How To Start Affiliate Marketing in
How To Start Affiliate Marketing in
TUTORIALS menu
Affiliate Academy Jul 26, 2023 Nadya A. & Prasasti P. 14min Read
The affiliate marketing industry offers great potential to make money online. Apart from being flexible and
low-risk, this online business model requires minimal initial costs.
When starting your affiliate marketing business, understanding the basics will help you set reasonable
goals and avoid common mistakes
This article covers everything from choosing a niche to keeping track of how well you’re doing online.
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 1/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
1. Decide on a Niche
The first step in any successful affiliate marketing strategy is to select a segmented target market or
audience, also known as a niche.
A market niche is typically characterized by a shared interest or demographics, influencing product quality
and price point.
For instance, the skincare industry’s niches include skincare for kids, anti-aging, or acne-prone skin.
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 2/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
Targeting a small market segment is more effective than following trends or appealing to an entire industry.
It makes establishing brand recognition, growing expertise, and building authority easier.
TUTORIALS menu
Consider the following when selecting an affiliate marketing niche:
Start with your passion or interest. Picking a subject that interests you will make content creation
enjoyable. Alternatively, go for a topic you have mastered. Sufficient product knowledge helps
establish yourself as a reliable source.
Analyze your competitors. Determine the niche’s difficulty level. If it’s highly competitive, highlight
your unique selling point to stand out from competitors.
Assess market demand. Ensure that your chosen niche is profitable and sustainable. Choose
evergreen markets that have a consistent demand all year round. Quick research on Google Trends or
Ubersuggest can help you check keyword popularity.
2. Create a Website
Once you decide on a niche, it’s time to create a platform for your affiliate marketing campaigns. While there
are many platforms to choose from, we recommend building your own website.
An affiliate site provides a central hub for all your affiliate marketing content, giving you more opportunities
to highlight promotional materials.
Running your own affiliate website means having more control over the platform. This gives you more
freedom when approaching affiliate marketing efforts.
Here are the three essential steps to build a good affiliate website:
Web hosting is the service that lets you store your website files and make them available online.
To create the best website for your affiliate business, you must choose a hosting plan that fits your needs
and preferences.
Those who want to create a website quickly without coding can choose the Premium Web Hosting and
website builder combo.
This plan includes access to the Hostinger Website Builder, email hosting services, and unlimited free SSL
certificates. It’s the perfect choice if you want to build a good affiliate website without the hassle of
technical setup and web design processes.
Single Premium
Plan Features $1.99/mo $2.99/mo
Websites 1 Unlimited
Free SSL
Free Domain
1X 2X
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 3/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
Allocated Resources
TUTORIALS menu
Alternatively, choose the WordPress Hosting plan if you have enough technical experience and want more
flexibility during the website-building process.
Single Starter
Plan Features $1.99/mo $2.99/mo
Websites 1 100
Free domain
Fortunately, Hostinger’s plans are highly scalable. You can easily upgrade to higher-tier plans like VPS or
Cloud Hosting when your website grows.
If you purchase the Premium or Business Web Hosting plan for at least 12 months, you will get a free
domain for one year. Feel free to use our instant domain search to check your desired domain’s availability.
Since the process of purchasing a hosting plan and building a website with Hostinger is seamless, you can
focus your efforts on growing your affiliate business.
Suggested Reading
Read stories from our customers and learn more about their experiences
migrating their business websites to Hostinger.
There are two main platforms we recommend to create your affiliate website – a website builder and a
content management system (CMS).
A website builder like Hostinger Website Builder is a great tool for those who want to quickly and easily
build a website. It features an intuitive drag-and-drop editor that lets you create and customize your
website’s layout.
Users can also speed up their branding and content-creation processes using the AI Writer and logo maker.
Moreover, find the best CTA placements on your affiliate website using the AI Heatmap.
All Hostinger Website Builder users can access built-in eCommerce features at no additional cost. This
makes Hostinger Website Builder an excellent choice to generate more revenue through your affiliate
website.
