Affiliate marketing is a great way for beginners to make money online with little to no skills or experience.
It’s the perfect choice for beginners looking to start a business online because affiliate marketing is growing rapidly every year and it’s becoming one of the best ways to make money online.
If you’re looking for a way to make some extra cash, this affiliate marketing tutorial will show you a step-by-step process of how to start affiliate marketing and start creating a decent income.
Ready?
Let’s begin!
Affiliate Marketing for Beginners Table of Contents
What is Affiliate Marketing (and How to Get Started)
Affiliate marketing is a form of advertising where a blogger or a website owner will add affiliate links to their blog or YouTube channel, in order to promote products on the web.
When customers click these links and buy something, the affiliate gets paid.
The beauty of affiliate marketing is that it can be done for little or no cost at all!
You don’t have to create a product.
You don’t have to create a service.
You don’t have to be the expert.
You don’t even have to really sell the product because basically what you’re doing is you’re sharing a product or service with people that you might know.
These can be your family members, friends, your list of subscribers, or social media followers, whatever it might be.
All you have to do is find some good products, ones that are priced reasonably but also have a high commission rate, and start telling people about them via your social media channels, or write reviews, produce video content, email marketing, etc.
How Does Affiliate Marketing Work?
Terminology of Affiliate Marketing
Earlier, I mentioned two terms associated with affiliate marketing, and as you delve deeper into affiliate marketing, you will see a number of recurring terms.
Below are the ones that I think you should be familiar with as well:
Affiliate
Someone who promotes a product or service for another person or company in exchange for compensation. They usually make commissions based on sales made through their promotion of products on their blog.
Affiliate Program
A program that companies (Merchants) have that allows people to join for free and promote products and earn commissions.
You would be surprised how many companies have an affiliate program.
Affiliate Link
This is a special link that the merchant provides you to track the referrals you generate from your site.
When a visitor to your site clicks on the link and makes a purchase, you get a percentage from the sale of the product you are marketing on your site.
In the image below, you can see my link highlighted in orange. Just above that is my tracking ID.
I then paste this link into a post on my site that will take the user to the product that I want to earn a commission from.
Clicks
A record of the number of times that people visit your site.
For example, if you place a link on your website and someone visits the site using that link and makes a purchase within 30 days, this is recorded as 1 click.
Commission
The fee that is paid to affiliates for selling products or services on behalf of merchants. This commission is usually calculated as a percentage based on the total sale amount, including any taxes and shipping costs.
Conversion
The number of people who visit your links and then make a purchase. Google Analytics and Google Search Console are two free tools you can use to track your conversion rates.
Cookie
A small text file is stored on a visitor’s computer by a web server. Cookies are used by affiliate marketing programs to track affiliate referrals and sales.
Cost-Per-Action/Acquisition (CPA)
CPA marketing is a type of affiliate marketing where you are paid every time someone completes an action, such as filling out a form or signing up for a service.
This is a great option for beginners because it doesn’t require any skills or experience and it can be done from the comfort of your own home.
Cost-Per-Lead (CPL)
A metric that is similar to CPA is cost-per-lead (CPL).
With CPL, you are paid every time someone provides their contact information, such as an email address or phone number.
This can be a great way to generate leads for your business.
Click-Through-Rate (CTR)
The Click-through rate is the percentage of people who click on your ad after seeing it.
This is a valuable metric to track because it can help you determine how effective your ads are.
Passive Income
The money you earn when your traffic is not directly related to the activity of a sale.
This is most commonly associated with bloggers who monetize their sites through advertising, affiliate marketing, or other forms of passive income generation.
Pay-Per-Click (PPC)
PPC is a type of advertising where you pay every time someone clicks on your ad. This is a great way to get traffic and leads quickly, but it can also be incredibly expensive.
Pay-Per-Sale (PPS)
The merchant pays the affiliate a percentage of every sale that they generate. This is the most common type of affiliate marketing and can be a great way to make some extra money.
There are certainly more terms that are used, but these are the ones I think you should become familiar with before you start promoting products.
How do I Start Affiliate Marketing?
The best way to start affiliate marketing is by finding offers that suit your niche and promoting them online. Below are the steps to start affiliate marketing:
- Find an affiliate program or affiliate network to join
- Create a blog for affiliate marketing
- Search engine optimization
- Research and select Affiliate Products
- Create quality content
- Drive traffic to your affiliate links
- Build an email list
Find an affiliate program or affiliate network to join
The first step in getting started is to look for a company that has a program or look for a network to join.
