Absolutely anyone can join an affiliate marketing program, however,
those who have prior experience with selling or who have a good
understanding of selling strategies are usually more successful. If you
are not used to selling products and are not quite sure how to convince
your audience, take the time to do some research on this subject. You
can learn a lot about selling strategies by reading some books or
watching video tutorials online.
You should also know that
successful sellers work on promoting their products for several hours a
day. If you already have a full-time job or other obligations, wait
until you are less busy before you start with affiliate marketing. Most new affiliate marketers consider the earning potential and
strategies for a successful affiliate marketing program. But, very few
think about the mistakes that could cause it to stagnate. For those of
you struggling, here's a list of the five (5) mistakes you might be making.
1. Sticking your fingers in too many pies -
There are many
affiliate marketing programs out there. And unfortunately, a large
number of them are free to join. The lure of making money is so
tempting, you sign up for as many as you can. A few justify it with
wanting to try out what works for them.
As a beginner, it's best
you stick with two. Too many products at a time are too much to manage
for a beginner. Diversification in affiliate marketing can be left for
when you've gained some experience in the market.
2. Neglecting social media -
Social media are viral media. With
features such as "likes" and "favorites", they enable you to connect
with targeted audiences. There are several channels that you can
capitalize on for affiliate marketing.
To start, work with a few
popular and relevant social channels as you will have to maintain them.
Set up a separate business account. You can also link it to your
personal account, if you think it gives your affiliate marketing
business a real face.
3. Overselling -
Want to earn a commission? Generate a lead or
make a sale. This is what you've been instructed. So, suddenly, "Buy
Now" becomes your favorite phrase. It is all over your website with
dozens of affiliate links.
Your duty as an affiliate is to endorse
the product. Paper-thin, glowing reviews of the merchant product will
not convince customers to buy it. They can easily read your intention to
make a quick buck rather than help them.
Whatever you write, step
back and read it as a customer. It should be good quality and relevant
information. Avoid a sales letter.
4. Wrong niche market/ product -
Beginner affiliate marketers
opt for popular online niches. What you must remember is that most
popular also means most competitive. There will be at least another
hundred affiliates dabbling in the same niche. Thus, it's hard to find a
place among the top search results.
An alternative is to go for a
less competitive yet profitable niche. The other trick is to go for
less competitive keywords in popular niches. Long tail keywords
guarantee better results than generic ones.
Still on the same page, another mistake is selling a product you have not used or tested, or don't anything about.
5. Not evaluating your campaign -
After you have the entire
system up and running, you need to track it. If you don't you are
ignoring crucial demographic data that can be helpful to your business.
You need to know the content that is being viewed, where your sales are
coming from, what products your customers are interested in, what
devices they use and which are your best converting strategies.
To start, work with a few popular and relevant social channels as you
will have to maintain them. Set up a separate business account. You can
also link it to your personal account, if you think it gives your
affiliate marketing business a real face.
So, don't let your mistakes pull you down. Let them be the stepping stones to your success.
