I was recently asked if it is possible to make money as an affiliate marketer without having a large social media following or even any kind of profile at all. In this article we're going to look at whether you really CAN do affiliate marketing without a social media presence, and what exactly that means.
Contrary to common wisdom, there are people who have made a successful living by promoting products through Clickbank, Paypal, eBay etc., while not maintaining a Facebook page or Twitter account, or indeed owning a blog. They rely upon their own personal brand instead, which they build up over time. Their websites are often very simple - often just one page long - so visitors don't know much about them.
But that doesn't mean that those making a good amount of cash online don't use social media (or maybe they do). It simply means that when someone buys something from these affiliates, they are buying because they like the person behind the product rather than because they think they'll gain some benefit from doing business with them. The fact that the seller has their own site isn't important either, although it will help with SEO, but it certainly won't guarantee sales.
If you want to set yourself apart, then you should consider creating a separate profile for your affiliate links. That way you aren't competing against other sellers and you've got more credibility amongst potential customers. People trust those with a strong reputation over somebody who seems desperate to sell things. And remember, if you're selling a high ticket item such as a laptop or camera lens, you probably shouldn't be trying to attract buyers on social media anyway! Instead, focus on attracting influencers and bloggers first.
The next question is "how do you get started?" If you already have a social media profile, great, keep adding new posts regularly. However, if you don't yet have a profile, it might seem daunting, but it's actually quite easy. We recommend starting with Instagram for beginners, since it works well with our guide and offers free hosting too. You could also try Pinterest, though it takes longer to master. As always, there are plenty of tools out there to help create content for both platforms.
Once you have established your profile, you can begin building relationships with influencers. Start off small. Make contact via email or DM on Instagram, and ask for a link back. This shows initiative, builds rapport, encourages engagement and helps establish you as a trustworthy source. Once you have built up enough momentum, you can approach them directly.
You can find influencers by searching hashtags relevant to your niche. For example, if you were looking for Instagrammers who post travel tips, search #traveltips. Then go through their photos to see if they include pictures of locations you'd love to visit. If they do, message them privately asking if you can feature their images on your profile. Alternatively, if you're planning a trip soon, offer to pay them for each photo posted. Or perhaps suggest a collaboration where you promote their photography skills on your site. Whatever method you choose, it's best to stick within the rules of the platform you're working on, i.e. don't spam anyone unnecessarily.
As mentioned earlier, once you've been accepted onto an influencer's list, you can request to be featured on their page. Again, be sure to follow the guidelines, especially regarding posting frequency. Influencers tend to work better with regular updates, so aim for twice per week maximum.
It's worth noting here that it's usually wise to wait until you have a few hundred followers before approaching influencers - this ensures you're seen as credible. So don't worry if you haven't reached 10k yet, it's OK. Just focus on building your audience slowly. Also, make sure you add value to your followers' lives by providing helpful advice. Your goal is to develop a relationship with your audience, not to push them away.
A final note on getting started... Don't forget that you can now buy YouTube views and likes on sites like GetPaidToViews.com. These are cheap compared to traditional methods of gaining attention on video sharing sites, and they allow you to test various approaches quickly.
Yes, absolutely. You can succeed without ever setting foot outside your house. But it would be difficult - not impossible - but difficult. When you sign up with Clickbank or another affiliate network, you'll receive instructions on how to setup your account. One thing to bear in mind is that most networks require you to upload a picture of yourself holding your ID card. They need to be able to verify that you're human.
So yes, you DO need a profile somewhere, but it's not essential to succeeding. A lot depends on your ability to generate traffic for your links, which again comes down to finding influential people, and being willing to put effort into growing your audience organically.
This varies depending on several factors, including your target demographic, price point and quality of offering. Generally speaking, however, around 500 followers is sufficient. Anything less than this suggests a lack of authority, whereas anything above 1,000 indicates that you're likely targeting a specific group of individuals. Remember, if you're selling luxury items, you're unlikely to get anywhere near 1K followers unless you're famous.
You can check out our comprehensive guide on how to grow your instagram feed here, and our guide to growing a twitter following here. Both can teach you everything you need to know about generating organic traffic, so that you can build a loyal community of fans.
No, definitely not. There are thousands of people earning a substantial side income every month from Amazon alone. Most of them are using social media strategies, but others are completely self-reliant. Some of us believe that you can still succeed without social media, but for most folks, it makes sense to leverage the power of social networking.
I'm not sure if there is any other industry where people are so quick to tell others their opinions on what they should or shouldn't do. It would seem that everyone has an opinion about everything under the sun. And then we have those who want to share these opinions with everyone else.
In this article, I will discuss whether you really need followers on Instagram (or Twitter) and Facebook to succeed as an internet marketer. Or does having some kind of online identity help you out when promoting products? Let me show you why I think both ways are important.
