The medical industry has developed a certain comfort level with the first generation of social media sites: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn. A second wave – including Pinterest, Google+ and StumbleUpon – offers hospitals, medical device and pharmaceutical companies a new set of tools for building a social media strategy.

The picture-driven Pinterest made Internet history recently by rocketing to 10 million subscribers in just under two years, and has already surpassed all of the original four except for Twitter for referral traffic. The majority of users are early adopters of social media, women in their 20s and 30s who are sharing pictures in categories ranging from beauty and fitness to science and nature.

“[Pinterest] is fascinating,” said Brendan Gallagher of Digitas Health. “It’s social commerce cleverly disguised as an aspirational visual scrapbook,” referring to Pinterest’s deal with Skimlinks to generate revenue.

Users can upload images directly to a particular “board” or use a toolbar widget to “pin” an image from a blog post or web page. The software automatically imbeds a link in the image, making it easy to find that recipe, pair of shoes, or infographic again. although there is a considerable retail component to Pinterest through links, there could be room for much more than that. Users can follow a board, repin images to their own collections and like individual pins. one navigation tip for users: companies can be listed as people.

Boosting morale. one of social media’s greatest strengths, particularly Facebook, is the ability to bring individuals separated by geography together in communities with shared interests, like fighting a disease. The emotive factor that goes along with aesthetically pleasing photos could be enlisted to inspire a community of cancer patients using an inspiration board to boost morale, observes William Martino of Saatchi & Saatchi Health.

The health component is so early stage on Pinterest that it does not have its own category heading.

The art of medicine. Pinterest is, first and foremost, a curation tool. There is a bookmark on Pinterest that’s a collection of infographics. another is “cath lab love”, which includes old and new images of hearts and at least one cardiology team. It’s an opportunity for marketing officers to delve into hospital archives and show the progress they’ve made. Medical device companies could present a brief history of how far they’ve come with their latest technology.

Lay a foundation for the future. even if you don’t know what your company’s long-range strategy will be, Gallagher recommends including at least one visually striking image that is likely to be pinned and shared by an audience with an appreciation for aesthetics to gain enterprise advocacy. They can start by increasing their photo budget, a move that could follow a similar growth curve to video spend for YouTube.

Health education. Baylor Healthcare System has nine virtual bulletin boards on Pinterest. one focuses on helping people learn about gain a better understanding of family history, mammograms, healthy ways to order meals in a restaurant through a series of quizzes. Reed Smith, a social media consultant for hospitals and healthcare organizations, said healthcare organizations are starting to get involved with Pinterest because their primary users fits their target demographic. Women tend to be the healthcare buyers for their families. Summit Medical Group of new Jersey presence includes a video-driven board that includes segments presented by physicians on topics like calcium scoring, carpal tunnel syndrome and seasonal affective disorder.

Referrals. for some hospitals, their best business is referral business and they are looking to social media platforms like Pinterest to extend a dialogue with people who have already been through their hospitals.

Motivate and inspire. A hospital or rehabilitation center could use images from people recovering from surgery and charting their progress to inspire and motivate others and leaving viewers who may be strangers to the institution with a positive association. one bulletin board, optimized living, shows devices and therapies that can help improve one’s health. Children’s Medical Center of Dayton bulletin boards look at good news stories from premature births to children overcoming adversity. It also uses images to show connections between physicians, nurses and children, a little reassurance for parents and children making what may be their first visit to the facility.

The quantified self. it may be a trendy term in the wellness quarter of social media, but the use of smartphone apps to monitor calorie intake, pulse, heart rate and manage one’s health is driving much of the innovation taking place in digital and mobile health. Companies that can provide images of how people can take control of their health using their devices or apps could establish a positive rapport with that business.

Disease state categories. “I could see pharmaceutical brands keeping an eye on the ‘disease state’ category,” said Gallagher. for example, if a patient wanted to visually document their experience battling cancer. That approach could work for hospitals, too. One bulletin board, called “cancer” has slogans and images that are intended to inspire users.