You would be surprised how many companies have an affiliate program. Let’s take Target (one of my favorite places to shop) for example.
The Target affiliate program can be found by going to Target.com and looking at the footer of the site for “Affiliate & Partners”.
If Target isn’t your thing, then try Amazon.
By far, Amazon is one of the most popular programs for beginners. The reason why is that it’s free to join and only requires you to have a functional website.
Once you’re accepted as an affiliate and you can get your links for any product from a ton of businesses that sell on Amazon, or direct from Amazon. You’re no longer limited to just having one universal link for the whole company.
You also have the option of joining an affiliate. The idea of an affiliate network and a company that has an affiliate program aren’t very different.
It’s just the name and how you get paid might be slightly different depending on which one you choose to join.
The reason why I recommend joining an affiliate network instead of signing up directly through Amazon if it’s your first time getting started with affiliate marketing is that there are times when some products for your selected niche will not be available from Amazon.
Create a blog for affiliate marketing
Once you’ve found a company that has an affiliate program, the next step is to create your affiliate marketing website.
Making websites can be overwhelming at first, but it’s not impossible. I created my review site in less than 5 minutes with no experience so don’t worry!
First, you need to buy a domain name and some hosting from a company like HostGator. There a plenty of other hosting companies out there, but Hostgator was the cheapest hosting for me when I started building websites.
Once you have those two items in place, then it’s time to install WordPress on your site.
I recommend choosing a theme from WordPress because they offer some great-looking affiliate templates that are free to download.
There are many other options available if you look around though so play around until you find something that works well for what you’re trying to accomplish.
Search Engine Optimization
After you pick your theme, the next step is to start optimizing your website for search engines.
This is something that can take a little bit of time, but it’s definitely worth the effort.
The easiest way to get started with SEO is to use the RankMath SEO plugin for WordPress. It’s free and easy to use. You can find it by going to your WP dashboard and going to Plugins -> Add New.
Once you have found the plugin, go ahead and install it and activate it on your website. It’s as easy as that!
This plugin will help you with both your on-page and off-page SEO. Go through the settings and configure them to best suit your website.
Additionally, you will also want to set up a Google Analytics account and connect Google Search Console to your website.
Both of these are free tools that you can use to give you great insights into how your website is performing from a traffic standpoint.
Research and select Affiliate Products to promote
Once you have your website up and running and fully optimized, it’s time to start promoting affiliate items that match the interest of your audience.
The best way to do this is by researching what people are searching on Google related to topics relevant to affiliate programs you’re considering joining.
By doing a quick search in Google looking at keywords like “Canva affiliate program” I was able to find pages from other blogs offering information about how someone can earn money with Canva.
Once you’ve found your products from your selected affiliate marketing program, it’s time to create content for your awesome affiliate site!
Create high-quality content
In affiliate marketing, they say “content is king” which is true. You have to focus on creating content that people will want to read and that will actually help them solve a problem.
If you spend time writing a good article, chances are it’s going to be well received by your visitors and shared around the internet, which will help build your traffic over time.
So, how do you go about creating quality blog content? Here are a few tips to help get you started:
1. Know your audience
Before you even start writing, it’s important to know who your target audience is. What are their interests? What are they struggling with? What do they want to learn more about?
Once you know who your target audience is, you can start tailoring your content to fit their needs. This will help ensure that your content is interesting and useful to them, which will, in turn, help you attract more visitors.
2. Keep them interested
Now that you know what your target audience wants, it’s time to deliver. Write about topics and issues that they’ll be passionate about reading.
Try not to ramble on and keep things interesting for them by addressing common problems or providing helpful tips.
Make sure that you’re always keeping an eye on the uniqueness of your content as well. If everything on the internet looks the same, chances are your readers won’t stick around for long.
3. Research your topic
This one is a no-brainer, but it’s still worth mentioning. Before you start writing, make sure to do your research and gather as much information as you can about the topic at hand.
Not only will this help make your content more informative, but it will also help you come up with new ideas for future articles.
4. Write, rewrite, and then rewrite again
This one can be a bit of a challenge, but it’s definitely worth it in the end. No one is perfect, and chances are you’ll have to rewrite your article a few times before it’s ready for publication.
