Affiliate marketing is an excellent way for bloggers, influencers, and website owners to earn commissions by promoting products or services. With more commerce moving online, affiliate marketing will be more accessible than ever in 2024.
Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing where you earn a commission for driving sales to a brand or business. As an affiliate marketer, you sign up with affiliate networks to get unique affiliate links. When someone purchases after clicking your affiliate link, the retailer rewards you with an affiliate commission. Commonly this commission is a percentage of the sale or a flat fee.
For example, Chelsea Ouimet is a lifestyle blogger who frequently shares her favorite beauty products. She joins the Sephora affiliate program to earn commissions promoting their products. When readers click her Sephora affiliate links and make a purchase, Chelsea receives a percentage of that sale for driving traffic to Sephora. Affiliate networks facilitate these pay-for-performance arrangements between businesses and affiliate marketers. They provide the platform, reporting, and payment processing. Some top affiliate networks include Rakuten Marketing, CJ Affiliate, ShareASale, and Impact.
Why try affiliate marketing?
There are several excellent reasons to try affiliate marketing:
- Low barrier to entry – It’s easy to get started as an affiliate. You don’t need to create products or have an e-commerce store.
- Flexible – You promote affiliate products alongside existing content without changing your website. It’s also easy to switch between products and merchants until you find a good fit.
- Passive income – After putting in the work to drive traffic and conversions, you continually earn commissions as your content continues attracting buyers.
- Variety – Almost any company or industry has an affiliate program you apply for. It allows you to tailor your promotions to your audience and niche.
If you already create content and have an engaged audience, Chelsea Ouimet affiliate marketing programs let you monetize your influence to earn income. Even hobby blogs and smaller followings see success. Your existing traffic is the most essential element for affiliate marketing.
Getting started with affiliate marketing
- Find affiliate networks – Affiliate networks provide the programs and handle payments. Research networks like ShareASale, Rakuten Marketing, CJ Affiliate, or Impact and create an account.
- Browse programs – With an account, browse each network’s advertiser directory. Look for brands and products that align with your website and audience interests. Apply to join these programs.
- Get approved – Each advertiser will review your application and site to approve you working as an affiliate. Provide lots of detail on traffic, audience demographics, and content to boost approval odds.
- Get affiliate links – Once approved, access your unique affiliate links from the advertiser dashboard. The network automatically tracks clicks and sales from this link and attributes them to you.
- Promote affiliate links – Insert affiliate links into relevant existing content across your website and social channels. Create product comparison posts, reviews, roundups, and other posts showcasing the affiliate products prominently with your links.
- Earn commissions – The network will handle paying your commission out either monthly or quarterly based on the referred sales from your link.
Top affiliate marketing tips for beginners
- Find a niche – Promote products targeted to your niche for higher conversion rates from an engaged audience. Don’t pick products randomly.
- Disclose properly – Be upfront that links are affiliate links to provide full transparency to readers.
- Link contextually – Ensure affiliate links relate closely to surrounding content for better click-through rates.
- Promote persistently – Keep featuring affiliate products in blog posts, email newsletters, and social media. Repeat exposure over time earns sales.
- Track performance – Use affiliate network reporting or Google Analytics to see which posts and products perform best. Double down on what works.
By following affiliate marketing best practices and continually revisiting top-converting promotions, your affiliate income grows substantially.