Can you do affiliate marketing in real estate?

If there's one thing the internet has taught us it's to never say "no". You've heard of people saying they're not interested or aren't going to take part and then finding out their inboxes have been flooded by emails begging them to get involved. It's actually pretty hard to turn down something like that - especially if your product of service seems worthwhile! The same goes for when someone asks whether you'd be willing to join an affiliate network as an affiliate.

This might sound like a no brainer but it's important to know what exactly constitutes an affiliate. Most often than not, anyone who says they'll promote another company's products or services online will automatically be classed as an affiliate. This doesn't necessarily mean they're making money from promoting those companies' products though. They could just be doing some research on behalf of other clients or even working at a business themselves which means they don't profit directly from any sales made through their website link.

So what makes someone an affiliate really? Well, according to ShareASale, an affiliate marketer must meet three criteria before applying to work with them. Firstly, they must already own a domain name (e.g. mydomainname.com). Secondly, they need to have enough traffic coming into their site so that they can generate affiliate commissions. Finally, they should also have at least 10 posts about their niche topic published within the last 90 days. If all these requirements are met, then they're eligible to apply to earn commission payments from ShareASale.

Let's look at eight different types of affiliates we found using our search feature. We'll begin with two very popular ones first...

ClickBank & CJ Affiliate

These two names may seem familiar because both offer software solutions for creating affiliate websites. While this is true, it isn't essential to becoming an affiliate. For example, there are plenty of sites out there offering free blog hosting to anyone who wants to create a blog.

The main difference between these two platforms is that ClickBank allows users to sell digital downloads while CJ Affiliate offers more traditional physical goods such as books and DVDs. Both allow affiliates to set up shop quickly and easily without having to learn new skills. However, if you want to try selling digital content instead, check out the rest of our list below.

Rakuten Advertising

Another platform that lets you sell digital products rather than physical items is Rakuten Advertising. Like ClickBank, this system gives affiliates access to a vast range of eCommerce stores where they can choose from thousands of different products to promote. Unlike ClickBank however, Rakuten Advertising focuses primarily on Japan-based businesses rather than international brands. You can read more about Rakuten Advertising here.

Ebay Partner Network Inc

While eBay is still well known for its auctioning service (and continues to grow), it recently launched a separate division called Ebay Partner Network Inc. As the name suggests, this is focused solely on helping small merchants find ways to reach customers around the world via social media, video sharing, email newsletters etc.

To qualify for membership, you only need to have 1,000 visitors per month and 500 unique referrals over the course of 6 months. Once you’ve reached these numbers, you can start earning revenue shares from each sale generated through your links. To see what kind of income you could expect, click here.

Convert Kit LLC

Like most of the above networks, Convertkit LLC works on the principle that once you build up a solid community of readers, they won't mind signing up to receive regular emails containing relevant information. These emails can contain anything ranging from tips and tricks for improving conversions to advice on how to improve your overall user experience.

Unlike others on this list, this platform requires you to maintain at least 100 subscribers before you can start generating revenue. This means it takes longer to get started compared to others, although it pays off over time.

Aweber

Aweber is perhaps best known for its ability to help marketers send mass emails to hundreds of contacts simultaneously. But did you know that Aweber also allows you to use it as an affiliate marketing tool too? All you need to do is connect your existing autoresponder account with Aweber Connect. Then simply paste your affiliate code onto every single message sent out by your subscriber list.

Once again, this method relies heavily on having a large following, meaning it can take several years to fully reap rewards.

InboxDollars

As the name suggests, InboxDollars helps individuals save money by giving away cash prizes for answering simple survey questions. Although it sounds similar to Get Paid To, this platform differs slightly in that members usually answer multiple surveys daily and win smaller amounts of cash rather than larger sums.

It's worth noting that unlike the previous four examples, InboxDollar isn't an affiliate program specifically designed for real estate agents. Rather, it's open to everyone looking to increase their financial knowledge.

Websites such as Realtor.com and Zillow offer various tools that can help realtors boost visibility online. Some of these include blogging, SEO and PPC advertising. And while these methods certainly pay dividends, it would probably be better to focus on building relationships with potential buyers rather than trying to drive traffic artificially.

Affiliate programs tend to be quite competitive, so it's always advisable to speak to a few agencies beforehand to ensure you're getting the right deal. One way to cut costs further is to consider joining a network to share commissions with other affiliates.

How many followers do you need to become an affiliate?

Most successful affiliates have tens of thousands of Twitter followers. So long as you regularly tweet quality articles, videos and reviews, your audience will continue to interact with you. There are lots of useful resources available online explaining why you should follow certain accounts, including ours.