So you are staring into your refrigerator at 3 AM looking for something to eat. All you have a half empty bottle of ketchup and a box of baking soda. while this might not settle the appetite in your stomach, it can be applied to your skin to make you wake up looking younger. So how does it help?

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has numerous qualities that make it a great health and beauty product. If you have a free moment, go into your bathroom and check out the facial cleanser you are using. Look at the ingredient label and count how many of the ingredients you can pronounce. If you can’t pronounce more than 50% of them, it’s time to look into washing your face with something else. most facial cleansers are expensive and baking soda has cleansing properties that are pure and without added chemicals. when mixed with water, baking soda creates a paste that is great for cleaning your skin after a long day. it will help remove makeup and leave your skin feeling soft and smooth. If you want to create a facial mask, simply leave the product on your skin and let it dry for about fifteen minutes. Then wash it off and notice how great your skin feels. furthermore, you can add it to your bath and your entire body will feel the effects.

Aside from skincare, baking soda can also be added to your favorite shampoo. Oftentimes your hair gets filled with chemical buildup from the hair sprays, gels and other products you use on a daily basis. Adding baking soda to your hair routine will help rid your hair of extra buildup. Some people do this everyday, but you can add just a teaspoon to your shampooing once a week to reap the benefits.

For years baking soda was used to clean your teeth and mouth. Instead of using expensive toothpastes, you can actually use baking soda directly to clean your teeth and gums. The taste can be quite strong, so feel free to mix it with your favorite flavoring, or just reserve it for emergency use.

There are also countless other cleansing uses for this product. You can treat cuts, sunburn, poison ivy, scratches, etc. with sodium bicarbonate. If you are looking for a product to clear your nails, simply mix with water and scrub your cuticles. The fact is, it can be used for so many different things. Instead of paying high prices for expensive products that are filled with dangerous chemicals, buy bulk wholesale baking soda from a vendor online. You can buy it in large quantities that will last a very long time. Do your research and find out how sodium bicarbonate can help you in your everyday life, replacing those products with words you can’t even say.

GARDEN GROVE – Phuong Le, draped in vivid pink satin robes and sparkling jewel earrings, knelt on stage in front of a table of colorful offerings as part of a Vietnamese ancestral ceremony.

The ceremony was part of the opening events of the 31st Annual Tet Festival in Garden Grove. the festival, which celebrates the Lunar New Year, spanned the weekend. Thousands crammed into Garden Grove Park on Saturday to enjoy succulent meats, cultural performances, booths and carnival rides.

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Le marched near the front of the rainbow of satin-clad bodies that made up the ceremonial procession, as it trailed through the crowd and eventually onto the stage.

“We go up there to pray for the ancestors and then recite a poem to honor our ancestors and our heroes,” Le said.

The procession was made up of volunteers of different ages, from seasoned performers from the Vietnamese Performing Foundation Club, such as Le, to volunteers from local high schools and organizations. Kevin Nguyen, 14, in bright cerulean garb, brought up the rear, clutching a red wooden spear.

“It’s all about the feudal system,” Nguyen said. “Blue is like the guards – we protect everyone.”

Nguyen said he was happy to give up his free time to have a part in the cultural celebration. his favorite part about the holiday is the red envelopes given out, filled with small trinkets, goodies or money.

“The red envelope is not what makes it special – it’s the luck that you give,” Nguyen said.

Keith Doan, part of the organization committee for the Association of the Vietnamese Language and Schools of Southern California, said he enjoyed seeing youth involved in the cultural proceedings. He volunteers on the weekends as a teacher.

“We teach language and culture so they can retain their roots,” Doan said.

A cultural village in the middle of the festival gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about Vietnam at booths, play games and bring children to see animals at a small enclosed area. Teenaged girls flocked to the Viet Beauty magazine booth for beauty tips and free fake eyelashes, sipping on milky boba teas.

