You may have heard that you don't necessarily have to build your own website in order to become an online entrepreneur. And if you've done any research into affiliate marketing, then you know there are plenty of tools out there to help you get started with promoting products on social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. But what about those who haven't yet built up their brand identity through a website? If you're looking to kickstart your affiliate marketing efforts but aren't sure where to begin, here's everything you should know about building campaigns without websites.
So many people jump right into affiliate promotion because they believe that becoming an influencer will make them rich overnight. This isn't true -- you won't see instant success by simply following someone else along the way. Instead, you'll want to learn from others' mistakes before making similar ones yourself so that you can reach your goals more quickly. The good news is, you don't even have to go all-in when starting your career as an affiliate marketer. There are multiple ways to earn money while still keeping things simple. With some patience and persistence, you could potentially turn your passion into a full-time job.
The first step is figuring out which type of affiliate program makes sense for you. Then, once you decide what you'd like to sell, you just need to pick one that fits your needs. So let's take a look at each option below and find out why you shouldn't skip over them!
It sounds counterintuitive, but the easiest way to advertise affiliate offers is by using paid advertising platforms. These services charge advertisers directly based on clicks (typically $1-$5) rather than taking commissions off sales. You can also use these platforms to drive traffic back to your site, boosting ROI exponentially. Paid ads are great when you only have limited time to spend on promotions due to work obligations or other commitments. They also allow you to track conversions much better since you don't need to rely on third party data providers.
But keep in mind that paid advertising does come with its downsides. For example, you must give access to your personal information to companies like Google AdWords and Bing Ads. Not doing so means you can lose control of your content and end up sharing sensitive details like your email address and credit card number. Also, the cost of running ad campaigns on these types of networks can add up fast if you plan to run several campaigns every month. Finally, most major network partners limit the amount of times you can bid on keywords within a given period of time.
If you would prefer to avoid having to give away your personal info, consider creating your own landing page instead. Landing pages offer a bit more flexibility, allowing you to set specific rules on how visitors interact with your link. Plus, you can customize your page according to your preferences and target audience. However, landing pages require some technical knowledge, which limits entry level users.
No matter what industry you choose to enter, you'll likely need capital to fuel your growth. In fact, you'll need more cash upfront than ever before. According to Forbes, venture capitalists invested almost $90 billion in startups last year alone. That figure represents nearly half of all new investments in 2018. While you don't necessarily need millions to invest, you'll definitely need enough funds to cover your operating costs until you hit scale.
Fortunately, affiliate marketing doesn't have to break the bank. As long as you focus primarily on high converting offers, you can easily bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. To put this into perspective, the average US household earns around $50,000 per year. Since there's little risk involved, you can start small and gradually increase your spending power over time.
As mentioned above, the choice between selling digital goods versus physical items comes down to your interests. Either route has advantages and disadvantages. Digital goods are typically easier to manage compared to physical inventory, but they can lack authenticity. On the flip side, physical items often provide more value for customers since they usually ship faster and include customer care support. Ultimately, it depends on your circumstances.
However, regardless of whether you opt for a tangible product or digital downloads, you'll still need to follow certain steps to ensure maximum conversion rates. Here are three tips you should keep in mind when choosing your next item to promote:
Choose something unique. People love finding novelty items and products that stand apart from competitors. A unique offering will encourage impulse buys and make buyers feel special.
Make sure your product is optimized for search engines. Search engine optimization helps boost your rankings in organic results. When potential clients perform searches related to your niche, they'll see your listing pop up near the top.
Offer free shipping whenever possible. Free shipping options are especially helpful when targeting international markets. Offering free delivery allows shoppers to save on shipping fees and increases overall revenue.
While we discussed setting up an eCommerce store earlier, you don't always need a storefront to succeed as an affiliate marketer. Even though blogging is largely dead nowadays, it isn't completely obsolete just yet. Blogging remains popular among millennials, and it provides a lot of benefits that make it ideal for internet marketers. Here are five reasons why bloggers excel in this space:
They already possess authority. Because of the nature of writing blogs, bloggers tend to be more knowledgeable about topics than other writers. Their audiences trust them automatically because they're familiar with their voice.
Their readership is engaged. Unlike traditional publications, blogs attract loyal followers who visit regularly. Readers are less likely to abandon the platform after reading an initial post.
Blogs are easy to update. Writing posts requires minimal effort, leaving ample time to devote to promoting different products across various channels.
