This is different. I’m writing this blog aboard a Boeing 777 enroute to Chicago from my home in London. I’m at 33,999ft travelling at 547mph and the outside temperature is -52C (-61F). I’m with my son going to visit my uncle. Since mum died in 2022, I haven’t seen him and he can’t travel as he has dialysis a few times a week. I spoke to him a few weeks ago and he was crying, saying he was missing mum (his big sister) and us and would love to sit and talk with me. After that call my wife said “just book it and go”. He doesn’t know we are coming so it should be a nice surprise for him.
This is exactly WHY I am starting my online business. It will allow me to work the hours I want and earn enough and to help family. I could spend time with all my uncles, aunties and cousins around the world whilst still earning. Instead of WFH (working from home), I would be WFA (working from anywhere) and with my wife. Mission accepted. Is this something you would like to do with your time? Let me know in the comments..
Last time I was explaining why you should be an affiliate marketer, now it’s how you can start affiliate marketing and build your business. Is it your time to take the exit on the highway that you never thought to or were to scared?
How to start affiliate marketing in 15 key steps
Even though there are 15 steps, I don’t want to give you the impression that you just quickly do this and then £s and $s start falling from the sky. It’s the foundation and understanding of what you need to do.
Just like running your own small business, becoming a successful affiliate takes dedication and discipline. Use the following step-by-step guide to start your affiliate marketing business.
1. Choose a Niche: Select a niche or industry that aligns with your interests and has a target audience. Select a niche that you are interested in and have some knowledge about. It could be anything from health and fitness to technology or finance. Choose a niche that has a sizable audience and potential for profit.
2. Research Affiliate Programs: Look for affiliate programs within your chosen niche. Research different affiliate networks like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, ClickBank, and others. Consider factors such as commission rates, cookie duration, and product relevance.
Evaluate Products/Services. Review the products or services offered by each affiliate program. Ensure they align with your interests, values, and target audience. Consider factors like quality, reputation, and demand. To earn revenue as an affiliate marketer, your audience needs to connect with what you’re saying. The items or services you promote need to be products they genuinely want. Getting this wrong can hinder your success and diminish your credibility—as well as your audience.
Another option is to visit the websites of the products and services you use and like to see if they have an affiliate program. Large companies often have programs they promote on their site. I have a larger list I will send out to you, just sign up to the free email newsletter and reply to one of my emails and use the subject line ‘Affiliate Platform List’.
3. Check Commission Structure. Examine the commission rates and payment terms offered by each affiliate program. Look for programs with competitive commissions and reliable payment schedules.
4. Assess Marketing Support: Determine the level of marketing support provided by the affiliate program. Look for resources such as banners, text links, product data feeds, and promotional materials to help you promote effectively.
5. Read Reviews/Testimonials: Look for reviews or testimonials from other affiliates who have experience with the program. This can provide insights into the program’s performance, reliability, and affiliate satisfaction.
6. Check Tracking and Reporting Tools: Ensure the affiliate program offers robust tracking and reporting tools. This will help you monitor your performance, track conversions, and optimise your marketing efforts.
7. Review Terms and Conditions: Carefully read the terms and conditions of each affiliate program to understand the rules, restrictions, and obligations involved. Pay attention to payout thresholds, cookie duration, and promotional guidelines.
8. Reach Out for Clarification: If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to the affiliate program’s support team for clarification.
9. Make Your Decision: After thorough research and consideration, choose the affiliate program that best fits your niche, goals, and preferences. Sign up and start promoting your chosen products/services to earn commissions.
10. Build a Platform: Establish a website, blog, or social media presence where you can promote products. Decide on the platform you’ll use to promote affiliate products. It could be a blog, website, YouTube channel, social media profiles, or a combination of these. Create your platform and optimise it for user experience and search engines. The first step is figuring out the platform you want to build your audience around.
Every affiliate marketer has a different approach and platform. No matter which route you take, authenticity and audience building are the two most crucial elements for affiliate marketing. If you can’t authentically connect with your audience, chances are you won’t have success in converting them into affiliate sales.
To pick a platform and method, ask yourself; What platforms do you use the most? Which platforms do you understand best? Common platforms affiliate marketers use are below. These are known as Primary Platform i.e. which one are you going to drive traffic to with the content you are creating on it? It’s the first one you start with and work on until you are good at it.
- Blogging
- TikTok
- Pay per click (PPC)
- YouTube
- Quora
Let me know in the comments which one you are using and why?
Starting with a marketing platform you’re comfortable with, helps you create high-quality content. This can result in a stronger, more engaged audience you can turn into sales.
