I think affiliate marketing is not only IDEAL for beginners but a great introduction
to online business as a whole, here’s why.
Maybe you’ve just recently heard the term affiliate marketing and decided to check it out to learn more.
Or maybe you’ve been casually researching it for some time, and still undecided if it’s the right path for you.
Either way, I want to show you why I think affiliate marketing is a great business model to follow – even for those who are beginners in the online business world.
What Is It?
Affiliate marketing has become very popular. I’ve seen it used by the likes of celebrities and even popular news networks on their websites.
In simple terms, as an affiliate, all you are doing is recommending someone else’s product.
If someone clicks your ‘special’ affiliate link and decides to make a purchase, you get paid.
At which point, your work is done.
Anything that is related to customer support is handled by the product owner.
There’s a bit more involved when it comes to setting up your website, but this is the basics of how it works.
It Only Continues To Grow
Affiliate marketing only continues to grow and is projected to grow to over $6.8 billion as an industry in just a few years.
Chart source: www.emarketer.com
As more people are being introduced to the internet (not everyone has access just yet), and with more people spending online, and the fact that EVERY major brand has affiliate programs, like Apple, HP, Amazon, Nike, Starbucks, Best Buy, you name it…
The revenue growth within this industry will continue to rise, which is awesome news.
What this means for affiliate marketers.
This growth within the affiliate marketing business model only creates serious opportunity to drive sales for advertisers and revenue to publishers.
It’s a popular practice, being used all throughout the internet. And when done right, one can become very profitable as an affiliate.
If you’ve ever heard someone using the term “affiliate marketing is dead”, they would be dead wrong. I came across an article claiming such about 2 years ago, the funny thing is that this particular article was written in 2010.
Boy were they wrong.
It wouldn’t make sense for companies to want to eliminate it.
Think of it this way…
If you are running an online business would you rather hire an ad executive and a small marketing team (costing several hundred thousands of dollars per year) or would you rather have thousands and thousands of (affiliate) marketers working for you based on performance?
And the only time you to pay them is when they make an actual sale.
An affiliate has to provide results in order to get paid which means no real risk for companies to welcome in affiliates.
See where I’m going with this?
Personally, I feel like the affiliates business model is nowhere near its peak and is just getting started.
What Attracts Beginners To Affiliate Marketing
By all means, explore your options when it comes to starting a business online. There are many out there.
Likewise, there are many different types of affiliate marketing ranging from SEO, PPC, Email Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, etc.
Which we won’t get into right now.
What attracts beginners the most to affiliate marketing would have to be the following:
- Low start up cost; high scalability potential
- You do not need to create/manufacture your own product
- No inventory, shipping, returns/refunds involved. Or anything related to customer support for that matter
- You do not need to own or purchase any products
- You have access to millions of products and services in which you can advertise
These are just some of the advantages of being an affiliate. But still, this is a business and one that requires commitment and work – just like any other business out there.
My Experiences As An Affiliate
I’ve been impressed by the whole experience overall.
I’ve been able to make a full-time living from it after just getting started in 2015. Before that summer in 2015, I had never heard of the term affiliate marketing.
Fortunately, I found some awesome training which taught me a lot of what I know about online business today.
Again, if you’re hesitant to get started, I know exactly where you’re coming from. Continue doing your research, study, and then implement what you are learning as you are learning.
Action can be a great teacher.
Since starting the very website you are on, a minimum of one company or merchant will email me each month wanting to ‘partner up’ as they feel EPO will be a good fit for their business.
Which is not only another indication that affiliate marketing is here to stay, but shows me that I am doing something right in this business when I still consider myself a student and a beginner as well.
Is Affiliate Marketing For Beginners?
The short answer, Yes.
Though I feel that affiliate marketing is ideal for beginners and a great introduction to the online business world, it shouldn’t be confused as an easy or fast way to get rich online.
There are numerous affiliates earning 6 and 7 figures, sometimes in a single month, but realize that these guys and gals have spent years learning and implementing within the affiliate space.
Affiliate marketing is a great introduction to online business because it doesn’t require beginners to figure out how to create, test, and market their own products.
But it does allow you to get an understanding how online marketing works, which sorts of products are being created within a certain marketplace, a marketplace you may be intersted in.
And a chance to connect directly with an audience. It gives you a great overall feel for internet business.
Besides that, the fact that it’s so affordable, yet profitable, is what I think attracts many as well.
Where To Get Started
Take the next step and begin learning affiliate marketing, done right, today.
Check out Wealthy Affiliate. Our top recommendation and favorite learning platform.
From hands-on training, to a website builder and quality website hosting, to constant updates to keep up with an evolving internet, plus MUCH more.
Hi Jason,
Thanks for the great article on Affiliate Marketing for beginners, which is what I am.
Starting out can be an overwhelming and distressful task, not knowing what to do, how to do it and whether all the work is going to be worthwhile in the end. Your encouragement is very welcome.
You have made a strong case in simple terms for anyone thinking about trying to make money online plus pointing in the right direction.
Thanks,
Ed
Hi Ed, I would have to agree with you.
It can be overwhelming and I remember how overwhelmed I was after getting started online just 2 years ago. I feel I can especially relate and help beginners because I was there not too long ago.
Online business can be very rewarding, granted people are willing to do the hard work. For those struggling or don’t know where to start, I also suggest finding some proper training.
Hello Jason!
I’m really pleased with your explanation of how affiliate marketing really works.
I move around for several niches and use some smaller partner programs.
I have a couple of pages that I work with in my own language.
And I’m amazed at how well they work, even though I do not use anything else than Google’s own keyword tool for those pages.
I totally agree with you that we have just started and this kind of home business can really be profitable once you learn to write and get readers from the search.
But my fear is a little if the net is flooded by all possible private people like me. If it does not turn around at a time and get harder to get its page on page 1 in the organic search?
Steen
Hi Steen,
I agree. Glad to hear your positive experiences as an affiliate. As stated, it’s a great business to be a part of.
I did not understand your question, however. Would you mind clarifying?
Thanks, Jason.