How to get started in affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is a great way to monetize your blog, website or social media presence. It’s also a fantastic way to build your brand, drive traffic to your site and generate leads. Plus, with the widespread adoption of social media and its integration into almost every facet of our lives, there has never been a better time to get started with affiliate marketing.
If you’re reading this post, it means that you’ve acknowledged the potential benefits of affiliate marketing – which is a great first step. But with so many different affiliate programs out there, choosing which ones are right for your audience can be difficult. To help you get started in this exciting niche, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 affiliate marketing websites as well as some tips on how you can get started in affiliate marketing right away.

Topic Index

What is affiliate marketing?
Find the best affiliate marketing programs for your audience
The top 10 affiliate programs to start with
Use a lead magnet to build your email list

What is affiliate marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a type of performance marketing where you earn commission by promoting other people’s (or company’s) products or services, usually in exchange for a referral (or referral) link that you have published on your website, blog, social media profile etc. The great thing about affiliate marketing is that you don’t have to invest any money upfront to start earning money as an affiliate marketer.

It’s important to note that not all affiliate programs are created equally. There are some affiliate programs that offer lower commissions, have strict terms and conditions, or don’t have the same amount of traffic that others do. Because there are so many different affiliate programs available today, it’s important to do your research and find the ones that are best suited for your audience.

Find the best affiliate marketing programs for your audience

One of the most important things to consider when you’re getting started with affiliate marketing is what types of products your audience would be interested in buying. You can do this by conducting some research and seeing what your readers or followers are currently purchasing online.

You can also use browser trackers like Trackur to see what your visitors are clicking on while they’re on your site by installing a piece of code on your site. Once you’ve identified which products your audience would be interested in purchasing, it’s time to find the best affiliate programs that will suit your needs. To help you get started, here are the top 10 affiliate marketing programs you can begin promoting right away.

Amazon - This eCommerce giant offers one of the most widely-used affiliate programs. If you’re promoting physical products, you can participate in the Amazon Associates program. If you’re promoting digital items, you can join the Amazon Kindle program.
eBay - If you’re into online auctions, the eBay Partner Network is the best affiliate program for you. You can earn a commission by driving traffic to eBay and having them purchase items listed on the site.
Etsy - If you’re promoting handmade items or vintage pieces, Etsy is a fantastic affiliate program to join.
iCarbons - If you’re looking for an affiliate program that is specifically geared towards the Millennial audience, iCarbons is the program for you.
Nordstrom - If you’re looking for a program that is specifically geared towards fashion lovers, Nordstrom is an excellent option.
Lonely Planet - If you’re interested in driving bookings to travel sites, Lonely Planet’s affiliate program is a great option.
TripAdvisor - If you’re interested in booking travel, TripAdvisor’s affiliate program is a great choice.
Booking.com - If booking travel is a priority for your audience, Booking.com’s affiliate program is a great choice.
AirBnB - If you’re interested in booking accommodations, AirBnB’s affiliate program is a great option.

The top 10 affiliate programs to start with

Amazon - This eCommerce giant offers one of the most widely-used affiliate programs. If you’re promoting physical products, you can participate in the Amazon Associates program. If you’re promoting digital items, you can join the Amazon Kindle program.
eBay - If you’re into online auctions, the eBay Partner Network is the best affiliate program for you. You can earn a commission by driving traffic to eBay and having them purchase items listed on the site.
Etsy - If you’re promoting handmade items or vintage pieces, Etsy is a fantastic affiliate program to join.
iCarbons - If you’re looking for an affiliate program that is specifically geared towards the Millennial audience, iCarbons is the program for you.
Nordstrom - If you’re looking for a program that is specifically geared towards fashion lovers, Nordstrom is an excellent option.
Lonely Planet - If you’re interested in driving bookings to travel sites, Lonely Planet’s affiliate program is a great option.
TripAdvisor - If you’re interested in booking travel, TripAdvisor’s affiliate program is a great choice.
Booking.com - If booking travel is a priority for your audience, Booking.com’s affiliate program is a great choice.
AirBnB - If you’re interested in booking accommodations, AirBnB’s affiliate program is a great option.

Use a lead magnet to build your email list

One of the best ways to get started with affiliate marketing is to build an email list. Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to market your products and services. It’s also a great way to establish trust with your audience, drive repeat traffic to your website, and increase your overall brand awareness. But before you can begin building your list, you’ll need to create a lead magnet.

A lead magnet is an irresistible offer that you give away for free in exchange for their email address. It could be a course, an ebook, a cheat sheet, or anything that is valuable to your readers. Once you’ve created your lead magnet, you can integrate it into your website using a lead magnet tool like Sumo. You can also use a tool like Leadpages to build an email list by building landing pages and email sequences.

These tools will allow you to build an email list, collect your readers’ email addresses, and send them emails. This is a great way to build a relationship with your readers while promoting your affiliate products at the same time.

It’s also a great way to supplement your existing income or start your own side hustle. To get started, you’ll need to find the best affiliate programs for your audience, create a lead magnet and build a list. From there, it’s all about driving traffic to your website and converting those leads into customers!