For anyone starting out in business on the internet, the first question asked should be about how to succeed online marketing in such a competitive environment. In this article, I want to focus on one key element that I think is the most important.
I recall many years ago, sitting on the beach at DeeWhy (yes that is a beach name in Sydney) when a friend of mine out in the waves on his bodyboard starts waving to me to come in. I casually wave back and gesture that time is getting late and we should get going soon.
At the same time, I also notice the lifeguard in front of me sitting up on his tower at the water’s edge, with his binoculars trained towards the sea.
The lifeguard appeared to have intercepted this message and jumped up all concerned and yells at one of his lifeguard buddies to check out the person struggling beyond the waves. So in no time, flash, he is out onto his wave board and steaming out towards my mate who is still wildly waving to me to join him for the last surf.
Well, you can probably guess the outcome of that storey – and needless to say, we left the beach pretty soon after that as the lifeguards made it clear to us that we were not welcome.
Communicate Effectively
So what has this story to do with how to succeed online marketing? Well, nothing really, other than the potential moral to the story about communication and interpreting communication.
Affiliate marketing is a ‘people’ business. It is easy to get lost in the world behind your laptop and forget that the point of your website or blog is to engage people. Without successful engagement, you don’t get people looking at your website, let alone wanting to click on one of your affiliate links.
It’s about human interaction
You have to be constantly aware that what you are ultimately trying to do with your writing and content on your website is to connect with other humans in such a way that they start to trust and look out for your next post.
I have struggled in the past with this as I have been too eager to upsell or try to convince people that they need what I have and that they should see things the way I see things. What a load of bollocks. People don’t want to be lectured at and told that they need to buy now or miss out or click this button in 10 seconds or will be doomed to be a loser for the rest of their life.
No one wants that – it is bad communication.
Selfless devotional interaction?
My approach these days is much more considerate and giving. I love teaching people things – especially stuff that I love doing myself, so this is how I approach my business. It’s not about all give and no take but you need to give to your readers to get them to like you more.
Affiliate marketing is such a broad subject. There is no real fixed demographic of people who do affiliate marketing for a living nor is there any fixed demographic for the people who search affiliate websites for advice, knowledge and goods and services.
There are literally billions of people in the world each year who are in search of something on the internet.
So given this wide open ocean of people, how do you connect with that one person waving out the back on his bodyboard?
How do you ensure that your message is interpreted correctly and not sent to the wrong person?
Target marketing – focus on the need.
It comes down to focusing on your target market – your niche. In such a broad-based business economy you need to hone in on a segment of the market – a group of people who have a need that you can help with. And successful affiliate marketing is all about target marketing.
Then once you understand and focus on your niche it becomes so much clearer and easier to write content articles, edit youtube videos or blog about it. Remembering that you are communicating to humans that are out there with a need that you can fix.
Give them what they want and they will come back to visit your site next time they need an answer and maybe they’ll come back to click on that link you have to the product they need or the service that is going to help them out.
Is 3.5 Billion a real number?
Affiliate marketing is such an exciting industry. Co-founder and mentor (Kyle) of the affiliate marketing network, WealthyAffiliate.com, recently posted that there are around 3.5 billion new searches through google each day… EACH DAY… that is insane!
How to Succeed Online Marketing
So my advice to people who recently started out in the business of affiliate marketing and maybe not really sure where they are heading, or those of you who are thinking about online marketing as an opportunity to work for yourself and start a professional business, is to have a read of Kyle’s post (above).
With so many new niche searches coming through each day the potential is huge for those interested in taking it on.
Remember – whatever business you are in, ultimately communication is the key to success. Learn who your audience is and find your best way to communicate with them and win their trust.
Please feel free to leave me some comments. Let me know what you think of my posts or if you would like some more info about how to succeed online marketing.
Affiliate Marketing is such a hot topic. I would never have believed that I could do what I am doing right now a few months ago. Wealthy Affiliate has taught me so much. I think I am slow with grasping things as I look at the growth of others but must remind myself that the race is not to the swift. I have to go at my pace. You truly gave the first timer step by step directions on how to be successful.
Thanks for your comments. Yes its a hot topic alright – and exciting when you think of what is to come in the online world.
This is the way to go. Promote products and services and collect a commission. It’s not easy as you have to build credibility. Great article Jim. Thanks for this.
Peter
Thanks Peter, yes internet marketing has some exciting times to come, I think.
Yes I agreed that communication plays an important role in affiliate marketing. In fact, the first thing people see in your website is your page or copywriting, so if it is not engaging and arresting, most likely they will click the back button instantly. And very true to what you have mentioned, Its not about all give and no take but you need to give to your readers to get them to like you more!
Thanks for your words Jeremy. Engaging content makes your blogs worth reading. I think you only have a few seconds to grab a readers attention and then you need to try to keep them there. You have to give them something of worth, as you say. all the best mate.
James
Great article on affiliate marketing, and I think without Wealthy Affiliate, you would not even think it would be possible.
Be Blessed
Linda
Thanks Linda,
Wealthy Affiliate university has been amazing in kick starting a very exciting career for me. Thanks so much for your comment.
Hi James. You truly raised the main point of how to succeed in affiliate marketing: resolving people’s needs! Everything an affiliate marketer does, whether it be the content they publish, the navigation on their website, etc. should all be created with their ideal customer in mind. Real people (not robots) are visiting your website and potentially looking to purchase products and services. Content needs to appeal to people and not only the search engines.
Affiliate marketing is one of the greatest opportunities out there for anybody in today’s world to take their passion and turn it into an online business. The internet has billions of users and that number only continues to grow every single day. I hope more and more people realize the opportunity that this has presented and take advantage of it.
Hi Matt, thanks for your thoughtful comment. it is such an exciting business to be involved with and the opportunities with affiliate marketing are huge. As you say, the key is connecting with the real people out there and hopefully more will take up this opportunity.
cheers
James
Hey there, what nice colors in the starting photo and what an awful scene! Interesting story about you and your friend. I like what you write about avoiding lecturing and aggressive invitation of the type ‘buy now or else’ and similar. This is really annoying to see.
You invite readers to let you know what they think about your post. So I think it looks good, I like the size of letters in particular, so pleasant to read. Many thanks.
Hi there, thanks for your comments. I really dislike aggressive marketing on the internet and try to avoid it at all times, so glad I am not alone there. All the best
James
Hey Jim,
First off, great post. I love affiliate marketing.
Affiliate marketing is my favorite way to make money on my blogs.
You don’t need your own product or offer your own service. All you need is a quality product, a decent commission rate, and a proven strategy (or strategies).
And this post gives great advice on how to succeed. Awesome!
Alright, man. Have a great week.
Julian
HI Julian, thanks for the comments mate. Its great to see that you use these types of strategies for your blog and that they are working for you too. All the best with it all.
regards
james
Hello James,
Thanks for the motivational article! I just recently started affiliate marketing, but I would constantly catch myself slacking off and not staying on track.
I definitely agree with communicating with your readers is a way to build trust and connection. People buy for people and not products.
I had no idea how everything works and thanks to wealthy affiliate I was able to gain the foundation to succeed.
Hi Eric, I am glad you found some motivation from this article. I have certainly found that consistency and quality help to connect with the readers. If people trust what you are talking about you will be more successful in affiliate marketing.
cheers James