Vivan Luong, 17, volunteered to be a piece on the life-size moving chessboard. she said she loves the scope of the festival because it brings the entire community out for the celebration.

“I like being immersed in the culture,” Luong said. “Everybody comes.”

The festival is put on by the Union of Vietnamese Students Association. half of the funds raised will go into community organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America. the other half will go to the association for funding for affiliated schools.

The celebration, which began Friday with a miss Vietnam of Southern California pageant, will continue through Sunday, finishing up with a grand concert at 5 p.m.

Students and faculty gathered in the Russell House Ballroom on Monday evening, took their seats and sectioned their hair into ponytails. The nervous and excited chatter died down as the song “Good Life” by OneRepublic began playing, the signal for family members and friends to begin carefully cutting off the ponytails of the participants. Instead of littering the grounds, as in any salon parlor, the ponytails were gathered and placed in zip-close bags to be given to Beautiful Lengths, a program that turns donated hair into wigs for cancer patients. it is the first organization to benefit from this year’s Carolina Beautiful: Celebrate Your Body Week.

USC is hosting Carolina Beautiful week from Feb. 20-24 as part of the National Eating Disorders Association’s (NEDA) annual awareness week.

“It’s all about celebrating ourselves and our individuality,” campus dietitian Kristen Tice said. “Our overarching goal is to help people celebrate their bodies and their differences.”

Tice said the program was implemented last year to promote a positive self-image.

“There are so many students who have eating disorders,” she said. “The best line of defense is prevention. we want to prevent body image issues from spiraling into an eating disorder.”

Student Health Services was excited to incorporate Beautiful Lengths into Carolina Beautiful week this year.

“It’s a great way to give back to women who are less fortunate and lose their hair to cancer,” Trice said. “The fact that people are willing to give up something that they hold dear to themselves for others is inspirational.”

Christina Galardi, a fourth-year public relations student, approached Student Health Services with the idea in November.

“I have donated my hair five times,” she said. “The first time was in fifth grade, and after that it started to be a cycle. when I was ready to donate my hair for the sixth time I decided I wanted to make it bigger. I had no idea it would be this successful.”

Beautiful Lengths partnered with Pantene and the American Cancer Society to offer cancer patients wigs for free. Janie Smith, mission manager of the American Cancer Society, explained the effects of hair loss on cancer patients.

“I see patients with cancer who have lost their hair every day, and I see how devastated they are,” she said. “In fact, 60 percent of women say that the hair loss is the most devastating part of cancer.”

Smith has seen how much donated hair impacts a cancer patient.

“I have women who sit in the chair and when I put the wig on their head they cry and say they feel normal again,” she said. “You never know how much your hair defines you until it’s gone.”   

Participants shared their feelings about donating hair for the first time.

“It makes you feel good about yourself knowing that you’re helping someone,” said first-year exercise science student Janice Huynh.

Participants as young as eleven wanted to make a difference in someone’s life.

“When I was in fourth grade I donated hair,” fifth-grader Kiara Clark said. “My friend had cancer and now maybe she’ll be happy that someone donated hair.”

While cameras flashed, participants reached up toward their newly shorn hair and shared their sentiments towards Carolina Beautiful Week.

“I think it’s a really good idea,” Galardi said. “I think it’s great that we’re talking about body image for women, and hair is linked to body image. no matter how long their hair is, people should be proud of who they are.”

Since the focus of the week is building self-image, students shared their concepts of beauty.

“Beauty is about feeling good about you as a person,” Huynh said. “If you feel good about yourself then other people will think you’re beautiful.”

Hair and fashion at the 2012 Grammy Awards ranged from subtle to over-the-top, and after scouring many beauty and fashion websites, and MODERN’s Facebook this morning, I came up with a list of the coif queens and style princesses that turned heads and made the news today!Aside from earning six nominations for the music off her album 21, Adele who performed for the first time since throat surgery, played down her hair a little less than her normal ’60s voluminous bobs or bouffant ponytails. Arriving in a Giorgio Armani gown with black sequins and three-quarter length sleeves, Adele’s new warm blonde shade of hair, shoulder-length bob and soft curls completed her overall look.

