Affiliate marketing has become a pivotal strategy in the digital world, bridging the gap between brands and their potential customers. That being said, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned marketer, you may very well find that the path to affiliate success is less than clear at times.
Fortunately, there are a plethora of affiliate resources available today, tools that are indispensable for success in this competitive field. Understanding these resources is crucial in navigating the evolving landscape of affiliate marketing.
In this article, we provide you with a handy list of resources to help you thrive in this dynamic environment, regardless of the type of affiliate marketing your venture involves, turning clicks into conversions and maximizing your digital impact!
Books
Books are invaluable resources for affiliates as they offer in-depth insights and strategies from experts in the industry and make it easier to understand the pros and cons of affiliate marketing. As books are often available in various formats, such as hardcover, paperback, ebook, or audiobook, you can choose the option that best fits your budget and reading preferences.
From Nothing
From Nothing, written by Ian Pribyl, is a highly recommended read for aspiring online entrepreneurs, covering various aspects such as ecommerce, blogging, and affiliate sales.
Pribyl embarked on his online business journey at the age of 16, recognizing its potential for personal and financial independence. Some of his notable achievements include excelling as a top-ranked super affiliate, managing successful ecommerce stores generating six-figure monthly incomes, and launching The Free Internet Marketing Project, a video training course.
Drawing from Pribyl's extensive experience, this 358-page book published in 2019 offers practical advice and inspiration for novices and seasoned marketers alike. It focuses on cost-effective strategies, guiding readers through establishing a successful and sustainable online business, especially in affiliate marketing, without the need for expensive resources.
Affiliate Marketing for Dummies
Though the title may at first give you pause, Affiliate Marketing for Dummies from 2019 follows the tradition of the "Dummies" series by taking complex subjects and presenting them in an easy-to-understand format that makes it a great resource for newbie affiliates.
Authors Ted Sudol and Paul Mladjenovic provide a beginner-friendly guide to affiliate marketing. Featuring approximately 350 pages, the book offers step-by-step instructions for entering this field.
Readers will find tips on niche selection and the best affiliate products, keyword research, program comparisons, advanced strategies, problem-solving advice, and more, making it accessible for newcomers to succeed in the world of affiliate sales.
Evergreen Affiliate Marketing
Published in 2021, Evergreen Affiliate Marketing concentrates on enduring strategies rather than fleeting trends or hacks prevalent in other affiliate marketing books.
This comprehensive guide, written by Nate McCallister, has just under 300 pages and is divided into six sections covering essential affiliate marketing fundamentals, core concepts, content creation guidance, practical strategies, copywriting techniques, and miscellaneous factors critical for affiliate success.
McCallister's teachings, especially beneficial for those planning to write blog articles to grow their affiliate business, instruct on creating timeless content that will maintain its relevance and resonate with your audience for years to come.
Podcasts
Whether you want to get tips on how to get approved for affiliate programs, discover trending products, or learn how to best start your affiliate business, podcasts are the perfect way to boost your knowledge on the go.
Smart Passive Income Podcast
The Smart Passive Income Podcast, hosted by Pat Flynn, is a weekly podcast that offers interviews, strategies, and tips for building an online business intelligently.
Flynn, the creator of Smart Passive Income (SPI), a blog featuring a vast array of resources to help online entrepreneurs succeed, shares his knowledge on various online business strategies, including blogging and affiliate marketing.
The SPI Podcast’s episodes are typically between 20 and 50 minutes long, and there are over 750 episodes currently available on popular listening platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Authority Hacker Podcast
Another big name when it comes to the top resources of online entrepreneurs, Authority Hacker is a site created by Gael Breton and Mark Webster, the dynamic duo of the affiliate marketing world. The co-founders also host the Authority Hacker Podcast, a program with more than 350 episodes, with each episode generally lasting between 55 and 80 minutes.
