This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.

Getting started as an affiliate marketer isn't the hard part.

Where most people get hung up on is the marketing part.

That learning curve is the hill that separates those who will succeed or and those who will endless frustrating hours trying to "figure it out".

As we all know, affiliate marketing is lucrative because it allows everyday folks like you and I to generate income by promoting products or services and earning commissions for successful referrals. While the potential for success is vast, it's essential to understand the factors that lie within and beyond the control of most affiliate marketers.

In this blog post, I'm going to share the three critical elements you CAN control as you build your thriving online business. I'll also uncover three aspects that are beyond our reach our online digital marketer, and why we need to be adaptable and develop a strategic approach in this dynamic field.

3 Controlled Factors in Building Your Affiliate Marketing Business.

1. Niche Selection

Selection

Since each of us are unique with our own life experiences, expertise and passions, we get to use this to our benefit, AND we get to control and align our interests with a profitable niche. Meaning, for example, if you're not interested in the pet industry and you have zero experience or knowledge that you can share with others about any pet related topic, the chances of you being successful promoting an affiliate offer in this genre isn't impossible, but it won't feel authentic or be enjoyable.

Let's assume you have a strong interest in gardening, cars or even show business, then use your passions and expertise to your benefit. You get to control who the audience (niche) you're building campaigns around. Be strategic about it so you can set yourself up for long term success.

You will also want to choose a niche that offers a balance between audience size and competition, ensuring ample opportunities to grow.

Research

Use this opportunity to conduct thorough market research to understand the audience demand, competition, and potential earnings. Once you figure out WHO you want to help, take it step further and understand what their top struggles are. Why haven't they figured it out how to solve their issue? What have they tried and failed at? Understand their fears or what stops them from buying or trying something new?

Once you understand this about your niche market, then finding an affiliate product to market become so much more easier.

For example, let's assume your niche is Network Marketers. One of their number one problems is lead generation. Most network marketers have an amazing product they stand behind, but they don't want to chase their friends and family. So help them understand that they don't have to ruin relationships.

2. Content Creation

Your Content

As an online digital marketer, you get control over the content you share online.

Take the time to develop high-quality, engaging content that adds value to your audience. People often shy away from offering too much information online. For me, I'm not worried about that. In the era we live in, you can find just about anything online. So instead of making your ideal customer hunt for information, why not make it easy for them. Become known in your market as the go-to person.

I don't know about you, but someone can give me loads of information (that I appreciate), but when I'm looking for some 1:1 help, who do you think I'll think of going to when that time comes? Let's hope that person is YOU.

Offer Value

Consistency is the key to success in affiliate marketing, content marketing, and any other form of online marketing.

It is essential to have a plan in place and be willing to consistently publish valuable content in order to establish credibility and attract a loyal following. This means offering value in the form of informative articles, blog posts, videos, social media posts, and podcasts.

Don't forget that online marketing is all about offering value to your audience. You should strive to provide helpful and informative content that your audience can use to make informed decisions. This will help to build trust and loyalty, which in turn will lead to more sales and conversions.

You'll want to make sure you have a plan in place and stick to it.

This means regularly publishing valuable content that your audience can benefit from.

Think about SEO

When it comes to content marketing, SEO is a key factor to consider. By optimizing your content for search engines, you can increase your visibility and organic reach. This means that when people are searching for content related to your topic, your content will come up in the search results.

To do this, you should use relevant keywords and tags in your content. For example, if your content is about affiliate marketing, make sure to include the words ‘affiliate marketing’ in your content and use relevant hashtags and keywords. Additionally, the title of your post should be SEO-friendly, so people searching for content related to your topic can easily find it. By following these steps, you can ensure that your content reaches the right people.

3. Marketing Strategy

Market Research

Market research is going to be an important step to take when growing your business. Knowing what your target market is interested in and how to reach them is essential for success. Utilizing various marketing channels, such as social media, email marketing, and paid advertising, can help you expand your reach and maximize your profits.

