If you've ever run any kind of online business, then it's likely that you have some form of blogging going on somewhere in the background. Blogs are great because they're usually very easy and quick to set up - which makes them ideal if you want to start earning money from home quickly.
But what about when you're trying to promote products or services through your own site rather than using Google AdWords or another paid advertising platform? How can you make sure people will visit your blog as well as the product page itself? And how can you get those visitors interested enough in your posts so that they click through to the site where they can buy whatever it is you're selling?
Well, this article will help answer all these questions by showing exactly how to write an affiliate marketing blog post and making it super-attractive to internet users who might be looking for something similar. It's not just about getting clicks though - although that's obviously important too! There are other things involved in creating a successful blog like SEO, keyword research, etc., but this article focuses on one key element...how to write a blog post!
Let me tell you right now that there is no magic formula for writing effective blogs. If you follow certain rules, however, you'll see huge improvements in your conversion rate and overall success with your blog. So let's dive into this area a little bit more before we go ahead and take a look at what works in terms of formatting your blog posts.
First off, here are two essential tips for writing effective content for your blog:
1. Don't use generic keywords. Instead, target specific ones relevant to your niche. The reason why is simple: generic keywords tend to attract lots of spammy web crawlers, while targeted keywords tend to bring in real humans instead. In fact, according to Moz, you should try to keep your keyword density below 2% for optimal results. This means only using two or three words per thousand characters (you'd divide 1000 by 3).
2. Write short sentences. People don't like reading long paragraphs, especially if you know nothing about their interests/preferences/etc. Try limiting yourself to around 100 words max (or less), unless you need to expand upon a particular topic. Keep your sentences concise, clear, and interesting.
Now that you understand what NOT to include in your blog post, let's discuss what ISN'T bad for readers. Here are five must-have elements in every blog post:
1. Headline. Make it catchy and direct. Your headline needs to grab attention immediately. For example, "10 Tips To Help Improve Your Productivity." That sounds pretty boring and uninteresting doesn't it? But think about it: would anyone really care about productivity? No way! Yet, this was the first thing my brain went to after seeing that headline.
So it's better to write headlines that sound intriguing yet still relate to your audience. A good title could be "5 Ways to Get More Clients With Social Media," or "6 Things You Need To Know About Affiliate Marketing Before Buying Any Products".
2. Introduction. Always introduce yourself briefly within your opening paragraph. Include your name, company name, URL, email address, phone number, etc. Readers love hearing from brands and companies directly, so always end your introduction with a call to action. Something like "For more information, please check out our official website..." will work wonders.
3. Main body. Now comes the meaty part. Let's say you wrote a blog post titled "How To Buy An iPhone 5S Without Breaking The Bank." Then it breaks down into several sections including features, specs, benefits, etc. Each section has its own subheadings and each subsection has its own list items. Finally, you wrap everything together with an ending summary sentence.
Here's an example of a typical structure for a blog post:
Title: How To Buy An iPhone 5S Without Breaking The Bank
Introduction / Call to Action: Get Our Free eBook On The Best Way To Save Money When Shopping Online To Learn More About My New Methodology & Tools For Finding Deals Like Never Before.
Features: * Find the Best Prices * Get Cashback Off Coupons, Rebates, & Discounted Items * Avoid Paying Extra Fees When Purchasing From Retailers
Benefits: * Save Time By Using These Easy Steps To Figure Out What Stores Are Giving Away Right Now To Discover Amazing Savings Today!
In Conclusion: Learn How To Find Great Deals Every Single Time While Saving Thousands Of Dollars Along The Way.
4. Images. Use images wherever possible for visual appeal. They give your text extra depth and dimensionality, so viewers won't skim over the entire piece without taking notice. Also, most browsers block text and pictures automatically, so you lose a lot of potential traffic if you don't put them inside articles.
5. Links. As mentioned earlier, never forget to provide hyperlinks back to your main landing pages whenever possible. Even if someone reads your whole article and decides to skip the link, they will probably remember it later and come back to see what you had to say. Plus, having a link in place gives search engines credit for ranking your content higher in the SERPs.
These are just some basic guidelines to consider when crafting your next blog post. Again, there isn't a single secret recipe for success, but following these steps will certainly improve your chances of being noticed by both human readers and bots alike.
