Google Is Getting Into The Affiliate Program Business

Google is rolling out the beta version of Google Pay-Per-Action, a program designed to allow publishers to display ads for select products and get paid when a specific action is completed. Such actions could include completing a sale or filling out a sign-up form.

In this program advertisers will pay only for actions that they define. This will increase your advertising reach while paying only for actions that you define.

First, you'll create an ad and define the action that you want a user to perform when they visit your site, such as signing up for your newsletter or purchasing a product. Then you'll set the amount that you're willing to pay when this action is completed. Finally, you'll install conversion tracking code on your website so that we can verify when an action has been completed.

Once you've completed these steps, publishers in the Google content network can choose to place your ads on their website. You'll only pay when a user clicks on your ad, visits your site, and completes your desired action.

Publishers will have the ability to select from a number of ad formats, including text link ads, static image ads, or flash-based ads.

This program is Google's launch of an affiliate marketing program similar to Commission Junction, LinkShare, Azoogle and other affiliate networks. When finally released into the mainstream, Google will instantly become the world's largest affiliate network at just about the time that affiliate marketing seems primed to enter a new era of opportunity and complications.