Hey everyone, I've ever thought about making money online.
I mean, who hasn't, right?
Especially when you see those crazy headlines
about making hundreds or even thousands of dollars
every single day.
Well today, we're going deep on this YouTube video I saw.
And it claims it has the secret formula
to make a hundred to $500 a day.
And they're big secret, Google and affiliate marketing.
Now I gotta say I'm a little skeptical,
but we're gonna break it all down
and see if it's legit or just hype.
Yeah, it definitely plays on that dream we all have.
Like who wouldn't want to earn a good living
just by working online.
But anytime something sounds too good to be true,
we're gonna get a little skeptical, right?
For sure.
So let's break down this formula.
They lay out six steps.
And the first one is finding a trending niche.
They say use Google Trends and focus on searches in the US.
Yeah, Google Trends is great for seeing what's hot right now,
what people are actually searching for.
And that's really important for affiliate marketing
because you want to connect with people
who are already looking for specific products or info.
Focusing on the US makes sense
because it's a massive market
with tons of potential customers.
But that doesn't mean this is only for the US.
If you're thinking globally,
you just gotta adjust your Google Trends research
to target different countries.
You always want to be thinking about the trends
and what people want in the specific audience
you're trying to reach.
Right, you wouldn't try to sell winter coats
in Australia in the middle of summer.
So once you found a hot niche, what's next?
Well, the video says to head to ClickBank,
which is a big affiliate marketplace,
and pick a product with a high gravity score.
They actually even give an example,
a weight loss supplement called LiftPure.
Now this gravity score is interesting.
It basically tells you how well a product
is selling on ClickBank.
So a high score means it's in demand,
but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a good product
or that it's ethical.
You know what I mean?
So just because something is selling like crazy
doesn't mean it's actually good.
Exactly.
Before you even think about promoting something,
you really gotta do your research.
Look for reviews and make sure it's something you believe in
and that it actually fits the needs of your audience.
If you promote something that's bad,
it can really hurt your reputation
and break the trust you've built with your followers.
Yeah, that's a super important point.
You don't want to be recommending something
you wouldn't use yourself.
So you've got your niche,
you've picked a product you actually believe in.
What's next in this secret formula?
This is where things get a little weird.
The video tells you to use chat GPT,
that AI thing, to write an article about the product.
But here's the catch, they say, to tell chat GPT
to not sound salesy at all.
Wait, really?
How are you supposed to promote a product
without actually promoting it?
That doesn't make any sense.
It might seem strange at first,
but there's a reason behind it.
The idea is to become a trusted source of info
instead of being pushy.
If you give people valuable content
that helps them understand the product
and what it can do, you can build trust
and kind of nudge them towards buying it.
Oh, so it's like that saying,
people hate being sold to, but they love to buy.
You're giving them value and building a relationship
and hopefully the sales will follow.
Exactly, it's less direct, but it can be really effective.
Especially nowadays when everyone is bombarded
with ads everywhere they look.
Okay, so we've got this chat GPT article
that's packed with good info,
but doesn't sound like a sales pitch, now what?
The video says to shorten your affiliate link
using a service like Billy.
Yeah.
It's a small thing, but it makes a big difference.
Oh yeah, I've seen those crazy long affiliate links
and they definitely scream spam.
A shorter, clearer link just looks
way more professional and trustworthy.
Exactly, it's all about making yourself
and your recommendations look as good as possible.
So where does this carefully written
not salesy article go?
They say to publish it on Medium.
Medium, the blocking platform, that's interesting.
Yeah, Medium is great for a couple of reasons.
First, it has a huge audience of people
who are already engaged.
Second, it's easy to read and Google loves it.
So that means your article has a better chance
of being found by people who are searching
for stuff related to your niche.
So it's about getting your content
in front of the right people, makes sense.
But how do you avoid being flagged as spam
on a site like Medium?
It all comes down to actually helping your readers.
If your article just feels like you're trying
to sneak in an affiliate link,
it's probably gonna get flagged or even taken down.
But if you focus on making high quality content
that teaches people something or entertains them
and you include your link naturally, then you'll be fine.
Got it, so it's all about balancing,
promoting your affiliate product
with actually giving your reader something valuable.
No shady stuff.
Exactly, gotta be real and honest.
Okay, so we've got Google Trends, ClickBang,
ChatGPT and Medium.
What's the last piece of this secret formula?
The final step is all about visuals.
