Affiliate marketing has been one of the most popular ways to make money online since its inception over 20 years ago. The concept involves promoting other people's products and making commissions off their sales. It's such an easy way to earn passive income with little effort on your part. And it doesn't matter if you're just starting out or looking for new ideas. Affiliate marketing will give you plenty of opportunities to get started as well as help you build residual income streams long after your initial efforts are done.
If you want to start earning from home but aren't sure where to begin, there are several different types of affiliate markets available to choose from. Some focus primarily on digital goods while others focus more on services like web hosting packages or even physical products. Regardless, there are hundreds of thousands of options available so how do you know which ones offer the best potential for success?
The good news is that we've put together this handy guide to show you what makes each market appealing and why they should be considered when choosing the right place for your next promotion. We'll also let you know about some of the best places to get involved. Let's dive into our detailed analysis!
There are two primary approaches to finding affiliates. You could either go through one of the many large networks like Amazon Associates (which includes sites like Shopify) or use the tools provided by search engines themselves. Either approach provides access to millions upon millions of possible product choices. But before diving deep inside any particular marketplace, it's important to understand exactly what makes them attractive. After all, you don't want to promote something that isn't going to produce results. So here's a quick rundown of the key reasons these various platforms succeed.
High demand means lots of business
When you think about buying anything online, the first thing you probably consider is whether or not you need it at all. If someone else already owns it then there's no real reason to buy it yourself. That said, it still pays to take advantage of those who are selling because the demand is high enough to warrant more than just passing up on an opportunity to profit from another person's hard work. In fact, according to data collected by Statista, the average purchase price for items sold via eBay was $50.38 in 2019. Compare that number to the overall retail value of US consumer spending ($3.7 trillion), and you quickly see why companies spend tons of time and resources trying to convince consumers to buy things they didn't necessarily want in the first place.
Low competition
People usually gravitate toward low competition niches. This means that once you've found a few products worth recommending, there won't be too many competitors vying for attention. When you look at the big picture, there are only so many products being created every year. Most of them fall flat, leaving very few worthwhile offerings to recommend. With less competition comes easier conversions which translates directly to higher commission rates for affiliates.
Big brands love small businesses
Let's say you decide to create a website dedicated to reviewing electronics. There's nothing wrong with that per se, but chances are you're not going to turn a significant amount of traffic away from Google. Instead, try creating a site focused around smaller brands. These tend to be much better targets for affiliate marketers because they often lack the brand recognition needed to compete against bigger names. Even though most people might never hear of the company behind the product, having a strong presence online will increase the likelihood that visitors will end up purchasing.
In addition to helping you identify your target audience, these factors help you narrow down your selection process further. For example, you may notice that certain industries seem to attract larger numbers of affiliate partners than others. It stands to reason that if the industry itself produces more revenue, there would be more incentive to sell the same product. Another example is that eCommerce tends to dominate the affiliate landscape compared to traditional retailers like bookstores. However, both options provide countless opportunities for generating profits. Each option presents unique challenges depending on your goals, skill set, and experience level.
But regardless of your specific circumstances, there's always room for improvement. Whether you're just getting started or hoping to grow your existing platform, learning more about the ins and outs of affiliate marketing can lead to greater earnings in almost no time. Here are five tips to keep in mind as you continue exploring the world of affiliate marketing.
1. Use free tools to research potential keywords
A lot of people assume that keywords are the most important aspect of affiliate marketing. While they certainly play a role, it's crucial to remember that keyword research alone is rarely enough to guarantee solid results. Many affiliate networks limit the number of keywords allowed within a single campaign. Others simply require you to select multiple categories and subcategories for your campaigns, meaning that your search terms must match across all relevant areas. As a result, it's imperative to perform thorough keyword research using a variety of sources including social media analytics, competitor monitoring, and paid search listings.
2. Don't forget SEO
Search Engine Optimization plays a huge role in determining the popularity of a given link and ultimately, the size of your payouts. Unfortunately, it can sometimes feel difficult to determine how much weight individual attributes carry. Fortunately, there are a handful of reliable metrics that can tell you everything you need to know. A tool called Ahrefs gives you insights into how likely a page is to rank highly based on the following three criteria: backlinks, domain authority, and incoming links. Domain Authority measures the trustworthiness of a site by examining the quality of links pointing towards it. Backlink strength determines the popularity of a URL by measuring the total number of times it appears elsewhere on the internet. Finally, incoming links indicate whether or not someone has decided to share information about the resource instead of linking to it. All told, this combination of indicators helps you gain a deeper understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of a particular site.
