Different types of Affiliate Marketing Programs

Affiliate Marketing is an Internet-based marketing practice in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate’s marketing efforts. Affiliate marketing—is a form of online marketing.

There are different types of affiliate marketing programs :
1) Single tier :
In a single-tier affiliate marketing program, the affiliates are only paid based on the direct sales or traffic he has referred to the merchant.

2)Two tier Affiliate marketing program :

In two-tier affiliate marketing programs, the affiliate is not only paid for the direct traffic or sales that he refers to the merchant’s site, but also on every traffic or sales referred by various other affiliates who joined the affiliate program through his recommendation.

3)Multi tier Affilaite marketing program:

In Multi-tier affiliate marketing , although the affiliate gets additional commission for a wider number of affiliates in different tiers in the affiliate network.

4) Residual income affilaite marketing :

In residual income affiliate marketing, the affiliate gets paid not only once for every customer he has referred to the merchant’s site. Rather, the affiliate is also paid whenever the customer he has referred returns to the site and purchase another product. Compensation for such type of affiliate marketing is based on either sales percentage commission or fixed fee basis

So have a look which type of affiliate marketing will work best for you?  Please provide your feedbacks & suggestion for the same .

Tools and Resources for Developers and Designers

Great and easy-to-use tools and resources are always nice to have .  Here we have put together some great tools and resources which developers and designers can use to accomplish their web development and design project. These tools not only make your job easier, but they have the ability to improve the quality of work as well.

SlickMap CSS

This simple stylesheet allows you to display finished sitemaps directly from HTML unordered list navigation. It streamlines the web design process as it automates the illustration of site map and allows you to develop HTML navigation. It also offers additional links which can be customized as per your requirement and preferences. It also eliminates the need for additional software and provides clickable anchors with visible URLs.

Flapjax

This new programming language is specially designed keeping in mind the demands of modern, client-based Web applications. It offers excellent features including event-driven, reactive evaluation, event-stream abstraction for communicating with web services and also offer interfaces to external web services. It is easy to run it on major web browsers without installing plugins. It integrates seamlessly with existing JavaScript code and other frameworks.

Synfig

It is a useful resource that eliminates the task of manual tweening by producing smooth, fluid motion without using the animator to draw out each frame individually. This allows you to produce high quality 2D animation for your project. It is a powerful, industrial-strength vector-based 2D animation software package, designed from the ground-up for producing feature-film quality animation.

Image flow

This is a user-friendly JavaScript image gallery which provides object oriented script that allows you to create many instances of it on one website. It offers multiple instances which you can customize as per your choice. It supports multiple instances, compatible with all graphical browsers, supports all image formats, links, iPhone/iPod Touch and more. It works well with internet explorer, Firefox, Opera, Chrome etc.

Jekyll

Another simple, blog aware, static site generator for web developers. It provides a template directory representing the raw form of a website, runs it through Textile or Markdown and Liquid converters, and bring out a complete, static website suitable for serving with Apache or your favorite web server.

identengine

This is a javascript library that recovers and aggregates social profiles from various websites and networks. It helps in taking out the identity of a profile from social media websites such as Twitter, FriendsFeed, Flickr, Digg or any other web profile page. It also combines the profile collection together to find the most complete description of an individual. You can also view all the profile photo’s of an individual to create a simple photo picker UI.

Wavemaker

This is an easy way to build Web 2.0 applications including prototyping and development, a form-driven database apps, a front end “face” for SOA architecture. It automates all the heavy lifting needed to connect enterprise data to browser-based widgets.  It provides a drag and drop interface to manage images and files within a project. You can chart the widgets such as pie, bar and stacked columns.

eCSStender

It a useful resource which offers extensions to simplify the design process. It allows you to author modern CSS using advanced selectors, properties such as border-radius, or custom font faces and make sure that design works well even in IE6. Its extensions include CSS3 Selectors, @font-face support, CSS rotation (currently bundled with eCSStender as an example), CSS3 border-and CSS3 Columns.

Splashup

Formerly known as Fauxto, it is a powerful editing tool and photo manager. It allows you to edit many images at one single time, control pixel level and check the depth of layers. It is compatible with all the browsers, integrates seamlessly with top photo-sharing sites, and even has its own file format so you can save your work in progress.

Dotemplate

This resource helps you in finding best website template for your project. It offers a catalog of Web templates you can fully and easily customize online. It also lets you change the template colors easily with our Photoshop® like color picker, and choose your favorite color scheme. It also offers a collection of pre-built fonts. The templates are lightweight, tableless and compliant with XHTML and CSS standards.

Hope these tools and resources would help you execute your design and development requirements.

Place a Right Bid & Win a Freelance Project

When you become a member of any freelance service marketplace, the first question that strikes your mind is how to place a right bid, and what price should I quote to win a project ?

