Affiliate Marketing – How to Make Money Online Promoting People’s Product
There are of course a gazillion and one ways to make money online and affiliate marketing is just one venture. But what exactly is affiliate marketing? Is it a good way to make money online? Can you make a full time income as an affiliate marketer? How profitable is it? What is the best way to get started? How easy is it for a complete newbie looking to make passive income online?
These and more were the questions going through my mind as I started my sojourn into the world of affiliate marketing. Today, I have a better perspective of things and perhaps more answers than questions. So I will be sharing them with you in this step by step guide on all you need to know about affiliate marketing.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
In simple English, Affiliate marketing involves selling other people’s or company’s product and earning a commission for it. It is perhaps the only WIN-WIN arrangement in the online marketing world. This is simply because you without needing to create a product of your own is able to sell online and make some money. The owner or product creator also made a sale that hitherto they might never have made. The buyer or customer is also happy because they found exactly what they were looking for with your help.
You can now deduce clearly now that there are three distinct entities:
- The Owner of the product mostly known as the Vendor or merchant.
- The Affiliate marketer hopefully You
- The Buyer or consumer
Is it a good way to make Money Online?
The answer is simply a YES! Affiliating marketing is in fact an excellent way of making money online. As an affiliate marketer you can earn a passive full time job replacing income. You can create a review blog just like mine or start a fun blog about any topic you like and promote products related to your topic.
What is the Best way to get started as an affiliate marketer?
This is where you need to be a little cautious. There are tons of affiliate marketing training programs coming up everyday, while some are just outright scams, some are over rated and do not deliver on what they preach on their sales page. So, before you start buying into any training programs, I will first prefer you decide what affiliate network you will like to partner with?
And of course the next question – What is an affiliate network?
An affiliate network is a third party site or business that acts as a middle man between you (an affiliate marketer) and a product creator or vendor. The affiliate network links you up with different product creators and lets you decide whose product or offer you would like to promote. They are also in charge of your commissions and help make sure you get your due as soon as you start promoting and making sales. Most affiliate networks are free to join for affiliate marketers and accept just about everybody.
Top 5 Affiliate Networks You Can Join Now
- Clickbank – Thousands of vendors or merchants, only digital proucts.
- Amazon Associates – Perhaps the largest affiliate marketing network, physical and digital products
- CJ Affiliate formerly known as Commission Junction – Thousands of vendors or merchants, physical and digital proucts.
- JVzoo – Thousands of vendors – only digital products in the internet marketing niche.
- WarriorPlus – Thousands of vendors, only digital products in the internet marketing niche.
Find a course or training program that will help you build your business based on the affiliate network you choose. There are also a lot of free resources online that can help you started.
My Recommendations
If you want to get started promoting clickbank products, I personally will recommend you head over to Affilorama. They offer free online marketing training as well as a Premium membership.
I also do recommend Wealthy Affiliate. With a strong online reputation, it is perhaps the best internet marketing training you can get. Just like Affilorama, it also offers both free and premium membership.
How Possible is it for a complete newbie to make it as an affiliate marketer?
While it requires a bit of an effort, persistence and self-determination, it is very possible. Take action, learn from your mistakes and improve yourself. Most importantly, TAKE ACTION!