This is normal, so don’t worry about it!
Just make sure that you’re taking the time to revise and polish your work before hitting publish. This will help ensure that your content is of the highest quality possible.
5. Use images and videos
Including images and videos in your content can be a great way to capture your readers’ attention and help explain your points more effectively. Plus, it makes things more interesting and engaging for them to read.
So, make sure to use images and videos whenever possible to break up the text and help illustrate your points.
Creating content isn’t easy, but it’s definitely worth it in the end. By following these tips, you’ll be on your way to writing content that people will love and want to share.
Drive traffic to your affiliate links
Once you’ve created your content, it’s time to add links and bring in some traffic!
Here are a few traffic strategies for driving more visitors over to your affiliate product landing page:
1. Make sure that your links are noticeable and easy to find on every page of your site. This means placing it above the fold (where someone can see it without having to scroll down) and in a noticeable spot.
2. Share your content on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Make sure to include a link to your affiliate landing page so that people can easily find it.
3. Add a banner or widget linking to your affiliate landing page on your website or blog. This will help advertise your product to your visitors and increase your chances of making a sale.
4. Include a link to your affiliate landing page in your email signature. This is an easy way to let people know about your product and direct them over to your landing page.
5. Write guest posts on other websites related to your niche. In your guest post, include a link to your affiliate landing page as well as a brief description of the product.
By using these tips, you’ll be able to drive more traffic over to your affiliate landing page and increase your affiliate sales.
Build an email list
Another strategy that you should use to help promote your affiliate product is to build a list of customer emails.
Make sure that everyone who visits your website and blog has the option of signing up for your mailing list, and make sure to add a sign-up form (a.k.a. squeeze page) on every page of your site.
If someone subscribes to your list, you will be able to email them whenever you have a new product or offer. This is an excellent way to increase your affiliate sales even further.
Collecting emails will allow you to build a relationship with your readers and help promote all of your products.
How to Become an Affiliate for Amazon
To become an affiliate for Amazon you need to do the following:
- Sign up for Amazon Associates Account
- Fill out your Amazon Associates Profile
- Create Your Affiliate Link
- Research and select Affiliate Products
Sign up for Amazon Associates Account
In order to become an Amazon Affiliate, you will first need to sign up for an Amazon Associates account.
To do this, head over to the Amazon Associates registration page and fill out your information.
Be sure that both of the boxes below “Associates Program” are checked so that you’re in compliance with their terms and conditions.
Next, click “Join”. You’ll be taken back to a confirmation page that includes a link to your Associate ID as well as some basic instructions about how affiliate marketing works.
In particular, it’s important at this stage if you want to include images or banners from other sites within any promotional content – otherwise, they may flag you for copyright infringement.
Fill out your Amazon Associates Profile
Next, you’ll want to fill out your information on the Amazon affiliate program profile Page. Make sure to be as detailed as possible so your prospective customers can know exactly what they’re getting if they buy that product.
Also, don’t forget to pick a unique and professional-sounding name for yourself! This is the name that will show up on any Amazon links you share.
Now it’s time to create your affiliate link.
Create Your Amazon Associates Affiliate Link
This is easy – all you have to do is head over to the Amazon Associates home page and log in.
Once you’re logged in, you will see your Associate ID number in the top right corner of the screen.
To create your tracking link, type that number into the “create links” box on the main toolbar and select the option you want. You can create text, images, or banner links.
For the purposes of this post, we’ll be using a text link.
To do this, just copy the link that says “Text Links” and paste it into your website or blog post. When someone clicks on it, they will be taken to the product page on Amazon.
They can purchase the item from there and you’ll earn a commission.
Now it’s time to find products!
Research and select Affiliate Products
The best way to do this is by typing the name of the product you want in the top search bar and selecting “see all” when it pops up.
This will show you a whole list of different categories that your chosen item might fall under.
For example, let’s say I have a website where I share my favorite recipes and cooking tips. I write an article about an awesome hot wings recipe using the Instant Vortex Air Fryer.
I go to Amazon and get the link for the air fryer and place it in the article using some sort of call-to-action like “Click here to check out the Instant Vortex Air Fryer“.
Ideally, visitors to your site will click on the link and be redirected to the page on Amazon and buy the air fryer.
