8 Effective Steps: How to Start Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a flexible way to make money online without creating your own online store or holding on to inventory.

Learning how to start affiliate marketing can open up the door to earning $1,000+ per month!

In this blog post, I’ll share the secrets of starting a successful affiliate marketing business and reveal an 8-step blueprint to help you take your first steps in this lucrative industry.

So, get ready to learn, grow, and conquer the affiliate marketing world!

Key Takeaways

Affiliate marketing is a great way to earn passive income and get started with no money.
Follow an 8-step process to build a strong foundation and be successful in affiliate marketing.
Research different programs, such as pay-per-sale & high-ticket items, for more opportunities!

Learning About Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is an exciting performance-based marketing model that offers a fantastic opportunity for you to partner with different businesses and promote their products or services.

The goal is for you to help these businesses increase their sales and act like a rep.

In affiliate marketing, there are key players, each with their own role:

The affiliate: That’s you! You’re crucial in promoting the merchant’s products or services to your audience. Share your affiliate link in ways that get people buying while remaining honest.
The merchant: This is the business or company offering the products or services. They rely on affiliates like you to broaden their reach and boost sales.
The affiliate network: This is the bridge between affiliates and merchants that facilitates partnerships, tracks sales, and ensures you receive your well-deserved commissions.
The customer: The ultimate audience of your content and marketing efforts. Customers purchase products or services through your affiliate link, contributing to your earnings.

Now, you might be eager to know how to kickstart your journey and find success in affiliate marketing.

Luckily, fantastic resources are available, such as programs like Legendary Marketer, which can guide you through the ins and outs of becoming a savvy affiliate marketer.

So, if you’re ready to embark on this exciting journey and learn more about how to start affiliate marketing, keep reading!

How To Start Affiliate Marketing

Starting your affiliate marketing journey might seem overwhelming, but don’t worry!

With the right affiliate strategy and a commitment to learning, you can become a successful affiliate marketer and earn affiliate income.

My steps lay the foundation for your journey and will help you become a proficient affiliate marketer, consistently earning that affiliate income you aim for.

Here are 8 steps to get started today:

1. Pick A Niche Area

When starting as a beginner affiliate marketer, one of your first tasks is defining your niche area. But what does that mean?

Think of a niche as choosing a specific interest or topic you’re passionate about and tailoring your affiliate efforts around it.

This step is important – especially for beginner affiliate marketers – because it helps you focus your efforts and connect with a particular audience.

To succeed as an affiliate marketer, picking a niche that interests you and has a sizable and dedicated audience is essential.

Lining up your content with something you like will enable you to position yourself as an expert and build trust within your niche.

To ensure you pick a profitable niche, research using tools like Google Trends to gauge its consistent demand.

For added security, explore multiple high-paying affiliate programs within your niche. This strategy safeguards your earnings in case any changes occur within these programs.

2. Start A Website

You’ve found your profitable niche – fantastic!

Now, it’s time to create your own platform to showcase your valuable affiliate content and effectively introduce your audience to the amazing products that fit right into your niche.

The name of the game here is to captivate your viewers and build trust. Share insights, reviews, and recommendations that truly resonate with your audience.

No matter which path you take, consistency is your secret sauce:

Develop a solid affiliate marketing strategy that suits your chosen platform.
Create content that matches your interests and niche.
Keep the content flowing, addressing the needs and interests of your niche audience.
Update old content and keep it current on information and SEO

Here’s the beauty of it: you’ve got great options to choose from. But the two I recommend for featuring affiliate products are your own affiliate website or a YouTube channel.

If you’re up for creating an affiliate website, consider it your digital canvas. The key is to make it visually appealing and incredibly user-friendly with great affiliate marketing content.

Your affiliate site should aim to solve their problems, address their needs, and build trust, ultimately guiding them toward making informed decisions about the affiliate products you promote.

My blog here relies on affiliate marketing and ads to earn money and would be a great example of this.

On the other hand, if you’re leaning toward YouTube, it’s all about the art of crafting high-quality videos.

These videos should not only engage your target audience but also do a stellar job of promoting the affiliate products you’re excited about.

