If you're hearing plenty of appreciation about digital affiliate marketing, you're not alone. Marketers, content creators, and publishers have been bragging about how much money they've made just by becoming affiliates. They don't have to do anything extra; just promote and recommend other business products. They get users to purchase, and voila, a few bucks straight to their account.

According to reports by Statista, the spending of businesses on affiliate marketing is projected to reach $12 billion in the United States in 2025. This is a strong indicator of how much the affiliate industry is expected to grow.

So, if you're also looking to make your mark in it, this is the perfect time. Here's a guide that will help all beginners understand the basics of digital affiliate marketing.

What is digital affiliate marketing?

Digital affiliate marketing is a marketing model where users, known as affiliates, earn a commission for bringing in leads and customers for a business. They're given a unique affiliate code, which they carry around while promoting other businesses. Customers have to buy through the code or link for the affiliates to earn a commission.

It's a mutually beneficial relationship between affiliates and businesses. Businesses pay a small amount only when the affiliates bring in customers and leads, making it a cost-effective marketing model for them. Affiliates, on the other hand, don't need to start any business to earn extra income. Moreover, using the best affiliate platforms makes things extra easy for them. 

How Affiliate Marketing Works

There are a lot of parties and terms involved in online affiliate marketing that might be a bit tricky for beginners to understand. Let us break down the whole process for you in a few steps.

Step 1: You sign in for an affiliate program led by a business either directly or through an affiliate network platform.

Step 2: You promote the product or service on your website, blog, social media platforms, ads, or through any other promotional means.

Step 3: The customer clicks on the ad, which is sent through the tracking link that takes them to the business's original website.

Step 4: The customer browses through and makes a purchase through the affiliate's unique affiliate code, usually availing of a discount along with it.

Step 5: The affiliate network or the affiliate program records the purchase and other essential details of the transaction.

Step 6: Based on the commission rate and purchase made, an amount is credited to the affiliate's account.

Step 7: Affiliates can then withdraw this commission from their account based on the payout criteria and methods.

Affiliate marketing is a whole circle that doesn't stop with one purchase made or one commission received. Affiliates usually go back and forth with their promotions and continue to bring in new customers and increase their earnings.

How You Can Start Affiliate Marketing As A Complete Beginner

Like we said, digital affiliate marketing is a bit tricky. But before you get intimidated, let us assure you that following the right steps will take you far. Here's how you can start affiliate marketing if you're a total beginner.

Pick a niche

The first thing you need to do is decide on a niche that you will create content and promote products for. This 'niche' is the industry or topic that could be anything—health and wellness, finance, crypto, beauty, entertainment, etc.

To be successful in your niche, check for its growth potential in terms of affiliate programs. You should also have sufficient knowledge of your niche to promote it successfully.

For instance, if you choose finance as a niche, then you'll have to create content for it and promote finance-related businesses.

Start a website, blog, or social media

Once you have decided on a niche, it's time to start creating content for it. You can either kick off a website, start a blog, or create your own social media presence.

Why are we doing this? It's because establishing yourself somewhere with a decent number of traffic and followers is essential. When you think of promoting, the question will be: who are you going to promote to? But if you already have an established platform where people listen to you, things will just get easier.

The content you post here should be valuable and provide some sort of value to the viewers. This is how they'll start seeing you as a reliable and trustworthy source in the digital marketing world.

Choose affiliate programs

If you were thinking of choosing the first affiliate program that you come across, let us stop you right there. There are a lot of factors you need to consider before making a decision. After all, you don't want to go out promoting only to earn peanuts. Here are some important points to consider to find the top affiliate programs:

• Commission structure, which should at least be a minimum of 7%.

• Eligibility criteria, as some might require you to have a minimum amount of traffic before joining.

• Cookie duration to determine how long you can earn a commission for a sale (should range between 30 and 60 days).

• Payment methods that should match with the methods you're comfortable using.

• Minimum payout that determines the amount you need to earn before you can cash out.

The affiliate program you choose should be a good combination of all of the above.

How to Promote?