3. Track your performance regularly
It's impossible to measure the effectiveness of a campaign without knowing how successful it actually ended up being. Thankfully, tracking software allows you to gather valuable statistics related to clicks, impressions, conversion rate, and other variables. Once you've identified the ideal time frame for your campaigns, you can analyze the data to figure out what worked and what didn't. From there, you can adjust your strategy accordingly in order to reach optimal levels of success. By utilizing the information generated by this kind of system, you can ensure future campaigns yield similar results.
4. Focus on building relationships
While it's tempting to view affiliate marketing strictly as a source of immediate monetary gains, it's critical to remember that it's really all about relationships. Your goal should be to establish meaningful connections between yourself and customers. Helping people solve problems is incredibly rewarding, especially when it leads to positive word of mouth. For instance, if you run a review site devoted entirely to electronic devices, make sure to include testimonials from satisfied buyers. They just might become loyal followers someday.
5. Take care of your own health
Whether you're actively working on your business full-time or simply dabbling in affiliate marketing as a side gig, taking proper care of yourself is essential. Being healthy promotes productivity and happiness, allowing you to remain engaged throughout the day rather than feeling worn out and frustrated. Plus, it reduces stress and anxiety, making it easier to handle daily tasks effectively. Taking breaks during the workday is vital to maintaining energy levels and staying alert. Make sure to schedule regular workouts and eat nutritious foods to fuel your body properly.
Once you've narrowed your searches down to a couple of promising platforms, it's time to dig deeper into the actual sites themselves. Every network has its own quirks and idiosyncrasies that can impact how effective your campaigns end up being. Luckily, there are a ton of resources out there designed specifically to teach you how to navigate the waters of affiliate marketing. Below are just a few examples of great websites that cover everything from basic tactics to advanced strategies.
ClickBank University - Learn everything you need to know about launching successful campaigns on ClickBank, including step-by-step tutorials.
EzineArticles - EzineArticles hosts a wealth of articles covering nearly every conceivable subject relating to affiliate marketing. Topics range from beginner guides to complex technical details.
ShareASale Blog - ShareASale covers just about everything imaginable when it comes to affiliate marketing. Their blog posts detail everything from strategies to case studies showing you what works and what doesn't.
Wishpond Academy - Wishpond focuses on providing courses and training materials geared toward beginners. Everything from email templates to landing pages is covered here.
These are just a sample of the many educational resources available for anyone interested in pursuing a career in affiliate marketing. As you explore the possibilities, keep in mind that no two affiliate marketing campaigns are alike. The key is identifying what works best for your needs and sticking with it until the job gets done.
Affiliate marketing has been around since 1996 and it's still going strong today. There are many different ways to make money with affiliate marketing but one thing remains constant – you need an effective strategy to become successful.
There were several big changes made by Google over time in search engine optimization (SEO) which caused some issues for affiliates who were using outdated methods. These changes resulted in low traffic from organic searches and less conversions as well. This led to a lot of people deciding to switch their focus away from SEO towards other methods like video marketing or social media advertising. As such, there was also a decline in the number of high paying affiliate commissions available.
However, this does not mean that affiliate marketing is dead! On the contrary, there are more opportunities than ever before to get paid with online ads and affiliate links. You just need to find out what works best for your business model and stick to it. The following article will help you understand how to choose the right niche when looking into affiliate marketing. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 best niches to promote any kind of digital product or service.
The best niche for affiliate marketing can be defined differently depending on whether you're selling physical goods or services. If you're selling physical items, then Amazon might be the place where you should start promoting them. While if you're working with software applications, then Clickbank could be a great choice. However, even though these two companies dominate the market, they aren't necessarily the only options. Other popular choices include Shopify, eBay, Facebook Ads, etc. Let us look at each of them below.
