What is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate Marketing is one of the oldest forms of marketing wherein you suggest a product to someone and that person buys the product on your recommendation.
The commission can vary on a large scale.
Must know Terminologies
Merchant or Advertiser
Merchant or an advertiser is the company who wants their product/s to be promoted. It is the merchant who gives a commission to the affiliate whenever he/she generates a customer.
Affiliate
An affiliate is a person who promotes the products, generates a conversion and receives a commission from the merchant. An affiliate usually promotes the products through different mediums like websites, vlogs, youtube channel, blogs and social media platform.
Client or customer
A client is a person who takes the recommendation from an affiliate and makes the conversion to the merchant.
The commission is always calculated in percentage. It is part of the amount paid by the customer.
Affiliate Network
Affiliate Network acts as a middle man for the advertiser and the affiliate. It allows affiliates to find advertisers in their niche. Advertisers also reach up to affiliate network to get quality affiliates. Affiliate network makes a profit from the difference of the amount paid by both of them.
Affiliate URL
The final URL where the customer lands after clicking the link. All the activities are tracked using this link.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored in the visitor’s browser. It is through this the advertiser track the activity.
How does Affiliate Marketing work?
- Affiliate puts merchant’s ad on the website.
- Customer clicks and makes a conversion.
- Conversions are tracked.
- The affiliate gets a commission and merchant gets a sale.
Advantages of Affiliate Marketing
- Passive income
- Make money by selling the products you like
- Has potential for big returns
- Several big companies offer affiliate agreements
- An additional source of income
Types of Affiliates
Charities
Organizations looking to raise money for a cause.
Content producers
Vloggers, bloggers and other influencers.
Coupons and Deals
Websites or apps whose motto is to give vouchers and discounts.
Loyalty affiliates
Organizations whose aim is to provide cashback.
Review Sites
Companies providing ratings, reviews or rankings in their niche.
Social Media Publishers
Influencers with a large fan following in a particular niche.
How to Start Affiliate Marketing from scratch?
- Choose a niche of your interest
- Produce correct, clear and engaging content
- Build your audience network
- Promote product from advertisers
Marketing is all about trial and error. See which content is giving a better result and create similar content.
Affiliate Marketing Do’s
- Be patient
- Work with affiliate manager to be successful
Affiliate Marketing Dont’s
- Do not violate affiliate terms and conditions
- Don’t be spammy
- Do not always sell something
Some standard affiliate programs
- Amazon affiliates
- Clickbank
- CJ affiliate
- eBay
- Shareasale
- Avangate
- Flexoffers
- Revenuewire
- Rakuten Linkshare
TIP
If you are someone who is looking for a way to get passive income then affiliate marketing is for you. Just pick one of the affiliate programs from the above list and get started.
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