If you have ever read a blog, you have probably seen an affiliate link. Affiliate links are links in a blog that takes you to the website where you can buy the product. These links are helpful for the reader because they can easily buy or read about the product that the blogger is recommending. These links, however, benefit the blogger too. The blogger can make a small commission everytime a reader buys the product by clicking on the link in the blog post. This is a fantasic way for bloggers to make passive income through their blog.
This site contains affiliate links (See full disclosure here.)
How to Become a Blogger Affiliate
A blogger can apply to become an affiliate through affiliate networks or directly through the merchant. Once you become an affiliate simply add links to your blog whenever you talk about a product you love. I usually just write my post first and then add affiliate links where ever I notice I mention a product.
So say my blog is accepted as an Amazon Affiliate. For my next post I talk about Mindful eating, and I mention my favortie mindfulness books. I can get the amazon link through the amazon affiliate program and add the link to my blog post. Whenever someone clicks on the Mindful books link and buys the prodcuct or any other product within 24 hours of clicking on my link, I will get a small commission for the sale. This is affiliate marketing in a nutshell.
*One important note: Make sure you are promoting items you love and use. People will come to trust your recommendations if you are honest and authentic. Isn’t the whole point of blogging to tell people about the things you know about and love?
Steps to Making Money through Affiliates
So you now know the basics about affiliates. Let’s talk about how to make real money through affiliate marketing.
Step 1: Get the Right Host
The first step to affiliate marketing is to get the correct blog host. You need to select a self-hosting company like Bluehost if you are planning on using affiliates. Then, you need to get wordpress.com (not wordpress.org) if you plan on making money with your blog. Next you You will also need to purchase your domain name. (My domain name is www.mindfulnessinfaithandfood.com). Fortunately your domain name is included when you purchase Bluehost. You can also set up wordpress.com through Bluehost as well.
By the way, if you decide to use Bluehost through my link, let me know, and I would love to support you by promoting your first post through some of my platforms. (as long as it’s family friendly).
If you want more information about starting a blog, check out How to Start a Blog When You Feel Called to Blog.
Step 2: Apply to Affiliate Programs
Okay, now for the good stuff! Now that you have your blog, you can apply to become an affiliate! (Some affiliates require a certain number of page views before approving your blog).
Below are my personal favorite affiliate programs if you are wanting to make money:
1. Share-A-Sale
The Share-A-Sale affiliate program has become one of my favorites. I like Share-a-sale because you pick which companies you want to partner. Because Share-a-Sale has over 4,500, you can pick the companies and products you love and use. Some of the merchants on Share-A-Sale include Etsy, Tailwind, and even Share-a-Sale. Yes, I said Etsy! You can filll out an application with Shareasale here. After you join Share-a-Sale, browse the companies and apply to partner with the individual companies you love.
2. CJ Affiliates
CJ affliliates works similarly to Share-A-Sale in that you can pick which companies to partner. I am a huge fan of the lists of companies you can partner with through CJ Affiliates. Some of the companies include 1-800-Dentist, AMCMouse.com, 24 Hour Fitness, and many, many more.
3. Amazon Associates
You can find almost anything on Amazon, which makes Amason my go-to affiliate for many products. You can find a link on Amazon to about any product you are talking about on your blog. For this reason, I think a blogger looking to make money should definitely apply to be an Amazon Affiliate.
4. Bluehost
Another perk to using Bluehost is that later you can apply to be a Bluehost affiliate. Sometimes people want to start a blog like yours and want to know what host you use. Tell your readers how you started your blog and share your Bluehost link. So if you are using Bluehost and love it; tell people!
5. Ibotta
This is technically called a friend referral program. Ibotta is a FREE app that sends you rebates when you shop. In other words, Ibotta pays you to shop through their app! Sooo it’s free AND you make money by purchasing your everyday items and groceries!!! Oh and one more thing, you also make money everytime someone signs up through your affiliate link! Okay another one more thing (last one more thing, I promise), when you sign up through an affiliate link like this one, you get $10 for signing up! Oh, and if you don’t have a blog you can simply post your referral code on Facebook or send an email to your friends with your referral code.
