How to Take Advantage of Affiliate Marketing Offers Without Putting Your Social Security Number at Risk
Are you tempted by affiliate marketing opportunities but afraid to do anything about it? Have you been left with big questions and bigger concerns? I was worried too, but I think I found some answers to my questions:
Question #1: Are those offers real?
Well, many of them sure are. (Always do your research, though, and especially check out the products.) Clearly, there are quite a few people who make a good amount of money, from some very legitimate affiliate programs. Why shouldn’t you be one of them? Perhaps you have already found a site that you would like to promote. Just a little problem…
Question #2: How can I do this safely? Or I can?
That was exactly the question I was asking myself when I came across some VERY tempting affiliate offers. I was very excited and ready to sign up. In fact, I started signing up. And then I got to the part where they wanted my… (drumroll!) …social security number!
My what? They had to be kidding. Who in their right mind would give a stranger on the internet his social security number? I thought. Then again, it makes sense. If they pay me money and want to stay legit, they’re going to need my social network, right? After all, they will have to send me my tax form at the end of the year.
But what about identity theft? Giving them my SSN means I’m practically presenting them with my line of credit on a silver platter. I could also send them my credit cards along with my birth certificate. Damned! I thought. First I did nothing. But I came across another one of those offers, and another, and so on. In the meantime, I had done enough research to know that yes, affiliate offers are definitely real. And then I came across the deal that was too tempting to pass up. To do?
So I asked someone I trusted, someone who played an important role in creating my first website. And he fulfilled me: he gave me the solution to the dilemma:
Three letters: EIN
Question #3: What the heck is an EIN?
EIN stands for Employer Identification Number. But you have no interest in employing anyone, you say? It is not a problem.
This is simply an identification number that the IRS provides for your business use. It allows you to separate your personal finances from your business information, which is a good idea anyway. And it allows you to get money without revealing your social security number, while still being legal, and allowing affiliate merchants who send you money to remain legal, too.
Question #4: So how can I get one?
That is easy. She could hardly believe it. It took me the entire half hour online, and that’s with reading all the instructions. Here is the IRS web page where you can apply:
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html
Just click “apply online”.
If you want more information, they also have a link for that.
That’s all. You’ll be good to go. Now you can provide a legitimate identification number that won’t jeopardize your personal finances. Isn’t that cool?
So get your EIN and start pocketing your piece of the affiliate marketing pie.