How to Learn Affiliate Marketing: 10 Steps (with Pictures) (2024)

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1Taking Courses and Learning from Marketers

2Learning Affiliate Marketing through Experience

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Co-authored byChristine Michel Carter

Last Updated: February 2, 2024References

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Affiliate marketing is a popular way of making passive income through advertising other companies’ goods and products. If people choose to purchase items that you’ve advertised through affiliate marketing, you’ll earn a commission.[1] Affiliate marketing occurs online and is done, for example, by bloggers who allow advertisements on their web pages. There are a number of ways to learn about affiliate marketing, including taking one of many online training courses. Experience is often the best teacher, and you can also learn about affiliate marketing by trying it out!

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Taking Courses and Learning from Marketers

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  1. 1

    Try Udemy’s affiliate marketing courses if you want many options. Udemy offers a large range of marketing classes online, including several geared towards affiliate marketing. You can move through Udemy’s marketing courses at your own pace, and they’ll help you grasp the basics of affiliate marketing including partnering with companies, SEO, and increasing website traffic.[2]

    • Navigate to the site and search “affiliate marketing” to see some of what they offer. You can also sort among the search results to find, for example, only those classes that have been rated 4.5 or higher.
    • Get started on a class and learn more online at: https://www.udemy.com/course/clickbank-affiliate-marketing-success/. The course isn’t cheap—it costs about $200 USD—but it is frequently discounted to rates as low as $10.99.
  2. 2

    Get a step-by-step walkthrough tutorial with Wealthy Affiliate. Wealthy Affiliate is a well-known and well-regarded affiliate marketing tutorial site that teaches you how to conduct research and grow your marketing practice. You can also take advantage of weekly online training webinars. The site will also put you in direct contact with a community of other beginner affiliate marketers, who you can ask questions and bounce ideas off of.[3]

    • Learn more and set up either a free or premium account ($19 USD per month) online.
    • A premium account gives you access to advanced-level series of courses and to live webinars that cover a variety of topics associated with affiliate marketing.

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  3. 3

    Check out the Affilorama courses for a popular free option. If you’d rather not pay to learn affiliate marketing, Affilorama may be your best bet. The site offers dozens of free video lessons on all aspects of affiliate marketing, as well as training blogs to help you learn. If you’d like access to more training content, the site offers 3 premium membership packages that offer advice on how to find a marketing niche, optimize your keywords, and use social media in your affiliate marketing practice.[4]

  4. 4

    Talk to experienced affiliate marketers and ask for their advice. Affiliate marketing can have a steep learning curve and can feel tough to break into. Fortunately, there are many experienced marketers out there who may be willing to impart their tricks and tips to you. They’ll be able to teach you to select a marketing niche that can earn you money and to design your website to get as many visitors as possible.[5]

    • If you don’t know any affiliate marketers, try finding some by searching for blogs that discuss topics you’re interested in. Then look for advertising links to companies’ products. If you see these links, you’ve found an affiliate marketer!
    • Or, go directly to the companies themselves. Email a company of your choice and ask to be put in touch with any affiliate marketers they work with.
    • When you reach out to affiliate marketers themselves, try having a professional but friendly tone. Email something like, “Hi, I see that you have done some affiliate marketing work with Patagonia! I’m interested in breaking into the affiliate marketing world as well, but don’t have much experience so far. Would you be willing to pass along any helpful tips you’ve picked up?”
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Method 2

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Learning Affiliate Marketing through Experience

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  1. 1

    Select a niche that you’re interested in. Affiliate marketing enterprises work best if you’re marketing for a product or company that you genuinely appreciate and have an interest in. Let’s say you love the outdoors, and often go on camping trips. Consider doing affiliate marketing for companies who make camping products, hiking boots, backpacks, or outdoor gear.[6]

    • There are a huge number of niches you could look into. For example, you could look into doing affiliate marketing for companies who make musical instruments, snack foods and soft drinks, sporting goods and sports equipment, fishing equipment, literary publishers, office supplies, or mattresses and bedding.
    • Beginning affiliate marketers who start out marketing for companies and products that they don’t care about typically lose interest quickly.
  2. 2

    Build yourself a website if you don’t already have one. Affiliate marketing takes place online. If you’re new to web design and don’t want to tackle coding your own website, try building a website for free through one of the many no-cost website-building platforms like Wix, Weebly, or Wordpress. You could also use a blog site like BlogSpot as your platform to begin affiliate marketing.[7]

    • If you already have a blog or website (something more official than a Tumblr), you can skip this step.
  3. 3

    Post content online regularly and build up an email list. If you’re posting affiliate marketing links but nobody visits your website, you won’t make much of an income. The best way to draw new people to your website is by posting new, interesting content. Also offer an email newsletter that users can subscribe to for additional content! Don’t start doing any affiliate marketing until you have at least 500 email list subscribers.[8]

