Dreaming of your blog paying for your next vacation or even your monthly bills? That's not a pipe dream! With affiliate marketing for bloggers, it's doable!
The global affiliate marketing industry is booming. It's predicted to hit a whopping $24 billion by the end of 2024. And you know what? Bloggers are in a prime spot to take advantage of this trend.
So, are you ready to make your blog work for you? If so, let's explore the exciting (and earning!) world of affiliate marketing for bloggers!
What is affiliate marketing for bloggers?
Affiliate marketing is like a matchmaking service for bloggers and brands.
You promote products or services you love on your blog. Then, when your readers click your unique affiliate link and buy something, you earn some extra dough.
Everyone wins. Your readers discover awesome products. And you make money for your awesome, honest recommendations.
How much do affiliate bloggers make?
First things first, affiliate marketing for bloggers isn't a get-rich-quick scheme.
That's not how affiliate marketing works.
It takes tons of planning, high-quality content creation, and digital marketing to be a top earner and generate consistent passive income. But that doesn't mean affiliate marketing for bloggers is a waste of time. Especially when you learn blogging is the top channel brands use for affiliate marketing.
So, it's no wonder bloggers use affiliate programs to boost their incomes!
And, according to Influencer Marketing Hub, over 57% of affiliate marketers make less than $10k per year. But about 16% earn between $10k-$50k. So, there's still a chance to turn affiliate marketing into a side hustle to help pay those extra bills.
Ultimately, there's no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how much you can make.
An affiliate marketing blog's profitability depends on a few things:
- Niche: Some niches, like tech or finance, have higher commissions than others. But don't choose a niche just for the money. If you love cooking, start an affiliate marketing website full of your yummiest recipes.
- Traffic: The more traffic your blog gets, the more potential for clicks and conversions.
- Audience engagement: A loyal and engaged audience is more likely to trust your recommendations and buy through your affiliate links.
- Promo strategies: How you promote your affiliate links (e.g., through blog posts, social media, email marketing) is also important to your success.
- Affiliate program commission: Not all affiliate programs are the same. Some pay out better than others. So, choose wisely!
The bottom line? Affiliate marketing for bloggers takes time, dedication, and a dash of strategy, but the rewards are oh-so-sweet.
How does affiliate marketing for bloggers work?
Before you start bringing in that affiliate cash, there are some things you need to do.
1. Define your niche and audience
Before you jump into the world of affiliate products, let's chat about your blog's sweet spot (aka, niche).
What topics get you fired up? Who are you writing for? What problems do your readers need solutions for?
Then, think about the products or services that make your life easier and more enjoyable. This goes for your audience, too! These are the exact types of products to promote as an affiliate marketing blogger.
Need some inspo?
Here are a few examples of popular blogging niches and the types of affiliate products you could promote:
- Food blogs: Think kitchen appliances, cookware, meal kits, specialty ingredients
- Travel blogs: Luggage, travel gear, tours, accommodations
- Lifestyle blogs: Fashion, beauty products, home decor, wellness products
- Tech blogs: Software, gadgets, online courses, web hosting
Do you know your topic and who you're writing for? Perfect. This will help you pick the right partners and create content that your readers will love.
Now, it's time to find the right affiliate programs and products.
2. Join an affiliate program or network
First things first, partner up with some awesome brands!
Have a favorite company whose products you love and use all the time? Check their site to see if they have an affiliate marketing program. This is a great way to build a relationship with the brand and potentially get special perks.
You can also get affiliate links by joining affiliate networks. These networks connect you with many different brands and products in various niches.
Want a wider variety of products to promote? ShareASale or CJ Affiliate are some of the best affiliate networks.
Psst…WP Tasty is on ShareASale, too!
Want top-notch WordPress plugins that can help you grow your blog and make more money? Join the WP Tasty affiliate program through ShareASale!
When choosing affiliate programs to join, keep these things in mind:
- Pick programs that fit your blog's topic and what your readers like.
- Check how much money you can make from each sale (commissions).
- Look for programs with a long “cookie duration.” This means you can still get credit for the sale even if your reader doesn't immediately buy something.
- Choose trustworthy brands with reliable, useful products.
When you take the time to research and join the right affiliate programs, you're setting yourself up for long-term success.
3. Pick your affiliate products
Part of an affiliate marketing platform? Time for the fun part! Pick the stuff you want to promote.
