How To Get Started in Affiliate Marketing

“How do I get started in Affiliate Marketing?”

This is one of the most common questions I get asked and my answer is always the same:

Learn the basics of mutual value,  create a unique strategy, and sell a product that benefits your customer.

At a fundamental level this is all there really all there is to it

…but when you are just starting your first project the path to success isn’t always clear.

I still vividly remember building my first affiliate site and wondering how everything would work out.

Looking back, I can attribute most of my success to just doing something.

When I first started I wasn’t sure of how to make a profitable website but with a few failures and successes things got easier.

The best advice I can give you is to learn the basics, create a strategy, and get off your butt and do something.

How I Got Started in Affiliate Marketing

Just recently I did an interview with David Siteman Scott of the Rise to the Top about how I got started as an affiliate.

David interviews entrepreneurs, athletes, authors, and more, so I was honored to join the ranks of the people he’s interviewed.

In this interview, I share how I got my start as an affiliate, what industries I had my first major successes in, along with advice on how to position yourself to be successful as an affiliate.

As you watch this video think about these three things:

  • Are you targeting the right market? – Understand the difference between people who solve a problem with time instead of money.
  • How aware is your market of their problem? – Do they know they have a problem? If not you need to educate them.
  • What type of consumer intent should you target? - Why are people searching what they are searching for. Research vs Buy vs Entertainment.

{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

David Siteman Garland September 5, 2011 at 7:35 pm

Awesome having you on the show, Nick!!!!

Reply

Suraj @seekably September 6, 2011 at 6:13 am

Very Nice .
Thanks for sharing such a wonderful post!

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Kush A. September 25, 2011 at 12:26 pm

Solid advice, I’ll be sending this to those newer affiliates trying to join our program without a clear value proposition. Thanks Nick!

You kind of hinted at this but worth mentioning again but ranking for “product name” + review = $$$ ;)

Reply

Jason Anthony December 5, 2011 at 9:57 pm

Nice perspective on the difference between spending time and money.

Reply

Anastasia Koltai January 11, 2012 at 8:24 pm

Thank you for sharing this video, David and Nick!

I write you from Hungary and just getting started with affiliate.
Nick, can you tell me when you are looking for affiliates for a new website, how do you start? How to find them? Can you recommend some websites?

Thank you very much!

Reply

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