Avoid 7 Common Affiliate Mistakes
Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective and powerful ways of earning some money online.
This program gives everybody a chance to make a profit through the Internet.
Since these affiliate marketing programs are easy to join, implement and pays a commission on a regular basis, more people are now jumping into this business.
However, like all businesses, there are lots of pitfalls in the affiliate marketing business. How To Avoid The Most Common Affiliate Mistakes, that will get a large portion taken from the profit they are making every day.
That is why it is better to avoid them than be regretful in the end.
Mistake 1
Choosing the wrong affiliate.
Many people want to earn from affiliate marketing as fast as possible. In their rush to be part of one, they tend to choose a bandwagon product. This is the kind of products that the program thinks is “hot”.
They choose the product that is in demand without actually considering if the product appeals to them. This is not a very wise move obviously.
Instead of jumping on the bandwagon, try to choose a product in which you are truly interested in. For any endeavor to succeed, you should take some time to plan and figure out your actions.
Pick a product that appeals to you. Then do some research about that product to see if they are in demand. Promoting a product you are
more passionate about is easier than promoting one for the sake of the earnings only.
Mistake 2
Joining too many affiliate programs.
Since affiliate programs are very easy to join, you might be tempted to join multiples of affiliate programs to try to maximize the earnings you will be getting.
Besides, you may think that there is nothing wrong and nothing to lose by being part of many affiliate programs.
True, that is a great way to have multiple sources of income. However, joining multiple programs and attempting to promote them all at the same time will prevent you from concentrating on each one of them.
The result? The maximum potential of your affiliate program is not realized and the income generated will not exactly be as huge as you were thinking initially it would.
The best way to get excellent result is by joining just one program that pays a 40% commission at least. Then give it your best effort by promoting your products enthusiastically.
As soon as you see that it is already making a reasonable profit, then maybe you can now join another affiliate program.
The technique is to do it slowly but surely. There is really no need to rush into things, especially with affiliate marketing.
With the way things are going, the future is looking real bright and it seems affiliate marketing will be staying for a long time too.
Mistake 3
Not buying product or using the service.
As an affiliate, your main purpose is to effectively and convincingly promote a product or service and to find customers. For you to achieve this purpose, you must be able to relay to the customers that certain product and service.
It is therefore difficult for you to do this when you yourself have not tried these things out. Thus, you will fail to promote and recommend them convincingly.
You will also fail to create a desire in your customers to avail any of what you are offering.
Try the product or service personally first before you sign up as an affiliate to see if it is really delivering what it promises.
If you have done so, then you are one of the credible and living testaments aware of its advantages and disadvantages.
Your customers will then feel the sincerity and truthfulness in you and this will trigger them to try them out for themselves.
Many affiliate marketers make these mistakes and are paying dearly for their actions. To not fall into the same situation they have been in, try to do everything to avoid making the same mistakes.
Mistake 4
Not putting in the time.
Take the time to analyze your marketing strategy and check if you re in the right track. If done properly, you will be able to maximize your affiliate marketing program and earn higher profits.
Remember this simple equation: Price resistance diminishes in direct proportion to trust.
If your visitors feel and believe that you are an expert in your niche, they are more inclined to make that purchase.
On the other hand, if you do not have any confidence and self-assurance in endorsing your products, they will probably feel that same way and will go in search of another product or service which is more believable.
How do you establish this aura of expertise? By offering unique and new solutions they would not get anywhere else.
Show proof that what you are promoting works as promised. Display prominent testimonials and endorsements from respected and known personalities, in related fields of course.
Mistake 5
Avoid hype at all costs.
It is better to sound low key and confident than to scream and seek attention.
Besides, you would not want to sound unprofessional and have that thinking stick to your potential customers and clients, now would you? Best to appear cool and self-assured at the same time.
And remember; prospects are not stupid. They are actually turning to experts and may already know the things that you know.
If you back up your claims with hard facts and data, they would gladly put down hundreds, or even thousands worth of money to your promotions. But if you don’t, they are smart enough to try to look at your competitors and what they are offering.
Mistake 6
Failing to offer a Freebie
While recommending a product, it is also important that you give out promotional freebies. People are already familiar with the concept of offering freebies to promoting their own products.
But very few people do this to promote affiliate products. Try to offer freebies that can promote or even have some information about your products or services.
Before you add recommendations to your product, it is given that you should try to test the product and support.
Mistake 7
Promoting Junk
Do not run the risk of promoting junk products and services. Just think how long it took you to build credibility and trust among your visitors. All that will take to destroy it is one big mistake on your part.
