Table of Contents
- 1. Don’t Rely on One Affiliate Program
- 2. Focus on the Conversion Rate, Not the Commission Amount
- 3. Focus on Recurring Commissions
- 4. Negotiate Exclusive Discounts and Promote Them
- 5. Emphasize the Consequences of Not Taking Action
- 6. Employ Proven Copywriting Techniques
- 7. Offer Alternative Products
- 8. Use the Products You Recommend
- 9. Create Visually Compelling Content Widgets
- 10. Mimic the Best Affiliate Marketers
- 11. Use Scarcity to Push People to Take Action
- 12. Offer Bonuses for Buying with Your Affiliate Link
- 13. Create a Product Review Policy Page
- 14. Disclose Affiliate Links
- 15. Build a Tracking System for Each Affiliate Program
- 16. Build a Segmented Email List
- 17. Create Segmented Lead Magnets
- 18. Promote Offers on Your Thank You Page
- 19. Use Google Trends to Find Trending Topics
- 20. Don’t Just Target “Best” Keywords for SEO
- 21. Refresh Your Content Regularly
- 22. If One of Your Sites Is Doing Well, Build a Second Site Targeting the Same Keywords
- 23. Tap into the Power of Affiliate Marketing Communities
Affiliate marketing is a popular way for individuals and businesses to earn passive income by promoting products or services and earning a commission for each sale made through their affiliate link. However, success in affiliate marketing requires more than just signing up for an affiliate program and sharing your affiliate links. To truly excel in this field, you need to implement best practices that will set you apart from the competition and maximize your earning potential.
Affiliate Marketing Best Practices
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the top affiliate marketing best practices that can help you build a profitable affiliate business. From diversifying your affiliate programs to leveraging scarcity and employing proven copywriting techniques, these strategies will give you the edge you need to succeed. So let’s dive in and discover the key tactics and tips that will take your affiliate marketing to the next level.
Affiliate Marketing Best Practices
1. Don’t Rely on One Affiliate Program
One of the biggest risks in affiliate marketing is relying on a single affiliate program for the majority of your income. This can leave you vulnerable to changes in the company’s terms, financial stability, or even the sale of the company. To mitigate these risks and protect your income, it is crucial to diversify your affiliate programs.
Affiliate Marketing Best Practices
Having backup affiliate partners waiting in the wings ensures that you have multiple revenue sources in case something goes awry with your main affiliate program. By spreading your affiliate income across different programs, you reduce the risk of losing a significant portion of your revenue overnight.
Affiliate Marketing Best Practices
2. Focus on the Conversion Rate, Not the Commission Amount
While the commission amount is an important factor in affiliate marketing, it is not the sole determinant of your earning potential. A high commission is meaningless if no one buys the affiliate product. Instead, focus on the conversion rate, which is often more important than the potential commission for affiliate sales.
Affiliate Marketing Best Practices
Consider this example: Company A offers a $200 commission with a 1% conversion rate, while Company B offers a $20 commission with a 12% conversion rate. If you send 1,000 customers to each company, you would earn $2,000 from Company A and $2,400 from Company B. Even though the commission rate for Company B is lower, the higher conversion rate makes it the more profitable option.
Affiliate Marketing Best Practices
Additionally, as you generate high-sales volume, you can negotiate your affiliate rates up, further emphasizing the importance of focusing on the conversion rate.
3. Focus on Recurring Commissions
One of the smartest ways to make more money with an affiliate business is to promote products that offer recurring commissions. By convincing someone to buy a subscription-based product, you can earn a commission each month they remain subscribed.
Products with recurring commissions, also known as “sticky” products, can bring in a significant amount of money over time. People who subscribe to these products often find it difficult to unsubscribe due to the significant disruption it would cause to their work or lifestyle. Some examples of sticky products that can generate great recurring affiliate income include email marketing software, project management software, CRM software, web hosting, bookkeeping software, VPNs, and cell phone plans.
4. Negotiate Exclusive Discounts and Promote Them
Offering exclusive, time-sensitive discounts is an effective way to incentivize people to buy through your affiliate link. By asking your affiliate partners to provide a discount for people who use your affiliate link, you can increase conversions through the use of exit pop-ups and genuine scarcity.
Instead of plastering the discount everywhere on your page, consider taking a different approach. Advertise the full product price on the page to anchor the value of the product, and then use an exit pop-up to push the discount “in the face” of the reader. This creates a sense of urgency and makes the reader value the discount more because they thought they would have to pay the full price. Implementing a genuine timer and disabling the discount once the time is up is crucial to maintaining ethical practices.
5. Emphasize the Consequences of Not Taking Action
Fear is a powerful motivator, and tapping into this emotion can significantly boost conversion rates. By explaining the consequences of not buying a product, you can help your audience understand the risk they’re taking if they don’t act.
Present the potential consequences clearly and concisely, without going overboard with scare tactics. Going too far can make your content feel pushy and disingenuous, especially if the consequences aren’t severe. By striking the right balance, you can effectively convey the importance of taking action without resorting to unethical practices.
