Affiliate marketing is an ever-changing industry, and as you begin to navigate the business it’s important to keep a few things in mind. Your success, of course, depends on you, but these tips on affiliate marketing can definitely help.
Affiliate Marketing Tip #1: Hone In On A Topic
This is also called “niche marketing.” Instead of choosing to be an affiliate marketer in the travel industry, you would want to try and narrow down your focus to millennial travel or budget travel. Why? Because people don’t really want generic sites telling them what they should and shouldn’t buy. They want sites that they feel were created just for them, and they want to feel like the person behind the website is writing for them only. The way to do this is by choosing something specific.
Choosing a niche will also make it much easier for you to decide on what to feature. You’ll know in an instant if a certain product is suitable for your readers or not, instead of hemming and hawing on something that they may like or may hate. It actually makes your job easier!
Affiliate Marketing Tip #2: Start-Up Costs Are Low, But Don’t Skimp
A traditional business requires a lot of start-up costs, from inventory to employees to building rental, and this can set many new business owners back thousands of dollars. For affiliate marketers, it’s a different story. You can not only get started for very little, but you can also get started immediately. That said, it’s a good idea to create some kind of layout for yourself and to invest where you see fit. If you’re setting up a website, this might mean investing in a nice theme. If you’re wanting to make a name for yourself as a blogger, too, then maybe you should consider hiring someone to create a logo. While they’re not required, those small touches and investments can increase your sales.
Affiliate Marketing Tip #3: Growing Your Email List Is Vital, So Give People A Reason To Subscribe
More and more people are realizing the value of an email list—a list of subscribers that say, “I like what you have to say. Yes, you can email me directly!” These are people who feel intrigued by what your site offers and want more. They want to get your recommendations sent directly to their inbox. People who subscribe to your email list are often the most loyal of customers, so growing a list and emailing them regularly is important.Once you’ve set up a subscription box on your site, you might be wondering why people aren’t lining up to put their email address in. The trick is offering some kind of freebie for them. Yes, people want to get your content, but offering something that’s free makes them feel like they’re really getting something great. It’s not just an email every week—it’s a free course or e-book. This small incentive to sign up can greatly boost your numbers.
Your email sign-up freebie doesn’t have to be a huge thing. It could be a PDF of some of your best recommendations or a video tutorial on how to do something. Anything extra that’s exclusive will make them want to sign up immediately.
Affiliate Marketing Tip # 4: Getting Visitors Doesn’t Happen Magically
People won’t visit your site simply because it exists. Although affiliate marketing is often advertised as an easy way to make money, it does require a bit of work.One of the most effective ways to make a name for yourself is to set up a site and continuously publish great content on it. Aim to post something new at least once a week, and slowly but surely you’ll see more and more people visiting your website—which means more and more people seeing (and hopefully clicking on) your affiliate links.
These posts don’t all have to directly sell a product. In fact, an audience is going to respond the best when you’re not constantly trying to sell something to them; instead, throw in content that is simply valuable to them and relates to your topic. This will create more trust in you and your recommendations. Additionally, this is easy work to outsource to a writer or blogger, so if you’re feeling tight on time and like you have to much to handle, it’s a small investment that can change the entire feel of your site.
Think Outside The Box
YouTube, newsletters, Facebook marketing—these are all changing the way that people think about affiliate links. Affiliate marketing doesn’t have to just be a website, and in fact you don’t even need a website to be successful. It’s a common route that people go, and it’s a pretty effective one, but don’t be afraid to consider other ways of getting affiliate marketing links out there.YouTube videos where you review products or talk about something related to your niche give you a chance to share links in the description. Video is a growing format, and if you have the capabilities, then this could be a great way to reach lots of people quickly. Additionally, Facebook has begun to change the way that people see products and buy new things, and affiliate marketing is perfectly suited for it. Think about your niche and what you like to sell and this can help you figure out more creative ways to promote products and services.