Bloggers can generate passive income. Once you write a few articles, you'll receive compensation via direct payment methods like PayPal and Amazon Payments. Additionally, you can monetize your blog through advertisements and sponsorships.
There are tons of resources available to bloggers interested in learning more about affiliate marketing. Check out our list of recommended resources for more ideas.
Lastly, although blogging isn't necessary for affiliate marketing, it certainly wouldn't hurt either. Just remember to keep things concise and relevant so that you don't overwhelm your readers with too much content. Otherwise, you risk losing followers and earning nothing in return.
The idea behind affiliate marketing is that if someone buys something through your link then you get paid. The most common type of the affiliate program is called PPC (pay-per-click) because when they buy from your site they are paying you each time they make a purchase. You don't have to build anything yourself, just put up some ads on other sites or social media posts to drive traffic to them.
It sounds easy enough, but in reality there's quite a lot involved with getting started as well as keeping things going once you're established. In fact, many people who start out using affiliate marketing without a website find themselves struggling to keep their business alive long term, which makes sense given the amount of work needed.
So before we look at ways around this problem let's take a quick look at why it even happens in the first place. There are two main reasons why affiliates struggle when trying to run their own online businesses.
First off, building a website takes a lot more than just putting together HTML code and uploading pictures. Affiliates often feel overwhelmed by all the technical stuff associated with setting up a new brand, especially since so much of it requires a degree of skill. They also worry about finding customers to sell to, which means having to write content and promoting their products too.
Secondly, running an effective affiliate campaign requires a good understanding of web design and SEO techniques. This isn't only important for driving visitors to your site, but also making sure your product pages rank high in search engines. While these skills aren't difficult to learn, they require regular practice, which may mean investing in a course or hiring a professional service provider.
Fortunately, though, there's another way to go about doing affiliate marketing, one that doesn't require any programming knowledge whatsoever. Instead, all you'll ever really need is a few basic tools -- namely email templates and autoresponders -- along with a bit of creativity.
In this article, we'll show you exactly how you can use these simple tactics to set up an effective affiliate marketing campaign without needing a website.
There are several different methods you could use to launch an affiliate marketing campaign without a website. We've already looked at the simplest option, where the focus is solely on creating emails for sending to potential customers. But there are plenty of other options available too, such as simply sharing links on Twitter or Facebook.
If you want to follow this route, however, you should consider taking a little extra care when choosing your promotional material. For example, it wouldn't hurt to add a call-to-action button so readers know what to expect next. And while you shouldn't spend hours crafting every single email, spending 10 minutes preparing a template will save you a huge chunk of effort later down the line.
On top of this, if you choose to share your links across multiple platforms rather than sticking to one, you'll need to ensure everything looks consistent. If your message is inconsistent, you risk losing credibility among prospects, particularly those looking for information on specific topics.
Another option for launching your affiliate marketing campaigns without a website would be to rely on third parties instead of writing your own emails. These services typically offer pre-made email templates and auto responders, meaning you won't need to worry about learning complex coding languages.
For instance, MailChimp offers ready made templates that allow you to send messages directly from within its platform. Another popular choice is AWeber. Both companies boast impressive customer reviews, offering highly customizable features and advanced analytics tools. However, both charge monthly subscription fees, although the former does offer free trial periods.
You could also opt for Google AdWords, which lets users send targeted ads via text message. One downside here is that you'd still need to develop an ad strategy for generating leads, which can involve testing various formats until you hit upon the right combination.
But regardless of whether you decide to go DIY or hire a specialist, remember that you must always remain honest. Don't claim you can earn thousands from affiliate marketing without a website if you cannot deliver results like this. Even if you think everyone else is doing it wrong, you probably can't either.
Before moving onto our final suggestion, there's one thing you definitely need to have. That's a domain name! Without a URL address, nobody will ever be able to visit your store, no matter how great your affiliate marketing efforts turn out to be.
Once you have a domain name secured, there are three key aspects of your website that you absolutely need to master:
Content creation - It goes without saying that you'll need to produce content regularly, ideally on a schedule. Whether this is blog articles or videos, you should aim to publish between 1 and 3 pieces every day.
Traffic generation - To succeed with affiliate marketing, you'll need to bring customers into your funnel. Most likely this means developing a lead magnet, or incentive, which will entice these individuals to signup for your list. Once they join, you'll need to nurture them over time via ebooks, courses, etc., encouraging them to become buyers.