11. Create Quality Content: Produce valuable and relevant content that attracts your target audience and promotes the affiliate products. Start creating valuable content related to your chosen niche. This could include product reviews, tutorials, guides, comparisons, and more. Ensure that your content provides genuine value to your audience and helps them solve their problems or fulfill their needs.
12. Promote Affiliate Products: Incorporate your affiliate links into your content strategically. Avoid being overly promotional or spammy; instead, focus on providing helpful information and subtly promoting the products you recommend.
13. Drive Traffic: Use various strategies to drive traffic to your platform. This could include SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), social media marketing, email marketing, influencer collaborations, and more. The key is to attract targeted traffic that is interested in your niche and the products you’re promoting.
14. Track, Optimise and Scale: Monitor the performance of your affiliate campaigns and optimise your strategies based on the data. Experiment with different promotional tactics, content formats, and products to maximise your earnings. As you gain experience and grow your audience, consider scaling your efforts by expanding into new niches or platforms.
15. Stay Compliant and Ethical: Familiarise yourself with relevant laws and regulations governing affiliate marketing, such as disclosure requirements for affiliate links. Always disclose your affiliate relationships transparently to your audience and prioritise their trust and satisfaction.
Remember that affiliate marketing requires patience, consistency, and ongoing effort to see significant results. Keep learning and adapting your strategy as you progress on your affiliate marketing journey.
Next time I will give you some tips for affiliate marketing.
Thank you for reading, I hope it helped you in some way. Is this what you are thinking of doing? Let me know your thoughts. You are only a few steps behind me!
Please leave comments, share with your friends and family and on the social media buttons below.
You can follow me on social media here using this links page. It will be great to see you there.
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Until next time, take care.
Atif
#Atif’s Academy
Being able to WFH and WFA is my primary goal.
This is a very thorough and helpful list of the key steps of starting affiliate marketing. When I got started I didn’t do the research I should have done, and not understanding the importance of the commission structure meant I spent nearly a year promoting something that was not really set up for my success, but I did spend a lot of money helping them building their email list. I almost gave up, but then I found Dean Holland, and I’m very glad I did.
Nathan, absolutely, and that’s why I thought it’s best to put a post like this out so that people that are starting now don’t make the mistakes we made. It’s this kind of advice that Will give everyone a bit of an edge when starting out. Thanks so much for your comment, Atif
I hope you had a good time visiting your uncle and it was a blessing for him.
Nathan, thanks, yes. It was very nice to see him and he was very surprised. It was quite emotional as we haven’t met since my mother’s death who is his big sister. My son got to know him better as well as my three cousins. Family is so important and this kind of time with them, you can never get back so the lifestyle we’re trying to create with affiliate marketing should give us more time to travel and spend with family and friends, and do the charity work that we want etc rather than doing a 9 to 5 making other people rich. Thank you so much. Take care
hello Atif !.
I like your really good and quite informative!
Noor, I’m glad you found this useful. If you have any further questions or topics you want to learn about please reply back or join my newsletter and you can communicate via there. How are you getting on? How far have you got in your journey, thanks, Atif
Really informative and well laid out.
Kae, thank you and I’m glad it is of use for you. On another point, when you joined my newsletter, can you confirm you received the second email as my records show that you haven’t responded to it. How are you getting on? what areas or topics do you wish to learn more about? as I may be able to help take care, thanks, Atif
Atif ,
15 steps to start an online affiliate marketing business. You’re right that it may be a step by step process, and as you said hardly an easy or quick journey. If any one thinks that…they shouldn’t be starting an online business.
Lenny, very true unfortunately that’s how affiliate marketing is sold to most people online. Just a few clicks and you’ll make money. That is not true. If you want to build a sustainable long-term business that will help and support you and your family for the rest of your life. How are you getting on? What topics and areas are affiliate marketing? Do you need help on? Let me know. Thanks, Atif.
Hi Atif,
A very comprehensive and thorough article on how to get started with affiliate marketing.
I would say all 15 steps are important but I think the most important step is step 1, choosing a niche that is not just profitable, but you also know you can stick to for the next 5 to 10 years.
It doesn’t necessary have to be something you are super passionate about but at least it should be a niche you know you can stick to.
I have in the past worked on niches I have no interest in and end up throwing in the towel.
Anyway, have a safe trip!
