I have been a full time affiliate marketer since 1999, and I have learned a great deal about the business during that time. Some things have changed or evolved, mostly to our benefit. However, some things have remained the same, such as the basics of becoming successful.
If you are looking for the secrets to becoming a successful affiliate marketer, with profitable topics and products, read on to learn what I have discovered along the way.
Do You Have the Passion for It?
Perhaps this is a question you need to ask yourself before reading any further. Just as with many other careers, affiliate marketing requires a certain amount of passion. Without it, your career will not flourish.
I have the utmost respect for the late Steve Jobs. And, if you have been developing an online career, then you are well aware of Mr. Jobs and the mark he left in this world. I have seen and heard him speak online on various occasions, but there is something he said about passion that I believe to be spot on…
“You need a lot of passion for what you’re doing because it’s so hard, that if you don’t, any rational person would give up”, said Steve Jobs. He then added, “The ones who are successful loved what they did so they can persevere when it got really tough. And, the ones who didn’t love it…quit, because they’re sane. Who would want to put up with this stuff if you don’t love it?”
Now, I am not implying that you must be insane to tackle the affiliate marketing world. However, make sure you have a passion for the topic you’re delving into before moving forward from where you are at now. Your passion might not be for the product alone, but also for providing a great lifestyle for your family, filled with flexibility and reward.
Finding the Right Affiliate Manager
We have spent a lot of time building out numerous sites throughout the years. And, with that, we also have to focus on finding the right topics and products that will be profitable. If you don’t do this for your affiliate marketing business, then you could find yourself going in circles, working for naught…for months, if not a couple years.
If you want to make money with affiliate programs, then perhaps the first step is to know that you don’t have to do it alone. Finding a great affiliate manager will do wonders for your business. They will be able to assist you in finding profitable products within their catalog, answer questions, and offer advice for your business.
6 Things to Consider When Picking a Product and Affiliate Manager
I have thrown these two areas together, because they often go hand in hand. Your affiliate manager is there to assist you all the way, including the process of finding good products. Or, at least should be there.
Here are 6 things we would recommend you look at when you are considering a product and an affiliate manager:
- The product’s price point – Look for products to promote with a minimum of $150
- Brand name product – Well-known brand names, with a good reputation, will help your sales
- Conversion rate – A conversion rate of 3-6% will be decent, especially with high traffic
- Proven seller – Happy campers who rave about the product will help you convert more sales
- Communication – It’s vital to have good communication with your affiliate manager
- Treatment of affiliates – Check around to see how well they work with and treat their affiliates
These are all questions you should ask any affiliate manager or merchant you are thinking of working with, or find out from other who have worked with them. If you do a little research ahead of time, it will help save you a lot of wasted time in the end.
Take Advantage of Your Affiliate Manager
Once you have found the affiliate manger you want to work with, then you have to get to work on what they can offer. For example, if they are giving you great advice on certain topics or products, zero in on it to make it shine.
Dedicate an entire page on your website to that product. This doesn’t mean talking up the brand name, or products related to it, but that one product in particular. You should write a killer review for it, filled with information and opinion from consumer’s feedback.
It’s also important to take advantage of the communication between the affiliate manager and yourself, by keeping it open. If they are not accessible, take steps in letting them know it’s not acceptable, by sending an email with a professional explanation that communication is vital to a good working relationship. If that doesn’t work after a couple tries, consider moving on.
In Closing…
Now that you know the importance of working with a good affiliate manager, don’t rush it. Take your time to track down the right one for you. As I mentioned above, if you get involved with one who is not willing to communicate and help you, move on. We have had great success with Jeannine Crooks from Buy.at, Matt Frary from SmarterChaos.com and Brooke Schaaf from Schaaf-PartnerCentric.
The point is, there is more than one affiliate manager out there who is not only willing to work with you, but is also very good at it.
About the author: James Martell started his affiliate marketing business over a decade ago. Through this, he and his wife Arlene have expanded their business into podcasts, speaking engagements, and the popular “Affiliate Marketers BootCamp”. Living in a seaside suburb community of Vancouver, their dream of creating an online business empire has allowed for flexibility and enjoying time with their family.