Shopify: This platform allows merchants to sell custom-designed ecommerce websites without needing experience in code writing. It also makes it easier to manage inventory and shipping processes than other platforms. All sellers receive a free starter kit that includes hosting, domain name registration, shopping cart integration, and 24/7 customer support. In addition, all sellers can access an array of tools and resources provided by Shopify including analytics, payment processing, and reporting.
Ebay: Many people use eBay as a way to buy everything under the sun and resell them later on. Sellers on Ebay usually don’t have much knowledge about coding so they prefer to work through third party sellers instead. They may also want to avoid dealing directly with customers because of the risk involved. That being said, eBay users are willing to pay higher prices compared to other buyers on the site. Therefore, it is important to target those specific individuals rather than general consumers.
Facebook Ads: One of the easiest ways to advertise is via Facebook. Not only do advertisers save a ton of cash by doing so, but they also reach people in their own network who would otherwise ignore traditional advertisements. Also, Facebook provides detailed analytics reports after every ad campaign. With this information, marketers can easily see exactly how their campaigns performed so they can improve future efforts.
ShareASale: This company specializes in creating unique landing pages for various types of businesses. A single page can contain multiple sales funnel videos and images and can be customized based on the needs of the seller. Moreover, ShareASale doesn’t impose any minimum order quantity limit unlike its competitors. For example, a small startup can set up a basic website within minutes, generate leads, and begin making profits immediately.
Clickbank: This company sells digital products that range from training courses to software solutions. Some of the major categories include internet security, personal development, dieting, fitness, health & wellness, dating advice, finance, etc. The products offered here come with a 90-day refund guarantee and free lifetime updates. Furthermore, Clickbank offers massive amounts of data about the performance of individual products in real-time. The company also runs numerous affiliate marketing campaigns every day.
Amazon Affiliates Program: This program lets anyone create an account and earn commission off the sale of products listed on Amazon.com. Products sold on Amazon must meet certain requirements to qualify for the program. First, they must be eligible for Prime Shipping and second, they must display relevant keywords in the product title and description. Once someone purchases a qualifying item, he or she receives a notification email informing him or her that his or her purchase qualifies for Amazon Affiliates Rewards Program. Upon logging into the account, Amazon pays the affiliate a portion of the revenue generated from each qualifying transaction.
PayDotCom: PaydotCom is another good option to consider when choosing a niche for affiliate marketing. Unlike other sites, PayDotCom focuses solely on offering virtual credit card accounts to people worldwide. These cards provide instant online payments for both online and offline transactions. Users simply signup, enter their bank routing numbers, and wait to receive the prepaid debit card in the mail. From there, they can spend the funds however they please.
EverGreen Affiliate Niche: EverGreen has created a marketplace for publishers to post content related to weight loss and healthy living. Publishers can join by submitting articles, webinars, podcasts, guides, videos, audio files, photo galleries, and more. After joining, publishers can publish their materials online and share their expertise with others while earning residual income. Publishers will also receive regular commissions whenever someone downloads their material.
ShareASale Blogs Network: Similar to ShareASale, this company creates specialized landing pages for businesses that want to attract new clients. Like ShareASale, the goal is to provide quality content to increase conversion rates. Another benefit of signing up with blogsnetwork is that you won’t have to worry about setting up your own store front and managing inventory. Instead, the system takes care of everything.
If you decide to go down the path of affiliate marketing, it's very likely that you'll end up spending hours researching and analyzing potential niches. When trying to figure out what the best niche is, there are a few factors to keep in mind. Here are three things to think about when determining your next step: audience size, average monthly earnings, and ease of entry.
Audience Size: How large is the audience interested in the subject matter? You should take a look at the industry itself and determine how many people actually consume the type of content you plan to produce. For instance, if you sell cooking classes geared toward beginners, you probably wouldn't expect to break 100 students per month. In contrast, if you sell advanced culinary techniques, say something related to sous vide cooking, you'd hope to see thousands of visitors per week. Your results will vary according to the specifics of your niche.
Average Monthly Earnings: Are there a lot of people actively searching for the particular type of info you wish to offer? Is there enough demand for what you intend to sell? The key is to analyze current trends and compare them with historical figures. If you notice that interest in your niche isn't growing rapidly year after year, then perhaps it's better suited for someone else.