6. Employ Proven Copywriting Techniques
Copywriting is a critical skill in affiliate marketing, as it allows you to craft compelling sales copy that persuades readers to take action. By employing proven copywriting techniques, you can create hard-hitting sales copy that resonates with your audience and drives conversions.
One effective strategy is to focus on benefits and visualizations. Most people base their purchasing decisions on emotions rather than logic, so it’s essential to list the features, explain the benefits of those features, and create a vivid picture of what life would be like with that benefit. By appealing to your audience’s emotions and providing a clear vision of the benefits they’ll experience, you can increase the likelihood of them making a purchase.
Another useful copywriting framework is the Problem-Agitation-Solution (PAS) framework. This framework involves identifying the problem your audience is facing, amplifying the problem and making it more urgent, and finally presenting your product or service as the best solution to the problem. By following this framework, you can effectively address your audience’s pain points and position your affiliate product as the solution they need.
7. Offer Alternative Products
Not everyone will be interested in buying the product you’ve deemed the “best.” By providing alternatives that are cheaper, more portable, or have other significant differences, you can increase conversions by shifting the reader’s decision from “Do I buy?” to “Which one do I buy?”.
To find relevant differentiators, analyze the “Related Searches” and “People Also Search For” sections on Google when you search for your target keyword. These sections can provide valuable insights into alternative products that your audience may be interested in. By showcasing these alternatives, you can cater to a wider range of preferences and increase your chances of earning a commission.
8. Use the Products You Recommend
To build trust with your readers and increase conversions, it is essential to use the products you recommend. By documenting your usage with photos and videos, you can provide authentic and credible evidence of your experience with the product.
Using original photos and videos not only builds trust but also drives more organic traffic. When people search for product reviews, they often look for visual evidence of the product in action. By providing high-quality photos and videos, you can capture the attention of your audience and increase the likelihood of them making a purchase through your affiliate link.
9. Create Visually Compelling Content Widgets
Incorporating visually appealing widgets into your affiliate marketing content can make it more engaging and increase conversions. Creating visually compelling content widgets can help you showcase products, features, and comparisons in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
Take inspiration from high-quality sites like The Wirecutter, Sleep Foundation, and The Points Guy, and experiment with your own designs. Tools like GenerateBlocks can help you create visually appealing widgets and comparison tables that enhance the overall user experience and make your content stand out.
10. Mimic the Best Affiliate Marketers
When it comes to affiliate marketing, it pays to learn from the best. By analyzing and studying the strategies of successful affiliate marketers, you can gain valuable insights and apply their tactics to your own affiliate business.
Sites like NerdWallet, Modern Castle, and Swim University have unique strengths that set them apart from the competition. By studying their content, layout, and user experience, you can identify the key elements that make them successful and incorporate those elements into your own affiliate marketing strategy.
11. Use Scarcity to Push People to Take Action
Scarcity is a powerful psychological tactic that can create a sense of urgency and drive people to take action. By using scarcity in your affiliate marketing campaigns, you can incentivize your audience to make a purchase before time runs out or supplies run low.
There are several ways to use scarcity effectively, such as using countdown timers, offering limited registration windows for courses, providing time-sensitive bonuses, and emphasizing limited availability. These tactics can create a fear of missing out (FOMO) and prompt your audience to take immediate action.
12. Offer Bonuses for Buying with Your Affiliate Link
Offering free bonuses for using your affiliate link can significantly increase conversions and make your offer more enticing. By providing additional value, such as consultations, reports, or courses, you can increase the perceived value of the deal and make people more likely to buy.
Research has shown that offering bonuses can have a significant impact on purchase decisions. By presenting your audience with a valuable bonus that complements the product or service you’re promoting, you can differentiate yourself from other affiliates and increase your chances of earning a commission.
13. Create a Product Review Policy Page
Transparency is crucial in affiliate marketing, and a product review policy page can help establish trust with your readers. By clearly outlining your review process and disclosing your affiliate relationships, you show your commitment to transparency and ethical practices.
A product review policy page also helps boost your E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), a crucial ranking factor on Google. By demonstrating that you have hands-on experience with the products you’re reviewing and providing a clear framework for your reviews, you can enhance your credibility and improve your rankings.
For an excellent example of a product review policy page, check out Sleep Foundation’s research methodology page. This page clearly outlines their approach to reviewing products and provides transparency to their readers.
14. Disclose Affiliate Links
Disclosing affiliate links in your content is not only an ethical practice but also a legal requirement. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) mandates that affiliate marketers disclose their relationships and be transparent about their affiliate links.
To add an affiliate disclaimer, you can edit your WordPress post template and automatically add a disclosure to every post. This ensures compliance with FTC guidelines while avoiding the site speed issues that can come with disclosure plugins.
By adding an affiliate disclaimer, you demonstrate your commitment to transparency and build trust with your audience. This can ultimately lead to higher conversions and a more successful affiliate marketing business.
15. Build a Tracking System for Each Affiliate Program
To make educated decisions on which keywords to target and which affiliate products to recommend, it is crucial to have a tracking system in place. By tracking the performance of each affiliate program, you can identify the pages that generate the most revenue and optimize your strategies accordingly.