Leads management - As mentioned above, one of the keys to success with affiliate marketing lies in knowing which leads convert to sales. Therefore, you'll need to track conversions closely, identifying patterns and working out what works.
With the help of software like Leadpages, you can create beautiful landing pages that highlight your incentives. Then, you can create automated drip series that gradually introduce interested leads to additional info, such as pricing tables, sales letters, etc.
As you can see, there's a lot more to building a successful affiliate marketing website than just slapping up some HTML code. Fortunately, the process has never been simpler thanks to third party solutions designed specifically for marketers wanting to generate revenue without creating websites themselves.
While building landing pages can certainly be useful, you don't necessarily need to invest in expensive custom designs if you prefer to stick to proven strategies. This is because email marketing platforms like Mailchimp enable you to easily include HTML elements, including images, buttons, forms, etc., allowing you to create almost identical layouts to your existing email newsletters.
However, be warned that this approach comes with risks. By relying on pre-built templates, you risk repeating mistakes that others have previously made, thus undermining your chances of succeeding. So far, we haven't discussed how to promote affiliate links without an audience, yet this is arguably the biggest challenge facing most affiliate marketers today.
To solve this issue, the best solution involves outsourcing the promotion side of things entirely. There are numerous agencies out there offering full packages designed to increase awareness of your website, boost conversion rates, and ultimately close deals.
These providers will usually provide ongoing support as well as training sessions for clients. Some even offer free trials, enabling you to test the waters before committing completely.
One of the biggest benefits of this approach is that you don't need to worry about producing quality content. After all, you're not selling anything -- merely directing prospective customers towards relevant resources. All you need to do is fill out a form and wait for the magic to happen.
However, bear in mind that outsourcing your promotions can come at a cost. Firstly, it will set you back significantly more money upfront compared to the cost of creating your own landing pages. Secondly, you'll be relying on outside expertise. This means trusting someone else to manage your account, potentially leaving you open to security issues and fraudsters posing as representatives.
Lastly, you'll lose control over your entire operation. Not only will you be unable to monitor your performance and tweak certain aspects of your campaigns, but you'll also miss out on valuable data points such as ROI.
Ultimately, while outsourcing your promotions is undoubtedly beneficial, you should weigh up the pros and cons carefully before deciding to proceed. Just make sure you choose the right partner, otherwise you could end up wasting loads of cash and missing out on opportunities down the road.
Now that you understand how to do affiliate marketing without a website, it's worth considering how to go about acquiring an audience in the first place. Obviously, the easiest path is to target existing audiences, such as friends, family members, colleagues, etc. Yet this approach can quickly prove costly due to competition, especially if you're targeting niche markets.
Therefore, the best alternative is to try and attract new followers. With the internet providing endless sources of inspiration, you could easily pick up a couple of thousand subscribers overnight. Of course, this depends largely on your ability to engage with your audience effectively, which is easier said than done.
It’s easy to see why many people are interested in getting into the world of affiliate marketing. The idea is simple – if you have a product or service that someone wants to buy, you can earn money by referring them to another company who sells those products or services. You don't even have to sell anything yourself! All you have to do is find companies willing to give others their goods at low prices (or free) and then convince these businesses to send customers to your site when they make purchases there. Once you've done so, you get paid a percentage each time anyone buys from that company through your link.
If you're wondering whether it's possible to succeed as part of an affiliate program without building your own website, the answer is yes. In fact, some companies will only accept affiliates with websites because they want to ensure quality traffic on their sites, which helps drive sales. But there are other ways around this limitation too. Here we'll show you exactly how, step-by-step.
The short answer here is “yes”—as long as you know where to look and how to set up shop. If you already have a business online, such as selling physical or digital products, you can use one of the many affiliate networks out there to help you reach new markets. These networks bring together affiliates and brands looking to work together in order to generate more revenue for both parties.
There are plenty of different types of affiliate programs available nowadays, including banner ads, text links, PPC advertising, CPA offers, eCommerce stores, and much more. Some are strictly limited to certain niches while others allow you to choose any niche you like. For example, Amazon Associates allows you to sign up as an affiliate for pretty much every product sold on its platform, whereas Google AdSense limits you to working within specific categories.
You may also be able to join various affiliate programs without needing a website. This could include social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, forums, email newsletters, classified ad sites, review sites, YouTube channels, and much more. There are hundreds of opportunities all over the internet, so finding one that suits you should take very little effort. Just remember that most require some sort of registration process before you start promoting their products, otherwise known as landing pages.
