Affiliate marketing is a performance-based online marketing strategy where an individual (the affiliate) earns a commission by promoting another company’s products or services. When someone makes a purchase or completes a desired action (like signing up for a service) through the affiliate’s unique referral link, the affiliate earns a percentage of the sale.
🔧 How It Works
- Affiliate joins a program: They sign up for a company’s affiliate program (e.g., Amazon Associates, ShareASale, ClickBank).
- Gets a unique tracking link: The company provides the affiliate with a custom URL to track traffic and sales.
- Promotes the product/service: Via a blog, YouTube, social media, email list, etc.
- Earns commission on conversions: If a user clicks the link and completes the desired action, the affiliate earns money.
💡 Example
A tech blogger writes a review of a laptop and includes an Amazon affiliate link. When a reader clicks that link and buys the laptop, the blogger earns a percentage of the sale.
📈 Benefits
- Low startup cost: No need to create your own product.
- Passive income: Earn money even while you sleep, if content ranks or trends.
- Scalable: One piece of content can generate long-term income.
🛠️ Popular Affiliate Networks
- Amazon Associates (products of all types)
- ClickBank (digital products)
- CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction)
- ShareASale
- Rakuten Advertising
🚩 Watch Out For
- Needing high-quality content to stand out
- Compliance with disclosure regulations (e.g., telling users it’s an affiliate link)
- Platforms banning affiliate links (some social media or email providers restrict them)
Would you like help:
- Starting an affiliate website?
- Picking a niche or program?
- Writing affiliate content?
Let me know how deep you want to go!