The video says to make eye-catching pins for Pinterest
using, you guessed it, ChatGPT
and link them back to your Medium article.
Pinterest, I hadn't even thought about that.
But it makes sense.
Pinterest is all about visuals and finding new ideas.
Exactly, and that's why it's so good
for getting people to check out your Medium article.
You can create pins that highlight
the good things about the product
or just make people curious enough to click and learn more.
Wow, that's a lot to process.
From Google Trends to Pinterest,
it seems like AI plays a big part in this whole thing.
It does.
And while those AI tools can be super helpful,
they should never take the place of your own creativity
and your understanding of your audience.
So it's not about letting AI do everything
but using it strategically to help you out.
Exactly, AI can be like your assistant,
but you're still the one in charge.
You gotta bring your own unique perspective,
expertise and personality to make content
that really connects with your audience.
We just went through this whole secret formula
and it really relies on AI tools like ChatGPT
to write articles and even Pinterest pins.
It's definitely efficient,
but I wonder if using so much AI
makes the content feel kind of generic and impersonal.
What do you think?
That's a really good point.
You know, AI is great at turning out text and images quickly,
but it can lack that human touch,
that personality that makes content engaging.
Exactly, like you might end up with an article
that's technically correct,
but it sounds like a robot wrote it.
It's like reading a boring product description
straight from a catalog.
It might have all the facts,
but it doesn't really connect with you.
You know?
Yeah, totally.
This whole secret formula seems super focused
on getting clicks on that affiliate link.
It's like a numbers game.
Is there a better way to do affiliate marketing,
like one that focuses on building a loyal audience
instead of just chasing clicks?
Absolutely.
In fact, I think building a loyal audience
is the best way to do affiliate marketing.
It's more sustainable and way more rewarding.
Instead of seeing your audience as just clicks and commissions,
you wanna build a community around shared interests.
So it's more about building relationships
than just trying to make a quick buck.
Exactly.
When you have an audience that trusts your recommendations,
they're more likely to buy the products you suggest.
It becomes a win-win built on trust and shared values.
That sounds way better than just blasting out
generic content with affiliate links everywhere.
But building that kind of trust takes time and effort, right?
It does, but it's so worth it.
It starts with creating really good content
that provides value to your audience.
Whether it's blog posts, videos, podcasts,
or social media updates,
your content should be informative, engaging,
and relevant to what they're interested in.
So it's not just about pushing products.
It's about becoming a trusted source of information
in your niche.
Exactly.
You wanna be the person people turn to
for advice and recommendations in your area of expertise.
Okay, so create great content.
Got it.
What else can you do to build that sense of community
and connect with your audience?
Talk to them.
Respond to comments, answer questions,
join the conversation.
Show them that you're a real person
who cares about what they think and what they need.
It's about those individual connections
that turn followers into fans.
It's like building a friendship.
You have to put in the effort to make it grow.
Speaking of effort, this all sounds like a lot of work.
Is it really possible to build a successful
affiliate marketing business
while being ethical and transparent?
It is.
It's definitely possible,
but it's not some get rich quick scheme.
It takes dedication, hard work,
and a real desire to help people.
But the rewards are amazing.
What kind of rewards are we talking about?
Well, besides the money,
you get to share your passions,
connect with awesome people,
and actually make a difference in the world.
It's about creating something meaningful
that goes beyond just making a sale.
I love that.
It's about building a business you can be proud of,
one that reflects your values and has a positive impact.
But let's be real,
not every product out there is great.
How do you decide which products
that you promote as an affiliate?
You know, ethically.
It all comes down to your niche and your audience.
You should only promote products
that you would personally recommend
to a friend or family member.
If you wouldn't use it yourself, don't promote it.
So be picky and careful,
just like you would be
when recommending something in real life.
Exactly.
And be honest with your audience.
Tell them that you might earn a commission
if they buy something through your link,
but also make it clear
that you only recommend products you actually believe in.
That makes sense.
Honesty and transparency build trust.
But what if you find a product that seems cool,
but you haven't tried it yourself yet?
How do you know if it's good?
Do your research, read reviews,
look for independent tests,
and even reach out to the company if you have questions.
It's about making sure you're comfortable
recommending the products you promote.
So it's not about promoting everything that comes your way.
It's about being selective
and making sure your recommendations align
with your values and what your audience needs.
Exactly.
You're building a brand and a reputation.
