A sales model made famously popular by Amazon (resulting in Jeff Bezos’ $117 Billion net worth), affiliate marketing can be a lucrative way to make money online. Put simply affiliate marketing is when you promote a particular product and receive commission on every unit sold. This endorsement is done by providing links to the product online seller, usually on your blog or website. The right product on the right site can result in a significant increase in sales and provide a fantastic financial return for the seller and the affiliate who runs the site.
Choosing the correct product for your site can be a difficult decision so here are four important things you should consider:
1. Get The Right Training
If you are looking to join an affiliate program the most important things to do first is to make sure you understand the way the program works. Whilst a relatively simple system, various unforeseen problems can arise if you don’t have a firm grasp of how each element of the program works. Make sure to acquire a good understanding of everyone’s role within the program, not just your role as the affiliate but the merchant’s role too. Even if you already have a good idea of how it all works you can read more here to answer any questions that you still have. There are many online sources from experienced affiliates which can help you get up to scratch. Giving yourself the right tools and training before you begin is the best way to maximize the potential of your affiliate program.
2. Find Products That Fit Your Content
Finding products that fit the theme of your social media platform or the content of your blog may seem self-evident, but it is the most important factor in successful affiliate marketing. There is no point promoting boxing gloves, for example, on a blog that is dedicated to gardening. Equally, however, you can think about products which branch off from the main themes of your site. If, for example, your blog is dedicated to food, consider affiliate links to merchants selling cooking equipment or kitchen design. Not only does this increase the range of merchants available to you, but may also provide ideas for fresh content for your site which will attract new visitors. Be innovative always.
3. Choose Products That You Believe In
Not only should you choose products that fit the themes of your site, but you should also consider promoting products that you yourself would buy. A recommendation from someone who actually believes in the product and may even own it themselves, or at least as tried it out, will always appeal more to potential customers. Familiarize yourself with all the products that you are considering promoting on your site. Whilst you don’t have to love all of them, remember that they are going to be advertised on your site amongst your content. You have built an audience who have connected to your message and believe in your content and it is very important not to jeopardize that by recommending substandard products.
4. Identify The Customer
In order to choose the right product to promote it is very important to identify the potential customer. Of course, if you already have a big audience or many followers then you will be marketing to them. In the same way that you have to consider what content will interest your audience, you also have to identify what products would appeal to them. There are various ways to get a better understanding of your audience, such as studying your social media engagement data or even directly surveying your audience for critical feedback. Knowing your customer inside and out will enable you to promote products with the best possible chance of lucrative sales.
Affiliate marketing can be a fantastic way to make real money online. If you already have a successful blog, website or social media presence, you already have everything that you need to get started. Even if you are starting from scratch, some simple online searches of potential competitors are a great way to understand current trends and see what is hot right now and what is not. Most importantly, is to know how an affiliate program works before you get involved as going into it without the requisite knowledge can lead to elementary mistakes which will end up costing you valuable time that could have been spent making money. Affiliate marketing is a great way to make new business relationships and to get involved in exciting products and the best thing is that anyone can do it!
