The following is what Alex Dea of Academic Superstore had to say in response to the question, What is the Future of Affiliate Marketing?
I believe affiliate marketing is on the verge of breaking out (if it hasn’t already) of the “middle-man” mold and quickly becoming recognized as an industry of its own.
Sites like Commission Junction and Linkshare foster everyday entreprenuers and give them the opportunity to turn into six-digit salary moguls.
Coordinating the affiliate program at Academic Superstore, I have the opportunity to communicate and develop relationships with a number of our diverse group of publishers, who range from the self-employed work-at-home type to the side-job students to the large companies.
And the fact that almost anyone is capable of generating their own income without physically applying for a job is what will propel affiliate marketing forward into the 21st century.
However, there is the issue of oversaturation. Theoretically, competition will drive up advertising costs, and smaller affiliates will be edged out of the market as costs per click increase and conversion rates decrease.
I think the ratio of new companies offering affiliate programs must remain proportional to the growth of the publisher base to keep this from happening. Publishers are quick to jump on new advertisers in the name of arbitrage and to gain precedence in the ranks of search engine marketing.
The myth that affiliate marketing is a ‘get rich quick’ scheme will soon be dissipated as the industry grows and only the strong survive.
But as long as companies keep paying out commissions, and publishers continue to generate sales, the affiliate marketing machine will continue to steam ahead.
How would you answer the question, What is the Future of Affiliate Marketing? There are no right or wrong answers.
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