*This post includes Affiliate Links, this means that if you choose to purchase something from one of them then I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.*
When you decide to start using affiliate marketing as an income stream for your blog you’ll find there are MANY to choose from. As you get into affiliate marketing you want to keep a couple things in mind.
- Don’t overwhelm yourself. Start slow. You can add in more affiliates as you go.
- It can take time to find the right fit.
Remember when you are determining what program you want to use, that this does involve marketing. I know, I know…it seems obvious but a lot of times it’s not.
What is marketing?
Business Dictionary defines it as:
“The management process through which goods and services move from concept to the customer. It includes the coordination of four elements called the 4 P’s of marketing:
(1) identification, selection and development of a product,
(2) determination of its price,
(3) selection of a distribution channel to reach the customer’s place, and
(4) development and implementation of a promotional strategy.”
Understanding Marketing will help you make affiliate marketing work at it’s full potential for you. Click To Tweet
Your affiliate marketing doesn’t have to be tied into directly into content (example-a blog post). For it to be effective though, it must be related to your niche. If you are blogging about knitting, having banner ads for fishing poles won’t make the most sense for your audience.
Creating a Strategy
You have to think about marketing and strategy. Entrepreneur.com has a great article on sales funnels to help you understand marketing strategy. Another great resource is Creative Live’s Online Marketing & Sales Classes. I really liked this class- Create A Marketing Plan And Grow An Outstanding Business from Tara Gentile. There’s a TON of great information in it.
Affiliate Marketing Programs
When it comes to finding affiliate marketing programs, there are a lot…a lot of different affiliate programs out there. My favorite program has been Share A Sale. Using Share A Sale you are able to find sponsors for your site, and they have a large variety to choose from.
Share-A-Sale Categories:
| Accessories
Cosmetics, Jewelry, Shoes, Fragrance, etc. |
Art/Music/Photography
Music, Music Reviews, Art, Photography, etc. |
| Auction Services | Automotive
Cars, Trucks, Rentals, Supplies, etc. |
| Books/Media
Books, eBooks, Videos, Magazines, Newspaper, etc. |
Business
General Business, Office, Marketing, Productivity |
| Career/Jobs/Employment
Employment, Job Boards, Headhunters, Benefits |
Clothing
Men’s, Women’s, and Children’s Clothing and Apparel |
| Commerce/Classifieds
eCommerce Solutions, Classified Ads, B2B Commerce |
Computers/Electronics
Hardware, Software, Electronics, Peripherals, etc |
| Domain Names
Registration, Re-selling, Appraisal services, etc… |
Education
Children, College, Professional, Religious |
| Family
Kids, Babies, Teens, Family Entertainment |
Financial
Banking/Trading, Credit Cards, Loans, etc. |
| Food/Drink
Food and Drink, Tobacco, Liquor/Wine |
Freebies, Free Stuff, Rewards Programs |
| Games/Toys
Electronic Toys, Toys and Games, Online Games |
Gaming and Lotto |
| General Web Services
Banner Advertisements, Software Tools, Privacy Protection, etc… |
Gifts
Flowers, Baskets, Cards, Collectibles, Candy |
| Gourmet
Gourmet Foods, Specialty Items, etc… |
Green
Relating to environmental causes, Green, Earth, Global Awareness, etc… |
| Health
Health Information, Nutrition, Cosmetics, etc. |
Home & Garden
Bed & Bath, Bridal, Home Appliances, Pets, Kitchen, etc. |
| Insurance
Personal, Business, Home, etc. |
Legal
Law Practices, Legal Services, etc… |
| Marketing
Business to Business, Networking, Internet Marketing |
Military
Anything related to the Military |
| Moving/Moving Supplies
Home movers, supplies, moving locaters, trucking. |
Online Dating Services |
| Real Estate
FSBO, Real Estate, Classifies, Apartments |
Recreation
Non-internet related recreation, outdoors, etc… |
| Search Engine Submission
Search Submission services, Optimization, Promotion, etc… |
Shopping Malls |
| Sports/Fitness
Excercise, Sports, Water Sports, Fantasy Games |
Travel
Bookings, Travel Agents, Air, Car, Luggage, etc. |
| Web Hosting | Webmaster Tools
Scripts, Administration, Tracking, Search Engines, etc… |
| Weddings
Anything having to do with the big day!… |
Other Popular Affiliate Programs-
Commission Junction is another well known affiliate marketing program that has similar offerings to Share A Sale and a wide variety of advertisers.
Link Share is another very popular program with a lot of different offerings as well.
Amazon Affiliates is another well known program with a lot of different product offerings for you to choose from.