If you don't have your own newsletter, you're severely handicapping yourself. Now is the time to get started.
If you build up your list of subscribers by providing mainly useful information, a newsletter is a superb promotional tool, and a superb money-generating tool. I like the ones that have very few ads, so that's the way I run my Associate Programs Newsletter.
Experienced, successful marketers always place a lot of importance on building their opt-in lists because they know that it gives them the opportunity to make repeat sales.
If you're keen, you can increase your sales and commissions even more by creating not just one newsletter but MANY opt-in lists for different audiences.
If you want a no-nonsense, no-hype guide to newsletter publishing, I highly recommend Ezine Adrenaline: How to Create, Publish and Market A Profitable E-zine on the Internet by Kate Schultz. It tells you all the stuff you need to know.
[UPDATE: Kate's book is no longer available. For a much more advanced guide to email publishing, I recommend The Insider Secrets to E-mail marketing - Advanced Series by Derek Gehl and the Internet Marketing Center. These really experienced guys show you everything, from growing a super-responsive opt-in list as quickly as possible, to generating the highest possible revenue from every email you send, to protecting your business from being wrongly accused of spamming and knowing how to effectively deal with it if you are. This is vitally important info you need to know before you launch your newsletter.]
Write reviews in your newsletter
One of the most valuable lessons I've learned in marketing is that people like buying from people they know, like and trust.
You can provide affiliate product reviews in your newsletter. Once your readers have learned to TRUST you, they'll buy from you.
You DON'T need a website?
It makes sense to aim for repeat customers and repeat sales - and if you want them, you need an interesting site. It's much easier to sell to existing customers than always trying to find new ones.
However, if you want to just dip your toe in the water and experiment a little, you can do it without having a web site.
For good advice on this, see Chris Carpenter's Google Cash
