Affiliate marketing is almost like a referral program for online marketing, with a less traditional approach. Think of two parties, the seller and the affiliate. An affiliate would likely find or know of a product they enjoy, promote it through online posts, promotions, or ads. When a sale is made using the link, the affiliate is paid for their effort. Often times when we think of some sort of promotional marketing we assume the affiliate is connected with the company. This may not always be the case as some affiliates are great at finding trends and capitalizing on a product or category.

Early Affiliate Strategies

This form of marketing has existed in some form or another since the 90s, starting off with a simple online flower business. Shortly after, and most famously, is Amazon’s affiliate program called Amazon Associates. Originally, affiliates were paid on a per action basis (per click, per purchase, per lead etc), which can have pros and cons. Now payments can be made up front, with commissions or other compensatory forms.

A Modern Shift

More recently, there is a whole host of affiliate programs that are exactly what you would expect them to be. Influencers represent some of the most notable and successful affiliate marketers, but not the majority. You can partake in this marketing, even with a smaller following. Social media has changed the game, time to sub in and get involved! Promotion of such products takes place on social media hoping to direct the consumer to a website where a purchase can be conducted and tracked. A great example of an influencer marketing would be podcasts. Content creators reading ads during your favorite episodes is the main example of this. Find out more about why you should start your own podcast by clicking here.

Where Do We Go from Here?

Making the most of an affiliate program can benefit anybody from large to small followings. Passive income is commonly the main benefit that has been a major part of affiliate marketing. If done correctly the affiliation can be lucrative for those who have the knowledge of ad spaces. You can find further information on this subject and more on our podcast, found at our linktree.