If possible, have recommendations of products that you have 100% confidence in.
Test the product support before you begin to ensure that the people you are referring it to would not be left high and dry when a problem suddenly arouse.
Have a look at your affiliate market and look at the strategies you are using. You may not be focusing on the recommendations that your products need to have.
Your plan of action is sometimes not the only thing that is making your program works. Try product recommendation and be among those few who have become a sucess.
An affliate program that pay 40% will have alot of competition, unless it is just newly publish company. Thus there will be risk of the reliability of the company.
What one’s should look for from my perspective is high-ticket sales commission? If they really want to maximise their earning. An items of $1000 offer a commission of 10% is $100, an items of $100 offer a commission of 40% is only $40. High-ticket items might be more worth to be promoted then the low ticket one. But this will need to take a lot of trust for the other party to take up the offer.
I like your input. That is some good advice that i will have to include in my next update.
Thank you
I started affiliate marketing blindly, without any guidance or mentorship. This led to a series of failure spanning several years. I am guilty of the 3 mistakes you mentioned and even more.
When I started affiliate marketing 7 years ago, I signed up with over 15 CPA and affiliate marketing program. Without any focus, I hopped from one program to another and ended up wasting my time and money.
Another big take-home from your article is to always buy a product I intend promoting. I have learned from my mistake and I’m striving to put things in the right perspective.
I also want to add that affiliates who have built trust over the years can also ask product vendors for review copies of the products without necessarily having to spend money on purchasing them. It would be nice if you research on that and write an article on how we can get that to work in our favour, thanks.
phranell86 I made these mistakes and a few more to go along. You are right about asking the vendor to review a copy/sample of the product.
You will have more luck if you built some with vendor already. they will usually try to help you out in some way.
I will update to include this tip. Thanks.
Honestly, I am not comfortable doing the 3rd of buying the product to be reviewed especially if the product or program is obviously questionable or scam. If there’s a free trial for 30 days, then it would be better to just take the free trial and cancel before the month ends. At least, with a free trial you can get access to what’s inside the program and ask some people using it what are their experiences being a paid member of the program. Although it is sometimes okay to lose a penny just to get in and have access to the information to be used in a review, but you must find a way to get the info for free as much as possible because every dollar in a business counts.
Gomer
I usually ask the vendor if they can provide a review sample/copy of the product i plan to market for them. Some will be reluctant but others will try to help you help them.
My review articles seem to have more of a personal feel to them if i have used the product myself.
As opposed to doing research on product i want to promote. It is easier for me to write. I do prefer if they offer a trial membership, but that is not always the case. For me, it usually turns out to be a good investment in the end.
thanks for your input on this
Hello, Jorge and thanks for this great advice.
I am an Affiliate Marketer and I have a website that focuses on the RV’ing niche where I write articles about things RV and review products that go along with that niche.
I mention this because there are many products to promote within a particular niche and having a website to work from is probably the best way to promote these products.
You mention not joining too many Affiliate Programs. I agree, one Affiliate Program is the best way to go in the beginning and, of course, Amazon is one of the best in that just about anything one would want to buy is sold through them. Yes, their commissions aren’t the biggest but it’s still a great way to get your feet wet.
You talk about testing the products before reviewing them. How does one test a product without going out and purchasing it first? Are there ways of having companies send you a product related to your niche so you can test it? Otherwise, I see this as being expensive. Would it be possible to get the same results by doing adequate research on the product or service one is promoting?
Suppose someone is new to Affiliate Marketing. Is there somewhere they could get training in order to be successful?
A lot of questions, I know but, I have to say that I enjoyed reading your post. there is good wisdom here and I also learned something today.
All the best,
Wayne
Thank you for your comment. One of your questions
“Suppose someone is new to Affiliate Marketing. Is there somewhere they could get training in order to be successful?” I just realized that i can link to wealthy affiliates which is a great place to learn. I don’t know if that is what you were hinting at, but thanks for the input. As for purchasing the product you are promoting i have had success receiving the product at a discounted price or some even free of charge. It is not too common though i think i should add that in. But it doesn’t hurt to ask. Once again thanks for your thoughts they are much appreciated.
I definitely agree that you need to use or be very famiiliar with the product you are promoting because people can tell the difference in one who knows and one who is just trying to sell you. The problem I see with being an affiliate is finding or making some “free” product to give away. Some clickbank vendors have things you could use as freebies but most don’t.