All right, ready to dive into some affiliate marketing.
Today, we're looking at someone trying to make a thousand bucks
in just one week using affiliate marketing
and get this starting totally from scratch.
Oh, wow.
That's a pretty ambitious goal.
But I guess it'll really show us what it takes
to make affiliate marketing work, you know?
Yeah.
Seeing it all unfold.
Totally.
And the cool thing is, our source is a YouTube video.
So we actually get to see how everything happens.
For anyone new to the whole affiliate marketing thing,
it's basically promoting stuff could be products,
services, using special tracking links.
So if someone clicks your link and buys something,
You're going to get a commission.
You got a commission.
So our YouTuber, Sarah, she starts by picking a niche.
She goes with business, figures it's
got the best chance of making some serious cash.
Makes sense to me.
But is that really all it takes to pick a niche?
Well, it's definitely not quite that simple.
Picking a niche is a big deal.
Oh, for sure.
And there's more to it than just assuming it'll magically
make you money.
It's kind of like you want to be seen as the go-to person
in a specific area, someone people trust for advice
and recommendations.
And with business, I mean, it's a pretty smart choice.
It's a wide open field, tons of different products
and services.
Definitely.
And people are always looking for ways
to improve their business to, you know.
Level up.
Exactly.
Pick it to the next level.
So you're not just picking something
you think is interesting, but something people are already
spending money on.
Exactly.
OK, niche check.
Now Sarah has to figure out where to set up shop online.
Right.
And she picks TikTok and Pinterest,
aiming for those platforms known for,
and like really fast growth.
Kind of going for the quick win right from the start.
Are there any downsides to that?
Well, for someone just starting out, not really.
Think about it.
Both platforms are super visual.
Yeah.
Which is perfect for showing off products
in a fun, eye-catching way, right?
And TikTok, I mean, it's basically the rocket ship
of social media right now.
Things go viral like crazy.
Yeah, right.
I've seen that.
Now Pinterest might be a bit slower,
but it's great for more in-depth content.
And it can drive traffic to websites over time, you know?
So it's like short-term buzz versus long-term growth.
Exactly.
Interesting.
So they both have their advantages.
But isn't there a risk, I don't know,
of spreading yourself too thin if you just chase fast growth?
It's definitely something to keep in mind.
TikTok can explode your audience really quickly.
But that also means your content gets buried fast.
So you've got to keep creating new stuff all the time.
Stay on top of trends.
Oh, for sure.
And with Pinterest, while it's great for the long game,
it takes a while to build up a solid following.
Got it.
So it's all about balance, I guess.
Speed versus keeping it going.
Right.
OK.
Platform's chosen.
But the heart of affiliate marketing
is promoting stuff.
Time for Sarah to find those affiliate links.
This is where it gets real.
You can have the best platform, the best content.
But if you aren't hooked up with the right products,
you're not going to make any money.
Right.
So she heads to those big affiliate networks, impact.com,
and ClickBank.
To be honest, I'm not exactly sure how those work.
Can you break it down for us?
Sure.
Think of them like giant marketplaces for affiliate programs.
OK.
You make an account, browse through all sorts of categories,
those niches we were talking about.
And then you apply to programs that seem like a good fit
for your audience and your content.
So it's kind of like a matching service.
Yeah.
Kind of like that.
OK.
Cool.
I get it.
She applies, gets approved for a few programs.
Coinbase, a site for app reviews, Robinhood, and Shopify.
But then she says the commission structures
are all over the place.
Like, really different.
And that's something any affiliate marketer
needs to pay attention to, for sure.
Right.
Some programs will give you a flat fee for every sign up,
like Robinhood, the one Sarah is using, pays $5 per user.
I see.
Others give you a percentage of whatever sold.
Could be more money, but it's less predictable.
So like gambling versus a steady paycheck.
Yeah, something like that.
And the Shopify program, crazy.
She says they give $150 for every person
that signs up for a paid plan after a free trial.
Wow.
That's a lot.
Yeah.
Those high commission programs can be a game changer.
