How to Start Affiliate Marketing?
Russell Brunson, a co-founder of ClickFunnels, once said, “Being an affiliate marketer is very cost-effective. You don’t have to put much money in an affiliate program in order to gain a lot.”
And, yes, that’s true.
In fact, there’s a high chance—it might be sure-fire in the first place—that you won’t spend a dime at all in becoming an affiliate marketer per se.
That is, if we count off your expenses in creating your content to give your affiliate networks a platform.
Once that’s settled, you may start earning.
You see, the affiliate marketing industry is booming, and many, especially content creators, grab the chance to do affiliating to earn more on top of their revenues.
It started in 1989 when William J. Tobin filed for the patent of affiliate marketing.
Now, the affiliate marketing industry in the US alone in 2022 has spent 8.2 billion dollars.
If that’s not enough to entice you to become an affiliate marketer, then I don’t know what else can.
Kidding aside, if you want to become an affiliate marketer and start affiliate marketing, keep reading to know the essentials.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
If it’s your first time hearing affiliate marketing after you’ve heard it from people, especially on how big of a potential it has in earning extra cash, I’ll give you the gist and simplest explanation of it.
You may try searching it online to find its book definition, though. If you want the dumbed-down version, I’ll give it to you.
So, businesses that sell their products or services always hunger for a wider reach (they want more customers or clients), so they offer an affiliate program wherein affiliate marketers can participate.
This program gives a unique affiliate link to their partners, who, in turn, can share their content, website, or any platform where people can click it.
If you try to see the link given, you’ll notice that aside from the seller’s business name, it’ll have a mixture of almost random letters and numbers.
That’s a tracker that will determine it’s your link and no one else’s.
Once people click the link, they’ll be diverted to the page or website of the products or services of the seller, and you, as the affiliate, will earn a commission from it.
In short, affiliate marketing is mostly about helping businesses sell their products or services by sharing the link with potential buyers.
Who Is an Affiliate Marketer?
An affiliate marketer can be a single, regular person, such as you, or an entity or business that does affiliate marketing as a business.
There are no established requirements to become an affiliate marketer, but usually, one should possess the following:
- A great deal of following or audience
- Have an interesting niche
- Always active online
A successful affiliate marketing strategy always seeks affiliates with the abovementioned factors.
Remember, the seller’s goal is to have a wider audience to reach potential buyers; therefore, they’ll need someone popular.
Of course, not all sellers scrutinize you if you have these qualities; some just put an affiliate program in their affiliate website, and it’s up to the marketers if they’ll participate and generate an affiliate link for them to use.
Just do your research to find out what each business looks for in an affiliate marketing work partner.
Benefits of Affiliate Marketing
There are many benefits of affiliate marketing, but the most obvious ones are the following:
- Passive income. The best benefit you can get from affiliate marketing is its potential to give you passive income. Remember, all you need to do is plug the affiliate link into your content, then you can start earning from it.
- Reach more businesses. Once a seller is satisfied with the affiliate sales you’ve earned, there’s a higher chance that they’ll refer you to their colleagues. The wider your affiliate network, the higher your affiliate income is.
- Get a career in affiliating marketing. If you have a degree in business or any related field, you might develop a bright future in affiliate marketing.
Getting Started
So, how to start affiliate marketing now that you know the basics?
Follow these steps:
Choosing Your Niche
The first thing to do is obviously find your niche.
Find something that you like to do. It’ll serve as your content.
If you’re on Tiktok, Youtube, or any other video-sharing platform, your niche should be something you can show in your videos.
Examples of popular niches on these platforms are:
- Dancing
- Cooking
- Lip-syncing
- Arts and crafts
- Fitness
- Fashion
- Comedy
- Reviews
- Reactions
Grow Your Channel
You’ll have leverage if you have a large fan base or following; some companies even only partner with influencers or those who are already famous.
Why? Obviously, the more your followers are, the more will your affiliate link reach potential buyers.
