The internet is awash with information on everything from the latest gadgets and celebrity gossip to cooking recipes and fitness tips. It's a huge market ripe for exploitation by marketers who can get their message out there in front of as many eyeballs as possible. But what if you're not selling a physical good or service but instead trying to sell something online? In other words, what if you want to use advertising to promote someone else's product or website - known as "affiliate marketing"?
There are several ways you could go about doing this, including paid ads like Google AdWords or Facebook Ads, or even using social media sites such as Twitter and Pinterest to drive traffic back to your own site. However, one way that has become increasingly popular over recent years is through creating original articles around specific topics related to your niche (or similar ones) and then placing them at relevant websites across the web where people looking to buy those sorts of things might find them. This is called "content marketing" because it involves producing high-quality content aimed at building up trust between yourself and potential clients while also promoting the goods being sold.
This method works best when you have some sort of expertise in a particular area, whether it be personal experience or just reading lots of books and blogs relating to the topic. You'll need to choose a few keywords based on what people search for most often and target these terms within your article so they appear early in the results pages. Once readers click on one of these links, you send them to your own website where you offer further advice and guidance on whatever subject matter you've written about. Of course, once the reader buys a product or subscribes to a service, you receive a commission payment which will help fund future posts. And don't forget to include calls to action at the end of each blog post so readers know exactly what steps to take next.
So let's say you already spend all day every day working in IT support and now you'd really love to earn money from home. Well, here's another option! Instead of spending time researching different products and services, why not create your own guidebook on how to fix computers? Or maybe you have plenty of knowledge on how to set up WordPress themes, install plugins, or build beautiful eCommerce stores? Then you could start offering your wisdom to others via guest blogging or simply posting regularly on forums dedicated to your chosen subjects. The key thing is to make sure you provide value first and foremost rather than just rambling on aimlessly. If you can demonstrate how much effort went into your work and explain any technical jargon, people will be more inclined to pay attention.
But before we delve deeper into how to approach content creation, let's look at a couple of basic rules you must follow to ensure success. Firstly, make sure your content actually provides real benefit to anyone who reads it. Don't try to trick visitors into thinking they'll learn something new by giving away useful information that isn't going to change anything in their lives. Secondly, remember that you only get paid after a sale takes place. So if you're planning on earning hundreds of dollars per month, your efforts may require months or longer to bear fruit. That said, once you begin getting regular visitors to your website, it becomes easier and quicker to generate sales. After all, you've got nothing to lose... right?
Before you embark on writing a single word, you'll probably want to think carefully about what kind of material you plan to produce. For example, if you're targeting a specific piece of software or hardware, chances are you won't be able to cover every aspect of its functionality in detail since your focus would be entirely on explaining how to use it properly. On the flip side, if you're recommending a digital book or app, you may be tempted to put too much emphasis on the features without mentioning the downsides. A balanced approach is always better. Here's a brief list of dos and don'ts:
Do research beforehand. Make certain you understand what the client wants to achieve before you start writing. Otherwise, you risk wasting valuable time explaining irrelevant details that aren't needed.
Don't use stock images unless you're specifically asked to. They tend to look cheap and amateurish, especially when used in conjunction with generic text.
Use screenshots whenever possible. These are usually taken directly from a user manual or installation instructions and therefore allow users to see exactly what they're missing out on.
Keep it short. Longer posts mean less chance of readers clicking on your link and taking action. Aim for no more than 500 words maximum.
Avoid using too many adverbs. People hate feeling patronized and will quickly switch off if you bombard them with overly flowery language. Stick to simple sentences that don't contain unnecessary adjectives.
If you decide to recommend a physical item, you'll obviously need to describe it in great detail. Use photos wherever possible to illustrate the point. Also keep in mind that people generally prefer buying items that come with guarantees in addition to the initial purchase price. Try to avoid making promises that cannot be fulfilled. For example, saying "this shirt makes you 10 pounds slimmer overnight" sounds pretty ridiculous.
