How to Promote Your Affiliate Links (12 Clever Ways)
Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective ways to make money blogging. Using affiliate links in your blog, email campaigns, and social media platforms can ensure you make a good profit. But, how do you promote your affiliate links? And where?
Today we are talking all about the best places to promote your affiliate links for free, plus important things to consider.
Here is an outline of what we will be covering in this article:
- What is an affiliate link?
- Where do I find my affiliate links?
- How do I add an my affiliate link to my WordPress blog?
- How to promote your affiliate links (12 clever ways)?
- The legal side of promoting your affiliate links (blog post, social media, email)
- The RIGHT and WRONG way of promoting your links
- Additional resources
What are affiliate links?
Once you sign up for the affiliate program or network, you will be given a unique affiliate link or affiliate code. This exclusive link made just for you will be the one you will share with your audience and how your sales will be tracked.
You can then use that affiliate link every time you mention the product or service on your blog, emails, or social media.
Once someone purchases the product or service through your link…BOOM! Money. You get a commission on that sale!
That definitely sounds easier said than done. So make sure you read on for tips and strategies.
Where do I find my affiliate links?
To find your affiliate links, simply login to the affiliate portal of the affiliate program or network you want to promote. Once there, look for the “Links” tab.
Affiliate Network Links
Affiliate Networks are companies that house multiple companies in their platforms making easier for you to join affiliate programs from companies registered under them.
Awin and ShareAsale are examples of popular affiliate networks for bloggers of any niche.
Once you register with these Affiliate Networks and are granted access to their platform, search for companies that make sense for your niche that offer good affiliate commission and request to join. Once approved, you will be granted access to your affiliate links and other promotional content for each program, such as banners and special promo codes.
As an example, here is how to get your affiliate links from ShareASale.
1. Login, once in the main dashboard click on Links > Get a link/banner.
2. Select the affiliate program you want to promote, then click get links.
3. Once at the Program's page, pick the link or banner of your choice, copy the link address and add it to the platform of your choice (blog post, social media, email, etc.).
Affiliate Programs Links
Affiliate Programs are marketing platform where a sponsoring website (products or services) provides rewards to bloggers for sending referrals (customers or leads).
To get your link from an affiliate program follow the same steps listed above. However, this time you won't have to select an “affiliate program.”
How do I add an my affiliate link to my WordPress blog?
Once you have you affiliate link is time to add it to your blog post.
Affiliate links can be added to blog posts in different ways. While some bloggers add their affiliate link straight to their blog posts using the “insert/edit link” tool in the WordPress Post Editor, some others transform the link to make it more visually appealing by using a WordPress plugin such as Pretty Links.
He is how you add your affiliate link to your blog post using the “insert/edit link” tool (if you have a WordPress.org blog):
While in your WordPress Editor, highlight the text where you wish to add your affiliate link to. Then, click on “insert/edit link“, paste your link in the link box, and click on the blue arrow to apply.
Important: Links that you add to your WordPress site, are automatically classified as dofollow. However, when it comes to affiliate links (paid links), Google will penalize you for having too many paid links. To avoid a Google penalty, simply add a nofollow tag to all of your affiliate links. That will tell search engines not to follow these links, hence not affecting your negatively. Some plugins, such as Pretty Links adds this tag automatically.
HOW TO PROMOTE AFFILIATE LINKS
Now that you know what an affiliate link is, where to find them, and how to add them to your blog, here are 12 great ways to promote your affiliate links for free!
1. Include affiliate links in your blog posts
Including affiliate links in you blog posts is one of the most common ways to make money as a blogger.
Writing about what you are trying to promote in a blog post is a great to increase conversions.
Writing a blog post gives you a chance to explain in detail what the product or service is about. It also provides a venue to share your own experiences with the product or service.
Sharing your experiences helps you connect emotionally with your reader.
There are different ways you can include your affiliate links in your blog posts and these include:
- As a product review
- As a recommendation
- As an additional resource or reference
- As a personal experience or testimony
Ensure you are writing SEO friendly blog posts to maximize your changes at more traffic through search engines.
2. Add affiliate links to older Posts
Adding your affiliate links to older relevant posts not only will update your content but will increase conversions.
Make sure that you regularly make time to review and edit older posts.
3. Email Marketing
Include affiliate links on your email newsletters when applicable.
This might seem a bit obvious, but including your affiliate links in your email newsletters allow for you to explain to your audience what the product is all about and how it can benefit them.
Depending on the relationship you have established with your audience, email affiliate links might have a higher conversion rate than blog post links.
That’s because through email marketing you get to know your audience.
You get to interact with them and establish a one-on-one bond.
Once there is trust, the chances of your subscribers buying what you have to offer is higher than someone who just landed on a random blog post.
In addition, instead of your readers having to go to you (by reading a blog post), you are going to them (email marketing). That is a bit more convenient sometimes.
