Isn't it annoying, frustrating and *absolutely maddening,* to say least?

You've promoted a product, possibly even made some sales, and you may never get paid. Your efforts may have brought program owner some cash, but there's no cash for you.

Whatever happened to common courtesy? How about business ethics? It seems they've gone down drain when it comes to doing business on Internet.

Don't get me wrong. Not all Internet business owners are that way. But those who are can give affiliate programs, and marketers who promote them, a bad name.

I don't know how many programs I've belonged to over last couple of years that have gone belly-up or changed affiliate payment processors and I was no longer an affiliate or wasn't sent new link to promote.

And who knows how long I was promoting, sending traffic and possibly sales to owner's domain, before I knew my affiliate URL wasn't valid!

All I know is, there are program owners out there, somewhere, who owe me $10 or $20 here and there and I'll probably never see that money. It might not be much, but it's mine.

Why didn't I e-mail them about it? I did! Guess what? No reply! I'm sure they "conveniently" didn't receive my 6 or 8 e-mails.

Chances are one of THE biggest mistakes you're making is that you're using same standard banners, classifieds and articles that everyone else uses to promote their products and services.

Separate yourself from millions of others by simple being unique. arketers call it "Unique Selling Proposition" or USP.

But then...

How can you be unique?

1. Write Your Own Ads

Put your flair and personality into your ads. Make it fun. Ever seen Geico ads? Use humor. People will always remember a funny ad more than than drab, standard ones. Practice writing catchy headlines and load your ads with benefits and not features of product.

2. Create Your Own Website

Most affiliate programs give you same standard website as everyone else. Boring. Create your own. Use your website to address a problem reader may have. Fill content with keywords so search engines will list them high and use your link to your product as answer to their problem.

3. Always capture email addresses

On your site, you should always have a form or link to allow eaders/prospects to get more ideas or advice from you in form of a newsletter or timed mailings. Follow up with autoresponder messages as, on average, it takes 7 contacts with propsect before they actually purchase.

4. Offer bonuses