What’s even cooler is that even if they buy something other than the air fryer I recommended, anything that they add to their cart and purchase within 24 hours of clicking that link, I will get a commission for that particular product on Amazon.
Not many other affiliate programs offer this.
How Much in Commissions can I Earn?
Commissions will vary depending on the affiliate program you join. In the case of Amazon, their commission fees range from 0% – 10%. They also have special program fees that payout in dollar amounts.
Using Amazon’s Standard Fee Schedule you can see the different types of products and what you could expect to make per sale. In my example above I used an air fryer as the product to earn a commission on.
On Amazon, the air fryer falls under Home & Kitchen and it has a price of $79.95. Looking at the fee table below, this air fryer would fall into the “All Other Categories” at 4%.
Now I know 4% isn’t a whole lot for this particular item. In fact, you’ll only make about $3. Seems like a chump change, but there are plenty of affiliate programs out there that offer a higher percentage of payouts.
But don’t solely concentrate on the big payout. Place your energy into researching the products in your particular niche, writing quality articles, and providing value to your visitors.
At a minimum, if you do those three things, you will be well on your way to becoming an affiliate marketer poised to achieve success.
Final Thoughts
If you have ever wondered “can you really make money from affiliate marketing” the answer is yes, you can.
It’s not easy and it does take time to build the necessary relationships and understanding of how it works, but with dedication and persistence, anyone can become a successful affiliate marketer.
The number one thing to keep in mind when embarking on this journey is that you don’t have to be perfect, but you do have to start somewhere.
As long as you research the products in your niche, write quality articles for your website or blog posts and provide value to potential customers, you will become successful as an affiliate marketer.
Good luck! 🎉🎉🎉 💰 💰 💰 👩💻 👨
Affiliate Marketing Tutorial FAQs
Is Affiliate Marketing Worth It?
In short, yes, affiliate marketing is worth it!
However, you will not be an instant millionaire from doing so. Always remember that there are a lot of people out there trying to do the exact same thing you’re doing.
This means that it will take time and effort to break into the industry and make money.
The beginning stages of your marketing career probably won’t see you making a whole lot but it’s important not to get discouraged or think of the process as a waste of time because eventually after a few hard months/years things can really start picking up.
Trust me when I say this though, once they do pick up, just imagine how great those commissions will feel at that point in your career :).
Which Is the Biggest Affiliate Network That is Best for Beginners?
If you want to maximize your chances of success as a beginner affiliate marketer, it’s important to join a large and reputable network.
These affiliate networks are home to thousands of merchants and offer a variety of products to promote.
Some affiliate networks include:
Commission Junction (CJ)- CJ is one of the largest and most well-known networks. It has a huge selection of merchants and products to choose from, making it a great option for beginners.
Clickbank – Clickbank is another popular network for affiliates with a wide range of digital products to promote. This makes it a great choice for beginner affiliate marketers who want to focus on selling digital products.
Amazon Associates – We highlighted this one earlier. Amazon Associates is the network that Amazon has built, and it offers a huge range of products to promote, making it a great option for beginners.
Of course, there are plenty more, but I think these are the 3 biggest options for beginner affiliate marketers. If you want to find other networks, just do a Google search and you’ll find plenty more.
Is There an Affiliate Marketing Course I Can Take?
There are a number of online courses you can take to learn affiliate marketing. When I first got started as an affiliate, I initially took a course offered by Chris Farrell, Udemy, Skillshare, and Wealthy Affiliate.
These courses will walk you through the whole process of setting up your website or blog, writing content that people want to read, and then sending visitors to a relevant product on an affiliate’s website.
If you’re just starting out, and you want to really learn about affiliate marketing , I would definitely recommend taking a course first.
Why Do Affiliate Marketers Fail?
First and foremost, affiliate marketing is just like any other business, it takes work to be successful. In this kind of industry, there will always be people who don’t take their business seriously enough and just expect to make money without putting in the effort.
What’s worse than someone not taking their business seriously? Someone who doesn’t take care of their customers. If you want to be successful with affiliate marketing, you should invest time and energy.
If you’re not willing to do that, then I would suggest not starting with affiliate marketing or even digital marketing. It’s better to go into it knowing that there is work involved and then later down the line, if you decide that you don’t want to put in the effort, then find something else.