Posts Tagged ‘promoting affiliate marketing products’
Four Affiliate Marketing Tips For Success In 2019
by Rahimah Sultan
Affiliate marketing is still alive and well. Even if you’re just finding out about this business model in 2019, there’s still a lot of money to be made.
Although becoming a successful affiliate marketer is getting tougher with so much competition, there are things you can do to give yourself an edge and a fighting chance.
Too many people quit too quickly. (This is to your advantage.) Now, let’s discuss four affiliate marketing tips for success in 2019.
PICKING THE RIGHT NICHE
You may not even know what a niche is or how to pronounce it. In marketing, it’s what you choose to focus on or your area of interest. If you pick the wrong one or too many, it will cause you to lose a lot of time, energy and money.
You need to create an authority site or blog based on what is right for you. Pick something you love, so there will be less chance of you running out of topics to discuss or getting bored.
Don’t even think about making easy money as a reason for focusing on certain niche products to promote, as no such thing exists. You’ll have to put in the work in order to reap the benefits.
Patience is a must. If after say, six to nine months you see no progress, it may be time to get out and cut your losses and try again. If that happens, don’t give up on your goals if one blog or site fails. Keep learning and moving forward.
That’s why it’s so important to choose the right niche.
Usually the starting point for earning is just over $1.00 during the first six months.
You should work on increasing any amount you make each month. Have a good understanding of what it means to become an affiliate marketer, and keep working at it until you’re making the money you want.
PICKING THE RIGHT AFFILIATE PRODUCTS
As an affiliate marketer, you don’t have to develop your own products. Affiliate marketing allows you to sell other people’s products on your site and make commissions, if they have an affiliate program. So, your business will be selling other people’s products and making money.
Before deciding to promote a product, you should know if the product is selling well and if it is new. Amazon will let you know by ratings and reviews.
If a product has just launched, and you know what you’re doing, you can write a review of it. If the review is ranked on the first page of Google as soon as possible, then you may have struck gold.
If you’re a beginner and want to monetize your website, using one of the following three programs is a good place to start:
Amazon
Amazon is a global brand that is recognized by everyone, and people trust it. There are thousands of products to promote. You make money on anything you sell, although they don’t have a Paypal option to get paid.
ShareASale
Share-a-sale is a network so there are many companies that use it to sell products. They have a search feature for finding something related to your niche. Once you find what you are looking for, you can join as an affiliate for that one specific product/item/service. They also do not have a Paypal option to get paid.
ClickBank
Clickbank is one of the more popular networks and has been around for quite some time. It has recently cleaned up and stopped accepting junk products for promotion.
The programs mentioned above are 100% Free to join, easy to use and have great commission payouts when done correctly.
A few things to be aware of in affiliate marketing:
a) Use independent affiliate programs. You can do a Google search.
Type in “your blog topic+ affiliate program” to find programs or networks for which you can apply.
b) Have a site up and running
c) Never pay to join an affiliate program
HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCTS
1) The first thing you need to do is set up a website (blog).
2) Get traffic to your blog. Getting traffic is key so learn how to craft content that gets you ranked in search engines and also use at least 1 social media platform to get even more traffic.
3) You need to find products to promote, which has already been discussed.
4) Learn how to properly build your blog’s authority & search engine rankings by using quality content that you’ll create for your site.
Your content marketing strategy is your “why.” Why are you creating content, who you are helping, and how can you help them in a way that no one else can.
YOUR BACKUP PLAN
What if one day the company you are affiliating for disappeared along with your unpaid commissions in an hour? It has happened.
Such is the nature of affiliate marketing. You do not own the product or the rights to it nor do you have any say in the matter.
That is why it is very important for you to have a backup plan.
Although this rarely happens, don’t build your whole business around 1 product or one company.
That’s why it is vital you take the time to pick a good product to promote and not just what’s “hot” for a week.
Make sure you include a whole range of products that you review and promote so that your business will always be safe.
There are many ways to make income to finance your business. Make sure to learn all the ways you can to have multiple streams of income.
So, you need to pick your niche, choose the right affiliate products to promote that fit that niche, promote your products, and have a backup plan in case of unforeseen circumstances.
These Four Affiliate Marketing Tips For Success In 2019 will help you in your online business enterprises.
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4 Steps to get Started in Affiliate Marketing
by Rahimah Sultan
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is the process of promoting the products or services of another person or company in exchange for a commission on the resulting sale. Affiliate marketers join affiliate programs, find trustworthy affiliate products or services to promote, and share them with their audiences.