If you're recommending a digital download, consider adding a video clip showing how to operate it or highlighting its main functions. Remember, people rarely read long documents online, so videos are far more effective. As well as improving viewer retention rates, they're also fun to watch!
Another important factor relates to quality control. While you might feel confident enough to give your opinion on a product or service, it doesn't necessarily mean everyone else agrees with you. Always check with previous buyers to make sure that reviews posted elsewhere are genuine and haven't been tampered with. There's nothing worse than receiving spam messages claiming to be from Amazon after purchasing a product from somewhere else.
When introducing affiliate links, stick to reputable companies whose reputation you respect. Don't worry if they're not top brands yet; just show your loyalty to them by linking to their official page and encouraging customers to shop there themselves. When choosing a company to join, ask yourself whether they employ ethical practices and stick to policies that protect both affiliates and consumers alike.
Remember, you shouldn't expect to make loads of cash straight away. To succeed with affiliate marketing, you need to invest plenty of hours learning about different niches and products, developing relationships with bloggers and writers, and ultimately finding opportunities to advertise your offers. If you're serious about achieving financial freedom, however, then investing in your education can never be wrong. Start small and gradually increase your earnings until you reach a level where you can quit your day job altogether. Just be prepared to commit to hard work, persistence, and patience.
For more information, visit ClickBank, Fiverr, ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, Rakuten Advertising, Rewardful Inc., FreeContentTips, and TopRankBloggers.
If you're looking at becoming a successful affiliate marketer then it's important to understand what works and doesn't work on the internet. One of those things is using keyword stuffing - overuse of keywords which will result in your article being flagged by Google (and other search engines) because they don't like this practice.
This can be especially problematic if you have a low-quality backlink profile or are trying to rank highly in SERPs for competitive terms. If you want to use these methods make sure you know what you're doing!
There's another thing that you need to consider too - what you say in your articles. This isn't just limited to keyword density but also includes your tone and style. It's not enough to simply put some text together with a few links. You need to create great quality content that people enjoy reading. Here we'll look at how to write effective affiliate marketing posts so you can get started on creating high converting content now.
When you're starting out as an online entrepreneur there are plenty of topics you could choose from. But before you start thinking about what you might write about check yourself first. Are you passionate about any one topic? Does it interest you? Do you feel strongly about it? If you answered yes to all three questions than this may well be the perfect niche for you.
But even if you aren't able to find something that interests you directly, you can still come up with interesting topics based around subjects you already care about. For example, if you love cooking and baking, why not talk about healthy recipes? Or if you always watch documentaries, why not share tips on making them more fun? There really is no limit to what you can cover once you've found your passion. So long as it relates to your business, it's likely going to attract readers who are interested in similar topics.
Nowadays most affiliate programs offer a wide range of niches to pick from. The ones listed below are popular options, but there are many others available depending on where you live and what products are relevant to you personally.
Finance & Investing: These are hot markets right now due to the financial crisis in 2008. As a result, lots of new businesses entered into the finance space such as mortgage brokers, insurance agents, stockbrokers and investment advisors. People are very worried about their finances right now and will buy anything that promises help.
Health & Fitness: With obesity rates continuing to rise across the world, health and fitness has become a huge industry. Many companies specialize in offering diet plans, exercise equipment, vitamins, supplements, weight loss aids etc.
Home Improvement: Home improvement projects are extremely popular among homeowners. In fact, a lot of people spend money on home improvements every year whether it be renovating their kitchen, landscaping, building extensions or installing solar panels.
Travel & Tourism: Travel remains a popular hobby amongst people worldwide. A lot of people travel abroad regularly, either for holidays or business purposes. Others prefer traveling closer to home, visiting local attractions and checking out beautiful places while away from their own homes. Either way, tourism is big business.
Business Opportunities: Business opportunities remain incredibly popular today. From selling eBooks through Amazon Kindle to running your own online store, there are endless ways to make extra income. And again, thanks to the economic downturn a lot of people are desperate to try and earn additional revenue.