The question above gets asked quite frequently, so let's break it down a bit further. First of all, there are many different types of blogging platforms available today, such as WordPress, Tumblr, Medium, LinkedIn Pulse, etc. However, none of these are perfect options for creating websites dedicated to promoting affiliate offers. Why? Because these sites typically lack strong SEO capabilities, aren't mobile friendly, and often display ads throughout your content.
Instead, stick with a platform specifically designed for monetization purposes, such as HubSpot or Marketo. Both of these offer powerful tools for automating ad tracking, lead generation, analytics, reporting, etc. That said, even if you choose to use a third party service like LeadPages or ClickFunnels, you shouldn't expect much in terms of automation. After all, you're paying for software, not personal assistance.
Finally, a word of advice for choosing between free and premium versions of WordPress, Medium, or Tumblr: free accounts may seem tempting, but ultimately they're inferior to paid alternatives. Premium plans allow you access to additional features, advanced functionality, unlimited storage space, and greater flexibility when dealing with design issues. Therefore, if you plan on creating a serious blog with tons of original posts, you should definitely invest in one of these solutions sooner rather than later.
Yes, absolutely! Just like traditional publishers, affiliate marketers rely heavily on high quality content to generate leads and sales. But unlike traditional media outlets, affiliates need to produce fresh material regularly, in order to maintain relationships with current customers and gain new clients.
This is precisely why so many experts recommend starting a blog for affiliate promotion. Not only does it allow you to build credibility among your peers, but it provides plenty of opportunities for gaining exposure and building authority.
Plus, since a blog acts as a standalone entity, you can easily manage multiple projects simultaneously and track data across various platforms. All of this adds up to increased profits in the long term!
Want to know more? Check out our complete guide to setting up a blog for affiliate marketing.
If you're looking into starting a blog that's focused on affiliate marketing, then it might be time to sit down and start brainstorming what topics you'd like to cover. This will help determine which platform to use for your site -- if you are planning on using WordPress or another blogging software.
Once you've decided on your topic(s), it's time to think about which products you want to promote in your posts. These could include physical products, digital downloads, eBooks, membership sites, etc. The list goes on. But just remember this -- there is no such thing as too many choices!
In order to get started promoting whatever it is you choose, you need to have some sort of landing page where people can go when they click through from your blog post. If you don't already know, here are two popular ways to set up these pages:
1.) Using Amazon Associates - by setting up a link on your blog that redirects users to their own sales page within Amazon.com. When someone clicks through, either directly or via one of your other affiliate partners, they end up at a special URL that includes information about the item being offered.
2.) Create a custom product listing on Shopify. It works similarly to #1 above, but instead of directing traffic to Amazon, you direct them to your own Shopify store. And while you won't see any commissions until you reach certain levels of revenue per month, you still earn referral fees every single day, regardless of whether you sell anything or not.
So now we've got our content written out, our affiliates sorted, and our landing page setup. So how does one even begin to market these things online? That brings us to today's lesson...
One way to approach creating your first blog post would be to simply copy and paste your entire existing content into a new post with your chosen title. Now, before you say anything, let me tell you right off the bat that this isn't going to work very well. Why? Because readers aren't really interested in reading your old articles over again. They want something fresh and original.
Here are three tips that will help you keep your audience engaged throughout your whole post:
#1. Link back to relevant resources. In addition to linking to your own content elsewhere, try adding a few extra links pointing back to related posts on your blog. For example, if you wrote a post on how to download music legally, you may wish to point your reader towards more legal-related blogs. Or maybe you mentioned that you were able to find a great deal on a particular brand of shoes. Maybe you found a coupon code somewhere else. Whatever the case, always give credit wherever possible so people who visit your blog feel comfortable visiting yours again.
#2. Provide value. Your readers will only stick around if they perceive that you care about helping them solve problems or achieve goals. If you offer advice, provide tutorials, or share useful tricks, you'll build trust among your followers. Remember, most people have busy lives and tend to skim through long pieces of text without stopping to absorb all of the valuable nuggets hidden within. By providing short, digestible bits of info, you'll increase chances that people will continue coming back to your blog.
#3. Don't forget to engage with comments. Comments are incredibly important. No matter how good your content is, nobody wants to read it unless others agree. Commenting allows you to ask questions, answer concerns, and generally interact with your readers. Plus, commenting gives you a chance to improve upon your writing skills. There's nothing quite like getting feedback from real humans about your grammar or word choice.
Now that you understand why you should write unique blog posts, below are four types of blog posts you can easily create yourself with minimal effort. Of course, each has its benefits, so experiment and see what type suits you best.