Getty ImagesSinger Adele, winner of the GRAMMYs for Record of the Year for “Rolling in The Deep”, Album of the Year for “21″, Song of the Year for “Rolling in The Deep”, Best Pop Solo Performance for “Someone like You”, Best Pop Vocal Album for “21″ and Best Short Form Music Video for “Rolling in The Deep”, poses in the press room at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Here’s what some of our Facebook fans had to say about Adele’s look:Barbi Kathleen Harding: She is beautiful, but would love to see a cooler tone…seems like the really gold doesn’t warm to her skin tone! beautiful make-up though…Maria Bremer: I think she looks great. They kept it rich and warm without being brassy. I’m so glad it’s not bright yellow to platinum blonde. her make up looks lovely with the color too.Patti Lawley Smith: I love warm blondes, a little on the gold side but she went from red to blonde so it looks great considering the transition! Amanda La Fe’e Verte: It definately works. The volume was perfect reminds me of the soulfull 60′s but not too stuck in that era, little more current.Wearing an elaborately embroidered gown last night, Taylor Swift’s decision to wear minimal make-up and a ballerina bun, was probably the best way to go in order not too look “too overdone.” according to People.com, Swift said, “It’s one of my favorite dresses I’ve ever gotten to wear!” what do you think of Taylor Swift’s overall look? do you think her dress was too pale for her skin tone? what do you think of her choice of wearing an elegant bun?

Getty ImagesSinger Taylor Swift arrives at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center on February 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

When we asked our Facebook fans who wore their favorite looks at the Grammys last night, Carrie Underwood’s name was repeated time and time again! Wearing a white open-back Gomez-Fracia column dress, Underwood’s loose bouffant was one of our favorites from the night! (Stay tuned for the step-by-step!)

WireImage Singer Taylor Swift performs onstage at The 54th Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center on February 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage) FilmMagicSinger Carrie Underwood arrives at 54th Annual Grammy Awards held the at Staples Center on February 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

Rihanna turned heads with her new shoulder-length curly blonde hair and plunging custom Giorgio Armani gown. Possibly her hair was in tribute to one of Whitney Houston’s iconic ’80s looks (I Wanna Dance with Somebody)?

FilmMagicSinger Rihanna arrives at 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards held the at Staples Center on February 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic) FilmMagicRihanna’s Golden nails and matching rings.

Getty ImagesSinger Katy Perry performs onstage at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center on February 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Katy Perry is back to blue, and wore a matching floor-length baby blue gown. MODERN’s Facebook fans had mixed reviews about her style last night:LaVonna McAlister: Totally fun! I would love to hear from the designer. my guess is it is suppose to look a little rooty/grown out. That’s totally the style right now! I would not have liked it if the blue went clear to the scalp. Chavela Martinez: I liked it. She should do a bleeding effect of blue to teal to purple.Aleah Simpson: It looks like she’s between appointments. Faded color and the crimper made it look badly damaged. Woman to woman, Katy it’s time for a touch up.Yvonne Pittman: her hair is over processed. She needs to give it a rest and condition it. She looks beautiful in natural colors though closer to her own hair color.

Here are some more pictures from last night! Make sure you stop by MODERN’s Facebook page and let us know which all-stars you liked and disliked at the Grammys.

FilmMagicSinger Katy Perry arrives at 54th Annual Grammy Awards held the at Staples Center on February 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)

As many as one in four women will experience hair loss at some time in their lives. Women’s hair loss is difficult to pinpoint until it is in a progressive or severe stage.

Hair loss in women begins in most cases in the 40s or 50s at the onset of menopause, though it can occur as early as the 20s, and being seen in increasing numbers. According to the American Academy of Dermatology hair loss in women is a growing problem, affecting more than 30 million women in the United States alone.

