It is the method that more than 80% of brands in the US have been using to market their products. It is the marketing technique that is seeing an astonishing year on the year growth rate of a little over 10% in terms of spends.

Affiliate marketing programs have proven to be more effective than conventional marketing plans, with an estimated lead generation rate of thrice that of the conventional marketing strategies.

Eager to know how to start affiliate marketing? We will take you through affiliate marketing for beginners and welcome you to the world of endless opportunities!

The Basics of Affiliate Marketing – Why Do It?

Suppose you are passionate about trekking. You like to read up on various trekking equipment and have found it interesting to discuss the trekking gears. You can easily write blogs or create vlogs to discuss the utility of the various trekking gears available. You can offer guidance to many trek enthusiasts and help them make their purchase decisions. With your support, people make informed decisions on which trekking equipment is best suitable to meet their purpose.

Affiliate marketing is a marketing strategy in which companies and affiliates enter an agreement, wherein the affiliates get a share of the revenue they help generate for the company. In the above example, suppose you have formed a tie-up with a trek equipment manufacturer. Using your expertise, you guide your followers to buy the product suitable for them, from this manufacturer. What you did for the manufacturer was help generate sales. So, in return for your service, the manufacturer will pay you a pre-agreed percentage of the sales value. This is a basic idea of what affiliate marketing is.

The affiliate marketing programs have turned out to be successful because these programs are based on leveraging all the stakeholders involved.

• Sellers or Manufacturers – These are the ones who create the product or, in many cases, are wholesalers or retailers of the product. They are the ones who fund affiliate marketing programs.
• Affiliates or Marketers – These are the ones who create content aimed at promoting the products and generating sales. Through their enriching content, they educate prospective customers and convert them into sales. They generally get paid basis on sale generated.
• Consumers or Customers – These are the ones at the center of the affiliate marketing program. They are the ones who get educated through the affiliate marketing channels to make informed decisions about purchasing the product that best suits their purpose.

Why Join An Affiliate Marketing Network?

• Generate an alternative source of income. It can be your back-up in case of exigent situations.
• Your job ends when you get the customers on board. Once the sale is done, your scope of work ends. You have no role to play in any after-sales service.
• Workspace flexibility. Your home can be your office. If you get the job done, you get paid. Nobody is concerned about where you do it.
• No entry barrier in terms of start-up cost. You can generate content, start blogging or upload review videos without the need for any financial investments.
• You are your boss. Nobody to answer to. You decide how you work and when you work. Most importantly, you work for yourself. You are free to choose what you want to sell.
• Commensurate returns. You will not be stuck with a fixed salary. Your earnings are variable. The more you sell, the more you earn.

Affiliate Marketing for Beginners

There are so many affiliate programs to choose from. Here are some tips to get started.

• In the beginning, try building a rapport with your audience. Establish your expertise in front of your audience by focusing on products that you’re aware of, rather than trying out many things at one time.
• Focus on providing personalized suggestions. Understand the need of your audience and suggest the best option for them.
• Create enriching content that creates awareness among your audience. Review products you like and want to establish yourself as a specialist in.
• Use multiple channels and mediums. Reach out to your audience through blogs, vlogs, emails, and maintain a healthy mix of each.
• Use multiple platforms to connect with your audience. Establish your presence on multiple social websites and blogging sites.
• Choose the product wisely. Research the company and its products before you become their affiliate.
• Keep updating yourself with the latest trends and always be on the lookout to obtain a first-mover advantage.

The BigCommerce Affiliate Program

BigCommerce is into the business of e-commerce – it supports its customers to start their online business, develop or improve their existing online platform, and creates significant content for online businesses. If you think your audience will benefit from our services, you should apply for the BigCommerce Affiliate Program.

If selected, you’ll be able to take advantages of the unique benefits its program has to offer:

• You get qualified for one of the best commission structures around. If it’s a non-enterprise customer, you get 200% of their first month’s spends; else, you get $1,500 if it’s an enterprise.
• You get strategic support to generate more revenue. We will support you to develop content that will have a meaningful impact to achieve more revenue.
• You get exhaustive insights – how many clicks you generated, the volume of sales, and your commission.
• You get devoted guidance in the form of account managers who will help you to maximize your income through this program.
• You will have readily available marketing content like web links or banners. Just copy the affiliate links on your page, and you will be easily able to start promoting our brand.