Affiliates are artists whether they like it or not.  Picasso perhaps not, but design and implementation are all part of the game when it comes to the creation of affiliate websites.

There are several sites that offer free design templates, and I found even a few (thanks to a posting at affiliatetips.wordpress.com) sites that will fashion your color scheme.  Check out http://www.colorschemer.com and http://www.wellstyled.com for free tips and techniques on web design and color formatting.

 And color counts!  Here are a few points to remember in regards to the psychological influence of color marketing:

1.  Blue and deep tones, like the ocean, tend to increase visual space and reduce the perception of website borders. 

2.  ‘Hot’ colors like red and yellow are eye-catching and bold, and are complimented by additional details that break up what can be a visually demanding color on its own.

3.  Think of earth tones like green as you would say green tea (easy comparison, I know); relaxing and tranquil, but if dealt can be sleep inducing (the decaf kind anyway.)

 Just a few pointers to help the affiliate artist within…

The first Affnet blog posting!  Ok, now with bragging rights out of the way let’s get down to business. 

Oh My Omakase! As affiliates on the cusp of all new and cyber-shattering news may already know, Amazon.com unveiled its new beta program that, in it’s simplest form, enables associates to provide customized consumer pages for their visitors. 

Omakase translates to “What the chef would like to serve you” in its traditional Japanese meaning.  In the affiliate marketing world it translates to “What the Associate would like to serve its visitors,” which is of course not backed by Webster’s and other dictionaries, but we’ll leave it as is.  More specifically, the Omakase template allows Amazon for example, to build customized links similar to Google’s AdSense (which brings up the important point that you cannot utilize both programs on the same page.)

Check out associate guru Dave Taylor’s entry at
 http://www.askdavetaylor.com/what_is_the_amazon_omakase_links_program.html
for a detailed explanation as to how Omakase works. 

We’ll have to wait and see how Amazon’s program measures up to Google’s AdSense, and if Omakase is oh so well received by Amazon associates…

In dire need of voicing your affiliate marketing thoughts and queries? Do you desire insider information and the opportunity to chat with our company’s own experts about industry trends and happenings?  Come join in our blog where you can casually confer about everything that is affiliate marketing.  Check back at affnet.com for updates and our official launch and get ready to blog!