3. Get Social Media Accounts

Social media platforms are essential allies for affiliate marketers. You should consider setting up accounts on these popular platforms:

Instagram
Facebook
X (formerly known as Twitter)
Pinterest
TikTok

Why are they so important? With the right approach, social media platforms can turn into a valuable asset for your affiliate business.

They allow you to reach a wider audience and direct traffic to your affiliate website or YouTube page.

Your promotional content should include info that helps your audience, plus your affiliate link, to earn money.

Think of it as adding value and relevance to their social media experience while earning money for demonstrating and showing off products and services.

Authenticity is the name of the game here. Engage genuinely with your audience on social media, building trust and meaningful connections.

Be sure to carefully review and adhere to the terms and conditions of the social media platform and the affiliate network when you share an affiliate link.

4. Join Affiliate Programs

With your niche in hand and a platform ready to showcase your content, it’s time to join trustworthy affiliate programs that perfectly match your niche.

By carefully selecting and joining the right affiliate networks, you significantly increase your chances of boosting your affiliate revenue and building a solid foundation for your affiliate marketing journey.

Begin your journey by researching various affiliate networks and individual affiliate programs. See what similar businesses/pages are doing and what affiliates they use.

Pay close attention to key factors such as commission rates, the reputation of the products, and how well they resonate with your audience.

There are some great high-ticket affiliate marketing programs like Shopify, but you may need a certain amount of viewers or engagement to get accepted first.

And if you don’t get into these programs immediately, don’t give up! It might mean you need to grow a larger audience before being accepted- and I can show you how to do it next.

5. Create Eye-Catching, Interesting Content

Creating content that truly connects with your audience and includes those all-important affiliate links is key.

Focus on delivering top-notch content that answers your audience’s questions and improves their lives. Your goal is to become their trusted source.

You’ve got choices regarding content- think product reviews, helpful comparisons, or step-by-step tutorials; these tend to be real crowd-pleasers.

Besides the overall information on your site, ensure your content is search engine-friendly so it pops up when people are hunting for answers. 

SEO is an important part of getting your page ranked high on Google- and I suggest using Surfer SEO to write articles and content that hit the mark on keywords and content!

And, of course, give them a nudge with a clear call to action to click on those precious affiliate links. This will help you grow your reach and increase the chances of making more affiliate sales.

6. Get Traffic On Your Site/Page

Let’s talk about the goal of your affiliate marketing efforts: traffic. Without it, even the most fantastic content can go unnoticed, and no affiliate link will convert.

Getting visitors to your website or YouTube channel is important to have your content lead to affiliate sales.

You’ve got a variety of affiliate strategies to use, from mastering search engine optimization (SEO) to harnessing the power of social media.

But here’s the kicker: don’t forget to connect with your audience with everything you create.

Encourage them to share your valuable content with their networks. This helps expand your reach and boosts your chances of scoring those affiliate sales.

7. Start Cloaking Links

When it comes to affiliate marketing, safeguarding your affiliate link with cloaking is very important.

Cloaking plays a significant role in protecting your hard-earned commissions and improving the user experience for your audience.

So, what does link cloaking entail? It’s the process of hiding that complex affiliate ID within the URL by skillfully redirecting it to another page.

For example, a link would look like https://’yourdomain’.com/’merchantname’ instead of a huge long line of .com/’aoedkfaoijwernteroi’ and a bunch of letters and numbers

But here’s the real beauty of it- it also provides shorter clickable affiliate links for your audience and social media posts.

8. Track Your Click-Through Rates & Adapt

Tracking your click-through rates and other metrics is next to decide how to fine-tune your content and ensure those affiliate dollars keep rolling in.

If your content seems good but isn’t gaining an audience or many affiliates paying out, it may be time to go back to the drawing board and revamp your content or rework your affiliates.

By closely monitoring your results, you can spot areas for improvement and refine your strategies to boost your affiliate income. It’s all about using data to your advantage.

To help you with this, you’ve got tools like Google Analytics, affiliate network dashboards, and specialized tracking software.

These tools are your allies, helping you monitor your progress and make smart, data-driven decisions for your affiliate marketing campaigns.

Benefits of Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing offers many advantages for individuals ready to invest time and effort in building a successful business.

It’s a flexible and accessible way to generate income, allowing you to work on your terms and tap into a wide range of products and services.

