There are many questions about how affiliate marketing works, what to do and what not to do when it comes to building a business. With so much uncertainty associated with both the personal and business aspects of affiliate marketing. In this post, we will answer the most frequently asked question about affiliate marketing.
1. What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a way to make money by promoting the products and services of other people and companies. You don’t need to create your own product or service, just promote existing ones. That’s why it’s so easy to get started with affiliate marketing. You can even start without a budget!
2. What is an affiliate program?
An affiliate program is a package of information that you create for your product that is then shared with potential publishers. The program usually includes detailed information about the product and its retail value, commission levels and promotional materials. Many affiliate programs are managed through an affiliate network such as ShareASale, which acts as a platform for publishers and advertisers to connect, but it is also possible to offer your program directly.
3. What is an affiliate network and how do affiliate networks make money?
Affiliate networks connect publishers with advertisers. Affiliate networks make money by charging a commission to merchants who advertise with them; these merchants are known as advertisers. The percentage of each sale that the advertiser pays is agreed between the seller and the affiliate network.
4. What is the difference between affiliate marketing and drop shipping?
Dropshipping is a selling method that allows you to run an online store without having to stock items. You advertise products like you own them, but when someone places an order, you create a duplicate order with the distributor at a discounted price. The distributor will take care of shipping and packaging on your behalf. Since affiliate marketing is based on referrals and this type of drop shipping does not require an investment in inventory, when a customer purchases from an affiliate link no money is exchanged from hand to hand.
5. Are affiliate marketing and performance marketing the same?
Effective marketing is a marketing method that pays for performance, such as when a sale is made or an ad is clicked. This may include methods such as PPC (Pay Per Click) or display advertising. Affiliate marketing is a form of performance marketing whereby commissions are paid to affiliates based on the results when they click on their affiliate link and complete a purchase or action.
6. Can I promote affiliate offers on mobile devices?
Smartphones are essentially miniature computers, so publishers can display the same websites and offers that are available on a PC. But mobile phones also offer special tools not available on computers, and these can be put to good use by publishers. Publishers can optimize their ads for mobile users by making them accessible to this audience. Publishers can also make good use of text and instant messaging to promote their offerings. With mobile predicted to account for 80% of traffic in the future, publishers that don’t market on mobile are missing out on a big opportunity.
7. Where can I find qualified publishers?
The best way to find affiliate publishers is through reputable networks like ShareASale Cj (Commission Junction), Awin, and Impact radius. These networks have a rigorous application and compliance process which means that all affiliates are trustworthy.
8. What is an affiliate disclosure statement?
The Affiliate Disclosure Statement informs the reader that the website may contain affiliate links for which the publisher may be paid a commission if visitors click on those links and make a purchase.
9. Does social media activity play a significant role in affiliate marketing?
Publishers promote their programs in a variety of ways, including blogs, websites, email marketing, and pay-per-click advertising. Social networks have a huge interactive audience, which makes this platform a good source of potential traffic.
10. What is a super affiliate program?
A Super Affiliate is an affiliate who consistently generates the most sales in any program they promote compared to other affiliates in that program. Affiliates make a lot of money from affiliate marketing Pat Flynn made over $50,000 in 2013 from affiliate marketing.
11. How do we track publisher sales?
Publishers can be identified by their publisher ID, which is used in tracking cookies to determine which publishers are generating sales. The activity is then viewed in the Network Dashboard.
12. Can we create an affiliate program in several countries?
Thanks to the widespread use of the Internet, affiliate programs can be promoted in any country. Partnership strategies established internationally should be adapted to the language of the target country.
13. How can affiliate marketing help my business?
Affiliate marketing can help you grow your business in the following ways:
- This allows you to save time and money on marketing, which frees you up to focus on other aspects of your business.
- You get access to friendly marketers who are willing to help you succeed.
- It will also help you promote your products by sharing links and banners with new audiences.
- It offers a high ROI (return on investment) and is cost effective.
14. How to find quality publishers?
One of the best ways to work with qualified affiliates is to hire an affiliate marketing agency that works with all networks. Partners are carefully selected and go through a rigorous application process to join the network.
15. How can we promote affiliate links?
Affiliate marketing is usually associated with websites, but there are other ways to promote your affiliate links, including:
- Website or blog
- Through email marketing and newsletters
- Social networks such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
- Leave a comment on blogs or forums.
- Write an e-book or other digital product.
- YouTube
16. Do I need to pay for registration in the affiliate program?
To build your affiliate marketing business, you don’t need to invest money in the beginning. You can register for free in any affiliate network and start promoting your brands right away.
17. What is a commission?
Commission rates are usually based on a percentage of the total sale, and in some cases may also be a flat fee per transaction. The rates are set by the seller.
Who manages your affiliate program?
Some merchants manage their affiliate programs in-house, while others choose to outsource management to a network or an external agency.
18. What is a cookie?
Cookies are small pieces of data that work with web browsers to store information such as user preferences, login or registration information, and the contents of a shopping cart. When someone clicks on your affiliate link, a cookie is placed on the user’s computer or mobile device. This cookie is used to remember the link or ad that the visitor clicked on. Even if a user leaves your site and comes back a week later to make a purchase, you will still receive credit for the sale and receive a commission that depends on the duration of the site’s cookies.
19. How long do cookies last?
The Seller determines the duration of the cookie, also known as the “cookie duration”. The most common duration of an affiliate program is 30 days. If someone clicks on your affiliate link, you will earn a commission if they buy within 30 days of the click.