Building Your Business Through Knowledge
Speaking of Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate Marketing is simple in theory. The concept is certainly not hard to understand.
You partner with companies of your choice to advertise their product(s). If a sale occurs from your ad, you get a small commission. The more products you advertise, the better the chances for sales and income.
The difficult part comes in when you have to put all the steps together that lead up to that sale because a lot of work, thought, and time will go into this endeavor.
You can learn on your own, but it will be a long, tedious road likely leading to depressing disappointment unless you have a plan or a program to follow.
Products we independently select, and share may have an attached link to a merchant — we may receive a small commission if you choose to click on the link and buy, which does not affect the initial price. Trend Wealthy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising for and linking to Amazon.com
Types of Affiliate Marketing
- Affiliate Marketing Courses: Many YouTubers and online entrepreneurs offer paid courses or training programs that claim to teach you the ins and outs of affiliate marketing. These courses often promise to provide step-by-step guidance, strategies, and tips to help you succeed as an affiliate marketer. It’s essential to research the credibility and track record of the course creator before making a purchase.
- Affiliate Marketing Networks: Some individuals promote affiliate marketing networks or platforms that connect affiliates with a wide range of advertisers. These networks act as intermediaries, providing access to various affiliate programs and tracking systems. They may offer additional resources and support to help affiliates manage their campaigns effectively. Some are Clickbank, Adsense, Amazon Associates, Shareasale, and CJAffiliates.
- Affiliate Marketing Tools: There are tools and software marketed to affiliates that aim to streamline and optimize their marketing efforts. These tools may include keyword research tools, landing page builders, email marketing software, analytics platforms, and more. Assess the features and benefits of these tools to determine if they align with your specific needs and goals.
- Affiliate Marketing Mentorship or Coaching: You may come across individuals offering personalized mentorship or coaching services in the field of affiliate marketing. These mentors or coaches claim to provide one-on-one guidance, advice, and support to help you navigate the world of affiliate marketing successfully. Before engaging with a mentor or coach, research their credentials and reviews to ensure they have the expertise and experience to assist you effectively.
- Social Media Marketing: Making reels, TikToks, Pins, and short videos with or without a website.
- Exercise caution and discernment when considering any affiliate marketing system or program promoted on YouTube or any other platform.
- Look for reviews, testimonials, and evidence of success from others who have used the system.
- Be wary of any program that promises overnight riches or guarantees of success, as affiliate marketing, like any business venture, requires time, effort, and a solid understanding of the principles involved.
Not all of the programs out there are scams. There are legitimate systems available, but as stated previously, you have to do the legwork to determine legitimacy.
Taking the High Road
There are hundreds of affiliate marketing self-appointed guru’s out there who claim to have the secret to amassing great wealth in a short amount of time. Most of them, however, want a lot of money to tell you that secret and along the way, more money for more secrets.
I get it, I do. They likely spent a lot of money and time to accumulate their knowledge, put together a program, and want to make a living “teaching” that system to others. But I don’t like the way they tell you it’s easy and fast and you can start making money immediately. That’s possible, but not probable, because there is always a setup period that involves learning and implementing what you learn.
It’s important to approach these offerings with caution and do thorough research before investing your time and money. While the specific systems may vary, here are the top five affiliate marketing courses available on the Internet:
- Affiliate Marketing Mastery,
- Wealthy Affiliate,
- Super Affiliate System,
- Affiliate Secrets 2.0, and
- The Authority Site System
What It Takes To Get Started
When you’ve decided to tackle affiliate marketing, these are the basic steps to know, and in order. Each of these steps are expanded upon in depth, and linked to for easy access.
Step 1. Know and understand what affiliate marketing is. Don’t be afraid. It’s easy to find affiliates to promote.
Step 2. Determine the system you’re going to follow (you can add more later).
Step 3. Decide on a niche. By definition, a niche is a small space in which to hide or place special objects. In affiliate marketing, a niche is an object or ideal that you make your specialty to promote. Be it teapots, running shoes, gemstones, or ideals such as relationship advice, weight loss, or mountain climbing. This niche will be what you write about on a website.
Step 4. Decide on a name for your website. Preferably one that points out or hints at your niche.
Step 5. Find a web host. Many of the marketing courses such as Wealthy Affiliate, will host your website for you and provide all the additional items you’ll need to operate it.
Step 6. Build your website. Use a platform like WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix.
Step 7. Prepare the three required documents necessary for your site: an About page, an Affiliate Disclosure Statement, and a Privacy Policy. You will reference these documents on all your subsequent pages.
Step 8. Once your main page is published, write your first blog post article. It can be a general “How To [whatever]”, “10 [whatever] To [whatever]”, or a review of one or more products.
Step 9. Apply to an affiliate and one of their products to promote. Clickbank, Shareasale, Sovern, Adsense, CJAffiliate, and Amazon Associates are all platforms on which you can find products to promote. Read and understand their rules and regulations, as well as the affiliate’s system and regulations
Step 10. Choose one of their affiliate products to promote. They will provide a special link called an “affiliate link” for that product which you will put in your post. This is the golden bridge that will designate to the affiliate, that any sale made from that link should be credited to you and thereby earn you a commission. You can add the link to a picture on your post or simply a word or phrase.
I was very fortunate to have decided on Wealthy Affiliate. This is a 16-year-old affiliate marketing course with a community that will lead you step by step into the affiliate marketing world. Every member has their own affiliate link from Wealthy Affiliate. So if you decide to join and market Wealthy Affiliate, you earn a commission on each new person who signs up when they click your personal affiliate link, as well as a commission for every month that person remains in the program.
It is free to review for seven days. No brainer.
Time to Start the Adventure
This article has outlined the basic steps of what to expect if you decide to start affiliate marketing. Subsequent blogs are written to include details and information pertaining to each step.
There is a lot of information to know to be successful in affiliate marketing, but you don’t have to know it all right away. If you join a reputable course, it should not only teach you each step but it should support your effort and have resources for you to succeed. Don’t be discouraged or daunted by the thought that it’s too much work. Yes, it is a lot of work, but once you get a system flowing, you will find it very rewarding. You got this!
Take the next step and read:
