You might have heard of affiliate marketing thousand times but still don’t know the answer to the question:
Can anyone do affiliate marketing?
Keep reading. I’m explaining it here the simplest way you can think of.
First of all, what is affiliate marketing?
It is a way how to advertise products that benefits both the company that makes the products and the person who promotes them. It is an indirect promotion. The promoter doesn’t chase anyone or offer anything “on the plate.” The promoter just writes about their opinion, their experience with various products, etc.
It’s actually blogging about your life. About anything you can imagine. Traveling? Buying clothes? Cooking? You name it. You are just sharing your experience the same way as you do with your friends.
Can anyone promote products with affiliate marketing?
Sure, everyone, who has a computer and internet connection.
I was not aware of the fact anyone can do this. I always thought you have to recommend the products if you want a commission. But the truth is I got to affiliate marketing through a negative review.
I was reading a review about a get-rich-quick scheme as I watched a so-called webinar (prerecorded video) of someone claiming you can get rich with his program. It was lots of crap, sorry for the word but when I listen to someone or watch a video and after 5 or 10 minutes all I hear is “it is so simple”, “my friend earns 3000+ a day and has been only one month in it” and similar claims without having anything explained, I’m sick and angry.
So I went to look for the guy on the internet. I found a review confirming my opinion of him and the author of the website had other stuff there. So I kept reading. And I found affiliate marketing.
The simplest explanation of affiliate marketing
Imagine you are the owner of a store. You have lots of products to offer. But no one knows about you apart from your family and friends. Your e-shop is just one of many and no one knows how great products you offer. So you need to let people know about you.
You have two options: either pay for advertising and wait if someone buys something after that. It means you have to spend a lot of money not actually knowing whether it brings you the sales or not.
The other option is to have an affiliate program. That means you give every person who wants to spread a word about your products a unique link and if a seller comes from that unique link and buys something, that person gets some percentage of the sales, a so-called commission.
The second option is beneficial for both the owner of the store and for the promoter. The shop owner doesn’t have to pay anything in advance, they only pay some share out of the real sales. The promoter doesn’t have to chase anyone or look for people to offer them anything. The only thing the promoter has to do it to write some articles or multiple articles with the smart implementation of the link leading to the store.
That’s all the tricks behind affiliate marketing. It’s a growing business as there are more and more people using the internet and more and more stores switching from offline to online.
How can YOU profit from this?
You can have a website where you would write about something you are passionate about. I have started the same way. You can have your first website FOR FREE including web hosting.
You might be thinking you are not a writer. I thought the same. But writing is a skill that can be learned.
I’m sure there is something you are passionate about.
Is it cosmetics?
Pets?
Knitting?
Personal development?
It can be absolutely anything and you don’t have to be an expert in it.
Now you might be thinking OK I’m passionate about pets but what shall I do with that?
First, you need your own website that will be dedicated to your topic. To have a website, you don’t have to be a programmer or pay lots of many for one. You can have your first website FOR FREE.
Not a tech-savvy?
Are you not a tech-savvy? Neither am I. But you don’t have to be. It is really very simple. You can need to learn everything you need step by step. It is not complicated at all. Little by little, everyone can learn it.
I’m not a techie. I studied languages and used to be just a common computer user. E-mail, Google, etc. But I slowly learned everything I needed for blogging and affiliate marketing just by following the steps that others have walked before. I know a few people who started learned affiliate marketing when they were over 70. So it’s never too late.
Afraid of another scam?
I have to tell you I was very disappointed with all the offers on the internet in the last few years. I’ve watched dozens of videos and listen to people promising all sorts. Usually, I got sick after a few minutes. As I wrote at the beginning of this article, if I don’t know what the offer is about after watching for 5 or 10 minutes, I’m turning it off. I hate empty words. Blah-blah about nothing apart from bragging and saying how this one or that one earns thousands a day.
I actually stopped looking for offers. But I knew there must be something honest and serious, something you can simply build up and be proud of. Without chasing clients, without forcing people to buy.
And that’s how I got to affiliate marketing. It is an honest and simple way anyone can make use of it. All it requires is the courage to start with something new (as we all are afraid of new things because we are afraid of failure). It also requires patience because the results don’t come overnight.
You can be part of this growing business too.
Give it a try for free! You will see it’s not rocket science.
Start today!
Hi, Lenka! Thank you for breaking it down so that even I can understand what affiliate marketing really is. I actually came to your site through another negative review about a scam and about what to do instead. So I was looking for a good explanation to see if I could do it.
Thank you so much for sharing it and giving us the opportunity to start for free. Maybe I missed it, but how long can I stay for free in the training?
Hello Janie, I’m glad I could make it more clear for you. I myself was really thinking affiliate marketing was something else. And I would never think someone like me could do that as well.
As to your question, you can sign up for free and remain free for ever. You can start building your website and see if this learning system is something you like and can make use of. If it’s not for you, you haven’t lost anything.
If you find a value in the program, you may decide to go for premium membership as there are some great features included in that: 24/7 live chat, weekly live classes, mentoring from the founders, website feedback and comments etc. The first month of premium membership is only $19. Oh, and I almost forgot: you can also earn money when you comment on websites of others if you are a premium member.
Hi Lenka! I agree with you that anyone can become an affiliate marketer. I’m relatively new to affiliate marketing (I am learning Amazon niches) but I can tell even though there is a LOT to learn it really isn’t that hard if you put in the work on a daily basis. Beginners visiting your post will have a great jumpstart to their online business journey, well done! xoxo
Hello Julz, thanks for taking time to comment. I thought it would be good to clarify what affiliate marketing really is as it might sound complicated and some people might have a completely different idea of it. Although affiliate marketing has been used for so many years, I haven’t been aware of the real principle behind it until recently. That’s why I wanted to clarify it for other people.
All the best with your Amazon niches!
Lenka, This is probably the most well explained lecture about affiliate marketing that I have ever seen.
I like the way you you brought reality to the subject and at the same time motivated me about it. Like many people that try to find an online business, I tested/purchase many proposals before that were not more than a scam.
Here it is clear that we have a good opportunity on hands 🙂
Could I ask you a question: In your experience, how long is necessary to start making the first $? Is it true that it can really make me quit my main job?
Thanks, Eddie
I’m glad my explanation is clear, Eddie! I’m a teacher, you know, so I have to be able to explain things in a very simplistic way.
The time when you start earning your first $ varies, to be honest I would say it’s about 6 months but my friend had her first commission in her second month after starting her first website. What I love about it most is that there is no limit in the amount of money you can earn in one year, two years and so forth. It all adds up as you learn and put all things into practice.
You definitely can count on having affiliate marketing your main source of income if, but only if, you persist and do not give up like many people who just try and run away because they can’t see results immediately. Just like any other business, it takes time.
Lenka, This is probably the most well explained lecture about affiliate marketing that I have ever seen. I like the way you brought reality to the subject and at the same time motivated me about it. Like many people that try to find an online business, I tested/purchased many proposals before that were not more than a scam.
Here it is clear that we have a good opportunity on hands 🙂
Could I ask you a question: In your experience, how long is it necessary to start making the first $? Is it true that it can really make me quit my main job?
Thanks, Eddie
Hi Lenka 🙂
Affiliate marketing is a lot of work but if you have the right training and right attitude you can really do well at affiliate marketing.
If you join a company like Wealthy Affiliate, you’ll see that there’s a four step process involved.
You choose a niche just as you discussed.
Then build a website around your niche.
Get traffic and then create income.
It’s not a scam, just hard work and determination.
Do you feel that folks should go premium right away?
Thanks for your extension to my explanation, Rob. It definitely is a lot of work, determination and persistence.
I think everyone should give it a try for free and see if they feel comfortable with the system, ask a lot of questions and get help if needed. If they like if and have serious intentions to build up their online business this way, then I would definitely advise to go premium. That’s the way I went. This is completely different from other programs where you have to pay lots of money beforehand only relying on promises of the person who is offering the program.
Hi, Lenka!
I’m so glad I stumbled upon this post! I’m wanting to get into affiliate marketing, but didn’t even know where or how to begin. I will be checking out this place that you say will allow me to create a free website. I’m guessing it’s necessary to have an online presence while trying to become an affiliate marketer.
This article has answered a lot of my foggy questions. I appreciate your honesty. Thank you so much!!
I’m glad I could bring a bit more light into this topic. It’s only recently I understood what affiliate marketing really is and that it’s much more simple than people think. I hope you will find what you need and wish you all the best in your endeavours!
