Affiliate marketing is essentially a selling process that can be done entirely on the internet. In this process, an affiliate (you) will earn a percentage of the commission from the sale of a product just for marketing someone else’s or another business’s products on your website, blog, social media profile, YouTube channel, etc. In this scenario, all you’re doing is representing a product from another company. You post about it on your website or blog, you link to it when you post on social media, and you talk it up on your YouTube channel.
Don’t worry — I already know what you’re asking…
“How many brands, businesses, and companies actually pay affiliate marketers on the web?”
Well, you’d be surprised to find out that 81% of brands and roughly 84% of publishers in the US are ecstatic about the opportunity to take advantage of affiliate marketing. In addition, each and every year, there’s a greater than 10% increase in affiliate marketing spending — meaning companies are more and more willing to shell out the big bucks to affiliate marketers to get their products around. And just to help you wrap your head around that number — it means that nearly $7 billion is spent each year on affiliate marketers throughout the United States
Why The Shift?
If you’re wondering about the reasons why businesses are willing to spend billions of dollars across the US economy just for affiliate marketing, you have every right to ask the question. When it comes down to it, however, the math really is quite simple.
Everything and anything exists on the web. Businesses exist on the web. Storefronts exist on the web. Reviews exist on the web. And of course, consumers exist on the web. Businesses know just how entrenched social media has become in our daily lives, and they’re looking to capitalize on it. They understand how SEO and online advertising works, and they know that users will be redirected to affiliates, and will then be redirected to a company website to purchase a product.
You see, businesses understand the journey that users and consumers take on the web, and they’re looking to capitalize on all of it. They do it by partnering with proven affiliate marketers who have something to show — whether it be a solid following on social media, a list of subscribers on YouTube, or proven hits on their blog or website.
From there, brands and businesses are willing to pay a commission for products that are purchased through these social media profiles, YouTube channels, and blogs/websites. Now, with all of that said, let’s take a look at how you can ensure that your social media profile, YouTube channel, or blog/website can become the next big affiliate marketing avenue.