Can you make affiliate marketing a full time job?

Yes, absolutely. Many successful affiliates now spend less time writing and more time promoting. This is particularly common among bloggers due to the fact that they can write about whatever they want without worrying about upsetting advertisers.

But if you enjoy writing about topics outside the scope of real estate, you could find yourself spending hours researching and writing content for your blog. Alternatively, you could hire freelancers to produce original pieces for you. Either option comes with its pros and cons, but ultimately depends on how much you're prepared to put in.

What does being an affiliate mean?

An affiliate is essentially someone who promotes another person's product or service. When you buy something, you're typically given a voucher that entitles you to discounts and/or special promotions offered by the merchant. An affiliate earns a percentage of this amount whenever someone purchases the product after clicking on his referral link.

Being an affiliate involves setting up web pages that display advertisements relating to a specific product or service. These ads will lead prospective consumers to purchase that item. You can either place these links manually or use an automated system provided by a third party.

When choosing which affiliate network to join, keep in mind that you shouldn't just pick the biggest one. Instead, assess the competition carefully and weigh up the benefits of each individual partner.

Although this article was written based on our experiences, it's unlikely that you'll have the exact same results. That's because success varies wildly depending on the type and size of your chosen industry, the strength of your competitors, your personal skill level and, crucially, the value of your products and services.

Affiliates are people who earn commissions on sales made by others (the merchants). You don't have to be the person selling or buying things online. Instead, you just need to promote them and make sure they get their customers through your website.

When it comes to doing business on the internet, there's nothing more important than promoting other products. Whether its Amazon, Ebay, Facebook ads, Google AdWords, YouTube Ads, Instagram, Snapchat, etc., you're going to want to build traffic to those sites so you can sell what they offer. The best way to do all of these is to become an affiliate marketer.

So if you've got some spare time on your hands and would like to start earning money from home, then why not learn about becoming an affiliate? There are many different ways you can go about it but one thing remains constant -- you'll need your own site to host any offers you may choose to promote. This article will give you a quick overview of the most popular methods and highlight some of the highest paying ones.

What is an affiliate in real estate?

In short, an affiliate is someone who promotes another company’s product or service. The term “affiliate” has been around since at least 2000 when the first affiliates were created. These days, however, the world wide web has provided endless opportunities for everyone to become an affiliate, whether it be for clothes, cars, electronics, insurance, beauty & wellness, fitness equipment, travel, pet supplies, etc.

The good news is that being an affiliate doesn’t require much effort as long as you know where to look. But before you even think about signing up for an affiliate network you should ask yourself two questions. Can I afford to lose out on commissions? And am I willing to put forth enough work into my business to generate a decent amount of income each month?

If the answer to both questions is yes, here are eight great places to begin looking for potential networks.

Clickbank - One of the oldest and largest affiliate networks available today. They currently partner with over 2 million vendors worldwide to provide access to tens of thousands of products via dozens of categories. Plus, because they use Paypal as payment processor, you won't have to worry about chargebacks. 

CJ Affiliate – Founded back in 2002, CJ Affiliate makes it easy for anyone to create an account and start making money immediately. Their commission rates vary depending on which category you choose. For example, you could earn 10% per sale on clothing items while getting paid 3-5% on digital downloads. Additionally, they also include free training material and tools within every package.

Rakuten Advertising – With over 1 billion impressions served monthly, Rakuten Advertising is a powerhouse amongst advertisers. They pay 40 cents per click, 30 cents per impression, 15 cents per conversion, plus $1.50 per lead generated. Not only does this mean you’ll receive higher payments than other platforms, but you can also expect fast results thanks to their massive reach.

eBay Partner Network Inc – The eBay Partner Network isn’t quite as well known as the other giants above, but it still generates lots of income for sellers. On average, members earn 25% of total sales, meaning you could potentially make hundreds of dollars every single week simply by referring new buyers.

ConvertKit LLC – If you enjoy writing emails, this platform allows you to send automated messages directly to consumers without requiring them to visit your website. It’s perfect for building relationships and growing your list. As an added bonus, you’re able to track performance metrics such as open rate and unsubscribe rate.

ShareASale – ShareASale is a unique affiliate network unlike anything else on our list. Its goal is to help small businesses grow using social media. To achieve this, they focus primarily on Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr, and YouTube. Although this strategy might seem limited, the fact that they allow you to pick and choose among multiple channels means you’ll never run out of ideas.

