WhyAffiliate Marketing Is A Great Way To Make Money Online
And How You Can Start Right Away!
Here’s why I think affiliate marketing is so great.
1. You Can Start For Free!
…. andwhat other income avenues have absolutely no start up costs?!
How Is It Free?
You become an affiliate when you connect to a company, organisation or a product that you want to associate with and then (once approved) they give you a personal link that you can send out in any which way you like (Emails, Facebook posts/groups/messages, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Blogging/Vlogging etc..)
Most companies are delighted to have affiliate marketers on board as they effectively sell on their behalf, cutting marketing costs and having the word-of-mouth affect which has been proven to still be the most powerful way to get new customers on board.
There are thousands, if not millions of products and services out there nowadays that have affiliate programs, across all different businesses and all different sectors. All you have to do is find out what kind of a product or service you want to promote, search that niche for their affiliate programs (i.e. online cross word puzzle software affiliate program — to show you how completely obscure it can get) and then sign up for the one you feel most connected to or that has the best commission and then start sending out your personalised links.
2. It’s All About Connection, Not Selling
…. we connect people that are already looking for a product or service that we support and then connect them together. If they buy through your link, you get paid commission for making the connection. It’s that simple. The (somewhat) experimental part is finding ways in which they click through one your links but we’ll get that part later.
Why Is It About Connection And Not Selling?
When was the last time someone tried to sell you something? How did it feel?
Then, when was the last time a friend or someone that had experience in what you were wanting to experience pointed you in a direction that you helped you decide? How did that feel?
What was the difference?
Maybe it’s just me but I really dislike being sold something that I haven’t asked for but being directed to something I’m looking for always feels good. That’s where we want to aim to place our affiliate links — in places that people are already looking for what they want.
So instead of selling anything, I try to connect. I wait for people to share their fears, their desires to learn, their desire to heal and then if that aligns with what I can offer and share, I do.
That way, they are already searching and are far more open to receive a suggestion.
Top tip on sharing: invite them to see what you’re offering instead of bombarding them with links.
This — If I sent you a link to the breathwork training that helped me overcome anxiety, would you be interested in taking a look?
One shows care, the other is pushy.
It’s All About Education, Not Selling
When was the last time someone shared something that added value to your life or educated you in a way that you didn’t know before?
When was the last time someone try to sell you something that theythought you’d need for further education?
What was the difference in these two experiences?
If we educate people, directly with the product or service we are affiliated with, or indirectly through a blog or video that is connected to the product or service we are affiliated with, then we add value to the person who is already seeking value.
Try connecting people and try educating people instead of selling and affiliate marketing becomes way more joyful and far less needy.
4. Only Sell What You Love
… only choose products or services that you love and naturally talk about.
Everything changed when I followed this properly.
Why?
Because it’s natural. It’s easy. It’s easy to speak about the things we love because it’s authentic. And that sells itself.
I love breathwork — I practise it, I talk about it, I guide sessions in it, I write about it, I study it and I’m continuously amazed by it. It’s what I love to do so I naturally feel others would benefit too, just like I have.
That’s what makes sharing it so simple!
If you are passionate about whatever it is that you are doing, practising, learning, being, eating or drinking, then others will probably become curious as to why. And if that curiosity is for the growth and betterment of another, then their curiosity may well lead to them trying it for themselves.
All you do at that point is invite them to search through your link and viola — that’s affiliate marketing.
If they then click through your link and try it for themselves, you can gain commission for connecting the dots.
For me, I love guiding breathwork sessions and I love sharing anything that promotes self-development.
That’s why I naturally promote SOMA Breath (the branch of breathwork I love to guide sessions under) and why I promote Mind Movies, mediation tracks and why I like to educate people on all of their benefits.
*If you clicked on any of the underlined words above by the way, these are my personal affiliate links (just to show you how it can be presented).
5. Become A Part Of A Community
In sharing what you love you’ll naturally connect with others who share the same interests and connect to the same passions.
You will have lots of things to talk about, discuss, learn and share with another, from past experiences and to future gatherings/adventures.
You’ll learn from others, others will learn from you and you can become a part of community in your area or through an online platform that inspires you through doing what you love, and with the added bonus of making some money on the side too.
How cool is that?!
Sub-Affiliate Tree(s)
Somewhat of an added bonus to all of this is that if someone loves what you’re doing enough and wants to do the same, they can also become an affiliate marketer and earn commissions with the people they share it with. If they sign up through a link inviting them to sign up, they’ll become one of your sub-affiliates. This works in much the same way but the difference is that now both of you will be earning commission(s) on what they promote.
So you get to work, learn and share with friends where your commissions support one another and their commissions support you.
Now — How cool is that?
If breathwork’s your thing, or more precisely SOMA Breath, and you want to try their affiliate marketing program, you can apply through SOMA Breath’s page here and start right away. If this is for you, you will join my community where we will create together and enjoy the abundance that it brings.
What Are The Different Ways To Affiliate Marketing?
Promoting Physical Products vs Digital Products
What is the difference in promoting physical products to digital products?
Typically, the going commission rate for a physical product, from an electric bike to a hand cream is anywhere from 3–10%.
For a digital product however, the going rate is around 30% and can even go all the way up to 100% in some cases.
So if a product is a $100 (both a physical and digital product) the physical product (a bike) would perhaps bring in $5–10 while the digital product (an online course) could bring in $30–$100!
The difference is huge!
If you’re really wanting to go big with affiliate marketing you can of course combine both physical and digital products but that’s in seeing what works and what doesn’t for you.
The huge difference in physical and digital comission margins is normal becuase the physical product needs lots of start up costs to produce, manufacture, ship, market, promote, and so on. Whereas the digital product is (typically) automated online so the curator has created the content already and the buyer gains instant access to start their course or play with their new software.
What’s Next?
Play. Explore. Experiment. Sign Up. Reach Out. Try, try, try!
What else have you got to lose?
If you send out a few affiliate links and nothing happens you haven’t spent any money, you haven’t shipped any products and you haven’t tried to scam anyone in the process. All you’ve done is simply post a link on Facebook, Instagram or any of the other social media platforms, or sent out a few emails to friends, family and/or followers.
So I encourage you to try. Gain confidence. Feel what it’s like to make your first money online and hear the inner voice cry ‘it’s really possible!’ and then start to build from there.
It’s really never been easier.
Whatever area of the online world you wish to step into, there are lots and lots of options. Leverage platforms like Medium, Facebook, Youtube (if you’re comfortable making videos), LinkedIn and Instagram to gain a few extra followers (make sure you always add your personalised affiliate link in) and try, try, try, experiment with all of the ways you like best and see what results come in from that.
It may not get you financially free to start with but with the possibility that it could do is often enough for our curiosity to find out.
Would you like to find out?