10 Easy Steps to Starting an Affiliate Marketing Website in South Africa
- Craig Howes
- Oct 24, 2022
- 13 min read
Affiliate Marketing in South Africa is one of the BEST ways for South Africans to create digital assets that earn dollars passively! That said it takes a lot of hard work in the beginning and you will not make money overnight, it will take between 3 months to 1 year depending on your skill level and dedication.
However, once you make the first dollar (in your sleep) from a blog post you did 3 months ago you will fully understand the power of this digital asset you have created.
One of the best side effects of this journey is that you will learn skills that are in huge demand in South Africa. Since I learnt how to Affiliate market, I have built websites for companies and begun creating SEO-optimised content for them that has increased their sales. It has allowed me to consult on best-practice digital marketing strategies too.
In this blog post, I will discuss how to start an affiliate marketing website in South Africa. I will go over the basics of affiliate marketing, and provide you with some tips to get started. So, if you are interested in making money online, read on!
Fun Facts about Affiliate Marketing :
- In 2018, affiliate marketing spending in the United States reached $6.8 billion
- By 2022, affiliate marketing is projected to grow to $8.2 billion
- In 2015, 15% of all digital orders were placed through affiliate links
What does the average affiliate website make?
The average affiliate website earns between $100 and $500 per month
However, some affiliate websites make over $100,000 per month.
Experienced affiliate marketers, can create an affiliate site with 30 Articles that will make 4000$ per month. They will then move on to the next Affiliate site and Keep growing their assets.
Now that we have discussed some facts about affiliate marketing, let's move on to how you can start an affiliate marketing website in South Africa.
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate’s own marketing efforts.
In basic terms affiliate marketing is when you promote a product or service on your website and earn a commission for every sale that you generate.
An Example of how affiliate marketing works
For example, let's say now you decide that you want to start an affiliate website.
More than likely you will jump onto google or youtube and type this exact phrase in
"What is the best website platform for affiliate marketing"
We all have heard about WordPress, Wix, Square Space and Shopify. If you jump onto any of these companies' websites, they will all say they are the best. Which leaves the searcher with a problem. Making an informed decision will take hours of research.
But what if, When you typed in "What is the best website platform for affiliate marketing"
another website popped up and that website was neutral. The creator took the time to weigh all the pros and cons for you and could give you a decisive answer.
You got precise answers like
The best website builder for a travel page is WIX
The best website builder for a Tech blog is Wordpress
The creator took the time to research and review all these products and helps the buyer connect with the best platform.
Can you see now, that the research and content the blog created, did 2 things.
It Helped Wix or Squarespace get a sale
It Helped the searcher make an informed decision!
In this scenario, the blog has helped Wix make a sale if they click the blog's link and then go on to purchase their product. In return, WIX will pay you 100$ for helping them get the sale.
And here is what is powerful about affiliate marketing, If your article ranks on google new people will keep reading the same article. Thousand of people will be making that search and of those many will click your link and get Wix.
1 Good Article or Youtube video will keep bringing in passive income (Dollars) in your sleep! Now imagine you doing multiple articles about other products in your niche.
So I've given away my game plan here, I've done years of research to help you best make a decision. If you decide you want to use Wix because of this article, then click my link and it will take you to their site. You'll pay exactly the same price, just Wix will pay me a commission which allows me to make more informative articles. #affilaiteInception
Seriously though, this website and all my other websites have been built on Wix after doing tons of research.
City of Cape Town (Travel Magazine)
SoCoMunity (Agency Website)
HighTeaCBD (e-commerce)
African Safari Mag (Safari Magazine)
How does affiliate marketing work?
A company looking to use affiliate marketing will create a program designed to promote their product or service. They will then find websites, bloggers, and other online influencers who are willing to promote their product in exchange for a commission on sales generated.
For example, let’s say you are an affiliate for Company XYZ’s widget. Company XYZ has given you a special link to their website that you can share with your readers. When someone clicks.
Steps to Start an Affiliate Website in South Africa
Step 1: Choose your niche
The first step to starting an affiliate marketing website is to choose your niche. Pick something you are passionate about or have extensive knowledge of. This will make it easier to write content and build a following of people who are interested in what you have to say.