You wouldn't pick something you don't like, right? The same goes for affiliate products. You want to choose things you're excited about and that you know your readers will love too.
Here's how to pick the best products for your blog:
- Know your audience: Take time to understand what your readers are into. Do you have a blog about healthy living? Your readers might be interested in fitness gear, supplements, or healthy recipes.
- Do your homework: Don't just promote any product that comes your way. Take time to research the product. Read reviews, check out how other people are using it, and even try it yourself if you can. Make sure it's something you would actually recommend to a friend.
- Check the price tag: Affiliate programs pay out different amounts of money for each sale. Look for programs that pay a good commission, but also make sure you're excited about the product itself.
The most important thing is to choose products that you genuinely love and believe in. That way, your recommendations are authentic and your readers will trust you.
4. Get your unique affiliate links
Now, let me explain how to get affiliate links for your blog.
Each affiliate program or network will give you unique affiliate links for the products you choose to promote.
Affiliate links have a code to track when someone clicks through from your website and makes a purchase (within a time period, of course). That way, you get credit for the sale.
Remember this tip: Keeping track of all those links can get messy fast. That's where affiliate link management plugins (like Tasty Links) come in handy.
They make it extremely easy to manage all your affiliate links in one place and add affiliate links to your content. But more on that later!
Interested in Tasty Links?
Monetizing your site shouldn’t be hard. Tasty Links makes it easy by managing all your affiliate links and magically inserting them into your posts.
Don’t forget about our 14-day money-back guarantee! Trying out Tasty Links is risk-free!
5. Share your links on your blog (& more!)
Your blog is the heart of your content, so make it the central hub for your affiliate marketing efforts.
Sharing a recipe, reviewing a product, or giving a tutorial? Add your affiliate links naturally to those blog posts. This helps your readers discover awesome products, and it's great for search engine optimization (SEO).
Wish your affiliate links stayed organized and automatically popped into your blog with the stroke of a few keywords?
A WordPress link plugin like Tasty Links makes that happen…and more.
You can also show off affiliate product images, add affiliate disclosures, and create stunning product displays with featured link blocks.
Just watch how easy it is! 👇🏻
Oh, and before I forget, don't stop there!
Here are a few more ways to get your affiliate links in front of your audience:
- Social media: Share your affiliate links on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. Don't forget to add eye-catching images and captions that make people want to click!
- Email newsletters: Keep your email list engaged by sending out regular newsletters featuring your favorite products and exclusive deals. Just don't put your Amazon affiliate links in those.
- Resource pages: Create a dedicated page on your blog that showcases all the products you recommend, complete with your affiliate links.
Be authentic and focus on providing value. If you come across as honest and enthusiastic, people are more likely to trust you.
6. Earn commissions and track your success!
This is the fun part of affiliate marketing for bloggers…monetization (aka getting paid)!
Every time someone clicks your affiliate link and buys something, you earn a commission. The more people buy through your links, the more money you make. It's really that simple.
So, keep creating great content, promoting your links, and watch your earnings grow!
But, to make the most of your affiliate marketing journey, you need to know what's working and what's not.
That's where tracking comes in. By keeping tabs on your clicks, conversions, and earnings, you can see which products are your top performers and which strategies need a little tweaking.
Need help with tracking?
The best WordPress affiliate plugins make affiliate marketing easy for bloggers. Plugins like Pretty Links and AffiliateWP give you easy-to-understand reports.
So, don't just wing it. Use data to make smart decisions, high commissions, and run a successful affiliate marketing gig!
14 Ways for bloggers to use affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing for bloggers isn't a one-trick pony. There are tons of creative ways to add those links to your blog and earn money.
So, use the chart below to get inspired!