    • Say that you run a blog called “The Camping Life,” about outdoor activities. You could post reviews of campsites and national parks, and send out a newsletter reviewing specific camping products that you’ve tried out.
    • Depending on how frequently you post new content and send out emails and newsletters, it could take between 3–6 months to build up 500 subscribers.
  4. 4

    Brush up on SEO to increase your web traffic. To be a successful affiliate marketer, you’ll need to bring as many viewers to your website as possible, to maximize the number of people who see your marketing content. For example, a great way to maximize your SEO is to include half a dozen keywords in your website copy. Then, when people search for these words in a search engine, your website will appear relatively high up in the search results. So, in our example, you’d want to use words like “camping,” “affordable,” and “backpacking” to draw in visitors.[9]

    • There are great online articles about SEO that you can read to improve your know-how. You can also take free SEO training courses at Udemy and other sites.
  5. 5

    Reach out to companies whose goods you’d like to market. Once you’re regularly producing content and have plenty of subscribers, it’s time to reach out to merchants with who you’d like to affiliate market. The best way to go about this is by sending an email to the director of their marketing or sales department, if you can find that information online. Explain that you run a popular website or blog devoted to a topic relevant to the company’s products. If the company agrees to take you on as an affiliate marketer, they’ll send you a specific URL that you can use to create ads on your website.[10]

    • Let’s stick with our camping/outdoors example. You could try reaching out to backpacking and outdoor companies like REI, Patagonia, and North Face to see if they’ll take you on as an affiliate marketer.
  6. 6

    Place the company’s URL on your site and in your newsletters. Take the unique URL that the company sent you, and position it prominently on your website or blog. It’s also a good idea to name-drop the company in your weekly newsletters and include the link there too. Try to ensure that the majority of your website’s visitors will see the link by positioning it near the top of your site and newsletter![11]

    • For example, you could have copy on your website that says something like, “I went camping last weekend and my Eureka tent kept me warm and dry! Follow the link to see their great catalog of products.”
    • Eventually, website users will start clicking through the advertisements and purchase products from the company you’re marketing for. At this point, the company will send you a commission check.
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    Is affiliate marketing the same thing as influencer marketing?

    Christine Michel Carter
    Global Marketing Expert

    Christine Michel Carter is a Global Marketing Expert, Best-Selling Author, and Strategy Consultant for Minority Woman Marketing, LLC. With over 13 years of experience, Christine specializes in strategic business and marketing consulting services including market analysis, organizational alignment, portfolio review, cultural accuracy, and brand and marketing review. She is also a speaker on millennial moms and black consumers. Christine holds a BS in Business Administration and Art History from Stevenson University. She is a leader in multicultural marketing strategy and has written over 100 articles views for several publications, including TIME and Forbes Women. Christine has worked with Fortune 500 clients such as Google, Walmart, and McDonald’s. She has been featured in The New York Times, BBC News, NBC, ABC, Fox, The Washington Post, Business Insider, and Today.

    Christine Michel Carter

    Global Marketing Expert

    Expert Answer

    Affiliate marketing is not the same as influencer marketing. Influencer marketers often do not earn a commission.

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      • Large companies often work with many affiliate marketers simultaneously. To keep track of which purchases were made through which affiliate marketer’s blog/website, companies will give each marketer a unique affiliate ID and a unique URL to use to promote the company’s products.[12]

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      • A cookie will also be placed on the computer of any consumers who click the company’s advertisement on your website. That way, the company will be able to track which affiliate marketer should be paid a commission for the consumer’s purchase, even if the purchase occurred days or weeks after the consumer clicked the link.[13]

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      About This Article

      How to Learn Affiliate Marketing: 10 Steps (with Pictures) (31)

      Co-authored by:

      Christine Michel Carter

      Global Marketing Expert

      This article was co-authored by Christine Michel Carter. Christine Michel Carter is a Global Marketing Expert, Best-Selling Author, and Strategy Consultant for Minority Woman Marketing, LLC. With over 13 years of experience, Christine specializes in strategic business and marketing consulting services including market analysis, organizational alignment, portfolio review, cultural accuracy, and brand and marketing review. She is also a speaker on millennial moms and black consumers. Christine holds a BS in Business Administration and Art History from Stevenson University. She is a leader in multicultural marketing strategy and has written over 100 articles views for several publications, including TIME and Forbes Women. Christine has worked with Fortune 500 clients such as Google, Walmart, and McDonald’s. She has been featured in The New York Times, BBC News, NBC, ABC, Fox, The Washington Post, Business Insider, and Today. This article has been viewed 38,692 times.

      29 votes - 88%

      Co-authors: 12

      Updated: February 2, 2024

      Views:38,692

      Categories: Marketing

      Article SummaryX

      One of the easiest ways to learn affiliate marketing is to take courses. Sign up for a class or tutorial with a service like Udemy, Wealthy Affliate, or Affilorama. If you’d rather not take a class, you can also get information and advice by chatting with an experienced affiliate marketer. Getting experience is another huge part of the learning process. If you’re ready to jump into affiliate marketing, look for products that are related to your interests. For example, if you’re an animal lover, a blog about pets might be a perfect venue for marketing pet care products. Build a website devoted to your area of interest and start posting interesting content to draw in visitors and customers. For more expert advice, like how to boost your sales with SEO, read on!