Ease Of Entry: Does it require technical skills to learn the process and implement it successfully? If yes, then you might want to explore the possibility of becoming an expert yourself. Otherwise, you may want to hire someone who already knows how to operate the necessary equipment and develop content accordingly.
To put it bluntly, the answer to this question depends largely upon the niche you pick. To give you an idea, we've compiled a shortlist of the top 20 products with the highest average affiliate commission rate across the board. Keep in mind that the list above is based on our research and analysis, while it's certainly not comprehensive.
1. ViSalus - $60+ / mo
2. NutriSystem - $40+ / mo
3. Fiverr - $5-$20 / project
4. GetResponse - $30-$80 / project
5. HubSpot - $50+ / project
6. Marketo - $100+ / project
7. Wix - $75-$150 / project
8. LeadPages - $25-$35 / project
9. Zoho Mail - $20-$45 / project
10. Infusionsoft - $200+ / project
11. Xero - $15-$25 / project
12. Squarespace - $120+ / project
13. QuickBooks Online - $70+ / project
14. WordPress.org Premium - $39+ / mo
15. Vimeo Pro - $49-$99 / mo
16. Buffer - $29-$59 / project
17. Freshdesk - $79-$129 / project
18. Joomla - $55-$65 / project
19. Google Apps for Business - $95-$125 / project
20. Evernote - $24-$46 / project
These lists are meant to serve as rough guidelines. Different products appeal differently to different audiences. So, always remember to tailor your offerings to fit whatever niche you select.
When you're thinking about which topic to write on or what niche to start with, it's important to think about how much money can be made from your content and whether there will still be an audience interested in reading your articles. That means you need to consider both high traffic and low competition keywords -- and the best way to figure out where those are is by researching them yourself!
If you want to get started making money online as soon as possible, then you should choose a topic you know something about. If you don't yet know anything at all about any subject, then go ahead and pick one that interests you personally. The only downside here is that no matter how passionate you are over a certain subject, if nobody else knows enough about it either, then it won't generate many sales opportunities. Luckily, this isn't always true. There are some great ways to discover new things without having to research each topic individually.
In fact, we've already compiled our own lists of the best niches for affiliate marketing 2022 (as well as other years) so let us tell you more about those below...
The first thing to decide when picking out a potential topic to write about is finding good keyword phrases that people search for but aren't getting results for. You'll also need to make sure these terms are relevant to your chosen niche. For example, if you were writing about dog training tips, you wouldn't use "how to train dogs" because it might not bring back the right kind of readers who would ultimately buy your product. Instead, try using "dog training tricks," "dog obedience skills," or even just "training techniques." This type of phrase searches brings up less competitive terms than the former ones mentioned above, and they usually work better since they tend to be broader.
This is why choosing a popular topic like weight loss is often a bad idea. It has plenty of competitors ready to jump into the fray every time someone tries to sell their stuff. So instead, look around for specific subtopics within your main niche that have low competition and offer you an opportunity to build a strong following. Once again, this is easier said than done though, especially if you haven't been blogging before. However, if you take the time to learn everything you need to know about SEO, PPC campaigns, ad copywriting, etc., then you shouldn't have too much trouble building links, driving traffic, and generating leads.
It's worth noting that while these ideas sound simple, they require careful planning and attention to detail. When you're starting out, focus on creating quality content that answers questions related to your chosen niche. Then take care to optimize it so users can easily find it through Google and social media platforms. As long as you keep doing these two things consistently, you'll eventually attract visitors who are looking specifically for your information. From there, the rest falls into place quite naturally.
You can see the full list of niches we recommend below, along with several examples of how they're used in real life. We also talk briefly about the best products for affiliate marketing 2022, including how to find them and how to promote them effectively. Finally, we explain how to find a profitable niche quickly and efficiently, as well as how to avoid common mistakes made by beginners. But first, read on for our complete overview of the best niches for affiliate marketing 2022...
As previously stated, the best niches for affiliate marketing 2022 are going to depend heavily upon your personal preferences. Some people prefer to specialize in a particular area of knowledge, others enjoy crafting general guides for everyone. Either approach works fine as long as you stick to your guns and never give up on your goals.
