers are extremely helpful in getting the company logos, content, hyperlinks, etc. to your web site or blog.

Additionally most will offer an analytical website with your own logon to keep track of your sales and income. This manager will answer all your questions and explain how payments are made and when. Don’t be afraid to ask…they deal with newbies every day.

The Bad Guys: Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Yes, there is always an ugly side?

I will continue to warn you that for as many great companies offering great products and paying their affiliates, there are just as many that are trying to scam you.

As the publisher, your LIST and/or Followers belong to you. They are YOUR people. Protect them. Be sure to view and review every advertiser before you agree to offer their product(s). It’s your decision. Look at their graphics, their opt-in box, go to their webpage, and catalog.

How do they pay, do they have an analytics page, what is their history in the marketplace, etc. Click-in to see what your people are going to see. If it isn’t something that you’re proud to sell…move on.

To Get Started:

Where do you find these CPA market ‘advertisers’?

Have you heard of SEARS, TARGET, SONY, and DISNEY?

Go online to any major company’s webpage and if you read carefully at the bottom of their page you’ll almost always find a link to their advertising, affiliate, or marketing department.

These are the big boys (girls) in the marketing business…but YOU can advertise for them. Really! Wouldn’t your webpage look pretty cool with a Target logo on it! There are hundreds of marketers just like you and me that are doing it every day and making money.

Just Think: If you’re an outdoors person and have a blog or social network with a few hundred Followers interested in hunting, fishing, mountain biking, canoeing, camping, ect…wouldn’t a coupon from L.L. Bean, Cabela’s or Popular Outdoor Sports be of interest them?

Now, what if 300 of them opted in each month @ $0.50ea X 12 months = Monthly payment for one of your outdoor toys!

There are literally thousands of CPA advertisers out there. Here’s a link to get you started. Go slow, and as always, choose your business partners wisely.

http://cpanetworkreviews.com

Talk soon,
-Jonathan Right

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