But how can you grow your channel?
Suppose you choose to be on Tiktok or Youtube. Here are some simple tips:
- Pick the right niche. While there are various niches that you can choose from, choose only those that are relevant or on-trend.
- Pick a catchy channel name. If you’ve noticed, most famous influencers, especially those who don’t use their real names because they don’t want to be in a group, or represent an entity, have catchy names.
- Post regularly. It’s crucial that you have a schedule for your posting. Remember, though, not to sacrifice the quality of your content for the sake of posting, or there’ll be unpleasant consequences, like being bashed for poor content.
- Learn from your posts. We always learn from our mistakes, which also applies to becoming a Tiktoker or Youtuber.
- Find relevant keywords. Using keywords, hashtags, or any other SEO technique to reach the right audience helps you get established with your audience. Ensure you know the basics of keyword research.
The more people reach your channel, the more you’ll get a decent following.
Remember to follow these tips if you’re still an amateur content creator.
And once you already have grown a decent following, it’s where how to start affiliate marketing officially starts.
Researching Affiliate Programs
There are many companies that offer different affiliate programs, so ensure you know who you’re dealing with.
Some of the affiliate programs that are popular and cater to various niches are the following:
- Fiverr
- Amazon Associates
- ClickBank
- eBay Partner Network
- Commission Junction
- GiddyUp
- Impact
- Awin
- Rakuten Affiliate
These programs provide great affiliate revenues, which might change occasionally.
Considerable factors include commission rates, cookie duration, payment frequency, and the quality of the offered goods and services.
The bottom line is to find the ideal affiliate marketing program that works best for you that targets your audience.
Setting Realistic Goals
Setting goals is crucial, but setting realistic ones can be a challenge.
You see, there are times when we are too ambitious about what we like to achieve, not considering some hard-truth factors in reality.
The point is, setting attainable goals is essential for affiliate marketing success and long-term growth.
Why? Because it helps us stay grounded in truth, something that’s achievable.
Here are my tips for you to set realistic goals:
- Identify your objectives. What is it that you like to achieve in your affiliate marketing venture?
- Start small. Don’t get big immediately; start small in the affiliate marketing business to avoid culture shock. From there, you can take a step gradually.
- Set SMART goals. We all know that SMART means specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound; this help ensure your goal is possible.
- Analyze your audience. Considering your audience is part of goal setting, especially when making SMART goals.
- Create a content plan. Have a blueprint of your plan. It’s crucial that you have something that you can grasp.
Building Your Online Presence
It’s been stated numerous times in this post that being popular is an edge in affiliate marketing; it can’t be done without starting from its roots.
There are many ways to build your presence online, and one of the basics is to create your own website.
Creating a Website
If you know how to create your own website, you better do it on your own to save money.
However, if you don’t know or simply want to save time and energy, try to outsource it from someone else who’s an expert.
In fact, there are various companies you can avail of that do website creation.
You see, having a website is crucial in building your online presence.
While social media platforms are effective ways of getting known online, having a website screams authority.
The moment your potential audience seeks more information about you and finds out that you have an official website, they’ll think you mean business.
And, yes, someone seeking to start affiliate marketing does mean business.
However, if you don’t know how to create one but want to learn how to do it on your own, here are some steps that you can follow:
- Get a domain. Some websites, such as Wix and WordPress, offer their customers a free website and a domain for an affordable price.
- Have an official email address. Using an official email, or business email, sets the professional mood of your site. Instead of using “yourbusiness@gmail.com,” use “name@yourbusiness.com.”
- Design your website. Designing can be complicated for a beginner, but Wix can help you with hundreds of templates. If you want more freedom, opt for WordPress.
- Manage the content. Now that you have a website designed, it’s time to think about what content you’ll use. Is it writing or posting pictures or videos?
- Publish your website. Once you’re ready with everything, click the “publish” button, and your site will be available online.
Blogging for Success
Blogging is another way of building a presence online.
