Do you want to make money online without creating or delivering any products or services yourself? If yes, then affiliate marketing might be the perfect option for you to set up a new stream of passive income and gain financial freedom.
Affiliate marketing is a simple and effective way of earning commissions by promoting other people’s products or services to your audience. You don’t have to worry about inventory, shipping, customer service, or anything else. All you have to do is find a product or service that matches your niche and audience, and share your affiliate link with them.
But not all affiliate marketing is the same. There are different types of affiliate marketing, depending on how much involvement and relationship you have with the product or service you promote. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, and requires different skills and strategies.
In this article, we will cover the main types of affiliate marketing and their characteristics. We will also help you decide which type of affiliate marketing is best for you, based on your goals and skills. By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of how to get started with affiliate marketing, and how to choose the right type for your success.
Table of Contents
Unattached Affiliate Marketing
Unattached affiliate marketing is the simplest and least involved type of affiliate marketing. It means that you have no connection or relevance to the product or service that you promote. You don’t need to have a website, a blog, a podcast, a social media account, or an email list. You don’t need to create any content, build any relationship, or provide any value to your audience. All you need to do is drive traffic to your affiliate links.
How do you do that? You use paid advertising or search engine optimization (SEO) to attract visitors to your affiliate links. You can use platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, YouTube Ads, or Bing Ads to create and run ads that target your ideal customers. Or you can use tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush to research and optimize keywords that rank well on search engines. The goal is to get as many clicks as possible on your affiliate links, and hope that some of them convert into sales or actions.
What kind of products or services can you promote as an unattached affiliate marketer? You can promote anything that has a high demand and a high commission rate. Some examples of unattached affiliate marketing platforms and niches are:
ClickBank: A marketplace for digital products, such as ebooks, courses, software, etc. You can find products in various niches, such as health, fitness, dating, gaming, etc. ClickBank offers up to 75% commission on each sale.
Amazon Associates: A program for physical products, such as books, electronics, clothing, etc. You can find products in almost any niche, as Amazon sells millions of items. Amazon Associates offers up to 10% commission on each sale.
CPA Networks: A network for cost-per-action (CPA) offers, such as surveys, trials, downloads, etc. You can find offers in various niches, such as finance, education, gaming, etc. CPA Networks offer a fixed amount for each action that you generate.
What are the pros and cons of unattached affiliate marketing? Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of this type of affiliate marketing:
Pros:
It is easy and quick to get started, as you don’t need to create or own any platform, content, or audience.
It is scalable and flexible, as you can promote multiple products or services in different niches, and adjust your budget and strategy according to the results.
It is potentially profitable, as you can earn high commissions for each sale or action that you generate, without having to invest much time or effort.
Cons:
It is risky and competitive, as you have to spend money on advertising or SEO, and compete with other affiliates who are doing the same thing.
It is impersonal and unethical, as you have no relationship or trust with your audience, and you may promote products or services that are low-quality or scammy.
It is unsustainable and unreliable, as you have no control over the product or service, the merchant, the platform, or the algorithm. Your income can fluctuate or disappear at any time.
Here’s a comprehensive guide on Amazon Affiliate Program:
Related affiliate marketing is the type where you have some connection or relevance to the product or service that you promote. It means that you have a platform, such as a website, a blog, a podcast, a social media account, or an email list, where you share content with your audience. You don’t need to have a personal experience or expertise with the product or service, but you need to have some knowledge or interest in the niche.
How do you do that? You use your platform to create and share valuable content with your audience, such as articles, videos, podcasts, reviews, tutorials, etc. You provide information, education, entertainment, or inspiration to your audience, and build a relationship and trust with them. You recommend products or services that are relevant and useful to your audience, and include your affiliate links in your content.
What kind of products or services can you promote as a related affiliate marketer? You can promote anything that matches your niche and audience, and that provides value and solves a problem for them. Some examples of related affiliate marketing programs and niches are:
ShareASale: A network for various products and services, such as fashion, beauty, home, garden, etc. You can find products in different categories, such as clothing, accessories, furniture, etc. ShareASale offers different commission rates depending on the merchant and the product.