But it also shows you how important it is to promote things
your audience actually needs and will use.
You want those trial users to become paying customers,
not just a quick buck for you.
Absolutely.
It's got to be genuine, right?
No.
Recommend things you actually believe in.
Yeah, for sure.
OK.
Niche, Platforms, Affiliate Programs, all set.
Now comes the content.
And Sarah's TikTok strategy is, well, bold.
She's recreating or downloading popular videos
to get more attention.
Is that even allowed?
Now, that's where things get a little tricky,
ethically speaking.
It's common to get inspired by trends,
but straight up copying.
That's a no-no.
Could get you in trouble with copyright issues.
There's a line between inspiration
and just taking someone's work.
Yeah, OK.
So how do you stay on the right side of that line?
What's the secret to making a video go viral
without stepping on anyone's toes?
Well, it's a bit of an art and a science, to be honest.
I bet.
TikTok's algorithm definitely likes content that's
already doing well.
It's like they're testing what people enjoy.
If your first few videos get lots of likes, shares,
comments, all those signs of going viral,
the algorithm might show your stuff to a bigger audience.
So Sarah's hoping to catch people's attention right away.
Did it work?
Well, let's see.
Time for the results.
After a week of hard work, Sarah's TikTok
is doing amazing.
Pinterest?
Not so much.
And get this, no sales from Clickbank or Coinbase,
but she got 21 Shopify trial signups, A-N-D,
six Robinhood signups.
Time to break out the calculator
to see what she actually earned.
Let's do the math.
From Robinhood, she made $30 right away, plus whatever
those users deposit.
OK.
And for Shopify, let's say 30% of those trials
turn into paid plans.
That could be $900.
Not bad for a week's work.
Well, that's impressive.
But wait, did she actually reach that $1,000 goal?
Well, not within the week, she set out for herself.
But here's the thing.
Even if she didn't hit $1,000 exactly,
she set herself up for potential earnings
that could keep coming in.
I see.
Those Shopify trials could turn into paying customers,
meaning money coming in for months.
And that brings up a big point about affiliate marketing.
It's not about getting rich quickly.
It's a marathon, not a sprint.
Right.
Exactly.
It takes work, a plan, and patience
to build a steady income stream.
Definitely.
OK, so we've seen how Sarah's rocking it on TikTok.
But there's this other big part of affiliate marketing.
Ethics.
Where do you draw the line between getting inspiration
and just copying?
Oh, yeah.
That's super important.
Anyone getting into affiliate marketing
or any kind of content creation really
needs to understand copyright and the ethics of borrowing ideas.
All right.
So where's that line?
How do you know if you're playing by the rules?
It seems a little fuzzy sometimes.
Being upfront is key.
If you get inspired by someone else, give them credit.
You could even ask if it's OK to adapt their idea.
Oh, that's a good idea.
But most importantly, make it your own.
Add your personality, your expertise.
Right, right.
Make it unique.
Yeah.
That's how you build real connection with your audience.
It's about adding value, not just copying, right?
Absolutely.
Speaking of connecting with the audience,
Sarah's getting a ton of leads from TikTok.
What is it about that platform that
seems to be working so well for her?
TikTok is all about being genuine and engaging.
People want creators who feel real, not
like a corporate spokesperson.
Right, authentic.
Exactly.
Sarah, using those trending sounds and formats,
probably helped her get seen.
But it's probably her personality and the way
she explains things that people really like.
It's the human touch that matters.
Yep.
It's about building relationships, not just trying
to sell something.
And Sarah seems to get that.
She's not just throwing affiliate links everywhere.
She's making content that fits her niche
that's interesting, helpful.
She's giving her viewers something,
so they're more likely to trust her recommendations.
And trust is huge, right?
Huge.
No one wants to feel like they're being tricked
into buying something.
Exactly.
Good affiliate marketing is about becoming
a trusted source of information.
Someone who gives solid recommendations.
It's about helping your audience make good choices,
not just pushing products to make a quick buck.
