Ready to make money online by using affiliate marketing? For example, you can make money as an Amazon affiliate and earn commissions but it can be a tricky pond to swim in. Here are my favorite tips for beginners!
Watch the video above (don't forget to subscribe!) or read the text version of this post below!
If you're 100% new to affiliate marketing, it kind of works like this:
You partner with a company or business to promote a product or service they offer. They provide you with a unique link to share with your readers. If your readers click your link and purchase something, you receive a small commission at no additional cost to the reader.
Here is a post I wrote (back in the day, when I was a personal finance blogger) called 30 Under $30: Holiday Gifts for Her that includes affiliate links. You can read the full post here.
Before I talk about my tips there are a few details you should know about affiliate marketing.
Some affiliate marketing programs require that you make your first "sale" within a specified period of time or you are removed from their program.
You can always reapply at a later date but it's a good detail to search for when you are signing any agreements.
Tip #1: Aggressively promote your posts to help yourself make that first sale
Posting once on Facebook will never be enough! Sprinkle other non-affiliate link posts in between, but promote your posts with affiliate links multiple times/week.
Pssst...want a free affiliate marketing handout to help you get organized and strategize? Just enter your email and I'll send you one!
Tip #2: Share both the blog post link and the affiliate link itself
Sometimes our instinct is to only share the blog post that contains affiliate links but you can also share the affiliate link itself on social media.
Share a personal story about how you use that product or why you recommend it to make the post appear less spammy.
Tip #3: Be transparent about the fact that you're sharing an affiliate link
You need to be transparent with your affiliate links on social media and include a disclaimer like "advertisement" or "affiliate" in the post. I'm not a lawyer so please do your homework but never post an affiliate link without telling your readers that it is, in fact, an affiliate link.
You also need to have a Disclaimer page on your blog providing more information about how affiliate links work and how they're used on your site.
Like I mentioned, I'm not a lawyer (that's a disclaimer for my Disclaimer page...ha!) but here's what my Disclaimer page looks like if you're curious.
Tip #4: Look for the perfect post, not the perfect product
Preserve the relationship and trust you have with your readers by ensuring that you create a valuable post first, then see if you can insert an affiliate link after that.
If you are sharing a recipe and insert an affiliate link for a $600 camera, you might come across as a sellout unless you are discussing food photography. You are not a spammer so don't do this!
What's your favorite affiliate marketing tip?
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