If you are having trouble choosing a niche, here are some ideas to get you started:
- Technology
- Travel
- Health and Fitness
- Parenting
- Food and cooking
- Home Improvement
Think about what you know a lot about, what have you googled a lot, what hobbies you have, and what past jobs have you had. That's the best clue for your niche website.
Step 2: Pick a name for your page
a good place to start is just using your own name unless you are wanting to sell the page in the future. Keep the URL short and memorable.
Step 3: Buy a Website Domain
The next step is to buy a domain. You can do this through a number of different companies such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains. Just choose the company you want to use and follow their instructions for buying a domain.
Make sure you get a .com extension if possible as this is the most recognizable and will be the easiest for people to remember.
Step 4: Choose your website platform
Now it’s time to choose which platform you want to use for your website. Some popular choices are Wix, WordPress, Squarespace, Weebly, and Shopify.
There are pros and cons to each platform so do some research on which one would be the best fit for you and your affiliate website.
I personally recommend Wix.
Step 5: Set up your website
Once you have chosen your platform, it’s time to set up your website. This will involve choosing a theme or template for your site, as well as adding content and plugins.
If you are using WordPress, there are plenty of resources online to help you get started with setting up your website. Once you have a basic understanding of how it works, it will be much easier to add content and customize your site to suit your needs.
Step 6: Starting Writing Blog Posts about topics in your niche.
Your content should be helpful and informative, not just a sales pitch for the product you are promoting.
Learn about Search intent, SEO and keyword analysis
This will help you write blog posts that people are actually searching for, and make sure they find your post.
Step 7: Sign up for the appropriate affiliate program that pertains to your Niche.
Once you have some content on your site, you can start promoting your affiliate links. You can do this in a number of ways such as through social media, email marketing, or by writing guest posts on other websites in your niche.
Just make sure you are not spamming people with your affiliate links and that you are providing value in whatever content you are sharing.
Step 8 Create Video Content on Youtube and TikTok
Video content is becoming increasingly popular and is a great way to promote your affiliate links. You can create videos on YouTube or TikTok demonstrating how to use the product you are promoting, or giving a review of the product.
Make sure you include your affiliate link or your blog link in the description of the video so people can click through to purchase the product.
Step 9: Create Graphics for Social Media
Another great way to promote your affiliate links is by creating graphics for social media. People are more likely to click on an affiliate link if it is accompanied by a visually appealing graphic.
You can create graphics using Canva, PicMonkey, or Adobe Photoshop. Just make sure you include your affiliate link somewhere on the graphic so people can click through to your website.
Step 10: Keep track of your affiliate links and Keep Improving your Website and Content
Make sure you are keeping track of your affiliate links and which ones are performing well. You can do this by using a tool like Bitly or Google Analytics.
Also, keep improving your website and content. This will help to keep people coming back to your site and increase the chances that they will click on your affiliate links.
By following these steps, you can start your own affiliate marketing website in South Africa and begin earning commission from the products you promote. Just remember to choose a niche that you are interested in, write helpful and informative content, and promote your affiliate links in a way that is not spammy.
That’s it! These seven steps will get you started on your affiliate marketing journey. Just remember to be patient, and consistent, and always provide value to your audience and you will be successful.
How to Choose your affiliate products?
Now that you have chosen your niche, it’s time to choose the affiliate products you want to promote. More and more companies now have an affiliate program.
Some companies offer multiple products and services, so you can promote different items to your audience and earn a commission on each sale. For example, if you have a travel blog, you could promote travel packages, flights, hotels, and other related products.
Here are some affiliate programs to get you started:
Amazon Associates
ClickBank
Booking.com
Affiliate Marketing South Africa
Takealot
Superbalist
OneDayOnly
Faithful to Nature
As an affiliate marketer, you need to write compelling content
Now that your website is built, it’s time to start writing content. This is where most people fail with affiliate marketing. They create bland, boring content that doesn’t capture the attention of their readers. As a result, they don’t make any sales.
To be successful with affiliate marketing, you need to write compelling, interesting content that will engage your readers and encourage them to click on your affiliate links.
Here are some tips for writing great content:
- Write in a natural, conversational style.
- Use short paragraphs and clear sentence structure.