Bluehost: A program for web hosting services, such as domain registration, website creation, etc. You can find services that are suitable for beginners, bloggers, entrepreneurs, etc. Bluehost offers a flat rate of $65 for each sale.
Udemy: A platform for online courses, such as business, design, marketing, etc. You can find courses in various topics, such as SEO, Photoshop, WordPress, etc. Udemy offers 15% commission on each sale.
What are the pros and cons of related affiliate marketing? Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of this type of affiliate marketing:
Pros:
It is more involved and rewarding, as you create and share valuable content with your audience, and build a relationship and trust with them.
It is more ethical and authentic, as you recommend products or services that are relevant and useful to your audience, and that you have some knowledge or interest in.
It is more sustainable and reliable, as you have control over your platform, content, and audience. Your income can grow and last longer.
Cons:
It is more difficult and time-consuming, as you need to create and own a platform, content, and audience, and provide value and quality to them.
It is more limited and niche-specific, as you can only promote products or services that match your niche and audience, and that provide value and solve a problem for them.
It is less profitable and competitive, as you earn lower commissions for each sale, and compete with other affiliates who are doing the same thing.
Involved Affiliate Marketing
Involved affiliate marketing is the type where you have a personal experience or expertise with the product or service that you promote. It means that you use the product or service yourself, and you share your honest feedback, results, or testimonials with your audience. You need to have a platform, such as a website, a blog, a podcast, a social media account, or an email list, where you share content with your audience. You also need to have some knowledge or interest in the niche.
How do you do that? You use your platform to create and share valuable content with your audience, such as articles, videos, podcasts, reviews, tutorials, case studies, etc. You provide information, education, entertainment, or inspiration to your audience, and build a relationship and trust with them. You endorse products or services that you have personally used and benefited from, and include your affiliate links in your content.
What kind of products or services can you promote as an involved affiliate marketer? You can promote anything that you have personally experienced and that provides value and solves a problem for your audience. Some examples of involved affiliate marketing products and niches are:
ConvertKit: A product for email marketing services, such as email list building, email campaigns, email automation, etc. You can use ConvertKit to grow and engage your audience, and share your content and offers with them. ConvertKit offers 30% recurring commission for each sale.
Wealthy Affiliate: A service for affiliate marketing training, tools, and community. You can use Wealthy Affiliate to learn and master affiliate marketing, and get access to various resources and support. Wealthy Affiliate offers 50% recurring commission for each sale.
Keto Diet: A product for weight loss and health improvement, such as keto recipes, keto supplements, keto guides, etc. You can use Keto Diet to achieve your fitness and wellness goals, and share your results and tips with your audience. Keto Diet offers different commission rates depending on the product and the merchant.
What are the pros and cons of involved affiliate marketing? Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of this type of affiliate marketing:
Pros:
It is the most involved and satisfying, as you use and benefit from the product or service yourself, and share your honest feedback, results, or testimonials with your audience.
It is the most ethical and credible, as you endorse products or services that you have personally experienced and that provide value and solve a problem for your audience.
It is the most profitable and competitive, as you earn higher commissions for each sale, and stand out from other affiliates who are not as involved or authentic.
Cons:
It is the most difficult and time-consuming, as you need to use and review the product or service yourself, and create and share valuable content with your audience, and provide value and quality to them.
It is the most limited and niche-specific, as you can only promote products or services that you have personally experienced and that provide value and solve a problem for your audience.
It is the most risky and dependent, as you rely on the product or service, the merchant, the platform, or the algorithm. Your income can fluctuate or disappear if the product or service changes, fails, or gets banned.
Conclusion
Affiliate marketing is a great way of earning money online by promoting other people’s products or services. But not all affiliate marketing is the same. There are different types of affiliate marketing, depending on how much involvement and relationship you have with the product or service you promote.
In this article, we covered the main types of affiliate marketing and their characteristics. They are:
Unattached affiliate marketing: The simplest and least involved type, where you have no connection or relevance to the product or service you promote. You use paid advertising or SEO to drive traffic to your affiliate links.