In fact, about 26% of young people aged 5-18 years in the UK alone in 2022 read blogs online.
How much more are the average teenagers and adults?
You see, it’s easy to find information nowadays online with just a search away on Google, and affiliate marketers have used this information to market their products and services.
Try searching for a question on Google, and I guarantee you that almost all the search results are blogs or articles.
That’s how successful blogging is, especially in affiliate marketing.
Social Media Marketing
Another way of building your online presence is through social media marketing.
Some popular social media platforms you can use are Facebook, Tiktok, and Instagram.
Furthermore, there are many programs a social media platform can offer to its creators, which help some of them become influencers.
Suppose you have a great deal of following on a particular social media platform. In that case, you can start building your online presence by posting daily and sticking to a particular niche.
That way, people can easily remember you based on your niche.
And, voila, you got yourself some audience.
Then, you can start doing affiliate marketing!
Affiliate Marketing Strategies
Now that you know how to do affiliate marketing, it’s time that you up your game by utilizing some affiliate marketing techniques.
SEO Content Marketing
Suppose writing is your strong suit in expressing your niche. In that case, SEO content marketing is the most appropriate technique in your affiliate marketing journey, especially since most affiliate marketers employ SEO content marketing efforts.
You see, one of the most sought-after businesses in the SEO industry today is SEO content marketing.
First of all, SEO is a broad term that means search engine optimization; basically, you do your best to rank your website on Google results.
SEO technically involves a team of writers, developers, web designers, and others to ensure good rankings. As you can see, an SEO content writer is only one part of the whole.
As an affiliate marketer, it’s best to know how to properly write SEO content and insert the affiliate link you got organically in your writing.
To do this, especially in relation to affiliate marketing, here are some simple steps you can follow:
- Use the correct keywords that relate to the affiliate marketing business you’ve partnered with.
- Produce valuable, captivating material for your intended audience.
- Use appropriate titles, meta descriptions, and subheadings for better optimization.
- Create shareable material to increase your backlink profile, and contact related websites to ask for guest blogging possibilities.
- Keep an eye on your rankings and modify your approach to maintain competition in your niche.
Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is when brands, products, or services are promoted through collaborating with prominent individuals, frequently on social media platforms.
The fun thing is, being an influencer today has become a bit easier compared to before.
Keep note that it’s not easy per se (it’s still difficult), but with the help of the internet, it’s easier to reach your intended audience.
Businesses do this because they can reach a bigger audience and raise brand recognition by working with influencers since they have a sizable and engaged following.
Video Marketing
Are you fond of creating videos instead of writing? Video marketing might be your best bet among the others here!
A great method for using videos to advertise goods and services is called video marketing.
In fact, with the development of more affordable technology for producing high-quality videos, it has grown in favor among marketers.
Moreover, more people nowadays prefer watching videos to reading, so that’s enough reason for affiliate marketers to do video marketing.
One of the most popular platforms when it comes to creating and sharing video content is no other than Tiktok, aside from Youtube.
The platform offers various niches and categories, so you’ll at least find something interesting.
Podcasting
Podcasting, in its simple book definition, produces and disseminates audio content in episodes that listeners may stream or download.
Podcasts frequently cover a wide range of subjects and are typically hosted by one or more people. It’s like listening to a radio show but over the internet.
In recent years, they have gained popularity for amusement and communication.
While it was not that popular before, it still gained traction, with about 22% of the adult population in the United States knowing its existence.
It started gaining fame in 2021; about 82 million people worldwide listen to it. In fact, It’s predicted to grow more in 2024.
The point is, with millions of people listening to podcasts, it has become a great platform for affiliate marketers.
Optimizing Your Affiliate Campaigns
It can’t be overestimated that continuously adjusting your tactics is important if you want to increase your affiliating revenue and ensure your affiliate campaigns are successful.