Society accepts a bald man, but it’s not a socially acceptable for a woman to be bald in public. Female pattern baldness is just as common in women as it is in men, though the timing and pattern is different. Hair does not grow back to its previous stage of full thick hair. it does progress to various degrees of baldness. Women are better at disguising their hair loss than men, and in women it is generally less extensive in terms of severity. Women with hair loss who develop female-pattern baldness, the hair becomes thin over the entire scalp, rather than concentrated in one or two spots. Hairs become progressively finer and shorter. Bald spots appear here or there, some with short hair that are broken off. Total baldness is very rare in women with female pattern hair loss. Female-pattern baldness starts with the replacement hairs becoming progressively finer and shorter. they can also become almost transparent.

Women during their life time may encounter forms of losing hair condition in a variable period of time. in most cases and second to female pattern hair loss, it is Telogen Effluvium condition due to pregnancy or child birth. it is a hormonal factor, an estrogen level is lower, and in other words it is an estrogen deficiency period that causes hair thinning. Telogen Effluvium can occur due to crash diets, use of harsh chemicals, due to an emotional trauma or due to medical health issue such as lupus, ovary cystic, abnormal thyroid, anemia or hormonal imbalances. it can also be due to side effect of medication such as antidepressants, hypertension drugs, chemotherapy and others. it is a temporary hair loss in which a higher than normal percentage of hair go into a shedding phase. however, in most cases the hair grows back. When female pattern baldness occurs, only after time elapses and large thin areas or baldness is noticed, women realize that this time it is different. When excessive hair loss is present, a health care professional diagnosis is advised to pinpoint the underlying medical problem, not just the resulted condition.

Female pattern baldness is most likely affected by male hormones called testosterone, which cause a shut-down of the follicles in response to DHT, a byproduct of testosterone. over time, an excess build-up [of DHT] in the follicle causes it to begin shrinking, which in turn alters the natural resting and growth phases of the hair, says Reed, clinical associate professor of dermatology at NYU Medical Center. This is the same condition as in male pattern baldness, androgenic alopecia. Scientists at Bonn University recently found that women who pass a gene conferring high testosterone to their sons also make them more prone to premature baldness.

Many doctors immediately begin treating the patients with hair growth medications such as Rogaine. however, diagnosing the underlying medical problem with series of tests will benefit the patient in the long run. Although research is still in the early stages of assessing the causes of women’s hair loss improvements in treating underlying illness or abnormality in ones health is greatly improved in the past few years. a woman who experiences hair loss will benefit by consulting initially with her doctor for medical advice about her overall individual health condition and not just the hair loss condition outcome.

Because the ‘It Works’ beauty products are made from only natural ingredients, asking if they really work is like asking if eating a healthy diet really works? Anytime we take care of our body and mind with natural foods and herbs we’re ultimately going to show beneficial results. there is no way around it.

The body and mind work best when it is given what is grown in its natural state.when I remember to apply pure coconut oil to my face each night I wake up with soft skin and finer lines around my eyes. when I forget to apply coconut oil over the course of several nights my face gets dry, itchy, and wrinkles become more prominent.If I eat too much food that has been tampered with (processed) like sugar and white flour I get constipated, bloated, and irritable. Does this sound familiar for you too?

When we eat dark leafy greens, sprouts, raw vegetables and fruits every day we’re invariably going to look and feel quite good. when we put herbs on our body that are known to be anti-inflammatory, astringent, antioxidant, anti-cellulite, tightening, healing, and wrinkle reducing it will make us look better. The main reason why the ‘It Works’ beauty products really work is because they are made from natural ingredients.