Related affiliate marketing: The type where you have some connection or relevance to the product or service you promote. You use your existing platform, such as a blog, podcast, social media, or email list, to recommend products or services to your audience.
Involved affiliate marketing: The type where you have a personal experience or expertise with the product or service you promote. You use your authority, credibility, and trust to persuade your audience to buy the product or service.
Each type of affiliate marketing has its own pros and cons, and requires different skills and strategies. So how do you choose the right type of affiliate marketing for you?
Here are some tips and best practices to help you decide:
Consider your goals and skills: What are you trying to achieve with affiliate marketing? How much time and money are you willing to invest? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Choose the type of affiliate marketing that aligns with your goals and skills.
Consider your niche and audience: What is your niche and who is your target audience? What are their problems and needs? What are their preferences and behaviors? Choose the type of affiliate marketing that matches your niche and audience.
Consider the product and service: What is the product or service that you want to promote? How does it provide value and solve a problem for your audience? How does it fit with your platform and content? Choose the type of affiliate marketing that suits the product or service.
Affiliate marketing is a rewarding and profitable way of making money online, but it also requires hard work, dedication, and learning. If you want to succeed with affiliate marketing, you need to choose the right type of affiliate marketing for you, and follow the best practices and strategies.
Learn more about affiliate marketing, how to use AI in affiliate marketing, best affiliate niches and much more:
A: Affiliate marketing is a type of marketing that involves promoting other people’s products or services to your audience and earning commissions for every sale or action that you generate through your affiliate links.
Q: What are affiliate links?
A: Affiliate links are unique URLs that track the source of the traffic and the sales or actions that are generated by the affiliates. They usually contain an ID or a code that identifies the affiliate and the product or service.
Q: What are the benefits of affiliate marketing?
A: Affiliate marketing has many benefits, such as:
It is a low-cost and low-risk way of making money online, as you don’t need to create or deliver any products or services yourself.
It is a flexible and scalable way of making money online, as you can choose from a wide range of products or services in different niches, and adjust your budget and strategy according to the results.
It is a rewarding and satisfying way of making money online, as you can provide value and solve problems for your audience, and build a relationship and trust with them.
Q: What are the types of affiliate marketing?
A: There are three main types of affiliate marketing, depending on the level of involvement and relationship between the affiliate and the product or service they promote. They are:
Unattached affiliate marketing: The simplest and least involved type, where you have no connection or relevance to the product or service you promote. You use paid advertising or SEO to drive traffic to your affiliate links.
Related affiliate marketing: The type where you have some connection or relevance to the product or service you promote. You use your existing platform, such as a blog, podcast, social media, or email list, to recommend products or services to your audience.
Involved affiliate marketing: The type where you have a personal experience or expertise with the product or service you promote. You use your authority, credibility, and trust to persuade your audience to buy the product or service.
Q: How do I choose the right type of affiliate marketing for me?
A: To choose the right type of affiliate marketing for you, you need to consider your goals and skills, your niche and audience, and the product and service that you want to promote. You need to choose the type of affiliate marketing that aligns with your goals and skills, matches your niche and audience, and suits the product and service.
Q: How do I get started with affiliate marketing?
A: To get started with affiliate marketing, you need to follow these steps:
Choose a niche and an audience that you are interested in and that has a high demand and a low competition.
Choose a product or service that you want to promote and that provides value and solves a problem for your audience.
Join an affiliate program or network that offers the product or service that you want to promote and that pays you a good commission rate.
Create a platform or use an existing one, such as a website, a blog, a podcast, a social media account, or an email list, where you can share content with your audience.
Create and share valuable content with your audience, such as articles, videos, podcasts, reviews, tutorials, case studies, etc., and include your affiliate links in your content.
Drive traffic to your platform and your affiliate links, using paid advertising, SEO, social media, email marketing, etc.
Track and optimize your performance, using analytics and tracking tools, such as Google Analytics, ClickBank Analytics, etc., and test and improve your content, strategy, and conversions.