- Engage your readers by using active voice.
- Write headlines that accurately reflect the content of your article.
- Use images, infographics, and videos to break up your text and add visual interest.
- Promote your affiliate products in a subtle way without sounding salesy.
Add affiliate links to your site
Once you have written some great content, it’s time to start adding affiliate links. Be sure to do this in a way that doesn’t disrupt the flow of your article or turn off your readers.
To find affiliate links, log in to your affiliate account and look for the “get link” or “banners” option. Copy and paste the code into your website where you want the affiliate link to appear.
Promote your website
Now that your website is built and you have started writing content, it’s time to start promoting your site. There are a number of ways to do this, but the most effective is to use social media
Make sure you create accounts on all the major social media sites, including youtube, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Then, start sharing your content with your followers. Be sure to include affiliate links in your posts so that people can click through to your website and make a purchase.
In addition to social media, there are a number of other ways to promote your website, including:
- Guest blogging on other websites in your niche
- Creating informative videos and posting them on YouTube
- Writing articles for article directories
- Paying for online advertising
Monitor your results
The final step in starting an affiliate marketing website is to monitor your results. This includes keeping track of your website’s traffic, affiliate sales, and click-through rates.
You can use Google Analytics to track all of this data. Simply create a free account and add the tracking code to your website. Then, you’ll be able to see how people are finding your site and what they’re doing once they get there.
Monitoring your results will help you to identify any problems with your website or affiliate links. It will also allow you to adjust your marketing strategy so that you can maximise your sales.
The Power of Understanding Google Data Studio
Google Data Studio is a powerful tool that allows you to visualise your website data. This includes your website traffic, affiliate sales, and click-through rates.
Understanding your data is essential for making informed decisions about your affiliate marketing strategy. Google Data Studio allows you to see which products are selling well, which pages are getting the most traffic, and which affiliate links are being clicked on the most.
This information will help you to fine-tune your affiliate marketing strategy so that you can maximise your sales and commission earnings.
One of the most important things you can do to ensure the success of your affiliate marketing website is to write great content.
If you can produce compelling, interesting articles that engage your readers, you’ll be well on your way to making sales. Follow the tips in this article, and you’ll be able to write great content that will help you to succeed with affiliate marketing.
As an affiliate marketer in South Africa, it’s important to find the right affiliate products to promote. There are a number of ways to do this, but the easiest is to use an affiliate marketing network.
Affiliate marketing networks connect advertisers with affiliate marketers. They also provide tools and resources that affiliate marketers can use to find and promote affiliate products.
Some of the most popular affiliate networks in South Africa include:
- TradeTracker
- Clicksor
- Clickbank
- ShareASale
Joining an affiliate marketing network is a great way to find high-quality affiliate products to promote. It’s also a good way to get started with affiliate marketing if you’re not sure where to start.
When choosing affiliate products to promote, it’s important to consider the commission rate. The commission rate is the percentage of the sale that you will earn when someone buys a product through your affiliate link.
The higher the commission rate, the more money you will make per sale. However, you should also consider the quality of the product, as well as how easy it is to promote.
Some affiliate products are more difficult to sell than others. For example, physical products tend to be easier to sell than digital products. This is because people can touch and feel physical products before they buy them.
Digital products, on the other hand, such as ebooks or online courses, can be harder to sell because people can’t hold them in their hands before they buy them.
It’s important to find a balance between commission rate and product quality when choosing affiliate products to promote. By promoting high-quality products with high commission rates, you’ll be able to maximise your earnings.
Affiliate marketing can be a great way to earn money online. However, it’s important to remember that affiliate marketing is a business. Like any business, it takes time, effort, and patience to succeed.
If you’re willing to put in the work, you can build a successful affiliate marketing business. Follow the tips in this article, and you’ll be on your way to success.
Why is affiliate marketing so successful in South Africa?
There are a number of reasons why affiliate marketing is so successful in South Africa. First, there is a large population of internet users in the country. This provides a broad base of potential customers for affiliate marketers to target.
Second, affiliate marketing networks such as TradeTracker and Clicksor have a strong presence in the country. These networks provide affiliate marketers with access to high-quality affiliate products to promote.
