Getting Started With CPA Marketing

Programs related to affiliate marketing abound on the Internet and CPA marketing is in essence an evolved form of affiliate marketing, which holds benefits for both the affiliate and the advertiser. While there appears to be some mystery surrounding CPA marketing, once you dig into it, it is a very easy concept to understand.

CPA marketing is not new. In fact it has been around for many years. However, it is only recently that it has openly gained the attention of the affiliate world. One of the reasons that CPA marketing has not been prominent is that it involves making an application to one or more CPA networks for acceptance to promote the products listed with that CPA network. This acceptance process has proven to be a barrier to many as for the most part, CPA networks have some tough criteria a marketer is expected to meet, before they will be allowed to join.

Defining CPA

The term "CPA" stands for "cost-per-action" or "cost-per-acquisition" and once what this means is understood, it is found to be a pretty simple concept. Advertisers on a CPA Network are looking to build a list of targeted potential customers. To determine if visitors to their sites are properly targeted customers, they require the visitor to take an action of some sort. That action may involve the entering of a zip code or email address. It may require the visitor to fill out either a short or long form, or possibly fill out a survey. In each case, the visitor performs an action. When that action occurs, the affiliate that has sent the traffic is paid.

What is a CPA Network?

A CPA network is a network of merchants looking for potential customers. The biggest difference for the affiliate is that they are affiliate of the merchant as opposed to a specific product.

What This Means

The concept of CPA marketing can be a bit confusing for someone new to affiliate marketing. A more common and better known method of affiliate marketing involves finding a specific product and then gearing advertising and promotions towards the sale of that one product. Popular resources for finding products of this nature are Clickbank or Commission Junction. Overall, it is easier for an affiliate to visualize promoting something that is specific.

Promoting a merchant as opposed to a product, is a harder concept to grasp and can be a harder area to succeed in, even though there are many ways that can be used for promotion. It is a bit of a mindset reset even for an experienced affiliate marketer, possibly even more so as they are used to following the processes that have worked for them for product promotion. Those same processes may or may not remain effective when applied to the promotion of a merchant. As well, many may fail to see the benefits of CPA marketing to their self as an affiliate, or be unable to transition the focus of their marketing techniques.

From this perspective, someone new may have a slight advantage as they won't have to make this mental transition. They will not, however, have the experience of the more seasoned marketer and the resulting ability to re-apply or tweak existing systems to the CPA concept. As well, they will find meeting the requirements for entry into the CPA networks harder than someone with more experience.

Fortunately, resources exist to help ease both the newbie and the experienced marketer into the field of CPA marketing. One of those resources is a product called Zero Friction Marketing developed by CPA marketing expert Saj P.

Zero Friction Marketing is a training system geared towards those that would like to break into the field of CPA affiliate marketing. It consists of 4 modules that are filled with step-by-step tutorial videos and detailed guides that take the student from their introduction to CPA marketing, right through to how to setup marketing strategies that Saj has used himself to promote CPA. Essentially, Zero Friction Marketing strips away the mystery behind CPA marketing and provides the tools and training affiliates require to get started with CPA promotions.