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 4/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
On the other hand, those who want more flexibility for their affiliate sites can use a CMS like WordPress.
Since most CMSs are open-source, users can access and modify all their website files and adjust them
TUTORIALS
accordingly.
menu
Keep in mind that using WordPress may require some technical expertise and more time compared to using
a website builder.
Another advantage of WordPress is its wide range of plugins and themes. They let you quickly add
functionality to your website and customize its looks.
Hostinger users can also benefit from the one-click WordPress installation, which includes essential pre-
installed plugins. This will help you save time during the website setup process.
Take your time to find out which website platform suits you best before choosing one. We recommend
reading our beginner-friendly guide on how to build a website using different platforms.
The design and customization process is important to add more personality and visual appeal to your
affiliate website.
Here are four tips to follow when customizing your affiliate website:
Branding. Create a unique brand identity for your affiliate website. Use a consistent color scheme,
logo, and typography that align with your niche and target audience.
Clear and compelling content. Craft engaging and informative content that provides value to your
visitors. Clearly explain the products or services’ benefits and include persuasive calls to action.
High-quality visuals. Visual content engages users and helps convey information effectively. Add
high-resolution images, infographics, and videos to enhance your website’s visual appeal.
Choose a user-friendly design. A clean and intuitive website design allows visitors to navigate easily.
Use a responsive layout to ensure your website looks great on all devices.
When deciding on a website design, Hostinger Website Builder users can choose from various
professionally-designed templates to start.
These templates are highly customizable. You can easily change the color scheme, typography, and layouts
with the drag-and-drop editor. You don’t need any graphic design or coding experience to do it.
For WordPress users, various free themes are available to download in the official directory. Make sure to
pick a theme that loads fast and is responsive.
Fortunately, Hostinger includes all the default WordPress themes in the auto-installer so you can jumpstart
your building process.
Moreover, consider installing the best WordPress plugins to improve site performance and security.
Simply research brands within your niche and see if they offer affiliate programs you can join. For example,
those interested in the hosting industry can sign up for the Hostinger Affiliate Program and promote its
services to their audiences.
Alternatively, apply for an affiliate network to access various affiliate programs at once.
When looking for the right affiliate program, consider the following aspects:
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 5/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
Cookie Period
TUTORIALS
All affiliate sales are attributed to you through a tracking cookie attached to your affiliate links, which could
menu
last from one to over 30 days.
While a shorter cookie period can still be effective, programs with a longer one provide more time to
convince your audience to convert.
Commission Structure
Subscription-based businesses usually offer recurring commissions. This lets you receive income for as long
as the customer pays for the service. Others require you to generate a certain amount of sales before
sending the payout.
Moreover, pay attention to the commission rates. Depending on the type of products you’re promoting, there
are three types of affiliate programs:
Low commission, high volume. These programs are low-paying but offer a wide range of mainstream
affiliate products. Thus, generating a lot of content and traffic is necessary to reach your revenue goal.
An example of this type of affiliate program is Amazon’s.
High commission, low volume. With high-paying affiliate programs, you can generate more revenue
with fewer sales. They usually include luxury affiliate products like watches, jewelry, and antiques.
High commission, high volume. These programs are highly competitive due to their high earning
potential. Examples include credit card and web hosting affiliate programs.
Partnering with unreliable merchants can negatively impact your brand. Before deciding on an affiliate
partner, check out online reviews, discussion forums, and social media conversations to evaluate their brand
reputation.
Make sure to partner with brands that suit your content and audience group. Otherwise, you’ll risk losing the
audience’s trust and interest.
Support
See if the program provides additional resources to help you market their product, such as visuals or
workshops. For instance, affiliates joining the Hostinger Affiliate Program get extra assistance from a
dedicated affiliate manager.
Once you’ve decided on an affiliate marketing program to join and the products to promote, it’s time to
create content.