Affiliate marketing and email marketing go hand in hand. So make sure you are also working on building an email list.
4. Pinterest Marketing
Pinterest is the mother of all promotional material.
Because it is a visual search engine, affiliate marketing on Pinterest is a great idea.
Here are some basic guidelines:
- Create a pin using Canva (they have a free membership) or the graphic design app of your choice. Ideal pin size is a 2:3 ration (600px by 900px)
- Include trigger words in the pin title to increase engagement and click-throughs.
- Write a strong pin description and alt text using Pinterest keywords.
- Don’t forget to disclose your affiliation in the pins description by adding something like; #afflink, #Affiliate, or #sponsored.
- Circulate them through your Group Boards manually or using a scheduler such as Tailwind (you can get a FREE month using my link). Always make sure the group board doesn’t prohibit affiliate links.
- Keep up to date with Pinterest Terms of Use. Lord knows social media is ever-changing.
I know creating Pins can feel overwhelming and time consuming. Trust me, after running two blogs, I can totally relate. So, if you need help creating beautiful, engaging, and chick-worthy images, check out the Pinterest Pin Template Bundle Editable in Canva.
Related Article: 5 Best Pinterest Courses for Bloggers (Beginners to Advanced)
5. Include affiliate links in your Freebies
Adding your affiliate links to freebies is a great way to earn affiliate commission.
It is easier to include affiliate links in content based freebies such as free eBooks, email eCources, email challenges, and tutorials.
But even if you over offer a printable or a checklist, you can still include affiliate links.
A clever way to do this is to add a cover page to the printable where you can describe the product briefly.
Obviously your affiliate link must be related to the freebie.
For instance, if your freebie is a productivity checklist, you can include a cover page. The cover page will include “Ways to effectively use this check list” and your favorite planner as an additional productivity resource.
6. Thank You Page
I love this strategy.
With ConvertKit (my email provider), I am able to redirect those who subscribe to my email list to a thank you page. You can receive an exclusive 30-day trial using my link.
For every specific opt-in they could be redirected to a specific thank you page.
Once there, they would have the option to click on an affiliate product related to that freebie or opt-in.
For instance, let's use the previous example of the productivity checklist.
You can create a thank you page specifically for those who opt-in to download this checklist. The thank you page can read as follows:
Hey there, is a pleasure having you on board.
Thank You so much for downloading my Productivity Checklist!
Your Productivity Checklist should be arriving in your inbox momentarily.
While you wait, I don't want you to miss out on my favorite planner [ <—-affiliate link], which has been a lifesaver on my daily productivity routine.
[AND SO ON….. You get the idea. Be creative and put your own spin on things. Above all, be honest and recommend something you truly love and use yourself].
7. Resource page/ library
Add your affiliate links to your resource library.
A resource page is where you compile a list of your favorite products, tools, and services.
Typically, they are niche oriented and would include your affiliate links.
For instance, if you have craft blog you would include your favorite fabric distributors, your favorite sewing machine, and your favorite scrap-booking service website.
8. Courses and eBooks
Include your affiliate links in your eProducts where applicable.
In other words, if you offer a free 5-day email course on losing weight, then you would include your favorite weight loss products on those emails.
Or if you write and sell and ebook you can definitely mention some of your favorite products and resources related to the ebook topic.
Strategically, remember?
9. Use Images and Banners with your affiliate links
Display banners on your blog's header, sidebar, footer, or embedded in applicable posts.
Visuals elements are extremely important in marketing.
There are a few ways to get affiliate product images.
- Check your affiliate portal. Big affiliate networks like Shareasale, Awin, Ultimate Bundles, and Amazon Associates provide you with images in their affiliate’s portal.
- Ask for them. Email your affiliate program’s owner or manager and ask them to send you some images.
- Make them yourself. You can create a nice Canva image about your product and attach your affiliate link to the image.
10. Social Media Marketing
Promote your affiliate links on your social media platforms by using the images we spoke of earlier.
As always disclose you are using your affiliate link.
11. Facebook Groups
Recommend your affiliate products and services to other people in your Facebook Groups when applicable (if allowed).
Always check with the group’s admin that it is okay to use affiliate links. You can find that information in the info section of a group or in group’s pinned post at the top of the group’s feed.
Be attentive and helpful in your Facebook Groups.
Make sure that if and when you recommend an affiliate product or service you aren’t just pasting your affiliate link and running.
Including an honest, thoughtful, and heartfelt comment before you offer your affiliate link will usually result in higher conversions.
12. Friends and Family
Recommend your affiliate products to your friends and family if applicable.
I know this is a no-no for a lot of you. It is also for me.
I personally don’t go out of my way to speak to any of my family and friends about my blog, my affiliate products, or my blogging eBook.