Once you've decided what sort of content you'd like to create, you may find it difficult to choose between thousands of different topics. Fortunately, you can narrow down the selection process with a bit of brainstorming. Think about your favorite hobbies, pastimes, and passions. What kinds of books, movies, TV shows, games, music, websites, apps, etc. do you love? And what types of products do you regularly purchase? These are probably the biggest influences on your choices today. They're also likely to become yours tomorrow. By considering these, you'll notice patterns emerge that help you identify promising areas of interest.
For instance, if you like watching cooking videos on YouTube, perhaps you could turn that passion into a career path. Or maybe you really enjoy playing video games. Maybe you're a big fan of tech news sites. All of these are potentially lucrative markets to explore. On the flip side, if you dislike gardening and hate shopping for groceries, trying to monetize these activities may prove challenging. Keep in mind that you don't necessarily need to quit being creative altogether. There are tons of different ways to combine your hobby with your income stream, such as writing reviews, selling eBooks, hosting webinars, etc.
While some niches are obvious candidates, others may seem strange at first glance. Perhaps you're wondering what the heck you can possibly say about fashion accessories. Don't worry. Just remember that anyone can benefit greatly from learning about these items. Whether you wear them yourself or simply admire others' looks, you can share valuable insights. After all, the internet is filled with millions of blogs written by amateur writers, and most of them have nothing whatsoever to do with fashion.
Also, don't limit yourself to the usual suspects. People love talking about pets, sports teams, cars, gadgets, celebrities, politics, and religion. In fact, almost any topic under the sun can be turned into an effective business opportunity. The key is to find a niche that speaks directly to your unique personality. Remember, the goal is to stand out among the crowd. Nobody wants to hear another boring article about diet supplements. Your readers will appreciate originality and creativity.
One last note: While we strongly suggest avoiding controversial subjects, sometimes you must address sensitive issues. For example, you may feel compelled to write about racism, sexism, homophobia, ageism, mental health problems, addiction, suicide, domestic violence, abortion, euthanasia, human trafficking, or any number of other hot button topics. Even so, proceed carefully and responsibly. Avoid inflammatory language and stay away from highly emotional arguments unless you're confident you fully understand the issue at stake. Otherwise, it'll come across as sensationalist garbage and drive readers away faster than a speeding bullet.
There are hundreds of thousands of products available for sale online, and the majority of them are geared toward consumers rather than businesses. Unfortunately, this means that very few of them actually appeal to entrepreneurs. Therefore, if you want to earn commissions off the backs of successful brands, you'll need to find products that target small businesses rather than individual customers.
To begin with, check out Amazon and eBay. Both companies provide extensive catalogs of goods sold by third parties. To maximize your chances of earning commissions, ensure that you sign up with reputable merchants whose offerings align closely with your own. Also, make sure that the products you plan on promoting are offered in multiple categories. In addition, pay close attention to the prices listed for each item. Are they reasonable? Do they match similar products sold elsewhere? If not, it's unlikely that buyers will make repeat purchases.
Another option is to partner with manufacturers who send out free samples to bloggers and review sites. Many major corporations sponsor this practice, allowing website owners to receive free merchandise in exchange for promotional posts. Again, it's vital to shop around and compare costs. Make sure you weigh the benefits against the risks involved. A lot depends on how you handle customer service after receiving defective products.
Finally, there are countless options for freelance services. Freelancers typically charge anywhere from $50 - $100 per hour, depending on the skill level required. Although this amount varies widely, you can expect to earn anywhere from $5 - 100+ per hour. Most freelancing jobs involve editing existing materials, creating graphics, or performing data entry tasks. However, there are plenty of positions requiring expertise in graphic design, programming, photography, videography, SEO/SEM, public relations, etc.
For more information on becoming a professional blogger, click here.
Fortunately, there are lots of places you can find inspiration. Here's a quick rundown of three resources that can help you determine which topic(s) to pursue next:
1. Blogger's Handbook: This book provides comprehensive advice for every facet of running a successful blog. It helps you improve your writing style, increase page views, grow your email subscriber base, and develop stronger relationships with influencers. Everything you need to succeed as a blogger is covered in depth, and the author goes beyond basic instructions to discuss how to tackle various challenges head-on.
Just follow our battle-tested guidelines and rake in the profits.