First off, let me tell you something before jumping into this topic - yes, you CAN make money through affiliate marketing WITHOUT a following! In fact, many successful affiliates don't even use social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, etc... They're still earning good amounts of commission each month. But first things first - here is exactly HOW they did it.
Let's say you've decided to join up with ClickBank or another affiliate network that pays per click (PPC). You'll receive a link which can be used by anyone to promote whatever product they'd like. However, this isn't going to happen overnight. After all, you won't see results right away unless you build a strong list of subscribers.
You might also wonder if you need a certain number of followers on Instagram, Twitter, etc., to generate enough traffic to make sales. Of course, you don't. Even though you could buy thousands of followers at once, it wouldn't matter because most potential customers aren't looking for YOU specifically. They're just searching for information or products related to the niche you're targeting.
So, if you look around the Internet, you'll find numerous articles claiming that you must follow a specific formula to succeed using PPC advertising. This includes building backlinks, getting listed on Google, buying ads, creating content, etc.. The truth is, the steps above are necessary, but definitely NOT sufficient. That's why you MUST focus on building relationships with the audience instead.
The reason being that the more targeted you are with your audience, the better chance you have at converting them into buyers. For example, if someone comes across your page and sees a picture of yourself holding a giant check worth $10,000, chances are he/she will either leave immediately OR give you his contact details so you can send him a copy of the check. If, however, you were able to convince such person to sign up for membership to your newsletter or purchase your ebook, you now have two new leads. One thing I've learned over time is that it takes much less effort to convert one lead than 10 leads.
As long as you know what works best for your business AND know how to create quality content that your target audience wants to read, you DON'T NEED TO BUILD A FOLLOWING ON INSTAGRAM or ANY OTHER SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM LIKE THAT.
If you're thinking "But wait, I DO need a large subscriber base", trust me, you don't. As mentioned earlier, the majority of your readership doesn't come from social media sites. Instead, most search engines like Google drive traffic to websites, blogs, YouTube videos, podcasts, eBooks, infographics, etc. So, you can easily go viral without having a massive amount of followers. Just remember: your goal is to grow your email list and sell your own stuff. Not to become famous. Once you reach a certain point, you can decide whether you want to stay anonymous or not.
Of course, you can! There are plenty of examples where people started their businesses without ever opening a single tweet or posting a photo on Instagram. Some made millions of dollars doing it. Here are some notable names:
James Altucher – Author, entrepreneur & investor
Shane Snow – Founder of ShaneSnow.com
Brian Clark – founder of Tastemade
Mark Rober – actor, inventor, engineer and Youtube star
There are tons more examples like these, but you get the idea. Whether you choose to remain completely anonymous or not, you certainly don't HAVE to open a profile on Instagram or any other social media platform.
Again, there are multiple methods available. Most of them revolve around SEO techniques, but not necessarily on social media. To put it simply, you can build credibility by sharing valuable information with your prospects. When you provide relevant information to your audience, they feel more connected to you and thus, more likely to subscribe to your emails or download your eBook.
Then again, you can also try paid strategies to increase your visibility. These include hiring virtual assistants to manage customer service, writing guest posts on high authority websites, participating in forums, etc… Whatever method you opt for, keep in mind that the main goal is to connect with your audience. Don't worry too much about the numbers involved. It's true that having a huge follower count means more exposure, but it hardly translates into extra sales.
Yes, absolutely. Many companies are starting to realize this. Why? Because they know that the future revolves around digital experiences and services. People spend more time staring at screens nowadays than watching TV. According to statistics, 60% of Americans watch television while working out.
So, the days of offline commerce are slowly fading away. Which brings us to our next question - can you do affiliate marketing without a website? Well, yes and no. Your blog is vital to your success as an affiliate marketer. It serves as a hub between your visitors and your products. It allows you to establish a connection with your audience and ultimately, turn them into loyal customers.
However, if you prefer to work remotely and never set foot inside your office, you can always hire professional developers to setup a simple landing page for you. Then, you can direct your traffic to this URL whenever you want. You can write great content for this page and place links pointing towards your Amazon store. You can also add call-to-actions directing users to different pages within your site. All of this helps you attract more traffic. More traffic equals higher conversions. Higher conversion rates mean more revenue.
Which brings us to the end of this post. Are you ready to take action and start making money from home? Great! I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Feel free to ask questions below in the comments section. Also, please consider subscribing to my mailing list so you never miss a post. Lastly, I invite you to visit my homepage where I offer additional tips and resources to help you along your journey. Thanks for reading!
Despite what you might have seen on TV or heard about at work, there is absolutely nothing stopping you from making money as an affiliate marketer if you don't want to follow any trends, use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat, etc., or post links to products that are available in stores. In fact, all you really need to make some cash fast is a computer, internet connection (at least 1Mbps), and determination!
The best thing about being able to generate revenue through promoting other people's products is that you get paid regardless of whether they succeed or fail. It takes time, effort, and dedication to build a large audience on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and so on but once you've got those things going, you'll see results immediately. The more active users you attract, the higher your chances of getting sales.
