What is Affiliate Marketing?
What exactly is affiliate marketing, anyway?
You’ve probably heard a hundred different versions by now—most of them either oversimplifying or overcomplicating things (because why not make your brain hurt, right?). But let me break it down for you, nice and easy…
Imagine you’re a car salesman. You don’t own the car, the dealership does. When you sell it, the dealership gives you a commission. Easy, right?
Affiliate marketing is basically that—only instead of cars, it’s mostly online products. And instead of a dealership, it’s companies all around the web. You recommend a product, someone buys it through your special link, and boom—you get a commission. No garage required.
It’s a legit way to make money, whether you’re doing it on the side or full time. Some folks are pulling in a few extra bucks each month, while others are cruising around in Lambos (which is… not my goal, but more power to them).
So, yeah, that’s affiliate marketing in a nutshell!
What You’re Normally Told…
Most of the definitions for Affiliate Marketing that I see online tend to blur the picture a bit (in my opinion).
They say something like this :
Affiliate Marketing is easy with low or almost no opportunity cost. You find an offer to promote, sign up as an affiliate for that company, get your affiliate link and then you go all around the internet dropping your link everywhere, then sit back and make bank forever.
Why is This Misleading?
This is misleading because although the first part of that process is correct – it IS easy to get set up as an affiliate. It IS easy to get signed up as an affiliate for someone.
What does NOT work is simply dropping your link all over the place.
This business is called Affiliate Marketing – but it is very important that you realise this is a business. You are now in the business of marketing.
What Does This Mean?
Treating your affiliate marketing as a legitimate business means that you need to put in the effort.
You need to put in the effort to learn how to do things the right way.
You need to put in the effort to actually engage with your audience and not just drop links all over the internet.
Marketing is about relationships, and that’s what you are now engaged in.
Why?
Think about the last time you bought something significant (so not just groceries or anything else essential – think about buying a car).
You definitely will not make any sort of substantial purchase from someone you do not trust – am I right?
So, your job is now all about building relationships with your audience and building trust so that they feel comfortable listening to you.
What’s The Payoff For You?
For me – the biggest payoff is in who you become.
You will no longer find yourself looking for a purpose, or wanting more out of life.
Affiliate Marketing is the perfect vehicle for you to reach your income goals, but the actual goal is for you to grow into the person who is worthy of being a successful marketer.
But – you’ve got to earn it. The “universe” does not owe you anything! Stop fretting about what you think you “deserve” and go out there and earn it!
Thanks for being here. I appreciate you reading my posts.
Sean Street
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