Pro Tip
Once you successfully promote an affiliate product and improve your
online marketing skills, consider joining other programs to diversify your
income streams.
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 6/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
Therefore, creating valuable content that resonates with your audience is a must.
It can convince your existing audiences and boost your site’s performance on search results. A higher
ranking increases the chance of attracting more organic traffic and new visitors.
Whether it’s a YouTube video, blog post, or newsletter, you should aim to produce original, informative
content that addresses the audience’s questions or helps them solve a particular issue.
Hostinger Website Builder users can speed up content writing by using the built-in AI Writer feature. Simply
choose the industry and topic for your content, and the tool will generate it for you.
For inspiration, start by researching keywords and identifying your target audience’s problems and pain
points.
A good rule of thumb is to target a specific, long-tail keyword since they are easier to rank than generic
keywords. Using keyword research tools like Semrush or Google Keyword Planner can help with this
process.
Additionally, combine non-time-sensitive and trend-driven topics to ensure brand relevancy all year round.
Here are some common types of content to create for your affiliate site:
Product reviews. A highly popular content type amongst affiliate marketers. In fact, 90% of online
buyers seek product reviews before visiting a business.
Product comparisons. Compare two similar products and explore their advantages and
disadvantages to help the audience make a buying decision.
Product roundups. Similar to product comparisons, a product roundup evaluates several products
within the same category.
Tutorials. Explain step-by-step how a product or service works. When customers clearly understand
how it will benefit them, they are more inclined to purchase it.
Resource pages. Consists of tools and resources to help solve the audience’s problems. This content
can further establish your authority as an expert.
eBooks. Go in-depth on topics that don’t fit in a blog post. Plus, eBooks can be used as a lead magnet
to expand your email list.
Important! Make sure to include an affiliate disclosure explaining that you earn a commission
whenever people purchase from your affiliate link.
Creating an SEO strategy is a must. The higher your site appears on search engines, the more traffic you’ll
get. SEO includes keyword optimization, link building, and ensuring the site is mobile-friendly.
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 7/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
Here are a few other methods to generate traffic to your affiliate site:
TUTORIALS
Start an email campaign. Email marketing helps gently nudge readers toward a purchase. You can
menu
directly communicate product recommendations, limited offers, and regular updates by creating and
sending email newsletters. Use a custom email address that contains your website name to increase
the chances of success.
Be active on social media. Having a solid social media presence increases brand awareness. You can
build up followers’ engagement and optimize content with hashtags to boost discoverability. When
deciding on a social media platform, consider your audience demographics. For instance, users
between the ages of 10-19 make up TikTok’s largest age group. Therefore, beauty bloggers targeting
teenage girls should consider TikTok as their main channel.
Participate in online forum discussions. Online forums like Reddit and Quora are great for connecting
with your target audience. Since most forums don’t allow affiliate links, redirect people to your blog
posts or affiliate landing pages.
Write guest posts. Reach out to sites in your niche and offer to write high-quality posts for them. It’ll
help redirect audiences who are already interested in the topic to your site.
Cloaking affiliate links helps prevent link hijacking, one of the biggest security risks in affiliate marketing. It
occurs when malicious parties try to steal valuable commissions by replacing your unique ID with theirs.
For instance, instead of a long, complicated URL containing numbers and characters like the example below:
www.youraffiliateprogram.com/?affiliateid=123qwerty*
You can make the affiliate link more visually pleasing and user-friendly:
www.yourwebsitename.come/affiliate-product
A cloaked link is perceived as more secure as it tells users exactly what to expect when clicking on it.
Moreover, it is also easier to remember and share, which helps increase brand recognition and expand
audience reach.
To cloak affiliate links, use WordPress plugins like Pretty Links or ThirstyAffiliates.
While most affiliate programs provide sales data through an affiliate dashboard, you can use additional
affiliate marketing tools to optimize your campaigns.
These tools will help keep track of your affiliate campaigns across different marketing channels and
enhance your affiliate strategies. Examples include Post Affiliate Pro, LinkTrack, and Voluum.