Some affiliate marketers go further than just signing up for affiliate programs though. They build entire websites using pre-made templates designed specifically for affiliate marketing, allowing them to quickly launch campaigns across multiple platforms.
One thing that makes affiliate marketing stand out from traditional retail jobs is that you don't necessarily have to write articles about topics related to whatever you're trying to market. Instead, you simply put relevant links inside of posts written by third party bloggers. When readers click on these links, they end up on the brand’s store page where they purchase items. The affiliate gets credit for driving the sale, regardless of what happens after that point. So far, so good…but wait, there’s more!
Most successful affiliate marketers rely heavily on automation tools. These devices let you automatically insert hyperlinks into blogs, emails, forum signatures, etc., ensuring that whenever someone clicks on them, they land directly on the merchant's website. That means you won't have to worry about writing tons of articles and coming up with creative ideas for titles. Your job becomes much easier, especially since you can automate everything behind the scenes.
Automation software lets you easily manage dozens of accounts and thousands of links in less than five minutes, making it almost trivial to keep track of all of your efforts. Of course, you'll still need to spend time posting high-quality original content, but with automated systems taking care of the rest, you can focus on things that really matter instead.
A blog doesn’t always have to be involved in affiliate marketing, but it certainly benefits you in several ways. One of the main reasons is that search engines love fresh content, meaning you increase your chances of ranking higher if you consistently post regular updates to your website. Another reason is that blogs often contain useful resources for visitors, helping them solve problems or learn something new. Plus, creating a blog gives you a chance to connect with potential clients in a unique way – if you offer advice on topics related to their hobbies or interests, you’ll gain credibility faster than ever. And lastly, blogging helps you establish authority in your niche area, giving you a strong foundation upon which to base future relationships.
Blogs are typically used for two purposes in affiliate marketing – first, they provide fresh content to attract visitors, and second, they serve as virtual storefronts for merchants. Blogs act as mini-websites in themselves, complete with custom themes, headers, footers, sidebars, widgets, and other features common to most webmasters. As a result, blogs tend to rank well in search engine results, attracting lots of attention from visitors.
For example, backlink profiles are generated by linking to popular industry blogs on your site. Search engines view these kinds of links as signs that you're likely knowledgeable about the topic, which leads to better rankings overall. Also, you'll probably notice that the top ten spots on Google's organic listings are dominated by blogs, suggesting that Google views them as trustworthy sources of information.
No matter what your goals are, there are numerous options available to you when it comes to choosing between free WordPress templates and premium themes. Free themes usually come with fewer bells & whistles, but they generally perform admirably enough for beginners. On the flipside, premium themes cost more upfront, but they often feature additional functionality like contact forms, comment moderation, security settings, and RSS feeds.
Ultimately, the choice depends entirely on your budget, skill level, and personal preferences. With either option, you'll need to install plugins to add extra functionalities to your blog. Most plugins are completely free to download, although some charge small fees for upgrades and support. For instance, WPtouch plugin costs $10/month, while Yoast SEO Premium costs $49/year.
Keep in mind that you can save time by automating tasks via scripts. Such apps can handle basic processes like adding new comments, updating author bios, or publishing new posts. However, advanced users would benefit greatly from installing dedicated solutions, such as AWeber, GetResponse, MailChimp, Constant Contact, and SendinBlue. Each app has its own advantages, so try experimenting with a few until you find the right fit.
As mentioned earlier, you can also opt to become an affiliate marketer without owning a website. Many of the same strategies apply here, except that you can avoid the hassle of setting up a domain name and hosting account altogether. Simply register a subdomain of your existing domain name, and host it somewhere cheap like GoDaddy or Bluehost.
Once you have your URL ready, you'll need to make sure it points towards an actual webpage rather than an empty index file. To accomplish this, you must configure DNS records correctly, which involves configuring the appropriate nameserver IP addresses. Luckily, this is relatively straightforward thanks to free software like Bind9, Unbound, or BIND8.0.1.
To summarize, affiliate marketing without a website requires you to develop a strategy for generating targeted traffic, implement effective methods for tracking conversions, and optimize your site accordingly. Whether you decide to build your own site or leverage a template, there are countless ways for you to achieve success. Take advantage of technology today, and enjoy the rewards tomorrow.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.