Third, the commission rates on affiliate products tend to be high in South Africa. This means that affiliate marketers can earn good commissions on sales they generate.
Fourth, there are a number of well-known and trusted brands in South Africa that offer affiliate programs. These include companies such as Takealot, Bidorbuy, and Superbalist.
Affiliate marketing is a great way to earn money online in South Africa. If you’re willing to put in the work, you can build a successful affiliate marketing business. Follow the tips in this article, and you’ll be on your way to success.
How Hard is it to sign up for affiliate marketing in South Africa?
It’s actually quite easy to sign up for affiliate marketing in South Africa. All you need to do is join an affiliate marketing network such as TradeTracker or Clicksor.
How to Market Affiliate links?
There are a number of ways to market affiliate links. The most common method is to promote affiliate products on your website or blog.
You can also promote affiliate products through social media, email marketing, or pay-per-click advertising.
What commission rates can I expect in South Africa?
Commission rates on affiliate products tend to be high in South Africa. This means that you can earn good commissions on sales you generate.
Can I really make money with affiliate marketing in South Africa?
Yes, you can definitely make money with affiliate marketing in South Africa. However, it’s important to remember that affiliate marketing is a business. Like any business, it takes time, effort, and patience to succeed.
How to Affiliate Market on Instagram?
When affiliate marketing on Instagram, it’s important to post high-quality content that is relevant to your niche. You should also include affiliate links in your posts.
You can also use Instagram Stories to promote affiliate products. Simply create a story about the product and include an affiliate link.
Make sure to use relevant hashtags so that people who are interested in your niche can find your content.
How to Affiliate Market on YouTube?
When affiliate marketing on YouTube, it’s important to create videos that are high quality and informative. You should also include affiliate links in your video descriptions.
It’s also a good idea to use keywords and annotations in your videos so that people who are interested in your niche can find your content.
How to Affiliate Market on TikTok?
TikTok is one of the best ways to get your brand out there. If you create informative TikToks people will want to click through to your blog. It takes 1 good video to go viral!
When affiliate marketing on TikTok, it’s important to create videos that are creative and engaging. You should also include affiliate links in your video descriptions.
Make sure to use relevant hashtags so that people who are interested in your niche can find your content.
How to Affiliate Market on Facebook?
When affiliate marketing on Facebook, it’s important to create high-quality posts that are relevant to your niche. You should also include affiliate links in your posts.
You can also use Facebook ads to promote affiliate products. Simply create an ad about the product and include an affiliate link.
Make sure to target your ads carefully so that they reach people who are interested in your niche.
How to affiliate Market on Pinterest?
Pinterest is a great way to get traffic to your affiliate links. When creating pins, make sure they are high quality and relevant to your niche. You can also include affiliate links in your pins.
Make sure to use relevant hashtags so that people who are interested in your niche can find your content.
What is the best affiliate marketing program for beginners in South Africa?
The best affiliate marketing program for beginners in South Africa is the Amazon Associates Program. This program is free to join and easy to use.
Can I start affiliate marketing with no money?
Yes, you can start affiliate marketing with no money. However, it’s important to remember that you will need to invest time and effort
Can I affiliate market without a website?
Yes, you can affiliate market without a website. However, it’s important to remember that a website will give you a more professional appearance and make it easier for people to find your content. You can also use social media, email marketing, or pay-per-click advertising to promote affiliate products.
Do I need to be an expert in affiliate marketing to succeed?
No, you don’t need to be an expert in affiliate marketing to succeed. However, it’s helpful to have some knowledge about digital marketing and SEO.
Learning affiliate marketing will teach you how to be your own boss, how to create a website, how to drive traffic to your site, and how to convert that traffic into sales. These skills are valuable in any business, but they’re especially important if you want to succeed in affiliate marketing.
Let me know your thoughts, I hope you found this information informative
Cheers
Craig
It would be cool if you made a short video for beginners, where you would tell about all these methods, but also tell about the features of working with each. It seems to me that information in video format would be better assimilated and would help a beginner decide on the strategy that he will choose to work in marketing. Here you can find an application that will help you in creating a video lesson, I wish you good luck and success in all your endeavors.
Hi. Do you have any class where you assist those who are interested in affiliation marketing