While there are numerous factors in optimizing your affiliate marketing campaigns, the following are some of the important ones:
Tracking Your Performance
Regularly monitoring your success is essential for optimizing your affiliate marketing initiatives.
It entails keeping an eye on several indicators, including clicks, conversions, and income.
You can discover patterns, uncover problems, and make data-driven decisions to enhance your campaigns by keeping a watch on these numbers.
Google Analytics is a good tool that you can use for this.
Split Testing
Split testing, sometimes referred to as A/B testing, is a technique for evaluating the performance of two or more versions of a marketing piece.
You can use this for your affiliate projects’ landing pages, ad creatives, and email text, among others.
To do this:
- Select the component you wish to test, such as the headlines on the landing page.
- Make several variants of the component.
- Assign your traffic at random to each component.
- Choose the most successful component after analyzing the results.
- Use the winning component and repeat the process with other components.
Conversion Rate Optimization
Increasing the proportion of site visitors who do an activity, such as completing a purchase or signing up for a newsletter, is known as conversion rate optimization (CRO).
Consider using the following tactics to improve your conversion rates:
- Improve your website’s usability. Make sure your website is user-friendly and modern-looking as much as possible. Don’t make it look like a cluster of text and pictures.
- Use compelling calls to action (CTAs). Use CTAs that are persuasive enough with great explanations, not those that sound too salesy.
- Leverage social proof. Ask some people to write a review of your website. You can even directly insert your affiliate link in their reviews.
- Offer incentives. Provide free trials, discounts, or other incentives to encourage visitors to take action (this can be part of your CTA).
If done correctly, visitors will surely click on the affiliate link, and, in turn, you’ll earn a commission from that.
Retargeting Strategies
Retargeting is a marketing strategy where people who, at one time, interacted with your site or page are shown advertisements.
This is also proven effective for affiliate marketers.
It can be a powerful strategy for re-engaging potential clients and raising conversion rates.
Here are some famous retargeting strategies for affiliate marketers:
- Facebook retargeting
- Google Ads remarketing
- Email retargeting
Growing Your Affiliate Business
Affiliate marketing doesn’t stop with just optimizing your campaigns. You need to make it grow if you want to become a successful affiliate marketer.
With that said, take your affiliate efforts to new heights with the following tips:
Networking With Other Affiliates
One of the best ways to grow your affiliate business is through networking with other affiliates.
Making connections with others who share your interests will make it simpler for you to gain access to a variety of knowledge that may help you improve your goals and increase your revenue than going at it alone.
The following are some methods you can use to network with other affiliates:
- Join online networks and forums devoted to affiliate marketing.
- Take part in online discussions with other affiliates.
- Attend networking and affiliate marketing events in your region.
Attending Conferences and Events
If you want to know the newest trends, resources, and strategies in affiliate marketing, attend conferences and events.
Of course, you can always read online resources if you learn better that way, but being immersed in the world of affiliate marketing is a wonderful experience.
Who knows, you might also learn about involved affiliate marketing.
Anyway, these are some of the things you can learn from attending conferences and events:
- Get insightful advice from professionals in your field and thought leaders.
- Find fresh products and services to market.
- Connect with other retailers, affiliates, and service providers.
- Keep up with the most recent changes in the affiliate marketing sector.
Here are some of the popular affiliate conferences and events you can attend:
Expanding Your Portfolio
Your affiliate portfolio has to be diverse if you want to succeed and expand over the long run.
By marketing diverse goods and services, you may reduce the danger of depending too heavily on a single income source.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
In maintaining your reputation and compliance with laws, you must be aware of the legal and moral issues in affiliate marketing.
I’ve personally chosen the crucial ones that you must know.
Disclosing Your Affiliation
Affiliate marketers must be open and honest about their connections to the goods and services they advertise.
In fact, affiliate marketers are required by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to declare their connections to merchants on their websites and social media accounts.
This information must be unambiguous, obvious, and simple to understand for common customers.
Failure to disclose your affiliation may result in fines and reputational harm.