Here are my top 3 reasons why I started this blog and got into affiliate marketing:

Earn Passive Income

One of the most enticing aspects of affiliate marketing is the potential to generate passive income.

This lucrative business model creates a steady income stream even when you’re not actively working on your business.

Once you create your content, it could make money for years to come with the right optimization and affiliate programs.

By consistently promoting products or services and engaging with your audience, your content could bring in thousands per month after it’s set up.

Low-Risk With No Money To Start

Affiliate marketing is an attractive option for starting a business without significant upfront investment.

This is a very low-cost business idea that can appeal to many new entrepreneurs who want to start making money online without spending thousands on products or inventory.

You can begin your affiliate marketing journey with free platforms, and don’t join an affiliate program that has fees to join.

This low-risk nature allows you to test different strategies and learn from your mistakes, ultimately leading to a more successful affiliate marketing business.

Scalable Business Model

Affiliate marketing is a highly scalable affiliate business model, allowing you to:

Grow and expand your business effectively
Increase your product offerings
Reach new audiences
Refine your marketing strategies

You can grow and change how you market your products, including starting a blog on one topic and then starting more to cover new areas of interest.

That’s what I’ve done, and many successful affiliate marketers have done the same.

Types Of Affiliate Marketings

There are various affiliate marketing programs, each with unique characteristics and benefits.

Understanding these different models can help you decide which affiliate programs and strategies to pursue.

Here are the 3 tactics you can use with your affiliate marketing efforts:

Unattached Affiliate Marketing

Unattached Affiliate Marketing involves an uncomplicated approach in the world of affiliates.

In this scenario, you don’t need to be an industry expert, and there’s no need to build connections with your potential customers.

Instead, you place your affiliate link on platforms like Facebook ads, crossing your fingers for someone to click on it, make a purchase, and bingo – you’ve just pocketed a commission.

Why does this method appeal to some? Not everyone wants to dive into creating blogs or websites; some simply don’t have the time.

With an Unattached model, you can start promoting affiliate products and skip the whole process of establishing a name or trust with a specific audience.

Related Affiliate Marketing

Related Affiliate Marketing lives up to its name by bridging the gap between affiliates and the products or services they promote.

In Related Affiliate Marketing, the affiliate doesn’t claim to own or use the product/service/ Instead, they leverage their authority and expertise to inform others about it.

It’s not you saying, “I use this, so you should too.” It’s more like, “Based on my knowledge and research, this is an option for you.”

So, why does this approach work so well? Well, it’s because people trust experts who do the work and research.

When an affiliate with genuine know-how vouches for something, it carries weight.

Related Affiliate Marketing thrives on this trust, where expertise meets endorsement in a way that benefits both the affiliate and their audience.

Involved Affiliate Marketing

Involved Affiliate Marketing takes the affiliate-product relationship to a whole new level.

These marketers aren’t just bystanders. They’re active participants who have used the product or service they’re promoting.

It’s like saying, “I’ve been there and done that, and I want to share my awesome experience with you.”

Imagine an affiliate who genuinely loves a product or service, not because they have to but because they’ve seen its magic in action.

These affiliates are confident that their positive experiences can be a game-changer for others. Their journeys become advertisements, and they transform into trusted sources of information.

But here’s the deal: because they’re providing recommendations based on their own experiences, they’re putting their reputation on the line.

Their reputation takes a hit if the product or service doesn’t live up to the hype.

It’s like inviting a friend to your favorite restaurant; if the food doesn’t impress, you might hear about it later.

So, it thrives on personal experiences, where authenticity and trust go hand in hand.

High-Ticket Affiliate Marketing Programs

High-ticket affiliate marketing programs are the gold mine of affiliate marketing.

Here are my top picks for some universal affiliate programs that could be your starting point:

Shopify

Shopify is a popular e-commerce platform enabling businesses to easily set up and manage online stores.

By promoting Shopify’s platform and services, you can earn substantial commissions and contribute to the growth of your affiliate marketing business.

The Shopify affiliate program offers attractive commission rates, with payouts ranging from $150+ per sale, depending on the plan you sell.

Bluehost

When it comes to web hosting, Bluehost stands tall. As a leading web hosting provider, it offers a wide range of hosting services to businesses and individuals alike.