It's a win-win for everyone involved.
Yeah, I'll exact.
OK, that makes sense.
Let's go back to Sarah's results for a sec.
Pinterest was much slower.
Do you think some platforms just work better
for certain niches?
That's something to definitely consider.
TikTok's awesome for reaching a ton of people fast.
Yeah.
But Pinterest is great because people
use it to plan projects, find inspiration,
discover new products, which fits perfectly
with Sarah's business niche.
So while it's slower at first, it could really
pay off in the long run.
So it's not about one being better.
It's about using the right tool for the job.
You got it.
And it's probably smart to be on several platforms, right?
Sure, definitely.
It lets you reach more people, different kinds of people.
Makes sense.
One thing that really stood out to me about Sarah's story
is the importance of being patient.
Oh, absolutely.
She didn't hit her goal in a week,
but she set herself up for future earnings.
That's a key lesson.
Affiliate marketing, like anything else, takes time and effort.
It's about building a strong base,
connecting with your audience, and always giving them
something valuable.
Results might not come instantly.
For sure.
But with a good plan and commitment,
affiliate marketing can really become a reliable way
to make money.
It's about building a business, not just chasing quick cash.
Exactly.
And speaking of business, let's look closer
at the specific programs Sarah chose to promote.
We've got Coinbase, Robinhood, Shopify.
What can we learn from her choices?
Let's see what we can find out.
All right, so Coinbase, it's a cryptocurrency platform.
They offer a 10% commission on whatever users buy.
Pretty tempting, right?
Yeah, 10% is not bad.
But Sarah didn't make any sales from it.
I wonder why.
Yeah, that's interesting.
Well, cryptocurrency can be confusing for people
who've never used it before.
Maybe Sarah's audience just wasn't ready to jump
into that whole crypto thing.
Yeah, maybe.
Or maybe her content didn't really
explain how Coinbase works and why it's a good choice.
That makes sense.
You've got to understand your audience, right?
Make content that actually helps them and matches
what they're interested in.
Exactly.
What about that app review site from Clickbank?
Oh, yeah.
She didn't make any money from that one either.
It's hard to say without knowing more about the program
and how Sarah approached it.
But programs that pay a really small fee for each review,
you need a ton of people to actually sign up
to make any real money.
So maybe not the best choice for a one-week challenge.
Yeah, probably not the best fit for something short-term.
Especially when you're first starting out,
it seems like those programs that could pay more,
like Shopify, might be smarter.
Yeah, especially when time is a factor.
Those high-paying programs can really make a difference,
even if not a lot of people sign up.
Of course, you've got to be promoting stuff that actually
fits your audience and that is actually good.
Right, it's not just about going after the biggest commission.
You have to build trust and actually recommend stuff
that'll benefit everyone.
Exactly.
It's about finding that balance where everyone wins.
But let's get back to Shopify.
That one seemed to work really well for Sarah.
It did.
Why do you think it connected so well with her audience?
Well, Shopify is a big name, right?
It's a well-known platform.
People trust it.
It makes sense that her audience,
who she's already focused on business stuff,
would be interested in something like Shopify.
Makes sense.
It all comes back to relevance.
By choosing a niche and making content for a specific group,
Sarah basically made sure her audience would
be interested in Shopify, those 21 trial signups.
That shows how powerful it is to target a niche
and make content just for them.
So even though she didn't hit her income goal in a week,
she showed that choosing the right niche,
finding those high-paying programs,
and making content people connect with can work.
Absolutely.
And more importantly, she showed the potential
of affiliate marketing in the long run.
Right, right.
Those Shopify trials could easily become paying customers,
meaning she makes money passively for months to come.
It's not about getting rich fast.
It's about building a business that works over time.
This deep dive has been so interesting.
Yeah.
It's everything from picking a niche
and those different platforms to the ethics of affiliate
marketing and thinking long term.
Yeah.
Any last bits of wisdom for our listeners
before we wrap up?
Affiliate marketing, it's a constantly changing world.
And it can be really profitable.