I do however passively promote it by posting my latest article on my personal Facebook Profile.
If they are interested, they will reach out.
The Right way and the wrong way of promoting links
The wrong way
The last thing you want to do when promoting your affiliate links is sounding salesy. No one wants to feel like they are being pushed to purchase something. That will turn off readers and impact your potential revenue, negatively.
Instead follow the recommendations listed below…
The right way
- Add only related affiliate links to your content
- Make a personal connection with the reader by telling them how usefully that particular product or service was to you
- Be genuine and informative when offering affiliate products or services
- Don't forget to add a nofollow tag to all of your affiliate links
- Add a “call to action” to your most important links
- Don't crowd your blog post with irrelevant links
- Always add an affiliate link disclosure
The legal side of promoting your affiliate links
Always ensure you disclose when you use affiliate links. It is the law.
Promoting affiliate links in social media
If you are promoting affiliate links in your social media accounts (such as Facebook and Instagram) you must disclose that you are using your affiliate link.
You can add something like: #afflink #affiliatelink #affiliate #ad #sponsor (depending on the type of promotion) in your post description. However, be sure to check with the affiliate network or program you are promoting for specific affiliate link promotional guidelines.
Promoting affiliate links in your blog
You should have a written disclosure in every blog post that contains affiliate links.
Some bloggers use a plugin for this, but it is totally unnecessary.
Simply write a disclosure statement in blog post that contain affiliate links. Here are 2 examples:
“This post contains affiliate links. Click here for more information.” (Make sure you link to your disclosure/disclaimer page).
“This post contains “affiliate links”. This means if you click on an affiliate link and purchase a product/ service, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. However, I only recommend products love and trust. Thank you!”
It is also a must to have a disclaimer/disclosure page on your blog (header or footer menu).
If you are looking for a professional disclosure, written a practicing attorney in the U.S, that will protect you and your blog I recommend these Legal Templates. You can opt for the Legal Bundle which includes all four blog must-haves (Privacy Policy, Terms, and Disclaimer,CCPA).
Especially, now with the recent GDPR regulations, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Promoting affiliate links using email
Same disclosure rules apply for email marketing. You must disclose the use of any affiliate link for every email you send out to your readers that contain affiliate links.
A statement at the bottom for your emails will do.
Again, make sure you read the terms and conditions of each your affiliate networks and program as restrictions and/or specifications may apply. For instance, including Amazon affiliate links in your emails is against their terms of use.
Additional Resources
Affiliate marketing is all about strategy, creativity, and hustle. One thing is knowing where to promote your affiliate links and another thing is how to do so strategically, so that it has the potential of earning you as much money as possible.
The are two great resources that can teach you all there is about affiliate marketing and affiliate link promotion.
Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing (Beginners)
Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing is a popular courser for bloggers created by Michelle, founder of Making Sense of Cents.
By implementing the affiliate marketing strategies Michelle teaches in this very course is how she makes 6 figure in affiliate commissions a month. Yes, a month.
If you want to know all there is to know about affiliate marketing from:
- the basics to the money earning strategies
- affiliate marketing programs to join for bloggers of all niches
- affiliate link promotion tips and tricks
- and more…
>> …check out Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, here <<
Affiliate Marketing for Bloggers: Everything You are Missing (Intermediate)
Another great and practical course is Affiliate Marketing for Bloggers (Everything You are Missing) by Carly Campbell.
If you already know affiliate marketing basics but can't seem to get traction in your affiliate links, then you should consider Carly's course.
She pulls the curtain back one of her favorite blog monetization methods and deep-dives into how to make conversion with affiliate links and affiliate marketing.
I also love the use of videos and learning material in Carly's course as well as the affordable pricing.
>>Check out the full course curriculum, here <<
★ Related Articles:
- The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Affiliate Marketing for Bloggers
- Best SEO Courses for Bloggers (Basic to Comprehensive)
- How to Make Money Blogging (Plus, the Secret Sauce)
In Summary
Affiliate marketing can be a great source of income for bloggers.
Knowing how and where to promote your affiliate links can make the difference on your overall income.
Don’t be discouraged if at first you don’t see good results. Just reevaluate your game plan and apply new techniques.
Testing out new strategies and implementing new ways to promote your links is the only way to know for sure what resonates with your audience.
If you feel you need affiliate marketing guidance and a roadmap to follow consider Michelle’s Course (Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing). This will ensure you cut A LOT of corners, learn successful affiliate marketing strategies from the start, and see profit sooner.
Or you can opt for Carly's eCourse Affiliate Marketing for Bloggers: Everything You Are Missing, is your already know the basics of affiliate marketing but aren't seeing any traction.
Well there you have it my friend. I hope this was helpful to you.
I can’t wait to see you apply it.
How do you promote your affiliate links?
Don't forget to pin for later…