The thumb rule is to think, analyze, calculate and then bid for a particular project. However, the rate may vary from person to person depending on the expertise, experience and geography. Here, we have put some of the general considerations that you should keep in mind before bidding on a project.

1. Nature of the project- Evaluate what type of freelance project you are bidding on, understand the requirements of the project as how much working hours, resources and funds you would be needing in completing it seamlessly.

2. Compare your cost with the client’s budget- After evaluating the requirements of the project, look for the budget mentioned for that particular project. See if it is as per your expectations or will it meet the expenses you would incur to complete the project.

3. Deadline & Complexity- Check the timelines defined for the project you are bidding on. If the deadline is strict, you may need to invest more time, resources, or take extra help to complete it on time. You must take these factors into consideration before fixing a price for a bid.

4. Investigate competition rates- To stay competitive and in demand, you must keep a track of what people of similar expertise and experience are charging. Research extensively on the Internet, read surveys and blogs on freelance rates etc. Search for similar profiles on the freelance job websites to understand the current market trends and prevailing standard rates.

5. Take Opinion– Ask your friends, old business associates in the similar domain about the current market rates as this will give a fair idea on what price you should quote on a particular project.

6. Follow the middle path- It is recommended to follow the middle path, don’t charge too high and don’t charge too low as this will directly affect your credibility in the market. Justify your job by charging what you are worth for.

7. Be flexible with rates- If a particular expertise is in demand, the rates will automatically rise and if the demand is low the prices will fall. Hence, it is important to re-evaluate or readjust your rates as per the market demand. Also, there is no harm in negotiating with the client on the rates as you should not be too rigid about what you quoted.

Use these tips and ideas to plan out your freelancing rates and increase your chances of winning a freelance  projects.

Freelancers – Get New & Repeat business

Getting a freelance project from a referral or a past client can work as the best resource which works for every freelancer. Word of mouth can actually help a freelancer to kick start his blocked freelancing career.

Here are some of the considerations for every freelancer to get referred by a client to get new and repeat business.

1.Commitment- Dedication and determination would build trust and credibility in the eyes of the client and he’d consider a freelancer for giving more business. It is advised to commit a slightly less than what he can actually deliver.

2.Focus on long-term goals- Executing a freelance project is not a one-time activity, the client can award a skilled freelancer with more or repeat business. Hence, it is important for a freelancer to be passionate about the project he is working on. A focused approach towards work can influence the client to refer the freelancer and get more projects.

3.Superior quality- A high quality work may help a freelancer in getting more referral business. A satisfied client who is happy with your final deliverables can work as a strong marketing campaign as he might share your feedback with other prospective clients.

4.Keep updated – It is important to communicate project progresses time to time. Inform the client about requirements and feedback whenever it is required. This will bring a feeling of trust and responsibility in the eyes of the client.

5.Meet Deadlines- Timeliness is one the most essential considerations taken into account while awarding a business or referring someone. Hence, providing the deliverables on time brighten the chances of getting more freelance projects.

6.Add value- A freelancer should always give valuable suggestions to improve and enhance projects end results. It will not only help in executing the project successfully but also in establishing credibility in the freelance market.

7.Take feedback- Getting feedback, rating or testimonial from an old or existing client can help in establishing credibility as well as a chance to work on weaknesses and transforming them into strengths.

8.Be consistent - If a freelancer gets a repeat business from an old client, in that case he should always stay consistent in terms of quality.  Good and quality deliverables as per buyer’s expectations can help in winning more business.

Hope these considerations would help in running a freelance business successfully.

How to make money online?

In times of economic slowdown finding more avenues to earn extra income is a must to meet daily necessities of life. The World Wide Web offers several ways to make extra money online that not only increases earnings but also help in building identity online.

Here are some quick online options to make money online:

1.Offer services- With emergence of online services marketplaces such as LimeExchange, Elance, oDesk, guru etc. anyone can easily find projects from small and large companies around the globe and earn more money. A professional can get paid for his expert skills in varied categories ranging from writing & Translation, graphics design, software programming to audio/ video, multimedia, services etc.

2.Referral programs- This can be a good option to make money online! On referring friends, family members, colleagues, business associates, clients etc. to a website running referral program anyone can earn money.  There are many websites which offer good affiliate programs for referring connections and more earning opportunities on each activity your referral activity.

3.Writing- Content rules the web; hence the writers are always in demand and are offered good money as well.  Writing articles, blogs, review and comments for companies looking to promote their services on the web can help in making more money online. Starting a personal blog and updating it regularly will not only increase the chances of making money but also help in establishing online identity.

4.Earn through blog / website- Having a personal blog/ website can help in making money online. There are many companies which provide their customized widgets, banners, anchor links and RSS feeds to place on the website/ blog and reward the owner for that.

5.Google Adsense- Google Adsense can be one of the best resources to earn extra money online. Google Adsense is basically an advertising program in which website or blog owners place Google advertisements on their websites and get paid from every click on the advertisement.