The herbal scientists got together and did the research. they grew the herbs, tested them with each other and created powerful healing and nourishing skin moisturizers, toners, repairers, and defining gels that will assist you in reducing wrinkles, cellulite, stretch marks, and more these natural health and beauty products will assist you in your health journey, even well into middle age

Because I have tried the herbal body wrap myself and have talked to several people who have tried the weight loss and age defying skin repairers, I can say with confidence that these products really do work

Everyone loves to look beautiful. there are many advantages of looking beautiful. a gorgeous woman always receives attention. she marries the best catch. she gets to be the cheer leader. she dates all the attractive boys. she even manages to participate in the beauty pageants and win a crown for her country. Hence, women look out for simple beauty tips to enhance their beauty.

The skin care beauty tips are meant for all. Anyone can make a significant difference in their appearance with the help of the natural beauty tips. Unassuming girls use the y secrets tips to become more attractive, while the beautiful girls use them to preserve their appeal and look good for a longer period of time. In fact, even an ugly lady can look highly attractive by following the correct beauty tips for face.

Due to its high popularity, different women’s magazines make these fashion beauty tips an integral part of their editions. these health and beauty tips appear with religious regularity in an effort to boost the sale of the magazines. the editors hire the experts from the beauty industry who share their secrets with the readers. many a times, the readers are also encouraged to send in their queries which the experts answer by giving various health beauty tips. Now, one can even look for summer beauty tips on the Internet. there are several sites devoted on tips on beauty that boast of a high traffic rate. So, one can get the help of these tips and work towards improving her overall appeal.

These best beauty tips work towards enhancing each and every aspect of your personality. they offer advice on beauty that range from your crowning glory to your lovable feet. you are basically flooded with numerous tips that teach you to maintain your hair, eyes, face, hand, feet, etc. they also offer you tips on hair styling and the right selection of clothes for a particular body-type. Other than this, makeup beauty tips also include guidelines on current fashion and the correct method of applying make-up. Hence, if a girl is really keen on improving her looks then she could immensely upgrade it by following the correct beauty tips.

The current male generation has also become fashion conscious. they buy designer wear and go for beauty treatments. they color their hair and sport different styles. they wear various accessories like earrings, chains, bracelets, etc. Hence, observing this trend, men’s magazines have also started providing fashion and beauty tips for men.

So, regardless of your sex, you can look attractive and appealing by following the correct beauty tips and secrets.

Just how important is skin care to the average woman?

I believe that many women do not think a lot about the importance of keeping their skin hydrated, healthy, clean and protected from UV damage.

I know many women who still use only soap and water to cleanse their face. using only soap and water strips your skin of important protective layers that can lead to your skin looking older than it should. There are also many women who put on grocery store face creams that do nothing more than clog their pores. The women who use these products are believing the creams are helping but many of the ingredient’s molecules are too large for our skins pores to get down into our skin where the hydration is needed; the cream ends up just sitting on or very near to the surface of our face. It is most apparent when you use a heavier, greasier type skin care product you still feel it on your skin even after 10 minutes or so.

Yes there are some face and skin care products that are excellent, some are very expensive, some work, some do not. some have chemicals in them, some are organic; the selection is endless. What does a women do? — they go to facial parties, use coupons, grab the prettiest bottle on the shelf, ask their friends what they use, research, buy products on line.

It can get expensive and frustrating to keep trying different brands some of the products will get used and others will wind up sitting in the cupboard, some get old and the ingredients break down and have to be thrown away.

When it is all said and done no wonder women just use soap and water, it is so much easier.

Some women also use too many products each day and that can get very expensive.

To possibly help narrow down some of the choices I feel it is important to find a product that hydrates your face, feels smooth to the touch, lessens wrinkles, is easy to put on, feels good when going on, is not greasy or heavy feeling, is affordable, and something that you love using each day.

I do believe that face cream should not contain alcohol or any drying ingredients, chemicals, coloring or products that may make your face break out and the product can be used by all skin types. The product should be safe enough for everyone to use no matter what type of skin you have.

It is important, however, to use the product/products each day to get the best benefit. also the group of products if you choose to use a skin care system should compliment each other and work together. as you use each product it builds on helping your skin to be healthy and radiant with each product that you use.

