13 Affiliate Marketing Tips & Strategies to Earn More Money

Are you looking for a simple way to earn money on the side? One of the most popular side hustles is affiliate marketing. As an affiliate, you can partner with brands, create unique affiliate links, and earn commissions for each sale you make.

How does a beginning affiliate marketer become a full-fledged business owner who makes enough money online to start an affiliate website full time? 

Affiliate marketing is all about lead generation and finding as many targeted eyeballs as possible for the offer you want them to see.

Here we’ll discuss the top 13 methods to get those eyeballs on your affiliate link. Hundreds of ways exist to market your affiliate offer, but we highlight the strategies that are generally easy and essentially free.

Best Affiliate Marketing Tips

1. Select the right niche

The niche you choose has to have a potential client base that is easily reachable. People who use the internet or social media platforms are easily reachable through forums, emails, Facebook groups and pages, YouTube groups, and so on. They are examples of potential customers who are easy to reach through the methods affiliate marketers normally use. 

For instance, if you’re into fitness, consider targeting people active on fitness forums, participating in Facebook groups related to health and wellness, or engaging with fitness communities on YouTube.

On the other hand, if you were trying to market to the “He-Man Internet Hater’s Club,” that would be an example of a group that’s hard to reach since they never use the internet and wouldn’t see any of your information.

The niche you choose also has to have a good number of salable products that your market research has shown you are popular sellers with good user feedback and low complaint levels. Below are some of the most popular niches for affiliate marketing:

  • Health 
  • Finance 
  • Technology
  • Skincare
  • Home 
  • Fashion
  • Cooking
  • Travel

Another reason to prioritize niche research and selection is competition. The larger the market, the stronger the competition becomes. As the profit potential increases, competitors become more willing to spend significant amounts to secure the top position.

However, you can narrow down your focus to avoid competing against big names. For example, if you aim to enter the skincare niche, you might specialize in a specific area like acne treatment. That way, you can write reviews about products designed to tackle this problem.

2. Write authentic product reviews 

Write honest, thorough and simple to read reviews about the services or products you’re promoting. Always look for ways to promote your product without coming out as a shrewd sales pitch. Here’s how:

  • Develop your own writing style: Develop a unique and personal style that is able to connect with your readers. Tell a story that is personal to give an authentic and human aspect to your reviews. Write balanced reviews that include a few flaws to aid people in making informed decisions. 
  • Discuss both the pros and cons: Customers will be impressed by your sincere effort to highlight both the good and the bad of a product or service. Your customers will consider you to be a trustworthy and reliable source of information/reviews on those products or services that you are advertising. 
  • Follow the WIIFM method: Be sure to follow the WIIFM method that is followed by the top copywriters from all over the globe. WIIFM is simply what’s in it For Me. Inform your audience about what’s inside instead of merely presenting features in a dry and stricken staccato pitch. Explain the benefits of the product for them and why they truly require it. 
  • Write captivating headings: Write compelling, persuasive, and concise headlines to attract the interest of your readers since 8/10 readers decide whether they want to read a book or not based on your headline. Use a question-based headline that triggers an emotional response or pulls at their most fervent desires or fears. 

If you want to develop a naturally informed tone, you should use the products in a personal way before you recommend them to your clients. That way, you know how to focus on benefits, not the product’s characteristics. You can present the advantages and disadvantages of a product or service in a bullet form after writing an extensive review that covers all aspects of the product. This can improve customer experience and conversion rates. 

It is also possible to rate the product or service on a scale from 1 to 10. For instance, when reviewing a food processor, you can divide your assessment into various sections such as usability/functionality, design, value for money, etc. Write detailed reviews for each element of the product. Afterward, assign a score to each aspect on a scale from 1 to 10, and conclude with an overall score.

Google has published guidelines on product reviews, I strongly suggest you to check it out. 

guidelines on product reviews

3. Create a sense of urgency

It’s not about filling your blog with endless “buy todays” or “take actions today.” It’s about creating rational and emotional content to build gradually an urgency that will inspire your readers to take the desired decision. 

Some people may decide to do something, but could put it off for later (and then buy directly from the website) and result in you not making an affiliate sale. 

Therefore, creating a sense of urgency is essential to complete the action immediately. The longer it takes people to make decisions, the harder it is to make them buyers. Help them understand what you want them to do by making it clear and making it simpler for them to understand. 

Give them the reason to help them make a purchase decision immediately. Examples of urgent messages calling to action include:

  • “Sign up Now”
  • “While Supplies Last”
  • “Limited Period Offer”
  • “Final Chance! Take advantage of it while you can!”
  • “Don’t Put this off Any Longer”
  • “Buy One Get One Free – Lasts a Short Time”

The feeling of scarcity can trigger people to go into the action. If you’re providing unique incentives, let them know that they’re only available for a limited time and won’t be offered in other places. 