Sooo its free, you get paid to shop, you get $10 for signing up through my affiliate link, and you get paid when others sign up through your link!!! I call that a win, win, win, win, win situation!
If you want to read more about Ibotta, click How I Cut my Grocery Bill in MORE than Half.
6. Ebates
Ebates is similar and is just as awesome as Ibotta. Again, it is FREE, you get paid to shop, you get $10 for signing up through my affiliate link here, and you get paid when others sign up through your link! Yep, another win, win, win, win scenario.
To learn more about Ebates click How I Cut My Grocery Bill in MORE that Half.
Why Do You Make More from Smaller Affiliate Programs?
I write post using affiliate networks and large companies because I like the variety of products available. However, as far as commissions go, I have made more money through small individual blogger and website affiliate links.
I believe I get the most commission from these smaller affiliate programs run by bloggers for several reasons:
1. I adore the programs I talk about and readers can feel that. You can find some amazing gems among bloggers!
2 The products sold by bloggers are unique, and you can only order the product from their website. You can’t get the same product on some big website like Amazon. Because the product is exclusive to the blogger’s website, readers often need your link to find it. In other words, you are finding these hidden gems for your readers!
So to recap…
It is a good idea to apply to become an affiliate on large affiliate networks so that you can find a large variety of product for your readers,
BUT
you should be searching for unique gems among bloggers who sell products. Look for products that you think your readers would like to know about.
7. Faithful Finishlines
Faithful Finishlines is an example of a smaller affiliate program run by bloggers.
This is an excellent faith-based weight loss program run by two bloggers. Since I am a faith-based dietitian, I knew my readers could benefit from knowing about this program. This is also one of my most profitable affiliate programs.
8. “Mindfulness in Faith and Freezer Meals” ebook
If you are looking for one of those unique products, we have one at “Mindfulness in Faith and Food”. The ebook is perfect for busy families who are struggling to get healthy food on the table every night. This book shows you how to make a month of healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes ALL in ONE DAY! You can read more about the ebook affiliate program here.
9. Pinterest Ninja
If you are new to blogging and want to learn how to massively grow your blog through Pinterest, I recommend purchasing “Pinterest Ninja,” then becoming an affiliate! This ebook helped me figure out how to succeed on Pinterest as a blogger! I talk all about how much “Pinterest Ninja” helped me here.
Step 3 Write A Post and Add Your Affiliate Links
Now that you have joined affiliate programs, you can start using them in your post. So just start writing post and adding links using your affiliate programs.
Step 4: Add your Affiliate Disclosure Statement to Every Post
FTC requires that you disclose that your posts contains affiliate links. To comply with FTC, make sure you add an affiliate disclosure statement before your first affiliate link shows up in the post. I usually write a short disclosure near the top of my post, and I provide a link to my more detailed disclosure page. Amazon Affiliates has their own specific statement they want you to use. I have added that statement to my disclosure page and to the sidebar of my blog so that it shows up on every post as well. Below are the steps to adding a text like a disclosure statement to your side bars.
Adding a Disclosure Statement to The Sidebar in Bluehost/Wordpress
- Select on Themes in your Dashboard
- Click on Widgets
- Select ‘Texts’ and drag and drop it into your Widgets area
- Add the Disclosure statement in the text box.
So to recap, I have a short disclosure statement near the top of every page, a link to a disclosure page on every post, and an Amazon Affiliate disclosure statement on the side bar of every post.
I hope you found this Blogger’s Beginners Guide to Making Money through Affiliates helpful. Please feel free to comment or contact me if you have any questions. Do you have affiliate programs you love? I would love to hear about the gems you have found.
Related Post
How to Start a Blog When you Feel Called to Blog
A Detailed Blogging Check List
How I My Grocery Bill Went from $300 to $80
My To 6 Money Saving Apps and Sites
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