Affiliate programs are a good way to earn extra money if you plan it well. You can generate good income by becoming an affiliate. Here, we’ll debunk the common misconceptions and myths in affiliate marketing and provide tips to get started.
Affiliate marketing has been popular for a while now. Many bloggers, influencers, and website owners turn to affiliate programs to earn extra money. Statistics show that the global affiliate marketing industry is expected to touch $15.7 billion by 2024. Another report mentions that the affiliate program market is set to have a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 7.7% between 2023 and 2030.
However, there are still many myths in affiliate marketing. While some think affiliate programs are a scam, others consider it an easy way to make some fast bucks. Both are wrong. Understanding and debunking myths in affiliate marketing is necessary to navigate the affiliate market and achieve your goals. Never get into a project without knowing its intricacies.
In this blog, we’ll address the most common myths in affiliate marketing programs and discuss ways to become successful in this venture.
Affiliate programs are a great side hustle for many website owners. Influencers combine social media promotions and affiliate programs to earn attractive commissions and monetize their content. However, many people are unsure of what it means to be an affiliate or how the programs work. It’s easy to make mistakes when you rely on misinformation.
Let’s avoid these mistakes by debunking the top ten affiliate marketing myths.
Despite the statistics, some people like to believe that affiliate programs are not profitable and the entire concept is dead. They couldn’t be further from the truth. According to Statista, affiliate marketing in the US alone was $8.2 billion in 2022, with no signs of slowing down.
Affiliate programs are from being dead or dormant. Many organizations from different sectors are offering partner programs to tie up with affiliates and build a strong network. For example, many companies offer various affiliate marketing programs with noteworthy commissions and other incentives.
The most popular myth in affiliate marketing you may have heard is that affiliate programs are not real business. A business doesn’t have to have a real store with a signboard in today’s world. Many modern businesses start online and are run from basements and study rooms at home.
With eCommerce sales increasing every year, it makes full sense to become an affiliate and promote quality products on your website. With the right approach and planning, it is very much a real business and brings steady income over time. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
Some people think you need certain educational qualifications to be an affiliate. That’s never the case. Affiliate programs are not based on your degree. It doesn’t matter if you are a student or a multiple-degree holder. What’s important is your knowledge about the niche. This is also not a compulsion but an additional benefit.
As long as you understand how the product/ services work and how your audience relates to them, your degree and experience aren’t a concern. Moreover, it’s personal experiences that matter. Your affiliate links will get more responses if you have used the products and can vouch for them on your platform. Nevertheless, don’t pretend to be something you are not. If you are an affiliate for medical or wellness products, don’t claim expertise in the field unless you do.
One of the common myths in affiliate marketing is that it brings easy money. While some affiliates might have earned money quickly, it is not always the case. You are not likely to earn a thousand dollars or more each month during the initial stages unless you already have the necessary audience. In a majority of the cases, affiliate programs take time to show the results. You should plan well and implement your strategies. From selecting the best affiliate programs to building a relationship with your users, everything has to align with your end goal. Then, you will notice better results and gradually see an increase in your affiliate income. One way to speed up the process is to join big affiliate programs like the IT staff augmentation affiliate program by DataToBiz as they offer high payouts and recurring commissions.
No matter how easy affiliate marketing is, it requires proper planning and implementation. You should be willing to put in hours of your time and energy to see the results. It’s rare to add links to your website and earn from them right away. Plan every step with care.
From choosing the niche to identifying the partner programs and creating relevant and useful content, everything has to be planned. Also, promote your website and optimize it for search engines to maintain a steady stream of visitors.
Another common myth about affiliate programs is that they aren’t good for your website SEO and you cannot survive Google’s algorithm changes. This leads to many affiliates asking if there is any risk in affiliate marketing.
Well, not really.
Affiliate marketing can be good for SEO if you do it right. Google is only concerned about websites with ‘thin’ content that do nothing else other than add affiliate links and ads. If your website has real content for users to read and enjoy, they will invariably spend more time on it. This increases your website rank and visibility. Placing affiliate links on such sites will be beneficial to everyone. Focus on content quality, user experience, and relevance. Make sure the affiliate links are clear.
This is debatable. People don’t like to click on any link for various reasons. Safety concerns about data privacy and cyber threats make them wary of clicking on hyperlinks when reading a post. However, that doesn’t mean they hate affiliate links. It depends on how you present the content to your audience. Hence, that counts as a myth in affiliate marketing.
For example, affiliates are expected to add a disclaimer saying they earn a commission when a user purchases through the link but at no additional cost to the user. This makes some people less wary of using the links. However, some users will deliberately not use affiliate links since they don’t like another person earning a commission from their sale. It’s how they are. Instead of worrying about such people, focus on building better relationships with your audience and providing them with products/ services that align with your content and their requirements.
Some say it’s no longer worth spending your energy on affiliate programs since the profitable niches are already taken. While it’s true that some niches have more affiliates, it doesn’t signify that all is lost. Many niches offer high-paying affiliate programs. Remember that as affiliates increase, more brands are offering partner programs to build a network for marketing and promotions. With some patience and planning, you can find programs with a commission structure that suits your expectations. Instead of focusing on the most popular niche, focus on the right niche for your website and content. For example, if you post skincare tips, become an affiliate for skincare and wellness products. You can even expand into adjacent niches. However, selling smartphones will be an odd choice and clash with your niche.
A general myth in affiliate marketing is that you don’t need an email list since users are not likely to make a repeat purchase, that too through your links. However, that’s not true.
One of the affiliate marketing tips is to work towards building a user base for repeat purchases. An email list will make this easy. Send periodic newsletters with helpful content and include relevant affiliate links with a clear call to action. For example, an author can promote books by fellow authors apart from their own and use affiliate links in the newsletters to earn extra money.
Another myth in affiliate marketing is that it is perceived as just advertising, and this makes it unappealing to many users. But that doesn’t have to be the case. Affiliates don’t have to actively promote the brand and write content only about it. You should never make your website only about the affiliate program. It is a part of what you offer.
Create valuable content that aligns with the affiliate products. Instead of promoting and advertising, take time to build a user base and understand their needs before you join affiliate programs.
Many things can go wrong if you don’t pay attention to the details of the affiliate framework.
Apart from the above, do you know what the biggest challenge in affiliate marketing is?
Finding the right partner to join the affiliate program. The niche and products aren’t the only important aspects to consider. You should also choose the correct company/ brand for you and your audiences. What’s right for many doesn’t have to work for you. For example, Amazon Associates has over 20% market share in the affiliate sector. However, it doesn’t mean it is the right choice for you. A lesser-known program with greater incentives might give better results.
Here are a few tips to get the desired results from affiliate programs:
Affiliate marketing is a dynamic field with new developments and increasing competition. You should continuously seek to learn, improve, and expand your knowledge to provide value to the audiences and survive competition. Take time to understand how affiliate networks work and find the most suitable programs for your website. Be patient and make an effort to see the results. Check out our team augmentation affiliate program to earn handsome commission and become a part of our network.
Fact checked by –
Akansha Rani ~ Content Creator & Copy Writer
Sunaina Meena ~ Digital Marketing Specialist
Data Engineering
AI & Machine Learning
By Use Cases
Business Intelligence & Tableau
