 (ARA) - Even the most casual Internet user has seen the ads: "Get a free Xbox!" or "Win a plasma TV!" While some may view these ads with a wary eye, they are actually a new form of marketing that smart Web surfers are turning to their advantage.
"Rewards-based affiliate marketing can work for the consumer, making a wealth of products available to them at little -- and often, no charge," says Ricky Ahuja of FreeZone.com, which markets products for a variety of companies. "The trick is to learn how the system functions and use it to your advantage."
Internet users who click on one of these ads are often taken to a screen filled with offers from companies who have hired a marketing company, like FreeZone.com, to generate business. The marketer draws potential customers to the site using a reward system -- such as a free Xbox, the current promotional offer from FreeZone.com.
"The first thing you should do is read the fine print," says Ahuja. "Sites are required to spell out for you exactly what you must do to fulfill their requirements for a reward. In most cases, you'll need to complete a certain number of sponsor offers in order to qualify."
Next, you'll need to enter a valid e-mail address. The site will then ask for your address. "There are two reasons for this," Ahuja says. "First, we need to know where to send the reward and second, entering your name and address confirms that you are in fact a real person fulfilling these offers."
In the second step, the site will prompt you to check which offers you may be interested in -- about 20 to 30 per page. You'll probably need to complete several offers at three or four levels to qualify. Some offers will involve commitments to purchase something from a sponsor. Others will offer free products and you'll only pay shipping and handling. Still others ask you to agree to receive free information on a product or service.
"It's not always necessary to go into this with your credit card ready," notes Ahuja. "On FreeZone.com, for example, it is possible to complete the qualification process without spending any money."
So once you've completed the process, when can you expect to receive your reward? That will depend on such factors as how quickly the sponsors notify the marketing company that you've fulfilled their offers, and the marketer's own process for shipping merchandise. "Generally, you should expect to see your reward within a few weeks," says Ahuja. "At FreeZone.com, our turnaround time is three to four weeks."
"Remember, you don't necessarily have to complete the process all at once," he says. "FreeZone.com allows you to complete the qualification process in steps. Offers change on a daily basis, so if you don't find enough of interest on the site one day, you can come back another day and see totally different offers."
Finding the rewards program that's right for you is as simple as googling the word "free" and the product you want. To learn more about qualifying for a free Xbox or other exciting new products, visit www.FreeZone.com.
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