Affiliate marketing is an incredibly rewarding industry for those who aren’t afraid to get deep into it and dedicate a lot of time and effort to learning its intricacies. However, it can be overwhelming – especially if you have no prior experience in this field and no one to learn from.
There are so many big and little things to take into account that you are bound to make some mistakes – and there is nothing wrong with it if they become a learning experience. However, some errors are more common than others are and can be more detrimental in the long term – which means that it would be better to avoid them right off the bat.
1. Choosing an Uninspiring Niche
The Internet is rife with guides and manuals on how to select a profitable affiliate product, but most of them mention the need for the chosen niche to be exciting and inspiring as an afterthought at the very best – or forgo this point at all. In reality, it is what should be one of the most critical factors in your choice.
Firstly, a more profitable niche means higher competition and more significant effort to achieve significant results.
Secondly, while high income may be fascinating enough in its own right at first, when you promote a product you don’t care about is immediately noticeable – and vice versa, if you talk with enough conviction and passion, it is possible to promote even less mainstream products successfully.
2. Dealing with Multiple Programs at Once
There is nothing wrong with working with more than one affiliate program at once, and it may even be a wise alternative to putting all your eggs in one basket. However, consider this: the more products you promote, the less you know about each one in particular, the less genuine you sound, the less trustworthy you look to potential customers.
You don’t want to spread yourself too thin – most affiliate networks like TopOffers have multiple options to choose from, which means that you will be able to select something suitable for you, dedicate time to learning about it and then, if you feel like it, extend your reach by adding other products to the mix.
3. Selecting a Program with Little to No Support
You should look for a program that views you as a full-fledged and valuable partner, not a disposable part-time employee. In practical terms this means you in case you have any questions about the product, payments or anything else, you should receive the answer within 24 hours at most. Better yet if the program has a support team available around the clock. Any program that cannot guarantee this should be given a wide berth.
4. Choosing a Product You Haven’t Tested
Promoting a product you haven’t even seen anywhere but in promotional materials is, of course, possible, but looks unconvincing and false. You basically cannot do anything but repeat the same sales pitch over and over again, which will undoubtedly have an adverse effect on your credibility and income.
And on the contrary, promoting a product you’ve personally tested out will give your content that much-needed personal touch. You will be able to answer customers’ questions without having to resort to support and provide them valuable information.
5. Choosing a Fad Product to Promote
Some products enter the market with a bang and immediately become immensely popular, only to fade into obscurity a few months later, never to surface again. Although sometimes one can make money off such fads, usually it is possible just for veteran affiliate marketers capable of listening to the market and making the right choices at precisely the right times. If you are a newbie, chances are you will start promoting when the product is already popular, and your efforts will only begin to pay off when the buzz is already fading. A much more profitable solution in the long term is to promote evergreen products – i.e., those that have already been selling well for years regardless of changing fashions, seasons and hot trends.
There are no surefire strategies in affiliate marketing – it is a field that has an immense potential for creativity and personal approach. But to find your way you don’t have to repeat mistakes of those who came before you.