If you are not seeing results in 30 days or less, then you may need to reevaluate if the facial products you are using are right for you and your skin.

I recently conducted a such a test for 30 days where I put a skin care system on only half of my face to see how long it took me to see a difference and boy did I ever. The lines on my face were quite diminished, my jaw line tightened, the bags under my eyes lessened and my cheeks looked so much more radiant. If I had just put it on my whole face I might not have seen how amazing the product I was using really was. I am now using it on my whole face hoping the other side catches us.

Diet, nutrition and water play an important part in how are skin looks and feels also.

In conclusion price is not always a good indicator of a good facial product, neither is the packaging, TV radio commercials, magazine or store reps. It is important to learn a little about our skin, what is good for our skin, what helps it to be hydrated, glowing, and will protect it from UV damage and help it to be soft like baby skin (yes it is possible). There are skin care products on the market that are very affordable and do a superior job in keeping our skin healthy and radiant looking.

If you are interested in the skin care system I am using and what to know where I get it email me at

If you Google affiliate marketing, one of the first results is from Wikipedia. it defines it as a marketing practice in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate’s own marketing efforts.

An affiliate is anyone who sells, promotes, or advertises a product that isn’t theirs and gets a commission for the sale.

This is a powerful yet simple concept and probably one of the easiest ways to start making money online.

Instead of trying to create your own product, a company allows you to sell their product for a commission. this can be accomplished through paid ads or free advertising. as long as the affiliate promotes it in an ethical way which helps the end user.

It’s easy to get started as an affiliate marketer. Just follow these steps (the 5 R’s) and you’ll be well on your way to starting your online career as an affiliate marketer.

1. RESEARCH – Search which market or niche you would like to promote. There are all kinds of niches ranging from health and beauty to computers. choose one which you are passionate about and it will make it easier to promote it.

2. REGISTER – you need to sign up with the affiliate marketing company to promote various products. or if there is a product you are currently using, chances are they probably have an affiliate program that will allow you to promote that product.

3. RECEIVE YOUR LINK – After you sign up, you will receive your special affiliate link that is exclusive to you. this is VERY important as this is how you will be paid. Every sale made through your link gets tracked by the company and that’s how they know who to pay and how much.

4. RECEIVE YOUR CHECK – After you start to make sales, checks start to get mailed out with your affiliate commissions. some takes weeks. Others are instant. I prefer the instant ones that pay out 100% commissions, like this one.

5. REPEAT – After you set up your niche website and get it running on autopilot, you can repeat the process and set up as many as you like. It’s all about multiple streams of income in this industry.

What to look for In an Affiliate Product

Before you choose a product or niche that you want to market, you should keep in mind what the demand and worth of a product is. Aim for one that is in large demand that also gives huge profits (100% commissions is ideally what you should be aiming for).

How to Promote your Affiliate Link

You might be wondering what you do with your affiliate link once you get it, and that’s a fair question.

Some people spam it all over Twitter and Facebook. And chances are these people aren’t making any real money. They might get a few bites, but never enough for life changing results (which is what we are after).

Basically you want to put your link in front of people that are searching for it.

How do you do that?

There are lots of different methods and forms of advertising, but my personal favorite is article marketing and using blogs. you write keyword rich articles related to your niche you have chosen, post them on your blog or article directories and then promote those articles.

So you aren’t promoting the link itself first, but rather you’re giving value to the reader because they are finding your article that they were looking for and after giving them value, you suggest they click on your affiliate link for better results or for more information.

This is a better way to promote your link compared to just spamming it all over the place.

How you Get Paid as Affiliate Marketers

There are a few different ways most companies like to pay their affiliates. some through checks twice a month (it’s a drag waiting for these to come), some pay through PayPal (this is better), and some pay directly into your bank account the very next day (the BEST choice)

Always choose direct deposit if you have the choice.