TIPS & TOOLS BASICS

Selling Other Brand's Stuff is the Key to Affiliate Marketing (3 min read)

Dec 31, 2021

Are you looking for a way to make some extra cash online? Well, you probably already know that affiliate marketing is a great way to do just that, but in this blog post, we'll talk about WHY selling other brand's stuff is the key to affiliate marketing success.


What is Affiliate Marketing?

Okay, so that we're all on the same page, let's quickly go over what affiliate marketing is. Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing where a brand pays a commission to affiliates for every sale they make, like this. Affiliates promote the brand's products or services on their website, social media, or other channels. When someone clicks on an affiliate's link and makes a purchase, the affiliate earns a commission. Woohoo!


Why Selling Other Brand's Stuff is THE Key to Affiliate Marketing

Now, let's talk about why selling other brand's stuff is the key to affiliate marketing and it's potential success.


First and foremost, it allows you to focus on what you do best – promoting products or services that you believe in, like this. You don't have to worry about creating your products, handling customer service, or fulfilling orders. You can leave those tasks to the brand, which means you can focus on promoting the products and earning commissions.


Not having to handle customer support cannot be overemphasized. Once a customer purchases a product through your affiliate link, the brand takes care of the technical aspects, such as processing the payment, shipping the product, and handling any returns or customer inquiries. Not only can you focus on promoting and selling the product without worrying about any technical issues that may arise, you don't have to spend time and money on hiring customer support staff, which can be a huge expense for businesses.


Another great thing about selling other brand's stuff is that it allows you to diversify your revenue streams. This is super critical in this day and age. If you only promote your own products (which you may not even have, so it may be a moot point), you're limited to the revenue that your products generate. However, if you promote other brands' products, you can earn commissions from multiple sources, which can increase your revenue and reduce your dependence on any one product or service. Plus you can test different products and see which ones perform best for your audience, allowing you to optimize your promotions and earn more money


And when you promote a well-known brand, you can leverage the brand's reputation and existing customer base. Customers are more likely to trust and buy from that brand. Not only can you use that trust to your advantage by promoting the brand's products to your own audience, but if the brand has an existing customer base, you can tap into that customer base and promote products to them as well.


How to Find Right Brands to Promote

Again, this is basic, but how do you go about finding the right brand and products to promote?


The first step is to identify your niche and target audience. You want to promote products that are relevant to your niche and appeal to your audience, and then you can start researching brands that offer products or services that align with your niche. Look for brands that have an affiliate program and offer competitive commissions, like this. You can also look for brands that have a strong online presence and a good reputation.


How to Promote Products Effectively

And when it comes to promoting products, there are a few things you should keep in mind.


First, be honest and transparent with your audience. Disclose that you're an affiliate and that you earn a commission for every sale made through your link. It's also important to only promote products that you believe in and have used yourself. Your audience trusts you, and promoting products that you don't believe in can damage that trust.


To promote products effectively, it's important to create quality content. Write reviews, tutorials, and guides that provide value to your audience. Use your affiliate links strategically and include them in your content in a way that feels natural and not forced. Don't spam your audience with affiliate links, as this can be a turnoff and reduce your credibility.


Another way to promote products is by is by leveraging different promotional channels like social media, email marketing, Youtube and SEO to reach a wider audience and increase conversions (sales). Affiliates should create engaging content that is relevant to their audience and promotes the products / services effectively. By using different promotional channels, you can diversify your marketing efforts and reach more potential customers- YES!


Tips for Maximizing Affiliate Marketing Success

Now, like me, you may learn the hard way that true success requires more than just joining a program and posting a few links on your website or social media.


Here are some tips for maximizing your affiliate marketing success.


First, email marketing and nurturing relationships with subscribers is a powerful tool for affiliate marketers. By building an email list, you can communicate directly with your audience. And by regularly sending valuable content and promotions to your subscribers, you can build trust and loyalty with your audience. You should focus on providing value to your subscribers that helps them solve problems or achieve their goals and avoid spamming them with irrelevant or low-quality content. This will increase their likelihood of opening and engaging with your emails and ultimately clicking through to your occasional promotional offers for affiliate products.


Email marketing 101 TIP: To build an email list, you can offer a free incentive, such as an e-book or a webinar, in exchange for subscribers' email addresses.


Because affiliate marketing is a constantly evolving industry, with new trends and changes happening all the time, another tip for maximizing your success is the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest developments and adjust your strategies accordingly. One way to stay informed is to subscribe to industry publications and blogs. Attend webinars and conferences to learn from experts and network with other affiliate marketers. Joining online communities or forums is another way to stay informed and learn from others in the industry.


Another success tip is the importance of continually testing and optimizing your promotional strategies, because not all promotional strategies work equally well for every affiliate marketer or product.


For example, you can try different types of content, such as blog posts, videos, or social media posts, to see what resonates best with your audience. You can also experiment with different types of promotional offers, such as discounts, limited-time offers, or bonuses.


You'll want to track and analyze your results to determine what's working and what's not. Using tools such as Google Analytics or affiliate tracking software to monitor clicks, conversions, and revenue allows you to see what adjustments are working and what adjustments you may want to make to optimize your strategies and their effects.


Finally, building a personal brand and establishing credibility as an expert in your niche can help you stand out from other affiliate marketers and attract a loyal following.

To build your personal brand, focus on creating high-quality content that provides value to your audience. You need to be knowledgeable about your products and industry trends and be willing to share your expertise with your audience. Consider creating how-to guides, product reviews, or other types of content that demonstrate your knowledge and expertise.


Share your personal experiences and insights and be transparent about your affiliations. Consistency is key, so aim to publish content regularly and engage with your audience on social media and in comments sections.


In conclusion, selling other brand's stuff rather than (just) your own is the key to affiliate marketing success. You can save time and effort by not having to create your own products, avoid handling customer support, earn higher commission rates, and diversify your income streams by promoting multiple products across different niches. So if you're looking to make money online, look no further than our TOP Affiliate Picks.


**NOTE: Links in my posts are often affiliate links, which may generate referral income to me at NO cost to you. :)