The Simple Way To Make Money Online | Ilyse Craft | Affiliate Marketing

99% 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣'𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙. But every now and then, there's something that smacks you in the face because it really is that simple.

I just dropped an episode with Ilyse Craft, known as the 'Supercoach' on Linkedin and someone who I consider to be a LinkedIn Legend, on something we've both been geeking out on:

Making affiliate income from recommending products and services that you know and love and are already recommending to people; also known as affiliate marketing.

At a very basic level you could make enough to cover or bring down costs of things you are already buying, or you could use it to supplement your business income by taking a more active role in recommending products or services to your clients. And some people create full on passive businesses by using social media to create a tribe around a topic, then connecting those people with recommended products and services.

Benefits of creating an affiliate marketing business include:

• Low entry barrier: Starting with minimal upfront costs.
• Diverse income streams: Promoting multiple products from different niches.
• Passive income potential: Earning while you sleep.
• Flexibility: Work from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Minimal risk: No need to create your own products.

There are 3 components in creating an affiliate marketing business: the merchant, the affiliate and the consumer. One of the things I love most about this strategy is it forces you to start thinking about setting intention around creating traffic and a niche or tribe around a topic, then connecting them with relevant offers. 

If you can become a successful audience builder and create revenue through affiliate marketing, you can also create income from your own offers such as coaching, consulting and digital courses. This is the beauty and essence of the Creator Economy!

Building a solid foundation for affiliate marketing:

Choosing a profitable niche is the cornerstone of a successful affiliate marketing journey. It's crucial to identify a niche that aligns with both your interests and market demand, as this will be the driving force behind your content creation. Researching affiliate programs is the next step, ensuring you partner with reputable merchants offering competitive commissions and high-quality products or services. To establish your online presence, creating a website or blog is essential. This digital hub will serve as the platform where you share valuable content, engage with your audience, and promote affiliate products. Crafting compelling content that resonates with your target audience is key to building trust and authority within your niche. By focusing on these foundational elements, you're laying the groundwork for a successful affiliate marketing venture that can yield substantial rewards over time.

In digital marketing we usually say that health, wealth and relationships are the most profitable markets, then you'll have sub markets underneath each of those, then you'll have your niche or even subniche. Be tactical in how you approach this and going broad will unlikely yield much success in creating your audience. If you'd like help in crafting your niche, I would recommend grabbing my Nail Your Niche Workshop to get absolute clarity around the topic that could be the basis of your affiliate income business. 

Your credibility is on the line! 

While affiliate marketing offers promising opportunities, it's essential to navigate potential pitfalls with caution. One common mistake is promoting the wrong products. Aligning products with your audience's needs and preferences is crucial to maintaining credibility and trust. Additionally, over-promotion can lead to audience fatigue and disengagement. Striking a balance between promotional and non-promotional content ensures that your audience remains engaged and receptive. Neglecting analytics is another pitfall to avoid; tracking and analyzing your campaign's performance allows you to fine-tune your strategies for optimal results. By being mindful of these pitfalls and staying adaptable, you can navigate the affiliate marketing landscape with confidence.

Maintaining transparency and ethical practices is paramount in affiliate marketing. Disclosing your affiliate relationships clearly and conspicuously helps build trust with your audience. Promoting products that genuinely provide value to your audience is another ethical consideration. Your recommendations should align with the needs and interests of your followers, enhancing your credibility as a trusted affiliate marketer. Strive for a balance between promotional and value-driven content, as bombarding your audience with constant promotions can erode trust. By upholding ethical principles and prioritizing your audience's best interests, you lay the foundation for a sustainable and respected affiliate marketing venture.

Affiliate marketing presents a golden opportunity for individuals and businesses to generate income by promoting products and services they believe in. As you embark on your affiliate marketing journey, remember that success requires a balance between providing value to your audience and generating revenue. By understanding the basics, implementing effective strategies, staying ethical, and embracing continuous learning, you can unlock the true potential of affiliate marketing and build a sustainable online income stream.

More on Ilyse Craft: 

Business aside, it was an absolute honor to spend 45 minutes with this beautiful soul and hear about her inspiring life journey and the lessons that came.Not just the wins, but the times where she settled for less, the lack of confidence and courage.

At one time she pushed aside her desire to be a stay at home mom to work her way up in the corporate world of the fashion industry with over 1 billion in sales. We'll talk about what caused her to make the shift into entrepreneurship and how she now lives a life that is in alignment with her true purpose and passion in life.

You can listen to this episode about affiliate marketing and making the transition from a corporate life to entrepreneurship on the High Value Skills Podcast on Apple or Spotify.

Connect with Ilyse on LinkedIn or Instagram!