***This article is geared towards bands but any label or blogger can use these same steps to make extra money selling music.***Would you like to make more money promoting your music with the iTunes logo on your MySpace? Or how about any site? How about making money promoting ANYTHING on iTunes? Want to know how? Read below!
If you're unfamiliar with affiliate marketing, that's ok. You can read up on it on Wikipedia or just keep reading. Basically, affiliate marketing means companies pay you a commission for promoting their products and/or websites. iTunes is one such company. You become an "affiliate" by "working" for the company as a middle man. As you refer people to iTunes (through clicks on your MySpace), a code is embedded on your site so iTunes knows that person came from your MySpace. In turn, they pay you 5% for anything that person buys for 120 days. You heard that right...for 120 days or 3 months.
What?? How do you sign up?? Easy!
1. Register - You have to register with an affiliate company called Linkshare. Linkshare is the ONLY company that works with iTunes affiliates. Make sure you list all sites that you want to promote the iTunes logo and/or links to your music (Myspace, Purevolume, personal sites, blogs, etc.). There is a lot of information to fill out with Linkshare including tax information. But you do want to make extra money, right?
2. Apply - Once your Linkshare account is set up, click on "programs." Then, in the upper right corner, you see the box that says "advertiser search." Type in "itunes." The iTunes affiliate box will appear. There will be a click box for "apply." Click on it and you have just applied to be an iTunes affiliate. Almost all music-related sites will get approved within 3 days (most will in the same day). Once you get your approval email from iTunes, you are ready to make some money with your band, label or blog!
3. Get Code - Once you're approved, click on "programs" then "my advertisers." There, you will see the iTunes program. Click on "view links" and there will be instructions on how to embed your iTunes logo and links with your affiliate code. That means anytime anyone clicks on your iTune links to buy your music, you will get 5% back from every purchase. But that includes purchases from any band, not just yours! The code is good for 120 days (3 months). Yes, you heard that right.
Remember, the most you can ever get back from your iTune sales as a band is 70% because iTunes takes 30% per sale. By being an iTunes affiliate, your fans purchases gets you back 75% per sale (add the extra 5% by being an affiliate).
4. Get Your iTunes Album URL - You can simply promote the iTunes logo/links on your sites and get credit for any sale. But if you want the clicks to go directly to your bands iTunes store, make sure you include your iTunes URL in the embedded code. To obtain your iTunes store URL, simply call up your album in the iTunes store. Right click on the picture of your album and copy your album URL. That URL will take people directly to your album on iTunes. Use that URL to embed with the affiliate code. Sound confusing? Anyone with programming/coding experience can easily help you.
5. Promote - Take your coded iTunes logos/links and put them on every social network that promotes your music (MySpace, Purevolume, etc.). You can also use the code in your Twitter posts! Use your embedded codes in your email blasts, newsletters, blogs and the list goes on. Remember, you get 5% on ANY purchase even if it's not your band's music.
***Bonus - There are a lot of music companies that Linkshare works with so if your merchandise, ringtones, mp3s etc. are on other sites that they work with, you will make commission promoting those companies on your band's sites.***
5 comments:
I read through the iTunes affiliate rules and did not see anything that made this illegal. However, you can't click on your own links to buy music and collect commission.
July 30, 2009 at 10:37 AMIf you wanted to do that, use someone elses computer so the IP address is different :)
And I know of a fairly large indie label that does this on their own site promoting their band's releases. It's an easy way to get 5% back from iTunes.
July 30, 2009 at 10:37 AMEven better run I-mix contests blog the winners I-Mix and use a bit of html to place your affiliate link. I tested this and know it works but I forget where in the code you change.
August 6, 2009 at 5:28 AMIn the old system there was a process to do this with I-Mixs and Apple said they were going to add that into the new set-up so it may be there I haven't checked on my status in a while.
These online retailers offer hermes at highly discounted prices that hermes watch suit the pocket of majority. With the penchant to live up to the expectations of customers, we offers Hermes Jewellery in different skin types.
July 20, 2010 at 10:16 PMThere are many misinterpretations of what weight loss daidaihua actually do. It is a myth that these lida slimming perform weight loss on lida daidaihua own. That’s not the way slimming capsule works. With all the amount of advertising information from offline and internet pharmacies we are overloaded with each day; it is useful to know a little more about how slimming capsules work and how you can utilize lida optimally in your Endeavour to lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way.
The best material go into the production of Chanel handbag and handbags, and the material themselves have to pass stringent quality tests to ensure that they are suitable for making these women's Chanel handbags . The style, design, superior and bolt of a Chanel will accomplish it the a lot of beautiful and contemporary bag for you.
Tiffany and co makes your face look less plump. If you are long-faced, you’d better choose hoop or big silver bracelets to make your face look more fetching. If you have a square-shape face, dapper stud Tiffany accessories, long drop silver accessories or exaggerated earrings can make you look livelier.
show some love and go buy Money Mitch album support him, God bless you https://itunes.apple.com/album/road-2-success/id556666314
January 4, 2013 at 3:52 AMPost a Comment
Thanks for leaving a comment and please register for our email list!