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      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 38,692 times.

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      How to Learn Affiliate Marketing: 10 Steps (with Pictures) (2024)

      FAQs

      How do I teach myself affiliate marketing? ›

      Here's how to get started with affiliate marketing:
      1. Choose a niche. Think about what you're good at and link doing.
      2. Decide on a content platform. ...
      3. Find affiliate programs to join. ...
      4. Create great content. ...
      5. Drive traffic to your affiliate links. ...
      6. Get clicks on your affiliate links.
      May 25, 2023

      How affiliate marketing works step by step? ›

      The affiliate simply searches for a product they enjoy, then promotes that product and earns a piece of the profit from each sale they make. The sales are tracked via affiliate links from one website to another. Affiliate marketing is a great way to drive sales and generate significant online revenue.

      What should a beginner do in affiliate marketing? ›

      How to Start Affiliate Marketing
      1. Choose a platform and niche.
      2. Build an audience.
      3. Sign up for an affiliate program.
      4. Choose products to promote.
      5. Create remarkable content that promotes your affiliate products.
      6. Optimize and track.
      7. Get paid.
      Mar 18, 2021

      How to find affiliate marketers in 12 easy steps? ›

      Simple Ways to Find and Retain Affiliate Marketers for Your Brand
      1. #1) Work With an Agency.
      2. #2) Affiliate Networks.
      3. #3) Online Research.
      4. #4) Influencers.
      5. #5) Affiliate Marketing Events.
      6. #6) Niche Blogs.
      7. #7) Existing Customers.
      8. #8) Social Media.

      What is the easiest affiliate program to make money? ›

      Best Affiliate Marketing Programs For Beginners
      • Amazon Associates Affiliate Program.
      • CJ (Commission Junction) Affiliate Program.
      • ShareASale Affiliate Program.
      • ClickBank Affiliate Program.
      • Rakuten Advertising Affiliate Program.
      • Impact Affiliate Program.
      • Awin Affiliate Program.
      • Etsy Affiliate Program.
      Jan 22, 2024

      How do I start free affiliate marketing as a beginner? ›

      How to Start Affiliate Marketing With No Money in 2024
      1. Find an affiliate program and a niche.
      2. Decide your traffic channels.
      3. Target the right keywords.
      4. Create killer content that builds trust.
      5. Promote hard and grow your audience.
      6. Engage with your audience.
      7. Scale it up.
      Jan 22, 2024

      What are the 3 main types of affiliates? ›

      The three main types of affiliate marketing are unattached affiliate marketing, involved affiliate marketing, and related affiliate marketing.

      How long does it take to start earning from affiliate marketing? ›

      How long does it take to make money as an affiliate marketer? Based on my experience and speaking with many affiliate marketers, on average, it takes around six to 12 months to start earning money as an affiliate marketer and around two years to earn enough money to quit your day job.

      What is a good affiliate program to start with as a beginner? ›

      The Best Affiliate Marketing Programs for Beginners
      ProgramCommission rateCookie duration
      Shopify100% (first 2 payments)30 days
      Link ConnectorVariesVaries
      FiverrUp to $150 per sale30 days
      Rakuten AdvertisingVariesVaries
      16 more rows

      What is the monthly income for a beginner affiliate marketer? ›

      Affiliate Marketing Salaries in India

      The average salary for Affiliate Marketing is ₹1,57,049 per month in the India. The average additional cash compensation for a Affiliate Marketing in the India is ₹1,32,240, with a range from ₹30,424 - ₹2,11,500.

      What is the fastest and easiest way to make money through affiliate marketing? ›

      16 affiliate marketing tips to make more money
      1. Launch your affiliate site with existing content.
      2. Diversify your affiliate partners.
      3. Own the relationship with your audience.
      4. Become affiliates for audience-recommended products.
      5. Know the ins and outs of the products you're recommending.
      6. Disclose affiliate links.

      How do I start an affiliate marketing side hustle? ›

      How to start your affiliate marketing side hustle
      1. Selecting a niche.
      2. Creating a platform.
      3. Joining the right affiliate programs.
      4. Generating traffic through quality content.
      5. Promoting your content.
      6. Monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing your performance.
      Oct 31, 2023

      How hard is it to learn affiliate marketing? ›

      Affiliate marketing is a skilled practice, and learning the ropes can be a slow, hard slog. So be prepared to spend a lot of time, rather than a lot of money, at the start of your affiliate career.

      How long will it take to learn affiliate marketing? ›

      It typically takes two months for you to learn the basics of affiliate marketing and another six months to start earning good money from your strategy. Many affiliate marketers utilize their website or blog to market products and create a steady cash flow.

      Can I learn affiliate marketing for free? ›

      You can enroll in Great Learning Academy's free affiliate marketing course and start making money through internet platforms to learn it for free.

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