So here we go – let me show you exactly how you can launch an effective campaign and begin earning passive income right now.
Yes, it most certainly can! There was a time when I didn't even know what affiliate marketing was until someone told me about it. At first, I thought this person had made up something new just to impress me because he knew a lot about computers. Nowadays, I'm quite aware of how important it is to promote other businesses' products. However, back then, I wasn't sure where to look for information regarding affiliate marketing so I'd never tried it out myself.
I decided to check out ClickBank, one of the biggest affiliate networks currently operating. After browsing their site for a while, I saw that they offer courses and training materials which teach you everything you need to know about creating your own successful campaigns. If you're interested, you should definitely take a look at them. They also provide free tutorials and tips for beginners who wish to learn more about the subject.
It turns out that there are plenty of ways to sell stuff without having to spend hours each day interacting with customers, uploading photos, chatting with friends, writing blog posts, sharing articles, tweeting, liking comments, posting videos, etc. You simply create content and share it via different channels. That's why I recommend checking out sites such as HubPages, Squidoo, EzineArticles, ArticleBase, and others. These websites will help you find quality blogs written by experts in various fields, allow you to write your own articles, publish them under your name, and drive traffic to your pages.
Once you've found a niche community that shares your interests and passions, you can start building relationships with its members. This means becoming familiar with the rules of engagement and developing strategies that enable you to successfully interact with potential clients. For example, you could ask questions related to topics covered in your content, invite participants to leave feedback, comment on relevant items posted by other bloggers, participate in discussions, respond to messages sent by readers, and much more.
You'll soon notice that these interactions give rise to positive emotions within you and boost your self-esteem. When you feel good after engaging in productive activities, you become happier and more confident. As a result, you gain trust among your peers and develop deeper connections with your audiences. All of this makes it easier to persuade people to buy whatever it is you're selling.
If you ever come across a product or service that you think would benefit people who are looking for similar solutions, you can easily turn it into a profitable business opportunity. Just remember to always keep your audience in mind whenever you decide to promote another company's goods or services.
As I mentioned earlier, the secret behind generating substantial amounts of profit using affiliate marketing lies in attracting a huge number of visitors to your website. With every single click, purchase, or referral generated, you collect commission payments. Of course, you won’t receive payment unless you reach certain milestones.
For instance, if you manage to bring 10,000 unique visitors to your website over a period of 30 days, you will automatically qualify for $10,000 worth of commissions. Obviously, the amount of money earned depends on the type of product or service you chose to promote. Some companies pay better than others because some affiliates opt to promote low-priced products whereas others prefer to focus on high value ones.
Nevertheless, it doesn't matter how big or small your target group is because you still stand to earn thousands of dollars per month depending on the extent of your efforts. To put things into perspective, I made around $1,500 in total during the last 12 months thanks to affiliate programs alone.
Now that you understand the basics, it's safe to say that anyone can join the ranks of affiliate marketers. Yes, even you! Don't worry though, not everyone has to have prior experience in blogging, video recording, or anything else before starting off.
All you need to do is choose a topic that you enjoy talking about. Then, sit down and brainstorm ideas about possible products you could potentially promote. Once you identify the kind of item you want to promote, research the competition thoroughly. Take note of the top competitors' names, titles, bios, brands, logos, prices, etc. Also, consider the average length of their descriptions, images, videos, testimonials, and reviews.
Afterward, you can either use Google Analytics or an alternative tracking tool to track user behavior. Next, set up your landing page and determine the key elements that must appear on it. Make sure they match the description of the product or service you plan to promote. Finally, add compelling headlines, eye-catching visuals, persuasive copywriting skills, and enticing offers.
When you've done all that, you can proceed with launching your campaign. Keep in mind that just because you haven't yet built a loyal fan base doesn't mean you shouldn't start. You can still leverage existing relationships to increase conversions and profits.
Amazon has two types of affiliate programs: Amazon Associates and Amazon Commission Junction. While both require you to register with Amazon, the former allows you to sign up for multiple merchants and earn recurring commissions based on sales. On the other hand, CJ requires you to apply directly to specific merchant partners. Therefore, you won't be eligible to receive monthly rewards if you join CJ.
In terms of the number of followers needed to become an Amazon Associate, you should aim for 5,000 to 15,000. Although you may not meet the minimum requirement initially, you can gradually grow your list size by inviting influencers with larger follower counts to link to your pages. Moreover, you can encourage your subscribers to engage with your content by sending promotional emails containing special deals.
Just remember that affiliates who aren't actively engaged in the promotion process tend to lose interest quickly. So, you need to ensure that you remain present in front of your prospects by offering valuable resources that serve to improve their lives. And don't forget to stay consistent throughout the year.
Overall, affiliate marketing works well for people who believe in themselves and are willing to invest considerable time and energy to grow their presence online. But if you don't have a solid foundation, you're probably better off focusing on other opportunities instead.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.