I am the site reviewer for a very popular private marketing site (the Internet Marketing Challenge) and at least once a week I'm asked to review a site that falls into a new category of online entrepreneurs I affectionately call "affiliate junkies."

Now before I step on too many toes, I'm not saying all affiliate programs are worthless, nor that you shouldn't try one or two to get your feet wet or even just to see how they work and if they really produce. I'm talking about the sites that look like a freeway littered with affiliate billboards: Banner after banner, link after link that often leads to other affiliate junkie sites.

What's worse, you not only have to read the sales copy on the first site, but usually you have to read through it again and more once you reach the affiliate site.

I'm afraid affiliate junkies are headed down a road to failure and there is one main reason why. They offer nothing of VALUE to their visitors. I'll repeat it so it sinks in. They offer nothing of VALUE to THEIR visitors. They are simply passing on their visitors to the nearest affiliate in hopes of a quick buck.

They may make some income if they are marketing geniuses and get 100K visitors to their site each day, but they will build nothing of lasting value and will have no long term success because they offer no way to gain repeat business.

If you are willing to admit that you are affiliate junkie, there is hope for you. Here are a few tips for a brighter future.

First and foremost, keep only a few (two or three programs) in which you truly believe in the product or service behind it. Narrow it down to a single one if you can. Even some MLM's offer something of real value in the product or service. Keep only the programs that you believe in, understand, use yourself and have proven themselves to produce revenue.

Second, advertise them separately. You may be losing a goldmine of opportunity by having your affiliates on one site. If a visitor likes your site and clicks through, who is to say they won't try another program if you market it to them correctly. Place your best and main affiliate program on your home page, then create separate directories for any other affiliates. For example, your URL's will look something like this:

yourdomain.com/affiliate1
yourdomain.com/affiliate2

There are several reasons for doing this. One, it allows you to focus your sales copy to dynamically reach your target audience for that program. Sell one program to one audience instead of everything to everybody. Two, you'll broaden your advertising opportunities by narrowing your focus. Don't try to sell software to visitors who are at your site for health products. Advertise in an ezine for software AND in an ezine for health products, taking each visitor to their designated directory.

Third and most importantly, create something that your visitor can get from only YOU, not your affiliate program. This gives you the opportunity for a long term relationship, which by it's nature translates into long term income.

Of course, the easy answer to this would be to write your own ezine. Good, quality information is not as easy to come by as most people imagine. If you can give information that really benefits your visitor, they will be more likely to trust the other programs you are offering them.

Other options might be to give a free consultation (if you have the time) or a free ebook. Don't limit yourself to these though, anything you can offer that develops a bridge between you and your visitor creates an avenue by which they can return.

Affiliate junkies, you know who you are. Take these tips twice a day and you'll be on your way to recovery.

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Ralph Hilliard is a professional web designer, host, marketer and contributor to the Internet Marketing Challenge Private Site. He is the owner of WordNet Solutions, a company specializing in helping people establish successful online businesses. For more info on Ralph's services, see http://www.wordnet.net.