Amazon Associates Program – Amazon was already established as a huge success prior to launching its affiliate program. However, now that they have the option to connect with third party websites, it gives you unlimited possibilities for generating revenue. When you join, you’ll automatically be assigned a merchant ID. From there, you simply log in to your dashboard whenever you wish to view reports and statistics.

Forums – Forums are essentially communities built around specific topics. Since many forums feature forums dedicated to everything imaginable, finding a community that fits your niche is relatively simple. Once you find a forum that interests you, simply register and upload a picture of your site. Your profile will appear alongside all the other users and visitors.

How to affiliate with a real estate broker

Before you jump headfirst into the world of affiliates, it's worth understanding exactly what kind of relationship you'd like to have with your chosen vendor. Should you opt to go down the path of working with a real estate agent, there are several benefits associated with partnering with them.

First off, they typically have a lot of experience with advertising. Many agents spend hours upon hours researching new leads and strategies to drive traffic to their listings. Because of this, they often have valuable insight regarding certain tactics that actually work.

Second, brokers tend to specialize in a particular area of expertise. So rather than having to search far and wide across various niches, you can rest assured knowing that your agent is highly qualified. Finally, they usually represent hundreds, sometimes thousands, of clients simultaneously. Therefore, the likelihood that you'll ever deal with the same individual twice is extremely low.

Once you decide on which type of partnership is right for you, you can proceed to apply to the relevant affiliate program(s) listed below. Remember, the majority of these companies offer similar compensation structures, so once you've decided on a few, keep reading until you see something that works for you!

Real Estate Express Affiliate Program - Real Estate Express specializes in helping homeowners prepare their homes for sale. Using their proprietary software, agents can quickly produce professional photos, videos, floor plans, and virtual tours of homes. By connecting with this affiliate program, you can leverage their reputation as a leading provider of quality content and attract interested parties to your property listing.

Majestic Realty Partners - Majestic Realty partners with real estate professionals throughout North America. Through their program, you can advertise properties for sale, rent, lease, or auction. Agents can also showcase houses under contract, or post pictures of current listings to their portfolio.

HomeGain - Homegain provides a suite of tools designed specifically for real estate investors. Amongst their offerings are customizable templates, video tutorials, and guides. All you need to do is select the properties that interest you and add them to your inventory. Then, you can continue to manage your listings on your own terms.

Conclusion

Becoming an affiliate requires a bit of research and planning. Fortunately, there are numerous resources out there to assist you along the way. Take advantage of them and watch your earnings skyrocket!

Affiliating yourself with a property agency or a seller's agent will help you gain access into the marketplace, but there are also plenty of ways to make money from your listings without having to join as an affiliate.

In fact, if you're looking for a new way to earn extra cash on the side then consider joining one of these great online properties. There are hundreds of companies out there offering different types of products and services, so just by signing up for one of them you'll be able to start promoting their brand, generating some income, and even building a list!

We've taken a look at eight of the most successful real estate affiliate programs around, which all offer commission rates ranging from 5% - 10%. So whether you want to promote individual homes through a network of agents, or sell more of your own properties, there should be something here for you. Here they are, along with links to each company's website where you can find full details about what they have to offer.

What is a real estate affiliate?

An affiliate (or associate) is someone who promotes another business' product or service using his/her personal profile. For example, if you were selling clothes online, you could use social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, etc., to advertise those items. Your followers would click-through to see exactly what you had available, buy it, and get sent directly to your site to complete the transaction. If enough people follow you, you might even make a profit.

If you don't like the idea of being associated with someone else's name, however, why not become an independent affiliate instead? This means that you create content specifically designed to attract customers towards the other company's goods or services. You then receive payment when someone buys whatever it was you recommended. The best part is that you never need to meet anyone face-to-face or deal with any salespeople. It really is very easy to set up an account and begin making commissions straight away.

The only downside is that you won't generate as much traffic as you would if you were working via a third party, but there are still plenty of opportunities to make money from home. Just keep reading below to discover our picks of the best affiliate networks targeting the real estate industry...

What does affiliate mean in real estate?

It's important to understand the difference between affiliate and partner before getting started though. An affiliate has no ownership rights over anything he promotes, whereas a partner actually owns the thing itself. By partnering with a real estate brokerage, you'd be giving your permission for them to share your listing information publicly once it goes live on their websites.

This type of agreement isn't mandatory though, so if you prefer to remain anonymous until after you've made the sale then go ahead and register for free. There's nothing stopping you from becoming a fully fledged member later down the line either, but remember that many affiliates require you to pay membership fees upfront.

What is an affiliate and how does it work?

So now you know what an affiliate is, let's learn exactly how they work. When you first sign up for an affiliate program, you'll usually choose a landing page within the platform. This webpage contains a link to a specific item, and you can decide whether or not to include a call to action box directing visitors to purchase said item.

