Smashwords affiliate program

[mayhem3030]

Hello,

Does anybody use this? If so, what are your experiences?

If you don't use this, how come? what's stoppign you?

I've read up about it and 11% commission is pretty good, I can't see what the downside would be?

Mike

[anita]

I finally added a single link to a book on my site a couple of days ago. I haven't made any money, but I don't see a downside. It is just (sigh) one more task to complete when I could be writing! The marketing of my own books is the tough part for me because I don't really want to spend my time doing that and it does take a lot of WORK. I really just want to write. Trying to build up some enthusiasm for marketing someone else's book is kinda hard...even if it is just adding a simple link. In the grand scheme of things... I do believe in diversifying revenue streams and the affiliate program sounds like a good way of doing that if you have a fair amount of traffic on a website.

[russellphillips]

The only downside I can see is that you probably won't earn very much, since most sales are through the sites that Smashwords distributes to, rather than via the Smashwords site itself.

If you're going to use it, the Tools page on my website has a tool that will create a button in your browser for making affiliate links:
www.russellphillipsbooks.co.uk/pages/tools.php

[anita]

You do have some nice tools on your website, Russell. Thank you so much for sharing them with us.

[russellphillips]

You're welcome. They were all written for my own use, or because they were interesting to write. Once they're written, it's as easy to make them available to everyone as it is to keep them to myself.

[anita]

Aug 21, 2012 11:55:08 GMT -8 @russellphillips said:

You're welcome. They were all written for my own use, or because they were interesting to write. Once they're written, it's as easy to make them available to everyone as it is to keep them to myself.

If only everyone were as generous! I might be a bit cynical, but it seems that most people try to hoard information. That is one of the reasons that I really like internet forums for learning about various topics. The information isn't always right, but it is usually given more freely online than it is in person.

[russellphillips]

Aug 21, 2012 14:17:37 GMT -8 anita said:

If only everyone were as generous!

I was talking to my wife about this last night. I've been using open source software almost exclusively for over 10 years, and I think that experience has altered my outlook, so that I think "why not?", rather than "why?". Every day, I benefit from a lot of work by other people, so why not allow other people to benefit from my work?

[anita]

Well, I am certainly grateful to be the beneficiary of your work!

[Ted]

So are we all, Russell.

[russellphillips]

Thanks, both. It's always nice to be appreciated

[burpwind]

Hi,
I tried to post before but I guess it didn't work. I have made a Smashwords banner app to help out with my affiliate site and I am happy to share. All you have to do is copy and paste the page url at the bottom of the book with your affilliate id at the end.

burpwind.comuv.com

I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me.

Cheers,

Scott