Introduction to Affiliate Marketing
When I first started looking into blogging and making money online, I had no idea what affiliate marketing was. It just sounded like a scam or MLM, which I was not interested in.
But after doing some research, I learned its very simple. An affiliate is someone who earns commission from promoting a companies product. No different from a salesperson earning commission off of his or her sales. A person just needs to know how to find an affiliate program.
And not just any affiliate program. You want an affiliate program that is in line with your brand. You also want one that pays decent and has a good track record. The company I promote should have a good online presence on their website and through Social Media. And it should provide my audience with something they are looking for.
Lets go over how to research affiliate programs in regards to your niche and your goals. Then we can talk about how to ensure the program is reputable. Finally, how to make sure the program is compatible with your brand.
Defining Your Niche and Goals
To succeed in affiliate marketing, it is important to have a well defined niche, and one that you are passionate about, or at least very interested in. Sometimes it takes a while to see success in a new business, and if the niche isn’t something you really love to talk about and be a part of, it will be very easy to give in to the temptation to quit.
But if you are excited about what you are talking about, you will keep putting in the work, because you know there are people out there just like you, who are going to find your website and know they have come to the right place!
Ask yourself what your objectives are for your affiliate marketing efforts. Are you looking to build a passive income stream? Do you want to increase your online presence? How long are you going to give yourself to achieve the goals you have set for yourself? How much time are you willing to commit to succeed in the goals you have set out?
Have Clear Objectives
These are all important questions to ask yourself before you start out with your online business. If you don’t have these clear objectives, it is way to easy to give up before you reach success. And when you have the answers to these questions written out, or at least thought out, then it will be easier to align your affiliate program choices with your brand and personal values.
When choosing an affiliate program, do your research to make sure you want to promote the product. Spend a good amount of time on their website, looking through their social media pages, and at customer reviews.
There will always be people who like to complain about non-sensical things when trying a product, but there will be an overall feeling when reading comments or reviews about what a company is about. And how they respond to complaints or comments is also a very important thing to be aware of.
But most of all, try the product out yourself. When you have experience with a product, your review of that product will be honest and genuine. People will notice that! And if others have questions about the product you are promoting, you will be able to confidently answer them.
Researching Affiliate Programs
If you are new to affiliate marketing or the online business world, you may be wondering how to find products to promote. Well, there is good news….it’s not hard.
There are actually affiliate directories and networks out there that act as a middle man between the affiliate and the advertiser, or company looking for affiliates to promote their product. The affiliate directories put together lists of affiliate programs, making it much easier to find a product for your niche, for your website.
You probably even know some of these directories…. think ShareASale, ClickBank, Rakuten, etc. Here at Wealthy Affiliate, there is also a list of trusted affiliate programs for you to search!
The best way for you to know which quality products or services related to your niche that you want to promote, is to try them yourself. I know that isn’t always possible because they might be too expensive for your budget, or for other reasons, but that is the absolute best way.
Keep Researching
Secondary to that is like I already mentioned earlier…..research, research, research. Always look at the reviews and comments. Research the product thoroughly yourself to see if it is a product you would love to have yourself. Or maybe you know someone else who has the product and loves it. Just make sure you have done enough research so you know what you are talking about!
One more important thing to research is the commission structure and payment terms of the affiliate program you are considering.
There are a few different commission models out there that different companies use.
- Percentage based commission – affiliate earns a percentage of the sale price.
- One time amount – a fixed amount for each referral
- Tiered Commission – as an affiliate sells more product, the earning percentage goes up
- Recurring Commission – more commonly used in subscription based sales
This isn’t all of the commission models, but the more popular ones. You will also want to look at the payment terms. Is there a minimum amount to earn before payout? How will you be paid? All important things to look at when choosing an affiliate program to be part of!
Optimizing for Compatibility and Support
A high paying affiliate program is not going to be a good choice if it doesn’t match your audience’s needs and interests. This is where knowing your audience and having a well defined niche comes into play.
You can promote a product all you want, with as much excitement and passion as you can muster, but if it isn’t what your audience wants or needs, the sales are not going to be there. It is better to promote a lower ticket item that will generate more sales, than a high ticket item that isn’t a good fit for your niche.
A good affiliate program will also have support and resources to affiliates. Look for a program that has marketing materials, that has training that is updated regularly, and is set up to help you along the way with any questions you might have.
Especially when you are just starting out, these resources are so important. I always appreciate being able to ask more seasoned affiliates within the program I am in for their advice or a critique on my website!
One more thing to consider is the ease of integration with your current platforms and content. Will the affiliate program you are considering be a seamless continuation of what you are already doing? Or will it feel awkward and “salesy?” If you are just starting out, it will be easier to integrate an affiliate program, but if you are already established, and your audience already trusts you, you should be more careful with what you choose to promote.
Making the Decision & Monitoring Success
The best affiliate program for you is the one that works well within your niche, one that you trust and have researched, and one that your audience will be looking for and is helpful to them.
So now its up to you to take the plunge, apply to become an affiliate in the program you have chosen, and get started. Keep in mind that with some programs, it will be easier if you have already established an audience, but there are plenty of programs for those just starting out as well!
Overtime, it is a good idea to track and analyze your affiliate performance over time. This way you will know what is working, and what isn’t! Sometimes things will take off quickly and then slow down, and other times it takes a while for a product to gain traction. But just keep an eye on what is giving you the best return for your time, and that will help you in future affiliate choices.
Then you can adjust and optimize your strategy for increased earnings, and scaling your business for longevity.
Time to stop thinking and start DOING!
(Well, not completely stop thinking….but you know what I mean 😉
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