Affiliate Marketing – Easy Money ?

I have a big confession to make – When I first heard of affiliate marketing, I was sceptical. It sounded too easy, too boring and not challenging enough – sounded like something only people who were after easy money and get rich quick schemes would do.

Despite my scepticism, there was something about affiliate marketing that caught my interest. I was basically intrigued by it. So, I started reading and learning more about it.

photo credit: KrissZPhotography

Today, three years after my first introduction to affiliate marketing, I am in love with affiliate marketing. I find it challenging, fun and exciting.

In the set-up phase, Affiliate Marketing is not easy money and becoming a super affiliate is not an easy task.

There are lot of steps involved in creating a good income generating affiliate site.

1. Identify a good niche
2. Find good quality products to promote
3. Set up a well designed website to promote the products
4. Write good quality content that establishes trust with your readers/potential customers
5. Promote the website (through Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Marketing

The last step is a crucial one – This is the step where you have to spend most time – and usually there is some amount of ongoing work as well. The amount of work you put in will reduce over time but initially you will have to put in some hard yards. Most people start an affiliate site with a huge amount of enthusiasm but by the time they reach step five, they kind of give up – Because you see, Step Five requires consistent and persistent effort (at least until you get your site to the profit stage).

Over the last couple of years I have realized and learned that Affiliate Marketing is definitely not easy money. I actually hate attaching the phrase ‘easy money’ to affiliate marketing. You can earn money passively with affiliate marketing – i.e. you can earn money when you are not working. But this passive money is definitely not easy money. To be able to get to the passive income stage, you need to be put in some real hard yards.

Best,

P.S: My absolute favorite book on the topic of affiliate marketing is Super Affiliate Handbook. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this field.