For instance “this exclusive bonus is only accessible to the first 50 people who take action” as well as “only 50 bonus packs remaining” or similar offers are fantastic particularly during the initial stage of a product or service.

4. Include testimonials 

Testimonials are crucial in building a brand’s credibility for their services or products. If they are done correctly they can increase your conversion rates drastically. 

You can use images of your emails or social media posts whenever a product or service receives positive reviews. If you get a positive or encouraging review about the product or service, you can ask permission to share it with the world. Invite people to submit their photos and then include it in the review to give it more authenticity. 

People who are considering becoming buyers will appreciate testimonials and pictures of real people who have enjoyed products or services. You may also inquire with your merchant partners. They might have a database of testimonials that you could use in your blog. If it’s a top-quality and well-known product, a lot of users would have praised it, which can increase sales.

5. Use split testing or A/B

A handy tool for many affiliate marketers is A/B testing, also known as split testing. It helps figure out which version of a webpage element performs better in terms of getting people to take action.

Here’s how it works:

  • Create Variations: Make two different versions of things like headlines, page layouts, colors, text, offers, button sizes, and images that you want to test.
  • Use A/B Testing Software: This software divides your website traffic into two parts – one sees version A, and the other sees version B. Both versions have a call to action.
  • Compare Results: By checking the number of people who visited and took action on each version, you can see which one is more effective.

For success in affiliate marketing:

  • Always have at least one A/B test running on your blog.
  • Know that there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy; continuous testing is key.

Remember to test one thing at a time to clearly see what’s working and what’s not. You should consider factors like the size of buttons and the words used in the call to action. Different words work better for different types of products. For example, “Demo/Trial” is good for software, while “Checkout/Purchase” suits courses, reports, and eBooks.

6. Optimize your SEO strategies

Making it easy for people to find you online is key, especially your affiliate links to products or services. When people search for something, it often means they’re interested in buying it.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is about making your website content easier to find on search engines. If your affiliate site, blog, or pages are well-optimized, it boosts the chances of customers clicking on your affiliate links.

The main thing to consider in SEO is the user’s search intent. This is why someone searches on a search engine—to get information, make a purchase, or find something. Even within the “looking to buy” category, there are different levels of readiness. As an affiliate marketer, your goal is to match your content with what they’re looking for.

For more guidance on SEO strategies, head over to our complete SEO guide for affiliate marketing

7. Make good use of social media marketing

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and many others are free to join. Social media is now a natural part of communication, and affiliate marketing is about promoting your affiliate link or offer to as many people as possible.

Using social media for affiliate marketing can look like this:

  • You belong to a Facebook group of pet owners, and you are an affiliate for merchants offering pet products and services.
  • Your Pinterest page lists books about nature and the environment, and every picture is accompanied by an affiliate link to the Amazon page.
  • You’re a skier, part of a Meetup group for skiers, and an affiliate for a skiing products company.
  • Your LinkedIn article on job-hunting strategies includes affiliate links to job-hunting resources.
  • During the latest Twitter controversy about organic umbrella stands, you add your thoughts (and affiliate link) to the discussion.

You could also make use of forums like Reddit. Online listing websites like Craigslist are also useful.

8. Make videos for product demonstrations

It’s no longer a secret and many affiliate marketers are aware of the value of making videos to promote affiliate products or services. There are many videos that you can make, beginning with How-To’s all the way to product demonstrations. 

YouTube is the 2nd frequently used search engine and is controlled by the giant G. Google ranks videos on YouTube highly on its results for searches. It’s not just an abundance of organic traffic, but you’ll also get a wider audience compared to long, text-based content , since videos are more personal and easier to follow. 

Create a basic video using an ordinary phone camera at first, with no need for flashy equipment. If you don’t like to be directly in front of the camera, make a PowerPoint Presentation or simply keep your eyes on the product. Sparkol as well as GoAnimate are great alternatives for making fun and easy-to-read videos that are animated. 

Videos don’t just boost the amount of traffic you get, but they also boost the conversion rate dramatically. Incorporate links on the blog post that is related to the video near the conclusion of your video.

For more information, you can check out our guide on how to make YouTube videos

9. Share discount codes

Many stores give affiliates marketing materials like banners and email copies. But you can also ask affiliates for active discount codes on the products you’re promoting. For example, if you’re an affiliate for a fitness brand, ask if there’s a discount code for their popular workout gear.

