By Naomi Atwater
Today, the digital age has brought endless opportunities to earn money creatively online. Using social media and your platform is no longer just about connecting with friends but has brought opportunities, such as affiliate marketing, to leverage your content and influence.
Part one of this series will explore affiliate marketing, whether you should pursue it, and how to find a program and niche. In part two, we will discuss strategies for growing your influence and being successful as an affiliate.
What is affiliate marketing?
“Where did you get your gym bag?” my friend and gym buddy recently asked me. “You have great taste!”
“Amazon, I can send you the link!” And just like that, Amazon made another sale based on my recommendation. “If only I could make a commission from this,” I think.
This is a simple example of affiliate marketing. Someone (an individual or a brand) who is influential to a particular audience helps use and present a seller’s products in a way that makes others want to buy in, too.
According to Big Commerce, “…the affiliate promotes the product to persuade consumers that it is valuable or beneficial to them and convince them to purchase the product. If the consumer does buy the product, the affiliate receives a portion of the revenue made.”
Essentially, it’s as simple as recommending things to your friends you have tried, only typically on a large scale.
Who does affiliate marketing?
Technically, affiliate marketing can be done by anyone with internet access, ambition, and charisma. However, companies typically look for a few more qualifiers in individuals they choose to promote their brand. You usually need to go through an application and approval process before becoming an official “affiliate” of a brand.
For example, Amazon’s affiliate program (the most popular) requires some amount of following and influence through your current social or online channels already as you apply. If, somehow, you are already producing great content, have a decent following, and are able to pass the “trial period” listed on their application, you could be a good fit for them.
According to WP Manage Ninja,
Amazon Affiliate is one of the easiest programs on the entire globe. To promote Amazon products, you need a proper medium where you’ll show or talk about the goods. It might be a website, a YouTube channel, or even a mobile app but it’s required to have a place which will be a common platform for you and your visitors. Amazon wants to see how popular the channel is where you’ll advertise.
But every program is a bit different, and it takes some research on what niches you’re interested in and have a level of sway to speak into. For example, Pretty Playful Momma is a mom of three who talks to other moms about ideas, products, and more and links her Amazon storefront to her recommendations.
Should I do it?
If you have a consistent and quality social media, blog, or YouTube presence, are able to maintain consistent posting, and people seem to enjoy following and listening to you, then an affiliate program could be for you.
Please note that progress is not always fast, and income is not guaranteed. One of the best approaches is to start a program you’re interested in on the side and test whether you’re gaining traction and success. The vast majority of affiliate marketers use it as a side hustle or a gig.
Host Advice says, “On average, it may take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months of hard work in your affiliate marketing journey before substantial earnings start to come in. By then, you’d have mastered your niche and products, built a larger following, and known what makes your target audience tick.”
You do not want to jump the gun by quitting your job and putting everything into your new venture before you are sure it will be successful and before you have enough followers and expertise to make a substantial income.
How do I find my niche?
One of the most essential parts of being a successful affiliate and getting started is ensuring you are in the right niche. It’s easy to start thinking broadly of everything you are interested in, but a classic rule of marketing is that when you’re trying to talk to everyone, you’re talking to no one.
Pick a niche you can focus on, produce high-quality content, and make yourself an expert.
According to Shopify, you should ask yourself the following questions when deciding your niche:
- Do you want to learn more about the niche?
- Can you solve problems?
- Is it profitable?
If you possess a genuine interest and care in the topic, you have some expertise to speak into it, and it’s something that others are also interested in, then you have a high chance of success!
Affiliate marketing is a massive part of our daily lives and culture, whether or not you notice. It’s built into our social platforms, conversations, and more. Some people thrive off being able to participate, while others may not be a good fit. You can always try it for a while and see what happens!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Naomi lives in Pittsburgh, PA but her roots are from a little Christmas tree farm in upstate New York. She works in marketing for Greater Europe Mission, an international nonprofit organization. She’s always finding ways to make room in her budget for traveling and reads over 100 books each year.
