A Guide For Becoming An Affiliate Marketer

If you’ve lived long enough, you’ve probably encountered someone promoting affiliate marketing. Often, you might not even realize they’re an affiliate marketer. There are two types of affiliate marketers: scammers and legitimate ones. Scammers typically try to recruit you into a team or ask for money under the guise of helping them generate free leads. Legitimate affiliate marketers, on the other hand, are people like you who choose to promote a company’s product or service in exchange for a commission. Remember, you don’t need anyone’s help to become an affiliate marketer.

Why Become A Affiliate Marketer

A side hustle is the best way to avoid spending your entire life working a job without a path to retirement. Retirement benefits aren’t what they used to be, and the strategies for financial success have evolved. Gen Z is already rejecting traditional job models, and we can learn from their approach. If you become proficient in affiliate marketing, you can create a source of income independent of a traditional job, often referred to as “just over broke.”

You might wonder, what is an affiliate marketer? Simply put, an affiliate marketer is like a salesperson. This role is one of the most viable ways to support yourself in a monetary system, as everyone has to navigate this economic framework. Given the current global situation, moving to another country or state isn’t a feasible solution.

What Not To Do When Choosing Affiliate Marketing

Never let someone persuade you to invest your money without thoroughly researching first. Avoid scammers as much as possible; they often appear very legitimate to lure you in. Some even scam people out of jobs by asking for sensitive information like banking and tax details. If you’re considering becoming a marketer, understand that it’s not easy and you could quickly feel overwhelmed, making you think you need outside help.

Whatever you choose to pursue, stay self-reliant. Be cautious about sharing your plans with others, as it can sometimes lead to interference. While this might sound strange, don’t pursue affiliate marketing solely for the money. Once you start, you’re stepping into the realm of entrepreneurship, often without realizing it.

Things To Think About As A Affiliate

By deciding to work for yourself, you have embraced entrepreneurship. While you may not create a corporation, you can still earn a substantial income and avoid worrying about retirement funds. Some argue that having a job is better because self-employment can become a 24/7 commitment. However, the seeds of your success are in your hands, and it’s up to you to nurture them. If you sow weeds, don’t expect flowers to grow—avoid becoming the very thing you despise, like a scammer. You become what you aspire to be, so ignore any self-doubt. After elementary school, there are no easy shortcuts.

If you’re already well-established, this advice might not apply to you. For everyone else, make a plan, believe in it, and understand that what you put into the world comes back to you. Stay focused on your goals.

What To Stay Away From

Avoid companies that recruit you to join a team, as these often resemble pyramid schemes. While some individuals may find success in such structures, the methods involved can be concerning. It’s generally more effective to have the freedom to determine your own approach. Working at your own pace is ideal. Start with manageable tasks to avoid being overwhelmed; it’s easy to think you can handle something until you’re faced with doing it. Don’t attempt to juggle multiple tasks at once, as this will likely lead to failure. Whenever possible, try to accomplish things independently and for free, without relying on others, as this may require you to seek permission. Most importantly, never copy someone else’s work.

Companies That Provide Affiliate Marketing

Target
Walmart
Amazon
Wayfair
Aliexpress
Bestbuy
Apple
JCPenny
Jet
eBay
Bonfire
spreedshirt

Pitfalls Of Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing isn’t for the faint-hearted. It’s easy to start but challenging to succeed, as making sales can be difficult. When you decide to sell a product or create a side hustle through affiliate marketing, it’s not something you’ll do effortlessly or make money from overnight. It requires a continuous, evolving marketing strategy, depending on what you choose to promote. Being a marketer essentially means becoming a salesperson. You may have heard the phrase “some people can’t sell water to a fish”—this speaks to the mastery some have in selling products or services. Many of the challenges in marketing come from not knowing how to make a sale or failing to be honest about what you’re selling. For those new to sales, it can be tough because you might not know where to start. A common pitfall in affiliate marketing is giving up too soon, especially if you haven’t made any money within the first six months. Patience is key; you need to approach it with resilience. One of the most frustrating challenges is the competition—others are often marketing the same products and services. To stand out, you must find a way to market differently and more effectively so that customers choose your offerings over others.

In affiliate marketing, there’s no set timeline for success or failure because it becomes a lifestyle rather than a typical job. The income can be highly unpredictable—one year you might make $50,000, and the next, only two dollars. That’s why it’s crucial to commit to continuous self-improvement and adapt as needed. This way, you can make informed decisions and avoid the pitfalls of relying on this venture as your sole source of income.

Can Marketing be a Sole Source Of Income

When considering a sole source of income, you’re aiming to cover all your expenses for the foreseeable future. While marketing can be very lucrative, it’s different from owning a brick-and-mortar business or building a corporation worth millions or billions. Marketing typically involves an individual making money on their own by selling products or services to enough people to sustain their lifestyle, as opposed to working for someone else or trying to build a large corporation. The likelihood of achieving massive wealth through marketing alone is slim. However, if you’re transparent and have a great product or service, you can confidently say that affiliate marketing could become your sole source of income. In today’s job market, where opportunities may seem bleak, cultivating a skill that allows you to earn money independently by investing your time can be invaluable.