What is affiliate marketing and what does it involve?
Affiliate marketing is a process where brands or advertisers commission affiliate partners (often referred to as ‘commission partners’) to promote their products or services to specific segments of their audience and generate profit.
A branch of performance as well as content marketing, affiliate programs or campaigns are based on capturing a consumer’s attention at the right stage of their journey by generating compelling content across channels and inspiring them to click a link with the aim of generating sales.
If a consumer converts as a result of a piece of affiliate content, the brand pays a commission to the affiliate.
For a detailed rundown of the concept, explore our definitive guide: affiliate marketing explained.
As an affiliate marketer, you will be responsible for managing professional relationships and developing a variety of content-centric campaigns to engage specific target audiences at the times they’re most likely to convert.
Here are some of the key duties and responsibilities you will take on as an affiliate marketer:
Sourcing the right affiliate networks and partners
Managing and nurturing affiliate partner relationships
Collaborating with various internal departments and marketers to develop campaign initiatives
Developing, curating, and creating compelling affiliate marketing content across channels, mediums, and touchpoints
Managing campaigns, measuring results, and continually evolving your business’s affiliate marketing strategy
While salaries or incomes differ depending on a range of factors including following, niche, and current industry trends, leading influencers make an incredibly healthy living from their craft—especially when they build their brand the right way. Which brings us onto our next subject.
How to become an affiliate marketer: essential tips
You know what an affiliate marketer does and how much you can potentially make from this exciting branch of digital marketing. Now, let’s look at how to become an affiliate marketer
Know your industry
First of all, to become an affiliate marketer, you should know your industry inside-out—and that means keeping your finger on the pulse.
To gain a well-rounded understanding of the craft and stay up to date with the latest industry news or updates, you should do the following things:
Read affiliate marketing and digital marketing publications
Listen to affiliate marketing themed podcasts
Sign up for webinars and digital conferences that cover affiliate marketing subjects
Follow affiliate marketing specialists on social media platforms including LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and reach out to other professionals for tips and advice
Be consistent and keep nurturing your skills and content over time
Discover your niche area
Affiliate marketing is a profession filled with variety. That said, having the knowledge and expertise to work with a variety of partners, services, and telemarketing list products is essential—but, if you can also have a niche area (one in which you can display an even greater level of skill, knowledge, expertise or partnerships), you stand to open up more opportunities, expanding your income in the process.
When you’re deciding on a niche to explore, you should ask yourself these questions:
Do I have in-depth knowledge, or believe in the products or services I'm looking to promote? Remember, you need to sell these products or services to real consumers and encourage conversions—so, this is vital.
Is there a market demand for affiliate marketers in my potential niche? Areas like emerging technologies and travel, for instance, might offer more scope and career sustainability than currently trending fashion accessories or gadgets.
Gain the right skills
When considering how to become an affiliate marketer, it’s important to set about gaining the appropriate digital marketing skills to attract potential clients or employers.