These codes work great in convincing people to try the products. To share the code:

  1. Post it on social media with direct affiliate links.
  2. Email your audience, guiding them to the sale with the exclusive discount.
  3. Update your affiliate website content to mention the special discount code.
  4. Add “discount” to your review pages’ meta description to attract more clicks from people searching for deals.

10. Stay updated on what’s popular

As an affiliate marketer, it’s crucial to keep an eye on trends. Use keyword research tools to see what people are searching for. Subscribe to newsletters and read industry resources to stay informed. For instance, check TikTok trends to get insights into your industry.

For example, if you notice that “sustainable living” is trending, consider creating content related to eco-friendly products or lifestyle choices. Keep current, embrace new opportunities, and replace outdated content with fresh and popular material to show your relevance.

11. Disclose affiliate links

When you suggest products and earn a commission, it’s important to tell your audience about it. This is because trust is crucial in affiliate marketing. People are more likely to buy things based on recommendations from someone they trust. If you don’t let them know that you’re making money when you talk about a product, and they find out elsewhere, it can make them upset and they might not trust you anymore.

When your audience trusts you and believes you genuinely care about their interests, everyone involved in the affiliate relationship benefits.

But it’s not just about losing your audience’s trust. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has strict rules to prevent affiliate marketers from misleading customers. You have to be clear about any relationships you have with a retailer, especially if you’re getting something for promoting their products.

For instance, Healthline places a disclaimer prominently in its affiliate-related articles. This informs readers that the blog might earn a commission if they purchase something through a link in the article. 

Healthline places affiliate disclaimer

12. Link to Localized Landing Pages

When you’re running a successful affiliate marketing business, you have the awesome ability to connect with customers worldwide, thanks to your partners distributing products globally. This is even more likely if you’re teaming up with Shopify stores, where over one-third of the traffic comes from international visitors.

Now, global shoppers have their unique preferences, and one biggie is seeing prices in their own currency. A whopping 92% of international shoppers want to know the cost in their local money before hitting that “buy” button on an online store from another country.

Here’s a nifty workaround: use localized landing pages. Many affiliate networks offer this feature right in your dashboard, making it easy for you to cater to the specific needs of customers from different parts of the world.

So, a customer in Tokyo sees the prices in yen, while someone in London views them in pounds. It’s like giving each customer a personalized shopping experience.

13. Set up a sales funnel

If you’re trying to get people to buy through your affiliate link as soon as they visit your website, you’re living in a fantasy realm. Don’t try to sell too quickly. Create a sales funnel that can make it virtually impossible for the buyer to turn down your proposal. 

One of the most common mistakes Internet marketers commit is asking for signup sales in a hurry and not investing time and effort to build a trusting relationship. 

The majority of the time, customers are just browsing the internet for information, not being in the emotional zone of making a purchase. As an affiliate marketing professional, you need to guide people from the zone of browsing to the buying zone by constant efforts and a well-planned sales funnel. 

The more costly or complicated your product or service is the longer it takes for consumers to make a decision. Give them time to decide. Take a step back initially and concentrate upon building trust and establishing relationships and demonstrating your knowledge. 

Let’s say that you’re promoting the course to build a lucrative travel site. Your aim is to convince the maximum number of aspiring travel bloggers as well as those who want to live a nomadism to enroll in your course. 

Your readers’ aim is to find out more about the techniques of an effective travel blogger. What can you do to achieve both of these objectives? 

  1. Start by providing free advice on travel blogging through blogs, video and information reports, tutorials and infographics. 
  2. Earn the trust of new travel bloggers and be their “go-to” expert for anything associated with travel blogging. 
  3. Provide them with a compelling incentive to join your mailing list in the kind of helpful details or resources (for instance, an overview of the various travel niches within the general travel industry). It is also possible to offer free drip content video tutorials on travel blogging. It could include the basics. 
  4. Send the customers to your marketing brochure and ask them to take that much wanted sale! 

The most experienced internet marketers say that it’s minimum 7 contact before a potential customer is at ease enough to make a purchase from you. This isn’t backed by any research however. It does however clarify the idea that the more solid your connection with your customers and the more likely they will be to buy from you. 

In addition, they can also be evangelists for your products or services. Reduce the speed. Give them value and confidence before you ask for an offer. This is why it is important to take their emails using an opt-in system so that you are able to keep the conversation going.

Final Words

Now that you have more than a dozen expert-recommended tips for affiliate marketing, it’s time to put them into action. As an affiliate marketer, you can choose from various options to run your business. Select the best affiliate program(s) that match your audience and start promoting affiliate products today.

Remember, affiliate marketing takes time, but you can accelerate your growth by trying different channels and figuring out the most effective ways to connect with your target audience. Building a large audience, especially on social media, can also speed up your progress in affiliate marketing.

If you need more guidance, sign up for my online business coaching.  

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