You may also opt to add a banner ad to your website too, which will appear alongside the link to encourage interested parties to visit the merchant's actual storefront. Once the visitor clicks through, you'll be paid a percentage based on how many sales occur. It sounds simple, right?

Once again, the key point here is that you control your own domain, and you can continue earning passive revenue off the backs of others while keeping your credit card safe.

Can you affiliate market houses?

Of course you can, although you'll probably need to invest in some additional tools to ensure you maximize your earnings potential. One tool worth considering is ShareASale, which offers a variety of house templates for you to pick and customize according to your needs.

Another option is Clickbank, which provides a huge range of digital downloads for both beginners and experts alike. As well as houses, you can also promote software titles, ebooks, videos, courses, and even physical merchandise including gift cards.

Rakuten Advertising is also worth checking out, especially if you're planning to target Japanese consumers. Their advertising system requires you to provide detailed demographic data, but it's totally worthwhile if you plan to grow a large audience quickly.

Finally, there's eBay Partner Network Inc, which allows users to build businesses by creating their own stores and collecting payments from buyers. They also give sellers access to thousands of auctions every day, meaning you could potentially sell anything to anybody.

Which Real Estate Networks Do We Recommend?

As you can tell above, there are lots of choices out there. Some are better suited than others depending upon what kind of results you're seeking.

For instance, if you're just starting out and trying to establish your presence across multiple platforms, I recommend using ShareASale's wide selection of ready-made house designs rather than spending time customizing your own template.

With ClickBank, you can easily browse through dozens of downloadable products and take advantage of the massive reach provided by Amazon.com. Not sure where to start? Try browsing through their "Top 100" section, which includes everything from weight loss advice to computer games.

eBay PNI is perfect for people who want to run their own shops and accept payments from anyone worldwide. With its vast array of products, you'll definitely be spoilt for choice.

Real Estate Express is yet another great choice, allowing you to focus exclusively on house promotions. Of course, if you already have an established customer base, this is unlikely to benefit you greatly. But if you're just beginning out, then it makes sense to concentrate solely on the house market.

How To Find A Good Program

Finding a good program starts with choosing the correct niche. Obviously, you wouldn't aim to promote cars unless you owned a dealership somewhere, so always try to identify areas that interest you. Then check out the various platforms that currently exist and see which ones seem to be doing particularly well.

Before registering for any particular program, be sure to read their terms and conditions thoroughly. Most of the major ones will explain precisely what you can expect to happen during the process, and what happens if things go wrong. Also ask questions whenever possible -- many of the smaller companies will welcome queries because they often operate on tight budgets.

Don't forget to compare prices too. While the big boys tend to charge higher monthly fees, they typically offer greater rewards per sale. On average, you should expect to make 1-2% commission on each sale you refer. However, if you manage to bring in several thousand dollars a month, then you could end up earning significantly more than this amount.

Keep in mind too that many programs allow you to promote unlimited numbers of items simultaneously. This gives you the chance to increase your overall sales volume dramatically, and helps you avoid feeling restricted to a single category.

Remember also that you shouldn't feel pressured into purchasing expensive packages simply because you're hoping to secure lucrative deals from the outset. Many of the bigger players offer trial periods lasting months or years, enabling you to test drive their systems before committing yourself.

And finally, be careful when deciding which products to promote. Although many people mistakenly believe that all affiliate marketers must push the latest gadget or software title, it's essential to remember that the majority of us aren't in a position to afford the latest gizmos ourselves. Instead, our job is to highlight products that offer genuine value to our readers.

A lot of people think that the easiest way to do this is to promote the hottest trends, but you can actually succeed quite successfully without focusing on fads. All you need to do is research popular topics and write articles dedicated to helping people improve their lives in certain areas.

That's why I personally love to promote books written by self improvement authors, and am constantly adding new titles to my blogroll. These days, almost everyone knows someone who claims to possess special powers, and millions of people regularly spend hours searching the Internet for answers to life's problems.

If you can prove that you truly know what you're talking about, then you stand a far better chance of persuading people to buy your book or attend one of your seminars. Be aware of course that it's impossible to guarantee success, but if you stick to quality material, then you should come nowhere near failure.

To summarize, affiliate marketing is a fantastic opportunity for anyone keen to establish a regular source of income. Even if you decide to stop eventually, you'll still likely have generated valuable contacts and experience behind you. And if you ever return to the field, then it shouldn't matter that you haven't been actively involved for six months -- you'll instantly be considered an expert by your peers.