I’ve been working as an affiliate marketer since 2007. One of my biggest lessons over the course of this now seven year journey is that affiliate marketing physical products sold on sites like Amazon and other trusted retailers are a goldmine.
Case Study:
I understand that Hubpages has purchased Squidoo and as a result of the changes that led to the purchase, I no longer have any content on Squidoo. One of my most successful lenses to date was “How to Fix Hardwood Floor Scratches” where I shared with users my tips for what to do when the floor gets scratched.
The lens was inspired by an accident related to moving. I had a huge mishap with the pointy end of a mountaineering ax. I dragged a box across the floor and the point was poking through the bottom. It made a long scratch across the hardwood floor and I was in a rented house.
What did I do?
I lived in Monterey, CA at the time and found an old-time hardware store in nearby Pacific Grove that had this great product called the Tibetan Almond Stick. It worked, it was amazing, and I wrote about it on the lens.
I bet you’re curious about the product, right? You should be – it’s amazing and gets simple surface scratches out every time. 🙂
What I Learned from the Tibet Almond Stick
People want to be pointed in the right direction when looking to make decisions and purchases, especially when online. But we do this in our daily lives, too.
For example, I recently discovered the L’Oreal Sublime Mousse hair coloring product and I love it for the fun colors and the fact that it doesn’t make a mess all over the bathroom.
So if anyone asks me to recommend a good hair color product, I know just what to say.
When I tell people, online or off, the same thing happens. People want it simply because I am genuine and I like it. Since it is a physical product sold by a trusted retailer, people have no problem clicking “buy” when given the product page.
What This Means for as Affiliate Marketers
There are two lessons here:
1. Get people onto they website for any trusted retailer. I’ve personally had the most success with Amazon.com.
2. Make recommendations as if you were talking to a friend. Don’t sell. Just be genuine.
Although I no longer see the value to using sites like Hubpages to make a long term income, I’ve taken this lesson and applied it to my own sites. One of my more recent projects, Christmas Planning Tips, exists to help people with their Christmas planning. I’ve used Amazon to monetize it.
Not every project will only use Amazon. Over time, it is likely that I will add other ways to generate income. However, I feel that Amazon is a good start.