Have you come across the term “Affiliate Marketer” and wondered what exactly does that mean? In recent times it has become a very well used term, particularly for those people searching for a way to improve their income or give up their full time employment, better known as a “job”.
The simple definition is that an affiliate marketer is a person who forms a business relationship with a merchant selling goods or services, and who is then paid a commission on the sale of goods that they promote for the merchant. If for example you are promoting a specific product or service on your website and a visitor clicks on your link then proceeds to buy the item in question you are paid a percentage of the sale as a commission from the merchant.
As an affiliate you can choose to act on behalf of one specific merchant and set up an arrangement directly with them, or alternatively you can sign up for one of the hundreds of affiliate programs that cater to a wide range of products and services then just search through the offers available and select the ones you are interested in. In this latter case instead of being paid directly through the merchant you are paid by the Affiliate Program Company generally each month. Affiliate marketing has become increasingly popular for those wanting to build up an extra source of income, basically because there is little or no outlay to start up and no great technical knowledge is required.
Before making any decisions as to whether you want to promote an individual merchant or be part of a larger affiliate company it is a good idea to study and learn about the advantage and disadvantages of each type of affiliate program.
Another thing to consider is whether you want to sell physical products or digital products. Visit sites like Amazon and EBay; familiarize yourself with popular products that are currently selling. If digital products have more appeal sign up for Clickbank or PayDotCom, check out gravity and number of affiliates. You can guarantee if a particular product is being promoted by a lot of affiliates it must be selling after all experienced affiliates are not going to promote something that is not getting sales.
It’s important to have the right mindset when you start to set up your affiliate marketing business. Don’t just jump in and expect instant riches, no matter what blurbs and emails you see promising 7 figure incomes within 7 days or at the click of a few buttons. It just doesn’t work out that way. An affiliate marketing business is exactly that a “business” and should be approached with that mind set. Draw up a business plan setting out you goals, time-frames and how much time you are prepared to allocate to your new business.
Don’t rush in, you need to arm yourself with some knowledge first, take the time to join and learn from some of the more experienced forums such as the warriors marketing forum. Read expert blogs, do your research, understand exactly what path you want to follow.
95% of marketers give up when they don’t make their money instantly or see results straight away, why not aspire to be one of the very successful 5% by just following the suggestions above.
The Potential of Affiliate Marketing to Make You Money
If you are looking for a creative way to make additional income without going through the time consuming process of creating your own products, affiliate marketing may be a great fit for you. Affiliate marketing is essentially the act of referring a potential customer to another company’s product or service, and then receiving a commission upon purchase of that particular product. It can be a part-time or full-time endeavor, and really depends on how much time you can put into it, as well as the extent of your audience reach. It can be an honest, fun way to bring in additional income, while simultaneously providing value to your chosen audience.
- There are various types of affiliate marketing, and the sky is the limit in terms of what kind of product you offer. It can range from e-books to software to blenders. There are several different forms of affiliate marketing, which include pay-per-click marketing campaigns through programs like Google AdWords, niche marketing via your own authority website, and involved marketing that includes a close relationship with the creator of the product and special discounts made available to your audience. The key is to choose the one that will fit well with your comfort level and time commitment.
- There are many appealing advantages to affiliate marketing, with the most obvious being that you do not have to take the time to create your own product. In addition, if you select a product that will actually help your audience, it brings them added value, for which they will be thankful. For example, if you create an authority website on the best oils for skin care that includes informative articles on the best natural oils your skin, and then offer direct affiliate links to a site where your reader can immediately purchase that oil, you will get a certain percentage of people who will potentially earn you a commission, and never at any point did you have to bother with bottling and shipping the oil yourself. Other methods of promotion consist of including your affiliate link in emails and newsletters. Always to remember to disclose the fact that it is an affiliate product you are offering.
- However, there are a few notable disadvantages to consider with this type of marketing. Mainly, you do not have ownership of the product, and therefore have less control over how much you make, and the life of your product. The commission rate is set for you, and is only a percentage of the cost of the product, naturally. In addition, if the company who created the product goes out of business, you will no longer be able to offer that product. However, with countless companies offering affiliate programs, you will have no problem finding another product to offer that goes well with your nice.
In a time where information and advertising is everywhere, affiliate marketing is an appealing, flexible way to make additional income, and with little financial risk, it is worth trying. If done correctly, it is a win-win situation that benefits you, your audience, and the company that created the product. It is important to choose a method, make a plan, and then consistently stick with it. If you have the patience and motivation, then go roll up your sleeves, give it a try, and see where it takes you!