With its solid reputation and comprehensive offerings, Bluehost is the ideal choice for affiliate marketers looking to promote high-quality web hosting services in their campaigns.

You’re not just earning money but endorsing a reliable hosting solution.

The real kicker for affiliate marketers? The Bluehost affiliate program dishes out a generous $65 commission for every referral you send their way.

Convertkit

ConvertKit is an email service provider that offers a range of features, including automation, segmentation, and personalization, making it a powerful tool for email marketers.

By joining the ConvertKit affiliate program, you’re tapping into a user-friendly interface, powerful features, and an attractive commission structure.

They offer a 30% recurring commission for each referral you send their way. That’s some steady income for promoting their powerful email marketing software.

Teachable

Teachable is the ultimate platform for those who are all about online courses. It empowers creators to design and sell their courses effortlessly.

The beauty of the Teachable affiliate program? With up to 30% commissions, you can cash in by promoting various products and services, from software to travel experiences.

The possibilities are endless, and you can maximize your earnings by tapping into diverse high-ticket affiliate opportunities.

Fiverr

Freelancers and businesses connect on Fiverr, a popular freelance marketplace. It’s how businesses can get more work done, and freelancers can get paid quickly.

As an affiliate, you can join the Fiverr affiliate program and earn commissions for promoting its platform and services.

By joining the Fiverr affiliate program, you’re not just endorsing a marketplace; you’re becoming a connector in the world of freelancing.

FAQs

What is affiliate marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing model where affiliates create content and promote products or services.

They earn a commission for each sale or action generated from their marketing efforts.

By promoting products or services on online channels, such as an affiliate marketing website and social media, affiliates can generate income by helping businesses reach their sales or marketing goals.

This process makes affiliate marketing work effectively for the affiliate partner and businesses.

Is affiliate marketing hard for beginners?

Affiliate marketing can be challenging for beginners, but it’s not necessarily hard if you’re willing to learn and put in the effort.

Like any skill or business endeavor, grasping the concepts and seeing significant results may take time.

The key is to start with a clear plan, gain knowledge about your niche, and consistently change your strategy based on your experiences and the feedback you receive.

However, beginners can benefit and start on the right foot by taking courses to learn. I took Legendary Marketer and used their Affiliate Marketing Blueprints to up my affiliate game!

Read about their offerings and my experience with them in my honest Legendary Marketer Review.

How do I get into affiliate marketing as a beginner?

To start affiliate marketing as a beginner, you can follow the 8-step process outlined in this article:

Pick a niche
Create a website or platform
Set up social media accounts
Join affiliate networks
Create engaging content
Drive traffic to your site
Cloak links
Track your click-through rates & adapt your content

By following these steps and dedicating time and effort to your affiliate marketing business, you can build a strong foundation and succeed in this lucrative industry.

Do I need money to start a side hustle in affiliate marketing?

Starting a side hustle in affiliate marketing doesn’t necessarily require a significant upfront investment.

One of the appealing aspects of affiliate marketing is that it can be relatively low-cost to begin with.

Here are some costs you might encounter based on how you start marketing:

Website costs/website hosting- like Bluehost
Content creation- AI programs like Jasper
Content optimization- using Surfer SEO on your content!
Affiliate Marketing program costs- not all programs are free, but I suggest you start with free ones
Paid Advertising (Optional)

The most important investment is your time and effort in learning affiliate marketing, creating content, and promoting products effectively.

What are some popular high-ticket affiliate marketing programs?

Popular high-ticket affiliate marketing programs include Shopify, Bluehost, and more.

These programs offer attractive commission rates and promote products and services that can result in higher payouts for each successful referral.

If you’re interested in promoting e-commerce platforms, web hosting services, and more, the programs I listed above provide excellent opportunities to earn affiliate income.

Final Thoughts

Affiliate marketing offers many opportunities for individuals who want to make a passive income online and achieve financial freedom.

By following the 8-step blueprint outlined in this blog post, you can start your affiliate marketing journey with confidence and build a successful business in the affiliate marketing industry.

With my affiliate marketing tips, you can get your business started on the right foot!

So, embark on your affiliate marketing adventure today and unlock the full potential of this exciting and rewarding business model.