Starting out in affiliate marketing without an existing audience can seem daunting. However, it’s entirely possible to build a successful affiliate marketing business from scratch. In 2020, I started without a following and was able to reach a consistent $8K per month with organic traffic within six months. Here’s a full tutorial on how you can do the same.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing involves promoting or recommending a product to others using online content. This product can be something you use yourself to achieve a goal or solve a problem, or simply something you believe will help others. When people purchase the product through your unique affiliate link, you earn a commission.
Joining Affiliate Programs
To promote products, you need to join affiliate programs where you get a special link, known as an affiliate link. When people buy through your link, you make money. If you’re looking for the best affiliate programs to promote in 2024, I have a free list available for download.
Starting Without a Following
Most affiliate marketing tutorials assume you already have an online following, but that’s not always the case. Many gurus want you to buy their courses to learn how to start without an audience. However, you can succeed without a following by leveraging Google as your primary traffic source.
Using Google for Traffic
Google receives around 990,000 searches per second, providing more organic traffic than Facebook and Instagram combined. Here’s how to tap into this traffic:
- Identify Keywords: Focus on small, specific keywords in your niche. For example, if you’re in the fishing niche, look for terms that people are searching for but that aren’t overly competitive.
- Create Content: Write blog articles targeting these keywords. Previously, this method worked well, but with AI tools like ChatGPT, creating blog posts has become extremely competitive. Therefore, we need to adapt.
Transition to YouTube
To stand out and avoid AI-generated content, create YouTube videos that can rank on Google. Videos demonstrate authentic user-generated content, which Google prefers over mass-produced AI content.
Steps to Create Effective YouTube Content
- Choose Your Niche: Identify a niche where you can provide valuable content.
- Create Videos: Produce YouTube videos that provide detailed information on the topic. These videos should be high-quality and genuinely helpful.
- Optimize for Search: Use keywords in your video title, description, and tags to help your videos rank on both Google and YouTube.
Benefits of YouTube Content
- Double the Exposure: Since Google owns YouTube, your videos will appear in search results on both platforms, doubling your reach.
- Long-term Visibility: Unlike social media posts, which quickly become irrelevant, YouTube videos can rank for years, providing ongoing traffic and income.
- User Preference: Many users prefer watching videos over reading articles, increasing the likelihood they will engage with your content.
The Power of Evergreen Content
Creating evergreen content that remains relevant over time can ensure consistent traffic and income. For instance, a video about the best radar detectors can continue to rank well and drive traffic years after being uploaded.
Emphasize Human-Generated Content
With the rise of AI-generated content, Google has prioritized real, value-added content. This means now is the perfect time to create genuine user-generated content, whether it’s face-on-camera or faceless presentations.
Conclusion
Affiliate marketing without a following is not only possible but can be highly lucrative. By focusing on creating valuable YouTube content that ranks on Google, you can build a successful affiliate marketing business. Remember, the key is to provide what people are searching for and let them find your content naturally.
For further strategies, including how to use email marketing to boost your commissions, be sure to check out our additional resources. This method can be your stepping stone to affiliate marketing success in 2024.