Hello Lenka, I must say that this article is very helpful and informative. I already know what is affiliate marketing but I found it difficult to explain to my friends what it is because they never came upon that. From my point of view, it is the best way to earn money online without much investment, anyone who wants to earn online should seriously think about affiliate marketing.
I’m glad I could put some more light on this subject. It seems everybody speaks of it lately but it still seems too complicated to many people. I personally didn’t know exactly what it was until recently. I also think it’s the best way to earn money without investing into products, software etc.
First of all, thank you so much for such a beautiful article.I myself was truly thinking partner advertising was something different. Also, I could never think somebody like me could do that too.
As to your inquiry, you can pursue free and stay free for ever. You can begin constructing your site and check whether this learning framework is something you like and can utilize. In the event that it’s not for you, you haven’t lost anything.
In the event that you discover an incentive in the program, you may choose to go for premium participation as there are some extraordinary highlights remembered for that: day in and day out live visit, week by week live classes, tutoring from the authors, site input and remarks and so forth. The principal month of premium participation is just $19. Gracious, and I nearly overlooked: you can likewise gain cash when you remark on sites of others on the off chance that you are an exceptional part.
Absolutely, thanks for adding your valuable insights and experience to my article! I think there has never been a better time with opportunity for everyone to create a sustainable business online without investments in products, software etc. I know I was thinking of having an e-shop a few years ago when I didn’t know about affiliate marketing and thank God I didn’t go for it as it is a lot of supplies you have to have and a lot of work related to the shipping etc. With affiliate marketing, you can have something like a virtual e-shop without needing the products, it’s truly amazing. Without investments.
This is great and I really love the approach you used in simplifying this topic. Of a truth, it is not an easy thing to see and your approach makes it simpler. Affiliate marketing is easy to make money with if proper learning and proper procedures are added to it. Great post you have here and I would surely share with more of my friends.
That’s very nice, Rodarrick, I’m happy to hear that. I agree proper learning and procedures are absolutely necessary, it is the same as with any offline business. If something is just a scam, it’s not sustainable, the scammer can grab some money for the first time but no one else gets back to them and the word spreads further. If we proceed in an honest way and add value to our efforts, it can only grow and be successful, it’s simple.
Hello Lenka!
Congratulations for having started your own website and for joining Wealthy Affiliate! Many people are interested in Affiliate Marketing and want to learn, regardless of their age or qualifications. This pathway to success requires us to work, to be patient, to know our goals, and to calculate our steps well, so that we make our decisions without rush, and also without losing precious time.
Advertising is costly, and perhaps people with previous experience and achievements are suitable for it. Online scams exist in large numbers, we really need to be careful and not to believe in bombastic promises.
Wish you good luck and best regards,
Peter
You are so right with online scams, Peter. I was really sick of the promises and bragging, but the problem is there are always people who buy it. To me, it’s a shortsighted approach but that’s what world is like, there are always good guys and bad guys.
I’m glad I’ve found an honest way I can proceed with my online endeavours.
Wish you all the best as well!
Lenka
Thank you for sharing this post and I must commend your approach to simplifying this broad topic. Learning cannot come at a much better rate than you have simplified here. Surely, anyone can do affiliate marketing and anyone can make money with it so far it is done the right way using the proper approach to it.
I wanted to learn more about affiliate marketing and I have learnt well through this. Thanks
Julianne, I’m really happy I could clarify this topic to you. I think many people think it is much complicated than it really is. Also, some people think one has offer things, promote them, chase people with the offer. That’s not the case. You are right, if it’s done the right was, it works.
It is a jungle out there when it comes to learning how to do affiliate marketing. I remember feeling overwhelmed, frustrated and confused a few years back. In fact I even got scammed and since then I have really did my research before investing in affiliate marketing programs and tools. Luckily I can attest that you can make a full time income online provided you are willing to learn and more importantly do the work. With that being said thank you for being a guiding light to new affiliate marketers.
You are so right, it is a jungle, and not only regarding affiliate marketing, there are so many people out there claiming how easy it is to earn hundreds or thousands a day without mentioning you have to work on that, and to get to the point of having thousands in commissions, it takes years. I’m glad you appreciated my article, Pamela, it means a lot for me.