Alan, thanks for your comment. It is amazing how different people gravitate towards one of the 15 steps number 10 seems to be a very popular one too. But I think you’re right without number 1. Without being properly investigated you haven’t actually got anything to promote or in an area that has any interest for people. I’m enjoying your blogs immensely as you had so much value and in a practical way. Take care my friend until next time. Thanks, Atif
Hi Atif,
Affiliate marketing is definitely a Step-by-Step process. Focusing on building a strong foundation of authenticity is key. Your steps are well-detailed and a very useful guideline.
I feel not many people understand affiliate marketing having been presented with so many get-rich-quick advertisements. Believing in your why and showing steady effort and adaptability will lead the way to achieving those goals. As you wrote,…
“Remember that affiliate marketing requires patience, consistency, and ongoing effort to see significant results. Keep learning and adapting your strategy as you progress on your affiliate marketing journey.”
All the best!
Milissa Neirotti
Milissa, thank you so much for your comments. Yes, many people are sold a bit of a fantasy rather than a realistic system that they can follow. That’s what I’m trying to do here is to be completely open and honest about affiliate marketing. Thanks, Atif
Atif,
I am thinking of TikTok, though I know more about YouTube. I love that you can learn just about anything on that platform. However, from the little research I’ve done, it looks like TikTok may be the best to start with as likely you will get more views.
I agree with you about WFA rather than WFH, as like you, want to visit with family that live across the ocean & without that flexibility, it’s unlikely.
Eleanor, thanks for your comment. I think you would be amazing on TikTok and on YouTube, your manner and the way you speak, Your voice is very captivating so go for it. You’ll be amazing. TickTok is the next thing on my list to do it is scary, as you don’t know what people think or how they will react, but it doesn’t matter because we have to build our business and that’s how you communicate with the world, I hope you get to visit all your family and friends, once you’ve got the lifestyle you want from affiliate marketing . take care of yourself thanks, Atif
Hi Atif,
I can only imagine the face of your uncle when he sees you! What a great surprise!
Loved the step by step process you outline; it definitely encompasses many questions that first have to be answered before even starting that journey.
I’m looking towards Facebook & Tik Tok to provide the necessary potential subscribers for my blog.
It’s definitely going to be a big step – I’m used to doing the voice-over side of things (having done that work for many years) but the video part, well…. I think you’ll have to visit my blog to check it out once it’s out there!
Have a safe trip!
Marc, yes, my uncle was very shocked when we turned up is very nice surprise and it cheered him up so that was a good trip. I’m back home now back to building my affiliate marketing business.I’m looking at TikTok for reaching out to an audience. It’s the biggest platform in the world and I will also re-purpose those videos for Instagram reels and YouTube shorts. How are you getting on what topics and areas of affiliate marketing do you want to learn? Maybe I can help, thanks, Atif
Hi Atif,
You have put out a great explanation of what you need to start an affiliate marketing business. I would say your niche and the platform you pick for social media is the most important aspects of your business. Simply because you want to pick a niche that you will be able to sell, and a social media that will be seen regularly by your viewers. Personally, I think I will go with TikTok, Facebook (only because I’m familiar), and YouTube. I just have to get myself used to speaking in front of millions of people and showing my face. I’ll get there… Thank you for the great post.
Meredith
Meredith, thank you so much for your comment. I’m also looking at TikTok Instagram and YouTube. I hope to start my first video in the next week or so. How are you getting on? What areas and topics of affiliate marketing are you interested in or want to learn about let me know. Thanks Atif
Thank you Atif for this impressive and exhaustive development of the steps required to become an affiliate marketer. My actual preference is Quora to establish relationships and to gradually sit my authority. I’m open also to create video but I hesitate because, I speak French and my English language is not always very good. I guess with practice I could afford it.
Thanks for your post!
Martin
Martin, thanks for your comment. I’ve been doing Quora for quite awhile now and even though it’s great to answer peoples questions I’ve not really found that they click on anything or go to your bio and click to your link page. I will probably continue with Quora but I might make Facebook ads or TikTok my primary source. Let’s see how it goes. We can always change things. All the best thanks, Atif
WFA is exactly my why, and I totally agree with your wife. I’m really pleased you got on that plane. You would have only regretted it. I hope you had a good time.
15 steps are clear and more manageable when starting out!
Looking back at these steps show just how far you’ve come! Well done
I’ve signed up to the newsletter too
Sarah, thanks it was great to see my uncle. He was truly surprised it was a great trip. At first I thought 15 steps seemed like too much but they are steps. You do them one by one in order. In fact you could probably break this down into 30, 40,50 steps, depending. How are you getting on? What areas would you require more clarity or information on? Thanks, Atif
Hi Atif,
I’m loving the 15 key steps. I will be saving this post to keep reading over and over. This was fantastic. Look what you can accomplish on a plane so high up.
