Affiliate Programs and E-Learning: How Can I Get Started?
Susan Smith Nash, Ph.D. — susan at beyondutopia.com
(This article accompanies our most recent He Said She Said podcast on monetizing the Web.)
Becoming a member of affiliate programs can lead to new revenue for e-learning
programs, and getting started can be as simple or as complex as you choose.
A well-planned approach will succeed, whether complicated or delightfully simple.
New revenue occurs via increased traffic to your web site, deeper understanding
of your programs, more effective student behaviors, enhanced student loyalty,
better student performance, and the opportunity to establish productive alliances
with currently enrolled students and alumni.
Step 1: Initial Planning. Develop a clear vision of what you are, who
your clients are now and who they are likely to be in the future. List their
goals, needs, and their desired outcomes. Start thinking of how your e-learning
products and services may help them in more than one way. If your e-learning
programs are not object-oriented, start thinking of ways to break down or “unbundled”
your courses, e-products so that the images, text files, mp3s, mpegs, etc. are
available separately. For example, you may have instructional materials as Powerpoint
presentations which contain embedded jpegs, .wav files, and text. Unbundle the
elements and create html files, jpegs, and mp3s.
Step 2: Identify the affiliate program that is right for you.
I recommend starting with an easy-to-use affiliate program that functions as
an aggregator. You’ll earn commissions at a lower rate than if you affiliate
directly with each individual entity, but your life will be simplified. After
you test the waters and find which products and services perform best for you,
you can explore embarking on a one-on-one relationship with an affiliate.
Step 3: Technology products needed for student success. Link
to ideal configurations, and provide explanations of how each technology product
can be used in conjunction with your e-learning product. The best idea here
is to show how to play your unbundled content. By buying the most appropriate
player, you’ll be able to guide the student in aligning their real-life conditions
with the content delivery system that works in an optimal way.
text files: simple browsers (for html files) can be read on laptops,
smartphones (Nokia, Blackberry, Treo), PDAs
graphics: laptops, smartphones (Nokia, Motorola, RIM Blackberry, Treo,
Nokia), PDAs (Dell, HP, Toshiba), desktops, Creative Zen media players, tablets,
T-Mobile Sidekick
mp3 files: mp3 players (Rio, iPod, Creative Zen), smartphones with mp3
storage (Nokia, etc.), PDAs, XBox 360
media / mpeg files: laptops, media players (Creative Zen), XBox 360,
iPod
Again, be sure to provide guidance and indicate how best to use the products.
Step 4: Information and Support Services. Databases, library resources,
e-journals, texts, tutoring services, plagiarism software, etc. Think of how
students will obtain the journal articles they need and then think of how you
can save them a few steps, a few clicks, a few dollars. Be sure to thoroughly
check out the products and services recommend.
Step 5. Career Planning and Placement. Monster.com and other placement
services are useful, but one must interject a word of warning. This could be
quite disappointing for everyone involved if you do not accompany this with
a number of supporting guides, such as links to writing resumes, engaging in
an effective job search, etc.
http://www.writingsurvivalguide.com
Loading ...
0 Responses to “Affiliate Programs and E-Learning — How Can I Get Started?”