51% of Americans aren’t fond of their jobs. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that the self-help industry is booming, promising 4-hour workweeks and the freedom of passive income. But is this dream really attainable?
Absolutely. The internet age has changed the way we do business, as well as the way marketers and retailers sell their goods. affiliate marketing is one of the most effective ways to build a steady and hefty stream of passive income.
Of course, passive might not be the right word. You do have to work for it, and once you’ve got it, you still need to keep the money coming. But it’s there, it’s real, and it’s possible.
You can make money online with affiliate marketing, but you need to make the right decisions at the start. Discover how to successfully start affiliate marketing with this comprehensive guide.
Make Money Online With Affiliate Marketing
There are three important entities that play a part in the affiliate marketing equation. Chief among them is the retailer, the business selling the product they want affiliates to promote.
The network is the bridge between you and the retailer, providing a list of marketable products. You’ll search through these products to choose which are appropriate for you to promote.
And, lastly, there’s you. You’re the affiliate, the promoter, the person encouraging your audience to buy the product. You’ll provide affiliate links that lead buyers to a virtual storefront.
If they use that link and make a purchase, you’ll receive a small percentage of the sale. But how do affiliate links work, anyway? It’s no extra work on your end.
When someone clicks your affiliate link, they’ll receive a cookie on their computer. This cookie will tell the online storefront to give you a cut of the sale — if there is one. Since the process is automated, you’ll generate revenue in your sleep.
But, of course, you’ll only earn affiliate money if you guide your audience to a sale. And that requires a lot of work upfront, as well as consistent maintenance. Let’s look at ways to make money fast with affiliate marketing.
Start With a Niche
It all starts with a niche. You can’t grow an audience if you talk about everything and anything. And it’s not great for your seo either, which is something you’ll always have to consider.
You’ll need to create a great website with great content, so you should choose a niche that you’re passionate and educated about. From romance books to power tools, the choices here are endless. But it’s better to perform some basic research before diving in.
You want an in-demand topic with limited competition. And, preferably, your topic will have plenty of opportunities to include affiliate links in the first place. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Create a list of niches you’d love to write about. Narrow it down by removing congested topics. Then, once you’ve found a few areas in need of quality content, choose one that offers a decent amount of affiliate products.
It also helps if you’re aware of the current affiliate marketing trends.
Create a Quality Website
Once you’ve figured out your niche, you’ll need to make your website. Don’t cheap out on this. Pay for your own domain as well as a web hosting service worth its salt, otherwise you’ll get very little traffic if any.
With a branded, gorgeous website, you’re ready to get started. A website alone doesn’t generate links. You’re running a blog here, and that means you need to create high-quality content.
There are plenty of ways to approach the content on your blog. Maybe you’re running a product review website, allowing for a slew of affiliate links.
However, you could also take an educational approach. Although there’s less emphasis on products, you can still include the links where applicable.
Put out consistent content. When you start making a revenue stream, you’ll be tempted to throw in the towel. But once you’ve stopped growing your audience, the cash will shortly dry up.
How to Become an Affiliate
We haven’t yet talked about becoming part of an affiliate network. Once you’ve put your website together, it’s time to start looking at potential programs. There are literally hundreds of affiliate programs to choose from.
One of the most popular is, of course, Amazon. We’ve created an article that shows you how to sign up for Amazon Affiliate Marketing. Even if you’re interested in a different program, this gives you a good idea of what to expect.
It’s a good place to start since you can provide an affiliate link to anything amazon sells. The commissions vary from 4% up to 10%.
But don’t feel like you have to lock yourself into a single program. In addition to being an Amazon affiliate, you should look into other opportunities. This way you have a choice when it comes to affiliate links and can choose those that offer better commissions.
Create an Email List
Email isn’t dead. It’s still one of the most important marketing mediums. As an affiliate marketer, it’s an easy way to stand over the crowd and get your content (and affiliate links) noticed.
Don’t rely on site traffic alone to draw sales. Include an email list on your website, and make it easy to sign up. Include it as a call to action, stuff it in the sidebar, and have it as your exit gate.
Yes, it’s that important. Release an email update every week or two that points to new content, bringing traffic to affiliate links new and old.
It All Starts With a Blog
Yes, you can make money online with affiliate marketing. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, and not everyone will find success. But you can.
The fact that you’re reading about building a successful affiliate blog is proof enough. blogging is a science. With the right advice and practices, you’ll be able to generate a steady stream of passive income.
Stop waiting and start affiliate marketing today.
Recent Posts
Many consumers have divided or negative feelings about marketing practices. Unsustainable marketing breeds distrust—whether it’s the false promise of greater value or convincing customers to buy...
The most significant investment to think about is web hosting to get more traffic and higher performance and run your website successfully after you build it. So it's essential to select the best...