Online donations are fast-becoming a major way to generate money for causes; in 2013, charities such as the National Christian Foundation and Habitat for Humanity International reported an individual online donation of $100,000 or more, and the University of Michigan noted that Internet giving rose an astonishing 296 percent.(1) Not bad at all.
While other methods like face-to-face interaction, mail-in forms and social media promotion are still in use and serve as helpful extras to complement a fundraising effort, giving over the Internet –if these examples are any indication– are proving to be effective and well-worth exploring.
If you’re familiar with typical retail sites such as Overstock, then you’re on your way to understanding how it can work for you. Quite simply, you create a storefront, which is essentially a web site, with an appearance similar to Overstock or Best Buy. Just like them, you’re showcasing what you wish to drive interest in. The main difference is that the affiliate links will be displayed, so everyone gets credit where credit’s due.(2)
Ready to jump in? Take these key points in consideration before creating your affiliate storefront.