Tools like Lasso can help you create an affiliate marketing tracking system that provides valuable data on click-through rates, conversion rates, and revenue. By integrating your affiliate networks and tracking your affiliate links, you can gain insights into the effectiveness of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions to maximize your earnings.
16. Build a Segmented Email List
Segmenting your email list is a powerful strategy that can significantly improve your email marketing campaigns. By dividing your email list into smaller, more targeted groups, you can send tailored messages that resonate with each subscriber, leading to higher open rates, click-through rates, and conversions.
To segment your email list, use tags or other segmentation methods offered by your email marketing platform. By tagging subscribers based on their interests, preferences, or behavior, you can create targeted email campaigns that cater to their specific needs. This personalized approach increases the relevance of your emails and makes your audience more likely to engage with your affiliate offers.
17. Create Segmented Lead Magnets
In addition to segmenting your email list, you can also create segmented lead magnets to attract subscribers with specific interests. Instead of using a generic lead magnet, create lead magnets that appeal to each segment of your audience.
For example, if you have a personal finance website, you can create lead magnets targeting different topics such as credit cards, mortgages, or money-saving tips. By offering lead magnets that align with your audience’s interests, you can attract more subscribers and increase the chances of them becoming customers through your affiliate links.
18. Promote Offers on Your Thank You Page
When someone downloads a lead magnet or signs up for your email list, take advantage of the opportunity to promote additional offers on your thank you page. By expressing your gratitude and providing valuable content or offers, you can further engage your audience and increase conversions.
There are two main strategies for promoting offers on your thank you page: using an offer wall or recommending a single product. An offer wall displays multiple offers, allowing your audience to choose what interests them. On the other hand, recommending a single product can be more effective if you want to focus on promoting a specific product or have a more targeted audience. Experiment with both strategies to find what works best for your audience and niche.
19. Use Google Trends to Find Trending Topics
Staying on top of trending topics can give you a competitive edge in affiliate marketing. By using Google Trends to identify topics that are rising in popularity, you can be one of the first to create content about those topics and capture the attention of your audience.
For example, if you’re in the golf niche and you know new golf clubs are often released in January, you can check Google Trends early in the year to see which clubs are trending. By creating content about those clubs before your competition, you can position yourself as an authority and attract more organic traffic to your site.
20. Don’t Just Target “Best” Keywords for SEO
While targeting “best” keywords is a common strategy in affiliate marketing, it’s essential to broaden your keyword focus to include other types of keywords with strong buyer intent. Keywords like “vs” keywords (e.g., product A vs. product B), “alternatives” keywords, and “review” keywords can all have high conversion rates and less competition.
By targeting these keywords, you can tap into specific search intent and cater to users who are actively comparing products, looking for alternatives, or seeking reviews before making a purchase. This broader keyword strategy allows you to reach a wider audience and capture more potential customers.
21. Refresh Your Content Regularly
To maintain your site’s visibility and rankings, it’s crucial to regularly update your affiliate content. By refreshing your content and keeping it up-to-date, you show search engines like Google that your site is current and relevant, which can lead to higher rankings and increased organic traffic.
Updating your content also builds trust with your visitors. When they see that your site provides accurate and up-to-date information, they are more likely to trust your recommendations and make a purchase through your affiliate links. Regularly reviewing and updating your content ensures that it remains valuable and authoritative, setting you apart from your competitors.
22. If One of Your Sites Is Doing Well, Build a Second Site Targeting the Same Keywords
If you have a successful affiliate site that is performing well, consider building a second site targeting the same keywords. By targeting the same keywords with a different site, you can dominate search results and increase your chances of earning commissions.
Building a second site also helps diversify your income sources. If one site gets penalized or hacked, you have another site that can continue generating revenue. Additionally, running multiple sites allows you to test different marketing strategies and page layouts to see what works best for your audience and niche.
To give your new site an initial boost, consider linking to it from your established site. This can help drive traffic and increase its visibility in search engines.
23. Tap into the Power of Affiliate Marketing Communities
Affiliate marketing communities are valuable resources for affiliate marketers. They provide a platform for knowledge sharing, idea exchange, and networking with like-minded individuals. By joining an affiliate marketing community, you can tap into the collective wisdom of experienced marketers and gain insights that can help you grow your affiliate business.
The Authority Site System (TASS) is one of the largest and most successful SEO and affiliate marketing communities, with over 12,000 students. It offers up-to-date SEO information, diverse perspectives from successful marketers, and access to exclusive resources. Whether you’re a new affiliate marketer or an experienced pro, joining an affiliate marketing community like TASS can provide invaluable support and guidance on your journey to affiliate marketing success.
Implementing the best practices outlined in this guide can significantly impact your success in affiliate marketing. From diversifying your affiliate programs and focusing on conversion rates to leveraging scarcity and employing proven copywriting techniques, these strategies can help you build a profitable affiliate business.
Remember to always prioritize transparency, ethical practices, and providing value to your audience. By establishing trust, delivering valuable content, and recommending products that genuinely meet your audience’s needs, you can create a sustainable and successful affiliate marketing business.
So take these best practices to heart, apply them to your affiliate marketing strategy, and watch your earnings soar. Happy affiliate marketing!