Alternatively, free tools like Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager can also help track affiliate links.
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 8/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
TUTORIALS menu
If you’re a WordPress user, there are several affiliate plugins to simplify the process.
MonsterInsights, for example, lets users review traffic volume for individual product pages from the
WordPress dashboard.
It also integrates with your Google Analytics account to track affiliate links and Pretty Links to set up
redirections for them.
Running tests on your content is a great start. For example, identify which posts get high traffic but low
RPM (revenue per thousand impressions).
Then, tweak some elements to see what triggers more conversions and increases your affiliate income:
Test your headlines. To evaluate their effectiveness, create two headlines for the same content. To do
this, split traffic into two groups and serve different headlines for each.
Experiment with images. You can conduct the same test with two separate, high-quality images of
the same product. Assess the results and feature the image that converts more.
Insert comparison tables. For product comparisons or reviews, consider adding a comparison table
displaying the product features and prices. Comparison tables are easier to digest than long blocks of
text.
Optimize the CTAs. Keep the calls to action brief and personalized. Use time-related words like “Shop
Now”, “Limited”, or “Last Chance”, and pair them with a countdown timer to create a sense of urgency.
Add exit intent pop-ups. These pop-ups act as the last resort to convince visitors who are about to
abandon the site. Install a WordPress pop-up plugin like OptinMonster to help with the task.
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 9/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
A tracking cookie within the link helps affiliate programs determine where the sales come from. Therefore,
whenever a customer makes a purchase, the sale will be attributed to the corresponding affiliate.
Unattached Affiliate Marketing. This form of affiliate marketing requires no direct connection
between affiliates and the advertised product. Affiliates get commissions solely by displaying the
merchants’ ads, whether or not they fit their niche. For example, a fashion blog that features gym ads.
Involved Affiliate Marketing. This type refers to affiliates who are closely associated with the product.
Seen as experts within the niche, they educate readers about the product and give recommendations
based on personal experiences.
Related Affiliate Marketing. A mix of the other two types, related affiliate marketing involves
promoting relevant products without making direct claims. Often, the affiliates have some degree of
authority within the niche, making them a trusted source of information. For instance, a fitness blogger
promotes fitness gear despite never using it before.
Pay-per-sale. The most common payment structure in affiliate marketing. Affiliates get a percentage
of the product price from each purchase made through a unique affiliate link.
Pay-per-lead. This method pays the affiliate based on lead conversion. For instance, when they
successfully convert potential customers into creating a trial account or subscribing to a newsletter.
Pay-per-click. This method calculates commissions based on the amount of traffic brought to the
merchant’s site. The more users click on the affiliate link, the higher the payment.
Plus, the online business model is a win-win solution for businesses and affiliates.
It helps businesses attract new customers and help your audience find the best products and services. And
as an affiliate marketer, it’ll help you create content and generate revenue.
While there might be a few upfront costs, mainly for creating a website, no further investment is expected
once it’s set up.
You can also sign up for different affiliate programs to increase your income.
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 10/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
However, success is not always guaranteed. Investing time to establish promotional platforms, build an
audience, and create traffic sources is necessary.
Nevertheless, once set up, your affiliate links have the potential to make money continuously.
The average affiliate marketer makes around $55,000/year, with the lowest tier earning about
$41,000/year and the highest around $75,000/year.
Successful affiliate marketers like Pat Flynn may earn even higher. The Smart Passive Income founder’s net
worth is estimated at over $3 million.
An effective way to get started is by joining an affiliate network, which acts as an intermediary between
affiliates and brands.
Amazon Associates. A globally recognized brand with over 365 million products to promote, the
Amazon Affiliate Program is ideal for any affiliate marketers starting their journey.
ClickBank. It is one of the oldest affiliate networks. It is ideal for marketers looking to advertise digital
affiliate products.
CJ. Since it provides access to affiliate programs’ metrics, CJ helps affiliates map out which programs
to join and estimate their earning potential accordingly.