For example, if you're looking to target millennials, then social media is a great way to reach them. You can create engaging content that resonates with your audience and encourages them to take action. Additionally, you can use email marketing to send out newsletters or special offers to your subscribers. Finally, paid advertising can help you reach a wider audience, as well as boost your visibility and increase your conversions.

By doing your market research and utilizing multiple marketing channels, you can get the most out of your affiliate marketing business. Take the time to research your target market and see what channels they're most active on. Then, create a plan to reach them and start building your business.

Building Relationships

Building strong relationships with your audience is an important part of being successful with Affiliate Marketing. It is important to engage in two-way communication with your audience and to offer personalized recommendations that are tailored to their interests.

This will help to create trust and loyalty between you and your audience, which can lead to increased sales and conversions. Additionally, by understanding your audience better you can create more relevant content and campaigns that will further strengthen your relationships.

It is also important to be responsive to your audience and to address any issues or questions they may have in a timely manner. This will show them that you are invested in their success and that you care about their experience. Furthermore, by providing value to your audience, such as helpful advice or exclusive discounts, you can further engage them and build a strong relationship with them.

Here are three (3) Factors That are Beyond Your Control When Building Your Business Online

1. Marketing Trends and Competition

When it comes to affiliate marketing, staying on top of trends and competition is essential to success. Unfortunately, there's no way to control industry trends, so it's important to keep an eye on them and adjust your strategies accordingly.

To do this, you can create an excel list of your top competitors and track their online activity. This will give you a good idea of what content is resonating with their followers and what questions they are asking.

Of course, you don't want to copy your competitors' strategies. Instead, use them as inspiration and look for ways to differentiate yourself. Content marketing is a great way to do this, as it allows you to create unique and valuable content that sets you apart from the competition. Additionally, offering value to your audience is key to building a successful affiliate marketing business. This could be in the form of discounts, giveaways, or helpful advice.

By staying on top of trends and competition, you can create an affiliate marketing business that stands out from the crowd. Keep in mind that it's important to be unique and find ways to innovate in order to truly succeed.

2. Affiliate Programs

Affiliate marketing is an ever-changing industry, and you have no control over the changes that might occur. From changes in commission rates to how you share their content, you must be prepared for anything.

To stay ahead of the game, you must keep track of any modifications or updates to the programs you are associated with. Diversifying your portfolio by partnering with multiple affiliate programs can help minimize the impact of sudden changes. Additionally, try to cultivate relationships with affiliate managers (if possible) to get early insights or join their Facebook groups (if any). By offering value and staying up to date with the latest changes, you can ensure that your affiliate marketing efforts remain successful.

3. External Factors

No matter what type of business you are building, there are some external factors you will never be able to control such as economic conditions, political changes, and or technological advancements, all of which can significantly impact consumer behavior and market dynamics. So to help with this you will want to make sure you stay adaptable and flexible to adjust your strategies so they match what is going on in the marketplace.

What you start out promoting today may not be what you end up doing in months to come, so be open to change. Also be mindful to not put all your eggs in one basket. Make sure you maintain a diversified income stream to mitigate risks you can't control. If you are only promoting one company, what happens when (or if) that company goes out of business or changes their business model? Your income is directly affected. So to prevent any potential loss of income, make sure you set yourself up for success by introducing multiple streams of income possibilities.

In Conclusion

Affiliate marketing offers a world of possibilities for aspiring online entrepreneurs, but success depends on a delicate balance between controlled factors and those outside our reach. By focusing on niche selection, content creation, and effective marketing strategies, affiliate marketers can harness the power within their control and lay a solid foundation for growth, while simultaneously, understanding the limitations imposed by market trends, affiliate program changes, and external factors empowers marketers to navigate challenges and adapt swiftly to ever-changing circumstances.

All you can do is embrace the controllable elements, stay vigilant, and remain flexible—so you can unleash your potential and thrive in the dynamic world of affiliate marketing.

If you've been wanting to build an affiliate marketing business but don't know where to start, I invite you join me in the 15-Day Business Builder Challenge. During this challenge you will learn everything you need to know to get started in building your own online digital business, even if you have zero followers, you're not tech savvy (but willing to learn) or if you're new to building online.