If you don’t know how to do it exactly, here are some ways you can follow:
- Include a disclosure statement at the start or end of your blog entries and social media updates.
- Use simple words to describe your connection to the merchant.
- Make sure the disclaimer is clear and not obscured by a large list of links or in tiny font.
Here’s an example:
This content contains affiliate links
Adhering to FTC Guidelines
It’s crucial to abide by the FTC’s rules for endorsements and advertising in addition to declaring your involvement.
These rules are meant to safeguard customers against dishonest or fraudulent marketing techniques.
Here are some essential reminders regarding the guidelines:
- Do not make erroneous or deceptive statements regarding the goods or services you are promoting.
- Any significant ties between you and the merchant should be made clear.
- Do not advertise goods or services through dishonest methods, such as making up testimonials or reviews.
Avoiding Scams and Fraud
Unfortunately, fraud can be common in the affiliate marketing industry.
That’s why it’s crucial to exercise caution and refrain from doing business with dishonest vendors or spreading hoaxes if you want to preserve your reputation.
Follow these simple tips to avoid scams and fraudulent activities in affiliate marketing:
- Before signing up, research affiliate programs and merchants. Check out the opinions and comments of other affiliates as well.
- Get away from programs that demand upfront payments or make exaggerated earnings claims.
- Keep track of your affiliate earnings and notify the merchant or affiliate network of any irregularities or questionable behavior.
Advanced Affiliate Marketing Techniques
Now that everything’s laid down about everything affiliate marketing, it’s time that you know some advanced techniques.
You see, it’s critical to keep ahead of the curve by using cutting-edge strategies as the competition in the affiliate marketing industry intensifies.
Creating Your Own Products
Getting sick of looking for an affiliate program? Maybe it’s time that you create your own products (or services) and grow your affiliate network.
You see, making your own products is one method to differentiate yourself from the competition and boost your affiliate marketing income.
It gives you complete control over the product, its price, and the affiliate commission scheme.
How to?
First, find a field in which you are an expert or have a keen interest.
Next, conduct market research to find out whether there’s a market for the kind of product you intend to develop.
Then, create your product and a sales funnel to advertise it after you’ve chosen a profitable niche.
Don’t forget to create a separate affiliate website for this.
After that, you may seek out affiliates, grow your affiliate network, and pay them a commission for each sale they make promoting your product.
Launching a Membership Site
Launching a membership website is another complicated yet rewarding affiliate marketing strategy.
A website that provides members with special materials, resources, or services in exchange for a monthly subscription is known as a membership site.
This may be a great strategy to promote affiliate items while still bringing in a consistent income.
Just remember that you’ll need to offer worthwhile material that your target audience is willing to pay for in order to build a successful membership site.
This might involve access to a closed community, articles, videos, webinars, or other resources.
In fact, one of the most successful membership-only websites to date is OnlyFans. Surely, anyone knows what it is, right?
With that said, you may include related affiliate items on your membership website, giving members exclusive savings or benefits.
Utilizing Webinars and Live Events
Are you fond of organizing events or sharing knowledge? This one might be for you.
Webinars and live events are effective marketing tools that may aid in audience connection, trust-building, and affiliate product promotion.
Yes, affiliate product promotion is possible in webinars and live events; you just need to be subtle with it.
Of course, you still need to disclose that it’s an affiliated product.
You can do this by educating your audience while highlighting relevant affiliate items.
For example, you’re holding a webinar about effective teaching pedagogies for teachers. You may recommend a book that they can read (which is an affiliate item).
Final Thoughts on How to Start Affiliate Marketing
As you can see, affiliate marketing isn’t really as intimidating as it may sound. You just need to master the basics, and you can start affiliate marketing right away.
Remember, the most important part of this blog is that you shouldn’t forget to disclose your affiliation with the products or services you’re marketing.
In fact, go ahead and read the FTC guidelines now (just be ready; it might feel like reading typical terms and conditions).