And in the long run, trust and authenticity
are worth way more than a quick submission.
This is all such great advice,
but I bet some of our listeners are thinking,
this all sounds amazing,
but how do I actually get started?
What are some practical first steps someone can take
to start building their own ethical
and successful affiliate marketing business?
That's the big question, right?
We've talked about doing affiliate marketing the right way,
focusing on being real, building a loyal audience
and promoting products you actually use and like.
Sounds awesome in theory,
but I'm sure a lot of people are wondering
where to even start.
It can definitely be overwhelming
when you're just starting out.
But the good news is you don't need a fancy website,
thousands of followers or a marketing degree.
The first step is figuring out your niche.
What are you passionate about?
What do you know a lot about?
What problems can you help people solve?
So it starts with finding your passion.
Can you give us some examples of niches?
Oh, totally.
Your niche could be anything,
cooking, healthy, eating, travel photography,
personal finance, investing, anything really.
The key is to pick something you're actually interested in
because that passion will show in your content
and your audience will feel it.
That makes sense.
If you're not excited about it,
your audience won't be either.
So you found your passion and your niche.
What's next?
Once you know your niche,
it's time to think about your audience.
Who are you trying to reach?
What do they care about?
What kind of content would they find helpful?
So put yourself in there,
shoes and figure out what they're looking for.
Exactly.
The better you understand your audience,
the better you can create content that speaks to them
and solves their problems.
Makes sense.
But how do you actually figure out who your audience is?
You can't exactly just ask them
when you're just starting out.
True.
There are a few things you can do.
You can look at other people in your niche
who are already successful and see who they're targeting.
You can join online groups and forums related to your niche
and just listen to what people are talking about.
You can also use tools like Google Trends
to see what people are searching for.
So do some research and gather clues
to build a picture of your ideal audience.
Got it. What's next?
Once you know your niche and your audience,
it's time to start making content.
This is where the fun begins.
Content creation.
That seems exciting, but also a little intimidating.
Where do you even begin?
The cool thing is there are so many ways to create content.
You could start a blog and write articles,
make videos for YouTube, post photos
and stories on Instagram,
or even start a podcast just like us.
So many options.
How do you choose the right format?
It really depends on your niche,
your audience and what you like to do.
Some people are great writers,
others are more comfortable on camera.
Some audiences like short videos,
others prefer long articles.
So experiment and see what works best
for you and your audience.
Exactly.
And don't be afraid to mix it up.
You might find you enjoy doing different kinds of content.
The important thing is to be consistent
and always provide value to your audience.
Speaking of consistency,
how often should you be creating content?
There's no magic number.
But once a week is a good goal.
The key is to have a regular schedule
that your audience can count on.
So quality over quantity.
It's better to make one awesome piece of content each week
than to rush and make several mediocre ones.
Exactly.
You want your content to be something
people actually look forward to reading,
watching or listening to.
Okay, so you've made some killer content
that your audience loves.
How do you start using affiliate links
and actually making money?
Once you've built that trust with your audience,
you can start mentioning affiliate products in your content.
But be natural and honest.
Only recommend stuff you actually believe in
and that you think will really help your audience.
So don't just throw links in randomly.
Make sure it fits with your content.
Exactly.
And tell people about your affiliate relationships.
Let them know you might earn a commission
if they buy something through your link.
But emphasize that you only recommend products
you truly believe in.
That makes sense.
Transparency is key.
But what about those long, ugly affiliate links?
How do you make them look better?
We talked about using a link shortener like Bitly.
It makes the link look cleaner and more professional
and people are less likely to be scared off.
You can even customize your links
to make them more memorable and on brand.
So you're not just slapping a link on there
and calling it a day.
You're actually putting effort
into how you present your recommendations.
Exactly.
It's all about making it a good experience for your audience.
You want them to feel like you're trying to help them,
not just make a quick buck.
This has been an awesome deep dive into affiliate marketing.
We started by looking at this so-called secret formula,
but we uncovered a much more thoughtful and ethical way
to build a successful online business.
And that's what it's all about.
Building a business, you're proud of one that's built
on trust, honesty, and actually helping people.
So for everyone out there dreaming of making money online,
remember there's no magic bullet or quick fix.
It's about finding your passion,
making great content, building relationships,
and recommending products you truly believe in.
It's about creating something meaningful that will last.
That's a great way to wrap things up.
We'll see you all next time for another deep dive.