This is not a new concept. It’s essentially, getting a commission on a sale. Affiliate marketing is a quick way to offer products and services without having to create your own.
An affiliate, also known as the publisher, can be a single individual or a company.
So, what are the 4 Steps to get Started in Affiliate Marketing?
First, let’s cover a few of the technical aspects that run in the background with the merchant’s affiliate program software.
When an affiliate joins the merchant’s program, s/he is given a unique ID and a specific URL to use to promote the product. The affiliate then includes this link in blog posts or other marketing efforts and invites readers to click it for more information.
When someone clicks the link to visit the affiliate partner’s site, a cookie identifying the affiliate is placed on their computer. This cookie confirms the publisher is credited with the referral sale even if it happens days or weeks later.
Whenever a buyer completes the sale process, the merchant checks the sales record for a cookie identifying the source of the referral. If the merchant finds a cookie with an affiliate ID, the affiliate is credited with the sale.
The merchant makes reports available so that the affiliates can see their referrals (clicks) and sales. Then, at the end of each payment period the merchant pays the affiliate commission (i.e. revenue sharing).
This flow works the same for any kind of product you’re promoting and for any affiliate marketer.
Now, the 4 Steps to get Started in Affiliate Marketing.
The number one thing to remember is that you’re getting paid a commission in exchange for offering readers information on products / services they’re already thinking about buying.
By using your blog and the Internet in a systematic process, you are providing valuable advice to thousands of people to help them make a smarter decision.
Following are four steps to help you get started:
Step 1. Choose a Product to Promote as an Affiliate
As a principled blogger you will always face two constraints
when choosing products you want to promote:
a) You’re either limited to products you’ve used and like that have an affiliate program and are a good fit for your audience, or
b) You’re limited to products you can get access to for evaluation by buying them or getting a free sample or free trial.
Of these two options the first one is the most common way to get started with affiliate offers.
Option #1: Promote Products You already Use and Love
You become an affiliate for a product or service you’ve used and tested and feel good about recommending. It could be a course or an ebook or something else.
Make a list of courses, products, and services you have experience with and choose the one you would be excited to promote. Cross off any that are not a good fit.
Then, check to see if the merchant has an affiliate program. Some will not, although many do.
You can do an online search using a search engine such as Google for:
“affiliate program” + [product name], (i.e. “affiliate program” + Pinterest Marketing Course, or other product)
or email the merchant and ask.
Use a check list for your other products that includes the following:
>> You’ve previewed the product so you know its quality.
>> They have a solid refund policy that you trust they’ll honor.
>> They provide good customer support (and you’ve tested it).
>> You have a good story to share about your experience with the product.
>> The offer fits your audience’s needs and won’t abuse the trust you’ve built with them.
The affiliate products that meet all these requirements are your best income opportunities. You can add as many of these products as you like in the future.
Now, you’ve found your first product! Apply using the merchant’s process and start promoting.
This option may be enough to get you started if you’re new to affiliate marketing channels.
However, as a blogger you’ll also want to try option #2.
If you don’t already have a product that you love and is a good fit for your audience and that offers an affiliate program, you’ll have to explore this second option.
Option #2: Find Products through an Affiliate Network
This option requires investing time into research and money into buying products to try, even more than the first option. So, be very careful.
That’s because you have no prior knowledge so there’s less trust. Do your due diligence, to protect your reputation and the trust you’ve built with your readers.
When you work through a network, your business relationship is with that network, and you normally won’t know the merchant ahead of time and won’t build a relationship with them.
Popular and reliable networks include Clickbank, CJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction), the eBay Partner Network (EPN), ShareASale, and the Amazon Associates program.
Some networks will assign you an affiliate manager to show you the ropes.
Many new marketers begin by becoming an Amazon affiliate and then scaling to other types of more profitable affiliate offers.
Step 2. Get Set Up as an Affiliate
Whether you work through a network or directly with a merchant you have to apply, be approved, and provide specific information in order to be paid.
At the very least, you’ll need to furnish your personal/business contact information for tax and reporting purposes as well as your bank account where commissions will be deposited.
The merchant will provide you with a trackable affiliate link that you’ll use whenever you post about the product. It will have a long tag at the end with your affiliate ID.