| Type of affiliate marketing strategy | What it's all about | Perfect for |
|---|---|---|
| Product reviews | Share your honest thoughts about a product you've used. | Readers who want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly before they buy. |
| Best of lists | Write a round-up of your top picks in a category. | Shoppers wanting quick and easy recommendations. |
| Resource pages | Create a page with your fave tools and products. | Readers who want a one-stop shop for recommendations. |
| Tutorials and how to guides | Teach your audience something new and suggest helpful products along the way. | People who want to learn new skills and find the right tools for the job. |
| Email subscribers | Send special deals and recommendations to your subscribers' inboxes. | Your most loyal fans who want to hear from you. |
| Social media sharing | Show off your affiliate products on social media with fun photos and captions. | Reaching a wider audience and getting people talking about your recommendations. |
| Banner ads that pop up | Add eye-catching banners to your site, showcasing your top affiliate picks. | Grabbing attention and reminding readers about awesome products. |
| Video content | Show your affiliate products in action in your videos. | Viewers who like to see products in action before they buy. |
| Recipe cards | Add affiliate links for ingredients or kitchen tools right in your recipes. | Foodies who want the exact products you use in your delicious dishes. |
| Courses and workshops | Suggest helpful products in your online classes. | Students looking for the best tools to level up their skills. |
| Webinars and live events | Casually mention your favorite products during your online events. | Connecting with your audience and sharing your expertise. |
| Comparison charts | Create tables comparing different products to help readers choose. | People who like to weigh their options before buying. |
| Giveaways and contests | Work with brands to give away products or run fun contests. | Getting people excited about your brand and growing your audience. |
| Pop-ups and slide-ins | Grab attention with fun pop-ups or slide-ins with deals or products. | Encouraging impulse and last-minute buys. |
Affiliate marketing for bloggers: Tips to remember
Affiliate marketing for bloggers isn't rocket science. But, it does take some strategy.
So, I'm here to pass on some of my best affiliate marketing for bloggers tips. That way, you can earn extra from your blog (without selling your soul or resorting to shady tactics).
1. Honesty is the best policy
Don't try to fake it! Your readers can spot a phony endorsement from a mile away. Share your genuine thoughts and experiences, even if it means talking about a product's flaws.
When you're honest, people trust you. And that's what makes them click your links.
2. Take advantage of SEO
Search engines are your friends! You want your articles to show up there to drive traffic to your blog.
You've done your keyword research. So, use keywords throughout your blog posts and product descriptions to make sure people can find your content. But don't overdo it. Keep it natural and easy to read.
Writing about a new camera? You could use keywords like “best DSLR camera for beginners” or “top-rated mirrorless camera.“
And don't forget about link attributes! When adding affiliate links, use the “nofollow” attribute to tell search engines not to pass any link juice.
This is considered a best practice for affiliate marketing. (Don't worry, Tasty Links can help you with this, too!)
3. Quality over quantity
Don't overwhelm your audience with endless product recs.
Focus on a few awesome products that you actually use and believe in. Your readers will love your thoughtful suggestions, and you'll build a reputation as a trusted source.
4. Play by the rules (Use disclosures)
Always be transparent about your affiliate partner relationships and use affiliate disclosures.
Let your readers know that you may earn a commission if they buy through your links. It's the right thing to do, and it's the law.
But you don't have to go to great lengths to make your affiliate relationship known. Something simple like the one below works perfectly!
Now, don't get me wrong. If you have tons of posts with affiliate links, adding disclosures to every blog post is a pain.
But it doesn't have to be with a WordPress link plugin! Tasty Links automatically adds your affiliate disclosures wherever you have links. That way, you can stay compliant without lifting a finger.
Plus, you get to choose exactly what that disclosure says.
5. Tell your unique story
Don't just list features. Make your product descriptions fun and interesting.
Share how the product has helped you or how it could make your readers' lives better. Use vivid language, storytelling, and even humor to make your descriptions stand out.
6. Make it easy to purchase the product
Don't leave your readers hanging! Make it super easy for them to click your link and make a purchase.
Use clear and exciting calls to action (CTAs) like “Check it out,” “Grab yours now,” or “Don't miss this deal!”
7. Build relationships, not just links
Affiliate marketing for bloggers isn't just about making money.
It's about connecting with your readers and building a community. Answer their questions, respond to their comments, and be a friendly face they can trust.
How will you use affiliate marketing on your blog?
Isn't it thrilling to realize all the potential buried in your blog, just waiting to be tapped?
And, if you want in on the top affiliate marketing programs, I've got plenty for you. Here are some of the top niche affiliate programs I've covered:
- Affiliate Programs for Mom Bloggers
- Affiliate Programs for DIY and Craft Bloggers
- Education Affiliate Programs to Make Money
- Alternatives to the Amazon Affiliate Program
Now, over to you. It's your turn to put these steps into action and become the best food influencer you can be.
Have questions? Comments? Unexpected plot twists? Share them in the comment section below.
Here's to turning your blogging platform into the perfect moneymaker for you!
