Have you been thinking about getting into affiliate marketing but aren’t sure where to begin? If so, you’re in the same boat as many other entrepreneurs who want to figure out how to build a profitable affiliate website. While that is a perfectly achievable goal, there are a few basic rules you need to follow to make it work. Here’s a summary of the three steps to creating the site that’s best suited for your interests, experience, budget, and long-term goals.
Pick a Profitable Niche
Sometimes you’ll hear those who teach marketing courses say that the three most important steps, for beginners, are research, research, and research. That’s probably an overstatement, but it’s true that you need to spend at least several hours identifying a market segment that has enough traffic and public interest to make you enough income. Make a list of your favorite five niches and do in-depth study on each one, carefully measuring which are the top two in terms of traffic and potential profits.
Consider Established Winners
Let’s face it, not every category is a winner or even a potential winner. You have to do your research to find out what’s hot and what’s not. The landscape is changing all the time, so don’t assume the few hours of investigating you did six months ago is still relevant. There are some perennial winners in the bunch, those niches that always have plenty of traffic and are potential money makers for anyone willing to put in the work. For instance, maybe your area of specialization is miniature doll houses. It’s a little bit off the beaten path compared to the better-known affiliate segments. But, if you already have a ton of experience in this, have a go at building your site around your current area of expertise.
If you’re more flexible about what to try, aim for a high traffic topic that already has millions of active buyers. A good example of this kind of field is the online trading industry. For example, easyMarkets Partners allows online affiliates to monetise their websites or other online properties that focus on trading, investing, economic, stock, and other related subjects. The online trading industry is entering a golden era, and the recent COVID pandemic actually did a lot to boost the traffic levels. That’s because so many people discovered how easy, fun, and potentially profitable it can be to take part in online investing, trading, and speculating. The public is finally seeing that you don’t have to be wealthy to make money in the securities markets, that it’s simple to set up an account, and even simpler to take part in the buying and selling that makes it all worthwhile.
Create Your Site and Monetize It
At some point, you’ll need to learn WordPress and build a website or blog. Make sure to fill the site with relevant, current content that someone interested in the topic can get value from. Aim for a mix of evergreen (timeless) articles and current events-type pieces. Expect to spend several months building up your readership.
