Do you want to know if one can make money through affiliate marketing?
Or perhaps you already know that but are not so sure what are the other advantages this business offer?
Or maybe you’ve already decided to become an affiliate but are confused about which affiliate program to choose and how to start promoting the affiliate product?
If you said yes to either, this post is just for you.
I’ll be answering some common questions related to affiliate marketing, including the ones listed above.
So, let’s dive in.
What is pay per click and pay per lead affiliate programs?
Most people are familiar with pay per sale affiliate program because it is the most common one. Needless to say, in such a program you receive an agreed amount, which is your commission, for every sale you generate.
While not as popular as pay per sale affiliate marketing model, pay per click and pay per lead are also pretty common.
In pay per click, you receive a commission for every user you send to the seller’s website. Whereas, in pay per lead, you get paid when a user sent by you shares her contact information on the seller’s website.
What is an affiliate link and affiliate ID?
A seller typically has multiple affiliates. To keep a track on sales, traffic or leads generated by each affiliate, the trader assigns a unique link and ID, usually a unique number, to every affiliate.
The unique link which you’ll from the seller get will contain your unique ID. Whenever someone clicks on your affiliate link, enters the seller’s site, makes a purchase, you will receive your commission.
What if a redirected person makes a purchase at some later date? Will I get my commission?
As long as the user buys something at the seller’s site within the specific period listed in your terms of service, you’ll receive your commission. Most contracts list this period as 60 days. Some may have a shorter or longer time period.
What so unique about affiliate marketing?
Unlike most other businesses, affiliate marketing doesn’t require any upfront investment. Thanks to WordPress and other similar tools, you can even create a site for absolutely nothing. So the only thing you really have to spend on is your annual hosting fee.
I can’t think of many other businesses that are lucrative and yet can be launched without any capital. Can you?
The other advantage is that once you have to build a sizeable online presence, you can earn without working. You can be on a constant vacation or busy yourself with a new business and still the money will keep coming into your affiliate account.
Additionally, as an affiliate marketer, you are your own boss. You don’t have to work a set number of hours 5 days a week–at least not if you don’t want to–or chase targets set by someone else. You get to decide how much you want to earn and how you’re going to go about achieving it.
Last but not least, you can work from anywhere, anytime. All you need is a laptop (even a smartphone will do in some cases) and internet connection.
Is it possible to earn good money through affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is one business niche that has grown consistently year after year. Today, the global affiliate market is worth $18B.
This couldn’t have happened if affiliate marketing was not a lucrative career. The internet is filled with stories of people who earned a six-figure salary within their first or second year as an affiliate marketer.
So, yes, you can make good money in affiliate marketing.
However, remember that it won’t be easy. The competition today is stiffer than ever before.
That said, if you are prepared to work hard and use the right kind of marketing techniques, you too can make a career in affiliate marketer.
How to pick the right affiliate program?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Only you can decide which affiliate program suits you best.
The only thing I will say is that before you choose an affiliate program, ask yourself these questions:
Can I sell this product?
Do I have sufficient knowledge about this subject, and if not, can I gain it?
Is this something that interests me?
As an affiliate marketer, you simply can’t approach internet users and ask them to try this or that product. If you do, they will not only turn a deaf ear to your promotional appeals but also block you on social media and warn others against you.
A more prudent strategy is to address the potential pain areas of your target audience and show them how your affiliate product can help them. To be able to do this, you need to be sure of what you’re talking about and must truly believe in the product.
Otherwise, your lack of knowledge or belief will show in your content, and you will not make a strong impression on viewers.
For instance, if you know a thing or two about Windows operating system, you may want to promote a Window performance enhancement tool. You can use your technical knowledge to help people fix issues they experience with Windows 10 and highlight the benefits of using the affiliate product.
How can I reach out to my target audience?
First things first. You need to create a website and start blogging.
You should aim at least to publish a blog post or two every week related to your business niche or affiliate product.
Blogging remains one of the most effective ways to engage with consumers and establish yourself as a subject matter expert in your field.
With Facebook and other social networking sites having millions of users, of course, you obviously can’t ignore them. Leverage these marketing channels by posting informative content on them on a regular basis. This will help you widen your audience base.
Don’t focus only on text posts. Instead, try to include images and infographics in your them as well. Research shows that consumers find such posts more engaging.
You can also post how-to videos on YouTube and other platforms to reach out to your target audience. Webinars, vlogs, and podcasts, too, can help you establish a great rapport with your audience.
Whether you use one or more or all of these channels, remember one thing: your aim is not to badger consumers with promotional content but rather to help them by providing content that focuses on their problem.
If you can do that, you have a strong chance of becoming a successful affiliate marketer.
Want to learn more about affiliate marketing?
Have a look at the fact-packed resource here which covers the essentials associated with the affiliate marketing business.
