Okay, I am very new to this but I understand that I am going to get software for my affiliate program and integrate it into my wbesite. My question however is this. I make custom items, people can come to my homepage and design and purchase there gifts right there. I guess I will be able to track sales even though I do not have many items. I will just have a graphic generator that someone can design there item, so I assume I can monitor this as well. Just a matter of assigning code to the links of my ads correct? Also, I am making my own ads and what I want to do is pick the experts here brains about how I go about contacting webmasters and promoting my program. Do I just contact them and say hey I have this and think is will help them generate more money? For example, I want to make my ads specific to each person's website. So, my item is personalized so for example I want to contact owners of dog websites, I would put personalized items in my ads for dog lovers. They might click my link and then personalize the item I sell to say "Golden Retriever" I would think that most website owners would like for ads to be contant relevant, yes? So, how do I approach them? Would most like to see sample ads and would they like the ads to blend? Would a site owner like the ad on their dog site to have some personalized samples with Golden Retriever on it or German Shepherd? Thanks, Sorry for not making much sense.
Affiliate programs track by inserting a tracking code on the thank-you/receipt page. From reading your post and visiting yor site, the sales process looks something like this: 1) Affiliate sends traffic to you website/homepage. 2) Visitor clicks on the 'Customize Your Own Sign' link 3) They add the product to the shopping cart 4) They go through the checkout process and make the purchase 5) You present them with a thank-you/receipt page <--- This is where the affiliate tracking code gets put. It's usually image code that tracks the order number and the sales amount (i.e. <img src="track.php?order=###ORDERID###&amount=###REVENUE###">). The tracking image tells your affiliate software that a sale was made, and then it checks to see if the order was made by an affiliate. It's very easy to setup, and most affiliate programs will give you step-by-step instructions on how to integrate with your shopping cart. Usually it can be intergrated in a few minutes.
As a side note, you have a cool idea for a site. I'd recommend adding some more products though, maybe create a few custom signs yourself so you have like 15-20 preset signs that people can just order without having to custimize it.
"My website is about to launch, need to get affiliate program going" It's really not a good idea to launch an affiliate program on a brand new site. You need to get the site up, kinks worked out, do some PPC and conversion testing 1st. Trust me, launching a program before you have done the above is a waste of your time and energy and it's not fair to try to get affiliates on board until you have tested and optimized conversions.
Those are good points. I will hold off. Christian... My new site will actually allow the customer to generate there sign and type what they want on the sign and see it appear on the sign real time Jay