Promotions are obviously going to depend on the kind of presence you have established for yourself. For instance, if you have a website or blog, you're most likely to place affiliate ads or write review articles. Or if you have a solid social media presence, posting on it would be the best option. Let's cover these strategies (and more) in detail.

Blogging: 

You can promote by writing articles, comparisons, detailed reviews, or guides about the product and placing your unique affiliate code within it.

Social Media: 

For those who have a good number of followers, shoutouts, videos, and review posts would work. Otherwise, you can also post comments on other relevant posts about what you're promoting and how people can benefit from it.

Paid Advertising: 

If you want to double the effect and earnings, paid advertising can be a good approach. There are plenty of ad networks that allow affiliates to advertise. Through them, you can easily reach the relevant audiences and promote the product along with your affiliate code.

Spread the word:

Another option is to spread the word and promote locally. You can get in touch with your friends, family, and colleagues and promote within them. Or you can also join communities where you can network with people and point them to the business.

Monitor, Optimize, and Upgrade

Digital affiliate marketing doesn't end with you selecting one single program and promoting it for life. You need to be on a constant lookout for better affiliate marketing programs that offer higher commission rates and are easy to promote. Additionally, you can also expand your promotions and adopt a multi-strategy approach or find new ones.

7Search PPC's Affiliate Program

Since you're just starting out, we have the perfect digital affiliate marketing program in store for you. 7Search PPC's affiliate program is perfect for everyone—it doesn't matter if you're a beginner and haven't even decided on a niche yet or a seasoned affiliate marketer.

7Search PPC is a leading advertising network that connects businesses that wish to advertise with publishers who wish to monetize. Ads reach their targeted audience through programmatic advertising and a real-time bidding system.

Their affiliate program is a lucrative opportunity if you wish to earn a good amount of commissions. All you need to do is bring in new businesses and advertisers to join the network. Once they use your unique affiliate code to create their account and deposit an amount, you earn a commission. Read on to find more details about the program.

• Commission Structure: 10% on every deposit made by your referral. Even the referrals earn a 35% welcome bonus the first time they make a deposit.

• No eligibility criteria—anyone can join and promote the network.

• Affiliates are eligible for commission only when the referral creates an account through their unique affiliate code.

• Earn only on successful transactions. Failed and fake transactions won't be counted for commission.

• Dedicated affiliate account that allows users to track transactions, manage commissions, and withdraw amounts.

• Available payout methods: Payoneer, PayPal, Bitcoin, and Wire Transfer.

The good part is you can promote however you want- social networks, blogging, display advertising, spreading the word locally, or creating a YouTube screencast reviewing their dashboard and its performance.

Join Now and Start Earning

Conclusion 

At the end of the day, digital affiliate marketing has a bright future. It keeps on flourishing as businesses utilize this money-saving strategy to promote their services. If you want to pocket a good lot of earnings, this is the perfect time to start. A thoughtful approach and constant dedication are what you need.

You start by choosing your niche and establishing your presence within it, which can be through blogging, social media, or anything else. Opt for affiliate programs that are easy to promote and promise strong commissions. Then, make use of your online presence and promote them any way you want. Keep on refining your promotional strategies and upgrading to better affiliate programs. Soon, you will find that affiliate income is no longer your side income but your main one. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What is digital affiliate marketing?

Ans: Digital affiliate marketing is a promotion strategy or model that enables businesses to earn commissions by promoting other businesses' products and services. 

How can a beginner do digital affiliate marketing?

Ans: Beginners can do digital affiliate marketing by establishing their presence in a certain niche and then opt for affiliate high-commission affiliate programs. 

What to look for in affiliate programs? 

Ans: When choosing affiliate programs, look for eligibility, commission structure, payout methods and criteria, and cookie duration. 

Is affiliate marketing worth it? 

Ans: Digital affiliate marketing can be a great source of passive income with relatively low costs. 

Is affiliate marketing easy money?

Ans: Affiliate marketing is easy money once you have established yourself well and know how to convince people. It still needs continuous planning and dedication to work.