A. How To Articles
These are typically shorter than regular blog posts, and focus on teaching readers how to complete specific tasks. Examples include:
* how to build an email newsletter
* how to install WordPress plugins
* how to change your home screen wallpaper
B. Product Reviews & Testimonials
This category focuses on giving opinions based on personal experience. Readers love seeing other peoples' experiences because it validates their own beliefs. Example topics include:
* reviews of various beauty products
* testimonials of different fitness routines
C. Case Studies
Case studies take longer than typical blog posts, but they feature detailed descriptions of an individual situation. People enjoy learning about life outside of themselves, so this kind of writing lends itself extremely well to affiliate marketing. Topics range widely depending on the industry, so play around and see what interests you the most. Here are just a handful of example topics:
* a step-by-step tutorial showing how to successfully launch your own clothing line
D. FAQs
FAQs fall under the same umbrella as case studies, except they focus specifically on answering common questions rather than general situations. Questions that come up often enough to warrant a dedicated piece of content usually mean that an expert needs to weigh in on the subject. Again, look around to see what kinds of queries appeal to you the most. Some common ones include:
* questions regarding how to properly apply makeup
* tips on finding clothes that fit perfectly
To conclude, it doesn't matter which niche you decide to dive into -- there is plenty of room for success in the world of affiliate marketing. Just remember to put forth a little bit of thought into everything you publish. A steady stream of quality content attracts visitors, leads to increased engagement, and ultimately drives higher conversion rates.
What are the top companies that pay affiliates the highest commission rates? Check out my list of the Top 10 Pay Per Click Networks in 2018!
Affiliatr.com
Shareasale.com
Commission Junction.com
Clickbank.net
Amazon Associates
VigLink
PayPerPost.com
ShopStyle
Jvzoo.com
Ebates.com
Are you thinking about joining Affilorama? Click here to signup now and receive a $10 discount!
Check out our full review of ClickBank vs Commission Junction vs Pay Per Post vs Viglink vs Shopstyle vs Ebay vs ShareAsale vs Amazon Associates. Which one will bring you the biggest profit?
When working with affiliate programs, you need to follow specific guidelines to ensure the integrity of the relationship between both parties. One of those rules states that you cannot promote a competing product against the one you are affiliated with. Therefore, whenever you decide to write an affiliate product article, you must disclose that you are receiving compensation for doing so.
The following checklist provides suggestions for making sure you adhere to these regulations:
1). Never talk negatively about the product you are recommending. Instead, discuss the pros/cons of said product. Always recommend alternatives that are better suited for your readers.
2). State clearly where your readers can buy the product you are talking about. Include a link directly to the retailer's website. Also indicate the price of the merchandise.
3). Do NOT mention the name of the product anywhere inside your article. Instead, refer to it by a generic term used commonly in discussions surrounding it.
4). Use the exact wording provided by your affiliate partner. Otherwise, you run the risk of violating FTC laws.
5). Make sure your readers never see your affiliation with the merchant. Keep it private and behind closed doors.
6). Only ever promote products that are completely legal to purchase in your country.
7). Always check the policies of your affiliate partners beforehand. Many merchants require exclusivity clauses, meaning they prohibit you from selling similar products elsewhere. If you violate these terms, you lose access to the money you earned.
8). Be careful not to mislead anyone. Even though you are not required to state any details, it's a good idea to always double-check what you are saying. You wouldn't want to hurt anybody's feelings unintentionally.
9). Mention exactly what you expect from your readers. For example, you shouldn't encourage them to spend big bucks on high-end goods if you personally haven't made any purchases yet.
10). Above all else, never lie about anything. If you do, the consequences could cost you tens of thousands of dollars.
Finally, if you have any additional questions about affiliate marketing, please leave a comment below! We'd be happy to respond as soon as possible.
If you're looking at starting or growing your own online business -- especially if it's in the world of Internet Marketing -- then chances are that one day you will want to start blogging about what you've learned and/or done so far on your journey. After all, no matter where you go with this type of thing – it's not just going to stay there! You might even decide to become an authority figure within your niche and start teaching others who wish to follow your footsteps.
In order to help you get started, today we're going to look at exactly how to write an affiliate marketing blog post. We'll also take a peek into why blogs are essential to any online entrepreneur when it comes to building an audience that can convert into sales over time. And finally, we'll discuss some tips on how to make sure your readers actually read your posts before they click away from them. So sit back and relax...we have plenty more to cover!