Make Money Online: Although this category covers everything from blogging to YouTube videos, the majority of its traffic comes from blogs. Lots of bloggers are earning hundreds of dollars per month through advertising alone.
So there you go - hopefully you were inspired by the above list to see what kind of subject matter you'd like to write about. Now let's take a look at how to craft a compelling piece of content that will bring visitors back time after time.
Once you've decided upon a topic, the next step is to research it thoroughly. Use tools like Buzzsumo to analyze competitors' articles and identify key points to focus on. Don't forget to read reviews of the product you plan to promote though, as they often contain valuable information. Look into competitor websites and social media profiles to see how they approach certain topics.
You will also need to think about what makes each individual article unique. What differentiates your material from the rest of the competition? How does it stand apart from the crowd? Is it funny? Did it include images? Was it written in a conversational style? Whatever it was, ensure that it stands out from the pack.
Finally, remember to keep your language clean and professional. Your words must convey value without coming off as spammy. When writing copy, aim for concise sentences with fewer adverbs and adjectives. Avoid clichés and overly complex vocabulary. Instead, stick to simple sentence structures and short paragraphs.
It goes without saying that you shouldn't hide behind bland generic statements. Be specific and speak from experience whenever possible. However, you don't necessarily need to give personal details. Sometimes keeping your identity hidden can actually benefit your brand image.
For instance, if you run an auto repair shop you probably wouldn't tell potential customers that you're the owner of said establishment. They might assume that since you're the "owner" you're experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy. Also, you don't want your name associated with bad customer service experiences.
The same applies here. By letting people believe that you're someone else, you're giving yourself credibility. That means they trust you more easily, which leads to higher conversion rates and better sales.
Also, don't mention the company you represent unless you have permission to do so. If you're promoting a particular brand then always state that you're affiliated with it. Otherwise, avoid mentioning names altogether.
In addition to speaking about yourself, it can also be beneficial to show your personality. Think about what motivates you and incorporate aspects of that into your blog. Whether that's sharing a humorous anecdote or showing your sense of humor, people tend to respond much better to self-emoting content.
Before submitting your application for affiliate marketing you should ask yourself two questions: am I ready to commit myself to working hard? Am I willing to learn new skills? Once you answer yes to both of these questions, apply for affiliateships that match your current skill level. Remember, affiliate marketing takes commitment and dedication, so only sign up for positions that reflect that.
Ultimately, a solid understanding of SEO and content creation techniques will serve you best in your quest to succeed in affiliate marketing. To build authority quickly, you'll need to produce high-value content consistently. Content upgrades usually cost between $5-$10 apiece, so don't skimp out on them. Make sure to provide detailed explanations along with helpful resources and links to further learning materials.
By following these guidelines, you can begin to generate steady streams of targeted traffic and convert them into paying clients. Good luck!
Affiliate marketing is a great way of making money online and it can be very lucrative if done right. The key to success with this method is having the right tools at hand so that you can produce compelling content on a regular basis.
Writing about what you know best will help you gain credibility as well as make your site more attractive to potential customers who are looking for information on similar topics. In addition, producing these posts regularly helps build trust with readers which means they're more likely to buy whatever product or service you promote.
In this article we'll show you some tips on how to create good affiliate marketing content. We've also included some example articles from our own sites in case you'd like to see exactly what sort of things we mean when we talk about "good" affiliate marketing content.
One thing to keep in mind while creating any type of affiliate marketing content is that there's no such thing as bad affiliate marketing content -- just poorly written ones! If you have something else to say than simply promoting someone else's products then go ahead and share it but don't forget to include links back to their products whenever possible.
A good affiliate program description does two main things: It tells interested visitors why they should purchase one of your suggested items (or services) and explains how easy it is to join using a link provided by you. You want to emphasize both reasons because most people come to your site through search engines like Google where keywords matter. So, if someone searches for 'free e-book', chances are they won't click on your ad unless you provide them with a reason to visit your site first. A good affiliate program description gives them a reason to check out your site and possibly sign up for your newsletter. Here's an example of a short affiliate program description followed by a longer one:
Short version: Learn how to use X software to earn Y dollars per month. Longer version: Discover how to work less time and make more money with X software. This powerful tool allows you to work only part-time and still earn over $1,000 each month without selling anything. Click here now to find out how!
