There are two schools - apparently equally informed by dearth of hard data. One is "viral school". Its vocal proponents claim that dissemination of free content fuels sales by creating "buzz" (word of mouth marketing driven by influential communicators). The "intellectual property" school roughly says that free content cannibalizes paid content mainly because it conditions potential consumers to expect free information. Free content also often serves as a substitute (imperfect but sufficient) to paid content.

Experience - though patchy - confusingly seems to points both ways. Views and prejudices tend to converge around this consensus: whether free content sells or not depends on a few variables. They are:

The nature of information. People are generally willing to pay for specific or customized information, tailored to their idiosyncratic needs, provided in a timely manner, and by authorities in field. The more general and "featureless" information, more reluctant people are to dip into their pockets (probably because there are many free substitutes).

The nature of audience. The more targeted information, more it caters to needs of a unique, or specific group, more often it has to be updated ("maintained"), less indiscriminately applicable it is, and especially if it deals with money, health, sex, or relationships - more valuable it is and more people are willing to pay for it. The less computer savvy users - unable to find free alternatives - are more willing to pay.

Time dependent parameters. The more content is linked to "hot" topics, "burning" issues, trends, fads, buzzwords, and "developments" - more likely it is to sell regardless of availability of free alternatives.

The "U" curve. People pay for content if free information available to them is either (a) insufficient or (b) overwhelming. People will buy a book if author's Web site provides only a few tantalizing excerpts. But they are equally likely to buy book if its entire full text content is available online and overwhelms them. Packaged and indexed information carries a premium over same information in bulk. Consumer willingness to pay for content seems to decline if amount of content provided falls between these two extremes. They feel sated and need to acquire further information vanishes. Additionally, free content must really be free. People resent having to pay for free content, even if currency is their personal data.

Frills and bonuses. There seems to be a weak, albeit positive link between willingness to pay for content and "members only" or "buyers only" frills, free add-ons, bonuses, and free maintenance. Free subscriptions, discount vouchers for additional products, volume discounts, add-on, or "piggyback" products - all seem to encourage sales. Qualitative free content is often perceived by consumers to be a BONUS - hence its enhancing effect on sales.

The first thing to do is to select a few affiliate programs that have a two tier payment system operating. It is essential that all of programs are of a similar theme. The reason for this will become plain in a minute. Now I want you to sit down and concentrate. You are going to write an article for publication in a number of e-zines. A lot of you will be tempted to give up at this point. ‘DON’T. It is not as difficult as you may think.

If you have never written an e-zine article before, I suggest that you sign up for a few e-zines and newsletters (They are same thing under different names) and study articles in them. Not only will it give you an insight as to how they are composed, It will also give you inspiration and ideas for your own articles.

There is nothing wrong with copying an idea. As long as you don’t copy someone else’s text. Ideas are not copy-write. The written text is. The articles that you are going to write should be in same theme as affiliate programs that you have joined because at end of article you will write a ‘By-line’. This is just a short paragraph about yourself and what you do. At end you will place a link to one of your affiliate programs. The e-zines that use your articles will do so for free on proviso that they publish your By-line with link to your affiliate program. This is your only reason for writing article.

If you distribute your article via one or more of article agencies it can be taken up by dozens of e-zine publishers over a period of time. People who click on your affiliate link are obviously interested in what you are offering or they would not be reading that particular e-zine in first place. They are some of best prospects that you can get.