Last Updated on September 29, 2024 by Chief Pajama Officer
Hey, can I let you in on a little secret? If you’re trying to make money through affiliate marketing by focusing on just selling, you might be doing it all wrong. And don’t worry, you’re not alone, it’s a super common mistake… In fact, I have to remind myself as well. Let’s talk about how you and I can shift gears and start seeing real results.
Affiliate Marketing Isn’t Not About Selling – It’s About Helping
Think about this… when you’re browsing online and come across a product, what’s more appealing to you? A hard sales pitch, or someone genuinely trying to help you solve a problem? Probably the second, right?
That’s the key to affiliate marketing: you’re not just slapping links everywhere and hoping someone clicks. Instead, think about how you can help your audience. Whether you’re giving advice, sharing a personal story, or providing insights into a product that solved a problem for you. Focus on value first.
Connect with Your Audience, Don’t Just Sell to Them
Here’s the thing… people buy from those they trust. So, if you’re constantly selling, you’re likely to sound like a commercial. And let’s be honest, who loves those?
Build a relationship with your readers. Engage with them in the comments, share your experiences, be honest about what you recommend (and what you don’t!). When your audience feels like they know you, they’re more likely to trust your recommendations. So, focus on creating that bond before pushing any affiliate products.
A mentor of mine always said… “People love to buy, they just don’t want to be sold!”
Choose the Right Products – Quality Over Quantity
You might think, “If I promote everything, I’ll make more money, right?” Well, not exactly. Barfing on your audience with a ton of products can overwhelm them and make you seem less genuine.
It’s better to pick a few products that you genuinely love and know will benefit your audience. If your followers see that you’re selective and that you only recommend the best, they’re more likely to trust your suggestions.
So, next time you’re picking affiliate products, ask yourself: Would I actually buy this myself? This is what I do and all of the products I own and believe in are in my resources section.
Stop Selling – Start Teaching
One of the best things you can do for your affiliate marketing strategy is to educate your audience. You know those “how-to” guides, product reviews, and comparison posts? They absolutely work wonders!
Think about it… when someone’s searching for a solution, they’re not necessarily looking to buy right now. They’re looking for information, guidance, and opinions. If you can provide that and slip in your affiliate links naturally, they’ll appreciate your help and may end up buying the product through your link without feeling like they’ve been “sold” to.
Try writing from your experience… What problem did the product solve for you? How did it make your life better? Share that, and suddenly, your content becomes more relatable and helpful.
It’s All About the Right Traffic
Lastly, let’s talk about getting the right people to your content. You don’t want just any traffic; you want targeted traffic. That means focusing on SEO (search engine optimization) and creating content that people who are already interested in the products you’re recommending will find.
For example, if you’re writing about camping gear, your audience is probably looking for things like “best lightweight tent for hiking” or “camping gear checklist.” Create content around these keywords – content that helps, educates, and adds value – and the sales will follow naturally.
What’s Next?
If you’re tired of seeing little to no results from affiliate marketing, it’s time to take a step back and rethink your strategy. Stop selling so much and start helping. Build those relationships, choose products you believe in, educate your audience, and target the right people. You will begin to start seeing real results.