Here are some guidelines to follow before placing affiliate widgets or Google Adsense:

•Generate lots of traffic on the website or blog as this is the most essential guideline for everyone. With more traffic, there will be many people coming to the website and this will result in more clicks on the widgets and increase earnings.

•Always place the widgets on the top of the web page as it catches more attention and increase the possibility of more clicks.

•Customize a widget/ advertisement matching the website theme, color font as this will make the website look professional and attractive.

6.Online contests and surveys- Taking out a little extra time after work and participating in surveys and online contests can help in making more money online. There many websites that run online surveys or contest and pay for filling/ taking each survey or contest.

7.Sell stock images- A good photographer or designer have a chance to make money online.. There are many stock image websites that buy images and pay per photo download to a percentage of the commission on special photos. It is not only fast but repetitive money making option.

8.Research- Anyone who is working as a researcher can make money online. Extensive research on the internet on a particular domain where more research information is required can help in opening new avenue to earn money. Find the best resources on the Internet, compile them and make a comprehensive data and, sell to companies seeking such information. Many companies require such data to generate leads for their business.

Please add your suggestions .

Project management tools for freelancers

Executing a freelance project successfully includes planning, organizing, and managing resources efficiently. Freelancers need to work intelligently to meet client’s expectations and guidelines. There are many project management tools available online using which a freelance can avoid issues related to project management and tracking. These tools help in collaborating and communicating with the client instantly.

1. Project2Manage- It allows the users to stay up-to-date on task and connect with their team. A freelancer can make use of its great features like to-do lists, reminders, file management, iCal support etc. Its Spot2Jot feature helps in creating the important documents and then share it with the network.
2. Smartsheet- This task management tool helps in tracking and managing work in familiar smartsheet and calendar views. A user can upload files, track discussions, and share online with co-workers, clients, contractors, vendors etc.
3. No Kahuna- This simple project management and issue-tracking allows to set up  project(s), refine/distribute tasks and track them until completion. Its features include task and activity tracking and collaboration tools.
4. activeCollab- This website provides a platform for planning, progress tracking and communication with team and clients until projects are done. It features printing and exporting, time tracking, calendar and schedule functionality, ticket management and milestones.
5. Zoho Projects- This project management tool enables it users to keep their projects organized with milestones, set dependencies for tasks and set priorities. It also helps in tracking time, monitoring tasks and store filers and documents at one place.
6. Springloops- It is a source code management tool helps in parallel coding and sharing code changes with team. It helps in taking back-up of the previous version and give instant previews. Its basecamp integration helps in importing projects and keep everyone informed about project progress.
7. TeamworkPM- It helps in managing freelance projects, teams and clients efficiently. It works as a good collaboration tool to share ideas, information, notes, files etc. It also helps in creating task lists, milestones, messages, tracking time, uploading files, managing people/clients etc.
8. 5pm- This tool helps in managing tasks and projects all at one place. This platform also helps in task management, team collaboration, time tracking and reporting.
9. Goplan- Another project management tool that offers a single platform to manage multiple projects. It helps in tracking project progress via task management, calendaring, note sharing and issue tracking. It also offers a chat feature to connect with clients and team members.
10. Project360- This tool can be used to assign tasks, set deadlines, get updates, arrange meetings, view your calendar, track work hours  &     more. It provides a platform to work with team, communicate with clients, send messages, share files, organize workgroups etc.

I hope you would try these project management tools to carry out a freelance project successfully. Please provide  your feedback and suggestion as always.

Freelancers Have Choice of Making Money Online

Freelancers Have Choice of Making Money Online

Everyone thinks of how to earn more money. And if you can do that sitting in the comfort of your home, online… what else can you ask for? There are a few online earning options:

1. Offer your services

If you have a specialized skillset, you can encash it by working on freelance projects. With emergence of online services marketplaces, you can easily find freelance projects from small and large companies around the globe and earn more money. You can get paid for your professional capabilities in varied categories ranging from Writing & Translation, Graphics Design, and Software Programming to Audio/Video, Multimedia, Services etc.

2. Join referral programs

If you like building networks, then this can be a good option for you. You can be affiliate of a company and refer its product or services to your friends, relatives, colleagues, business associates, clients etc. You earn money for each referral you bring in. You get more money on each activity your referral performs on the platform.

3. Capitalize on your blog or website

If you own a blog or a website you can monetize it. Write product reviews, earn through affiliate marketing, or from banner advertising. But the prerequisites for earning through the above mentioned channels are rich content and good traffic. It is recommended to add valuable content to your site and keep it fresh. You can use banners and widgets on your blogs & website and earn by promoting various companies portal.

4. Take online contests and surveys

Another option is that you can easily make extra money is taking surveys and participating in online contests. There are many websites that run online surveys or contest. It helps companies to get real time feedbacks from prospects & end users of their products/services and you a chance to win attractive prizes or earn cash rewards.

Try out these above mentioned ways to add some more cash to your wallet.