Affiliate marketing is simply selling someone else's products and services while earning commission by referring people to those companies' websites. As such, you don't necessarily need to know anything about the product being sold to earn money through affiliates. All you really need is access to the company's site(s), which should provide detailed information about their products and services.
Of course, most affiliate marketers prefer to use sites like Amazon, eBay, ClickBank, etc., because these retailers offer a great selection of high-quality items (and many times, they pay better commissions than other stores). But regardless of what store you choose to work with, you'll still need to promote yourself as a seller. This means creating content around what you know and love, including articles, ebooks, videos, webinars…anything that provides value to potential customers.
One of the primary reasons why you would want to build up your own personal brand via social media channels is to attract new followers. However, another equally effective method involves using your blog to establish yourself as an expert in your field of interest. If that sounds familiar, it may be because you already heard me say something similar earlier on in this article. In fact, a blog is almost always required when you want to stand out among the competition in your industry.
The reason behind this is simple. When you share valuable information about your expertise with others, you're essentially giving them permission to check out your site and see whether you truly possess the knowledge that you claim to have. Once they realize that you're legit, they may become interested enough to buy whatever item you recommended. Then you get paid for bringing traffic to your blog. It's pretty much win-win!
So let's dive right into our next question:
That depends on several factors. Let's first examine why people tend to join affiliate programs in the first place. From my experience as both a merchant and affiliate marketer, here are three main reasons why people sign up with various networks:
They want exposure for themselves. Some people want to showcase their skills and talents. Others hope to gain recognition and respect from peers. Still others might believe that joining an affiliate program gives them a chance to earn extra income without having to invest lots of cash upfront. Whatever the case, it never hurts to have a separate blog dedicated solely to promoting oneself.
They want to save money. A lot of merchants offer discounts and special deals only to their affiliates. These offers can range anywhere between 15% - 50%. Of course, you could try to negotiate directly with the vendor but sometimes it's easier to wait until you've been accepted into a network and then benefit from the perks. The same goes for signing up with multiple vendors. By doing so, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars per month compared to buying separately.
They want to sell things online. There are two ways to go about this process. One way is to host your own blog and list your own products on it. Another option is to partner with a retailer and create joint ventures together. Either way works fine. What matters is your ability to generate leads and drive traffic to your blog. That's why you need to keep your reader engaged throughout the entire process.
Now that we've covered the basics in regards to why you'd want to start a blog -- what's left to talk about?
Here are five quick tips on how to write an affiliate marketing blog post...
Start off with a strong headline. Your title is everything. Make it catchy yet informative. For example, "10 Ways To Earn $100 Per Day With Affiliate Programs". Or maybe, "3 Easy Steps To Build An Online Business Without Any Money Down."
Use keywords wisely. While you absolutely shouldn't stuff your titles full of random words, it doesn't hurt to sprinkle in a few relevant ones every now and again. Using keywords helps search engines find your page quickly. They also allow visitors to easily navigate your website and discover more related topics. If you want to improve your rankings further, use Google Analytics to track keyword usage.
Don't forget to include pictures. Images can often convey a message faster than words alone. Plus, images are easy to share across different platforms. Whether you're sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, YouTube, Flickr, etc., you can count on photos to catch attention. Don't hesitate to put some visuals into your blog either!
Make sure you tell a story. People enjoy reading stories. Not only does it give us insight into the lives of others, but it makes us feel connected to each other. Stories are also extremely popular on social media. Therefore, it's worth taking advantage of the opportunity to connect with your readership. Try telling a funny anecdote, recounting a humorous situation, or describing a memorable moment. Remember: Be genuine.
Provide useful advice. Blogging is meant to educate your readers. The goal isn't to push your opinions onto others. Instead, focus on providing objective facts and insights instead. Keep in mind that the average person reads somewhere between 200 - 600 words per minute. Thus, you want to keep your posts short and sweet. Use bullet points wherever possible.
And lastly, remember to answer questions. Readers appreciate knowing that you care about helping them succeed. Give them options whenever possible. Ask them what kind of results they expect to achieve based on certain choices. Provide solutions and alternatives. Show them how to solve problems efficiently. Always leave room for improvement.
There you have it! Now that you know how to write an affiliate marketing blog post, I'm confident you'll be able to come up with your own unique approach. Good luck!
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.