Impact. It is suitable for any affiliates looking to kickstart their career. It lists brands that offer instant
approval.
Make sure to closely follow our step-by-step instructions to avoid these mistakes.
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 11/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
TUTORIALS menu
Conclusion
Affiliate marketing is a low-risk, easy-to-scale business model that enables you to make money online by
creating promotional content. Fortunately, affiliate marketing doesn’t require advanced technical knowledge
or a large budget.
Once you have a niche and a platform, research affiliate programs to join. Then, create high-quality content
to promote the affiliate products and diversify the traffic sources to generate more leads. Lastly, track your
affiliate campaigns and run tests to optimize them.
Keep in mind that affiliate marketing success doesn’t happen overnight. If you’re just starting, it might take a
while before your content generates conversions. It’s important to devote time to learning and implementing
affiliate marketing tips.
Like any other successful business, the most important step is to start. With sufficient knowledge of how to
start affiliate marketing, you are now well-equipped to begin the journey. Good luck.
Suggested Reading
Yes. You don’t need a lot of capital to start affiliate marketing. There are no costs to join most
affiliate networks, and various free platforms are available to boost your efforts. You can
even find affiliate marketing courses online for free. You only need a working computer, a
decent internet connection, and dedicated time to grow your business.
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 12/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
TUTORIALS menu
Is Affiliate Marketing Good for Beginners?
Yes. Affiliate marketing is low-risk, inexpensive, and easy to scale for beginners.
There’s no limit to how much you can earn as an affiliate marketer. With sufficient time,
effort, and an effective strategy, you may generate a huge passive income from affiliate
marketing.
Yes. Affiliate marketing doesn’t require a website. You can share affiliate links on social
media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. However, having a website is
beneficial as it improves credibility and broadens your audience reach.
THE AUTHOR
Nadya Anjani
Nadya has a passion for WordPress and web hosting. She wants to help people build a
successful online presence, so they can make an impact in the world. When not writing, she
can be found learning new languages or orchestrating a photoshoot for her cat. Nadya is
always looking to learn and grow, and she hopes to help others do the same.
THE CO-AUTHOR
Prasasti P.
Pras has a background in IT education and experience as a website administrator, he hopes
to share his knowledge with other tech enthusiasts. In his free time, Pras likes to play video
games.
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 13/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
TUTORIALS menu
Related tutorials
15 Best Niches for Affiliate How to Make an Affiliate The 18 Best Affiliate Marketing
Marketing: Most Profitable Marketing Website in 10 Steps Tools to Increase Sales and
Niches for Affiliates to Ensure Your Business Drive High-Quality Traffic
Success
Affiliate marketing is becoming an Thriving in the competitive affiliate
increasingly popular way to make extra Running an affiliate marketing website marketing industry takes more than
money, especially with the growth of is a great way to make money online. joining an affiliate program and creating
eCommerce. It allows affiliates to get... For example, Adam Enfroy, a famous content. Having the right tools is...
affiliate marketer and blogger,...
By Nadia Daniel By Nadya Anjani
By Maulidina M.
Excellent
Leave a reply
Comment*
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 14/15
8/16/23, 10:25 PM How to Start Affiliate Marketing in 8 Steps + Free Course
Name*
TUTORIALS menu
Email*
By using this form you agree that your personal data would be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Submit
We are a web hosting provider on a mission to bring success to everyone who goes online. We do it by constantly improving server technology,
providing professional support, and making the web hosting experience seamless.
And More
Student Discount
LEGAL
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
© 2004-2023 hostinger.com - Premium Web Hosting, Cloud, VPS & Domain Registration Services. Prices are listed without VAT
https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/how-to-start-affiliate-marketing?lctid=118361&irclickid=XrywkxXuRxyNUbvVqIQhgwvXUkF3Q9zYJVrWRo0&irgwc=1&PID=74588#How_Does_Affiliate_Marketing_Work 15/15