I like you also want to WFH, or Mexico on a full time basis. I am also thrilled I joined this program.
safe travels back.
Sandy
Sandy, I’m so glad you found this post useful. You can always save it as a bookmark and refer to it whenever you need. How’s things going in Mexico? The great thing about this business model is that you’ll be able to work from Mexico full-time or anywhere else in the world. How are you getting on, what areas do you need help and guidance in as I may be able to help let me know thanks, Atif
Hi Atif,
I hope you had a good trip and that your uncle was pleased and surprised to see you.
There are probably a lot more than 15 things that you need to consider before and after deciding to become an Affiliate marketer, but your list is a good start. You could probably write a blog post about every one of them if you really put your mind to it.
It’s also good that you brought niches other than the MMO niche into your blog. This is looking forward to the days in the not-too-distant future when this and all of our blogs will hopefully be seen, read, and appreciated, by people outside of Dean’s “Saturday Share” scheme.
Cheers
Phil
Phil, the trip was great thanks and he really was surprised. Thank you. I agree with you there are probably 30, 40 or 50 things that need to be considered. However, for an audience starting out I thought 15 would be a good number as they could just follow them one by one. Thanks so much for your support. How are you getting on. I’m looking forward to your first video as I think you’ll be amazing. Thanks, Atif
Hi Atif, I am sure your uncle was thrilled to see you, again. As for those goodbyes… gut wrenching.
I believe in the attention grabbing strategy of posting my blog, which I do nearly everyday, to FB (also on three FB pages I’ve created over the years), instagram, You Tube on a channel I’ve had for years, X formally Twitter, which I’ve engaged on for years, and TikTok. 🤔Have I missed anything? Oh and LinkedIn, on a page I’ve had there for years. So unbeknownst to me at the time I built those platforms, I was getting ready for our present adventure.
Kate, yes, my uncle was really surprised to see us and it did cheer him up. Thank you. You seem well established on social media from what you’ve described. Your TikTok videos and YouTube videos are very good and I look to you as a bit of a Guru in this area. I’m starting my TikTok video probably in the next one to 2 weeks and even though I’m apprehensive, I am excited and I know it’s the right thing to do, thanks so much Atif
Atif, very informative post on how to start and what to look for as a beginner in affiliate marketing. I like the way you presented it in an easy to understand way. I am presently working to establish content on many of the platforms you suggested… A fear of video that I must overcome, and will overcome once I get started… Thanks for the post! Hope you have a Great Time with your Uncle, One of the main goals is spending that TIME with my WHY! 😉
David, yes, my uncle was really pleasantly surprised and it was a good week so I’m glad I went. I tried to make the list no longer than that to make it easier to follow. I too have a fear of video but like anything in life you have to get over it to get to the good stuff on the other side. I’m sure you’ll be absolutely fine just practice practice practice. Thanks, Atif
What a nice surprise that must have been for family with you arriving in Chicago. And I totally hear ya on your WHY. Travel and help for family are right up there for me too.
I currently use Facebook Lead Ads as my primary platform and this leads to me promoting a co-branded website and a couple of blogs. I have found no other platform that can be ran successfuly on a very low budget. Of course, I am using my blogging as a secondary platform with all my social media accounts that feed into it.
Your 15 key foundational steps explain the starting of an affiliate marketing business very well.
Robert, he really was truly surprised in Chicago, so that was a good trip. Doing affiliate marketing as a business should allow me to do this more often, and with other friends and family or even work from anywhere in the world. I’m currently using Quora as a primary platform to answer peoples questions. I am finding that once questions are answered people don’t seem to click in the bio or go to the blog or anything like that. So I may rethink my primary traffic source and change it to either TikTok or Facebook lead ads. I’ll be looking to you for some guidance around Facebook lead ads as I don’t really have that much experience. How much do you spend per per day and how many leads do you get per day? It’d be interesting to know. Thanks, Atif.
Atif – I find that I look forward to reading your posts! Your 15 steps are critical and broken down to a readable and understandable way to comprehend this business. I am in the process of choosing my primary platform and it is so difficult as I want to make a good decision. Number 10 on your list was very helpful! Thank you!
Ernie, how are you my friend? it’s nice that you look forward to my post I’m just doing what you’re doing and learning and telling everybody about it. Yes number 10 is a good one. What other areas are you interested in or require help in?. I may be able to assist let me know. Thanks, Atif