Here’s what some typical affiliate text links look like:
LINK THAT DIRECT’S TO THE MERCHANT’S HOME PAGE
https://merchantsite.com/dap/a/?a=1199
LINK TO ANOTHER PAGE ON THE MERCHANT’S SITE
https://merchantsite.com/dap/a/?a=1199&p=merchantsite.com/page.html
You’ll usually get some tips and useful marketing resources that could include:
a) An affiliate guide as well as instructions on how to use the platform and summary of policies such as payouts.
b) Online marketing tools like banners and sidebar graphics.
c) Sample email/webpage swipe copy.
d) Ongoing communications from the merchant about promotions, new products, etc.
You’ll get a link for each product you promote, if you use a network like Amazon.
Do check your specific network’s help and support pages for more information.
For your global audience you can check out geniuslink for tracking overseas sales through Amazon, iTunes, and Microsoft Store.
No matter which method you use, expect to invest money and time into researching the best products for your audience.
Step 3. Start Promoting Your Affiliate Offers
In the end, your hard work of finding and evaluating products only pays off when someone takes your advice and makes a purchase.
So, you need to place your recommendation in front of your audience in a trustworthy manner.
Don’t make the affiliate-marketer mistake of haphazardly slapping some banners on your blog that link to affiliate products and think that’s all you have to do.
Your recommendations should line up with your blog categories and topics, not some random products that are probably of no use to your readers.
Example:
If your blog’s focus is travel related, don’t use affiliate links advertising educational products or some other unrelated merchandise.
Here are a couple of options:
Option #1: Create a Resource Page on Your Blog
You can create your own resource page on which you can promote lots of different products, and they’ll all be organized in one place for easy reference for different readers according to their needs. It can also contain explanations regarding the usefulness of the products.
The page is not just a sales pitch but educational, with quality content. It should be well optimized for SEO so it will also rank well in Google search results and get organic traffic that also leads to good conversion rates.
Option #2: Create and Promote Custom Content
The following strategies are for those who are already sending traffic to your latest content by emailing your list regularly (at least two to four times per month) about what’s new.
A) Write Reviews
You can write in depth reviews of products, books, courses, or software products you promote as an affiliate.
Your reviews can focus on one product or comparisons between two products side by side.
Comparing two products in this way builds more trust, but is distracting due to multiple recommendations.
For multiple product reviews you can set up a “one-stop shop” for your niche by creating a site containing only reviews and affiliate offers.
B) Write Authoritative Content on a Related Topic
Write an authoritative comprehensive post that educates your audience and do a “soft sell” for your products.
For example, set up a guide for writing blog posts and include your affiliate links to your hosting providers.
Make sure your topic, whatever it is, is evergreen content – information that will be useful for years.
Create blog posts, infographics, videos, and more. Just do not create a sales page. You want to focus on building trust and authority.
Pay particular attention to SEO. Be sure to optimize for the right keywords and build links to your content to get a constant flow of traffic from Google.
C) Create Valuable Bonus Content
Check your affiliate agreement to see if you’re allowed to create bonus content. If so, create content, especially for your readers, to help them get even more value from the affiliate product.
People love bonuses! Creating them is fairly quick and easy, and they will help you stand out from other bloggers promoting the same product.
Some example bonuses are:
Step-by-step checklists.
Quick-start guides.
Video overviews or demos.
Complementary or discounted services (e.g., coaching calls).
Step 4. Follow Legal Requirements and Best Practice
In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that you let people know you’ll earn a commission.
But even if it isn’t required by law where you’re located, it is recommended. It’s just good business.
People will appreciate your transparency and honesty and want to support you and help you for improving their lives.
So, wherever you share a link – in blog posts, on web pages or in emails – let readers know you may make a small commission if they make a purchase through you.
Also, create a disclaimer page on your website.
There, you have it, the bottom line on affiliate marketing.
Your dream of making passive income is a completely achievable reality, although it’s not as simple as pushing a magic button. With a little knowledge and persistence you can do it and eventually turn it into an online business.
Affiliate marketing is one of the best business models for making an income from home, once you’ve gained a respectable following.
It’s very easy to get started. Just follow the steps covered in this post.
Find the one big thing everyone in your audience needs to reach their goals and start there.
Choose a great product you believe in. Share your success with it.
Deliver plenty of valuable content to educate your audience, without being too salesy.
Nurture the trust your audience places in you.
Be upfront, honest, transparent, and most of all, patient.
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