The above descriptions contain three important elements: They describe what the visitor will get once he signs up for your offer, explain how easy it is to sign up and finally give him a reason to take action by describing his benefit. For instance, the second description uses the word "discover". That makes it sound exciting and interesting instead of being overly promotional which might turn off your reader.
As far as introductions go, you could either start with a brief bio or a list of accomplishments. Both of these options are okay depending on the niche market you're targeting. For example, if you were trying to sell weight loss supplements, you would probably want to focus on your fitness background since many people believe natural methods are better for losing fat. On the other hand, if you were going after men's fashion accessories, you may choose to highlight your design skills rather than your athletic background. Whatever you decide to showcase, always remember that your goal is not to brag. Readers appreciate honesty and transparency especially when it comes to personal experiences. People connect with others who feel genuine. So, even though it sounds corny, try to put yourself in your customer's shoes before crafting your bio. Would you feel comfortable buying from someone who wrote a long detailed biography about himself? Probably not. But if he wrote a quick paragraph about his life experience, he'd seem much more approachable.
When you're writing an affiliate marketing description, think about what your prospective target market wants to hear. What questions do they ask themselves every day? How do they look for answers to those questions? Do they read blogs or news websites? Are they social network users? Or maybe they prefer to research on their own via YouTube videos or Amazon reviews. When you answer these types of questions, you'll be able to craft a description that appeals directly to your audience.
For example, let's assume you wanted to write an informative blog post about the latest trend in online shopping. To attract readers, you'll need to address several questions including: Why is this subject popular among shoppers today? Is this practice safe? Will my credit card ever be charged extra fees? And perhaps the biggest question all consumers wonder: Can I really save thousands of dollars by shopping online? These are just a few of the questions you must consider when answering them before you begin typing away. By doing so, you'll become a trusted source for people seeking answers to similar queries. Your readers will trust you and eventually follow you around everywhere you publish new content.
Another example involves the following scenario: Let's say you run a travel agency specializing in trips to Thailand. You want to increase traffic to your website, so you hire a freelance writer to pen an informational piece about the country's top attractions and places to stay. After reading the post, a person decides to book a trip for her sister's birthday next year. She contacts you and asks whether she can pay for the expenses upfront. Of course, you tell her yes and send her a receipt. Later, however, you receive an email from another client complaining that this was unfair. He claims he never received a proof of payment. Upon further investigation, you discover that the blogger had already been paid in full by the previous client. Now, you face a dilemma: Should you refund the money to the original client or stick with the current one? Which option seems fairest?
In order to avoid situations like this, you should always double-check everything on your end. Make sure you sent the invoice and the proof of payment to the proper party. Keep track of all correspondence between clients and freelancers and make sure everyone involved gets paid promptly and accurately. Also, it pays to learn from mistakes made by others. In this particular situation, you can easily solve the problem by asking the new client to reimburse the amount due to the former one.
An About Us page serves a couple different purposes. First, it provides additional information about you and your company. Second, it acts as a landing page where you direct people to the rest of your site. Ideally, you should aim to convert viewers into buyers by providing useful resources and helpful advice. However, the same principle applies to any kind of advertising campaign. Just imagine a billboard along a highway with nothing but a phone number posted beside it. Who's going to call that number? No one. Instead, add text explaining the benefits of calling and directing visitors towards the actual business location. The same idea works well with web pages too.
If you're running an affiliate website, you should definitely have an About Us page. Not only does it serve as an introduction to your brand, but it also includes a place where you can point your prospects to various parts of your site. One of the best ways to do this is by placing a link to your homepage inside the About Us section. Then, you can insert relevant links throughout your site pointing to specific sections such as FAQs, testimonials, contact info etc.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.