It takes work, a plan, and you've got to really connect
with your audience.
But if you do it right, it can be a fantastic way
to make money doing what you love.
Love that.
So keep learning, keep exploring.
And remember, the best affiliate marketers
are the ones who focus on value, honesty, and building
trust with their audience.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Yeah.
And for our listeners, think about this.
What niche would you choose?
What could you offer through affiliate marketing?
This deep dive has shown us that it's possible,
even if it takes time.
It definitely is.
Thanks for listening, everyone.
OK, so we were talking about the programs Sarah chose.
We got Coinbase, Robinhood, Shopify.
Let's break them down a bit.
Coinbase first.
It's that cryptocurrency platform, right?
And they offer a 10% commission on what users buy.
Pretty good deal.
10%?
That's not bad at all.
Nope, not bad.
But Sarah didn't get any sales from it.
Makes me wonder why, huh?
It does, yeah.
Any theories?
Well, cryptocurrency can be a little intimidating
for people who aren't familiar with it.
Yeah, true.
Maybe Sarah's audience just wasn't ready to dive
into crypto just yet.
Or maybe her content didn't really explain Coinbase well
enough, like how it works, why it's useful.
Right, that makes sense.
It shows how important it is to really get your audience,
make content that's tailored to them and what they need.
For sure, for sure.
OK, what about that app review site, the one from ClickBank?
Oh, yeah, that one.
She didn't make anything from that either.
Yeah, tough to say for sure without knowing all the details,
like how the program works, how Sarah promoted it.
Right.
But those programs with lower payouts,
like the ones that pay a tiny fee per review,
you need a ton of people to sign up to make any real money.
Gotcha.
So maybe not the best fit for a challenge like this,
where she only had a week.
Probably not.
Especially when you're just starting out,
I'd say focusing on those programs that
have the potential for bigger payouts, like Shopify,
is a smarter move.
Makes sense, yeah.
Get the most bang for your buck, so to speak.
Exactly.
But of course, the key is to stick the products that really
match your audience and that are genuinely good products.
Yeah, you got to believe in what you're promoting.
Definitely.
OK, let's circle back to Shopify for a minute.
Seems like that was the real winner for Sarah.
It was.
Why do you think it did so well?
Well, Shopify is a pretty well-known platform, right?
Right.
A lot of people use it, trust it.
For sure, they've built a good reputation.
And Sarah's audience, who she's already
focused on business-related stuff,
would naturally be interested in something like Shopify.
Right.
It comes down to being relevant, choosing the right niche,
by picking her niche and making content that
attracts a specific audience.
Sarah basically guaranteed that those people would
be interested in Shopify.
Yeah.
And those 21 trial signups, that really
shows how powerful it can be to pick the right niche
and make content just for them.
So even though Sarah didn't hit her income goal in a week,
she proved that choosing the right niche,
finding those high-paying programs,
and making content people actually care about,
can really pay off.
Absolutely.
And maybe even more importantly,
she showed the potential of affiliate marketing over time.
The long game, right.
Exactly.
Those Shopify trials could easily become paying customers,
which means passive income for her.
This isn't about getting rich quick.
It's about building a business model that
will keep working for you.
That's a great point.
This has been such a fascinating look at affiliate marketing.
It has.
They've covered everything from picking a niche,
to navigating platforms, the ethics of it all,
and thinking about the long term.
Any final thoughts for our listeners before we wrap up?
Well, as we've seen, affiliate marketing
is a constantly evolving field.
It's exciting.
And it can be really profitable.
It takes work, planning, and a commitment
to connecting with your audience in a real way.
But with the right approach, it can be an awesome way
to make money doing what you love.
So keep learning, keep exploring.
And remember, the most successful affiliate marketers
are the ones who value honesty, build trust,
and always prioritize giving your audience
something valuable.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
And for our listeners out there, what niche would you choose?
What value could you offer through affiliate marketing?
This deep dive has shown us that it's definitely possible,
even if it takes time.
It is possible, for sure.
Thanks for joining us, everyone.