I enjoyed your article on affiliate marketing. I am an affiliate marketer. I must say that I wish I had seen an article like this when I was trying to make a decision about whether to begin a program or not. You have defined affiliate marketing very well. You also address my biggest concern as I started. I was concerned that I was not tech savvy enough to get started let alone succeed. I am sure that your article will help a lot of people make a decision about affiliate marketing.
I understand how you felt, Anastazja, I think everyone is afraid of new things, the more so regarding technical things. Thank you for taking time to read and comment on my article.
Anyone can do affiliate marketing, regardless of age, gender or even profession. Affiliate marketing is just a simple way of earning money by promoting some products, this in it’s own way has ways around it which are not so hard to understand. Thanks for explaining it for those who don’t understand it and sharing your experience. Your article is filled with useful information for people who would love to start with affiliate marketing.
Absolutely, anyone can do that. It is quite simple once you understand that but for some people it might seem complicated. I tried to explain in as if I was explaining it to a child because I don’t expect everyone to have such understanding of it as people who are active in this sphere for a long time.
Understanding the concept of a business is the major requirement for knowing whether it’s for you or not, there are some businesses that are meant for big scale businesses while some for low scale, and so on. Affiliate marketing is an effective way of getting yourself into online marketing and making some reasonable amount of money for yourself. You’ve explained in details what it entails totally, thanks for that. I look forward to seeing more.
I tried to explain it as simple as possible, mainly for girls 🙂 Many people think affiliate marketing is a complicated thing or it is only suitable for business-like types of people. I’m not a sales person myself, just a translator and teacher but I believe in honest approach and think that anyone who is ready to learn new things can do affiliate marketing and succeed.
Hi, Lenka,
People are starting to realize that money can be made online. There’s no more need of commuting to an office every day and dealing with traffic.
However, there is a lot of competition out there, so it’s not that easy in the beginning. But once you get rolling, it all starts falling into place.
I was hesitant regarding affiliate marketing just like you. It sounds too good to be true, you know what they say. But after doing extensive research about it, I found out it is legit. That doesn’t mean it’s easy though.
I’m still learning the ropes and I’ve been discouraged at times, but here I am. I’m doing my best and hope to reap the rewards soon.
Thanks for writing this up and reminding me of what I gotta do.
Enrique
Hi Enrique,
thanks for sharing your thoughts and opinion here. It is true that it takes time and effort and, most of all, persistence.
I’m glad you are one of those who understand what is necessary and don’t give up.
All the best in your efforts!
Lenka
You are absolutely right. Anyone can be successful with affiliate marketing. You just need to have something that motivates you to write for a long-term period of time and besides that, you’re ready to go! WA is the best way to get started since it provides you with everything you need to know about affiliate marketing and how to built your website in a few quick steps. And even if you get stuck, there’s always someone that will help you out in Wealthy Affiliate. I really do think that it is the most reliable source to start with affiliate marketing.
Hello Stephanie,
I agree with you, I have never come across any program or platform that would be so helpful and supportive and contain so much valuable information. To me, even the paid membership seems cheap for such an amount of trainings.
As to motivation, for me it is to be financially independent and affiliate marketing makes that possible. It might take a few years but hey, when one studies at a university, it also takes 4 or 5 years and there is still no security of income. So what I like about affiliate marketing is that there is evidence it really works in time.
To be sincere, I’ve been among a lot of people doing research online to know if affiliate marketing is worth the time and effort. I was kind of skeptical about this until I finally made up my mind. Now I’m beginning my journey in this field. And it’s now that I know that it really takes hard work and patience. It’s not kind of a get-rich-quick scheme, and I’m not afraid to work my way up the hill. But recently, I’ve been finding it difficult to get accepted to Amazon associate program. Do you know what the cause might be? Is it because I’m still new?
I’m not sure but I think most affiliate programs accept bloggers when they have a certain amount of articles on their websites. When I applied to the Amazon associate program, I had about 20 articles on my website (I don’t have only this one). Maybe it’s better to wait and fill your blog with more posts.
I am also an affiliate marketer, I have created a website using the platform you recommend. In general, those who do affiliate marketing must have a nice website and they can then promote other people’s products and get affiliate commissions. The way how you explain the idea of affiliate marketing is very clear and simple so it’s easy to understand for everyone. I’m gonna share the article on my social media, people need to know about that.
Thanks, I’m glad you liked it.