Breton and Webster impart their knowledge in the realms of online marketing, affiliate marketing, SEO, content creation, website construction, and beyond. Each episode is tailored to offer actionable tactics and hands-on advice, aimed at elevating your online business.
Niche Pursuits Podcast
You’ll also want to be sure to check out the Niche Pursuits Podcast, hosted by Jared Bauman and Spencer Haws from NichePursuits.com. Get inspired for your affiliate business by listening to Bauman and Haws explore effective business concepts, detailing how to craft niche websites, master SEO, and other strategies.
With more than 415 episodes available, this podcast also allows you to gain valuable insights from interviews with prominent internet entrepreneurs who share wisdom on topics such as authority sites, website flipping,outsourcing, automation tools, link building, software development, small business advice, and more. Episode duration generally runs between 50 and 70 minutes for this program.
Affiliated: ClickBank‘s Official Affiliate Marketing Podcast
Besides being one of the longest running affiliate networks, ClickBank offers affiliates another helpful resource: Affiliated: ClickBank’s Official Affiliate Marketing Podcast. Hosted by Thomas McMahon and Kyle Kostechka, two very successful ClickBank affiliates, the podcast delves into both ecommerce and affiliate marketing, discussing everything from how to build an online business from scratch to how to scale a business and achieve income over 7 figures.
New podcast episodes (usually lasting between 40 and 70 minutes each) are released roughly every two weeks or so, featuring interviews with CEOs, entrepreneurs, founders, and super affiliates. There are currently 140 episodes available.
Online courses
Want to take your learning to the next level? Online courses can help you to delve deeper into specific subjects. What’s more, many of them allow you to learn at your own pace for added flexibility.
The Affiliate Lab
The Affiliate Lab, created by Matt Diggity, a former engineer, is a top-tier affiliate marketing course emphasizing effective SEO strategies. It’s built on methods tested across 100+ websites in various niches since 2011.
The course, renowned for significantly boosting students' incomes, provides thorough training in content creation, keyword optimization, and website development. Notable for its depth and continuous updates, The Affiliate Lab offers lifelong access to evolving content, including 320 video lessons, valuable templates and tools, checklists, and access to an exclusive Facebook Group.
The Authority Site System
Another beneficial affiliate resource from Authority Hacker, The Authority Site System is a comprehensive affiliate marketing course. It teaches affiliates to build authority sites, going over topics like niche selection, branding, content creation, link building, and affiliate setup.
The course, which comes with 194 video lessons, SEO and site-building templates, access to a members-only community, and more, aims to foster sustainable income streams through ethical and scalable practices. It benefits affiliates at all levels with its in-depth modules, supportive community, and real-world case studies, preparing them for success in the competitive affiliate marketing field.
Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing
Designed by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing is an online course tailored for beginners in affiliate marketing. It provides a step-by-step guide on niche selection, promotion techniques, and monetization strategies, drawing from Schroeder-Gardner’s own success story.
The course emphasizes ethical marketing practices and offers insights into optimizing blog traffic and using affiliate programs effectively. When signing up for Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing, you’ll be able to avail of 6+ modules with 30+ lessons, worksheets, group coaching sessions, and access to a Facebook Group available just for people taking the course.
Networks
Affiliate networks act as a bridge between businesses (advertisers) and affiliate marketers (publishers), facilitating the promotion of products or services. These platforms track and manage activities, ensuring accurate attribution and compensation. They benefit both parties: businesses extend their marketing reach, and affiliates monetize their online presence.
Awin
Formerly known as Affiliate Window, Awin is a leading affiliate marketing network launched in 2000. Recognized globally, it operates in over 15 countries and partners with more than 25,000 brands, including Under Armour, Warby Parker, and Asus.
Awin facilitates connections between marketers, bloggers, and online businesses worldwide, offering a wide range of industry and regional opportunities. Its platform is highly regarded for its ease of use, comprehensive reporting tools, and exceptional support, making it a top choice for publishers seeking effective digital monetization.
CJ
Established in 1998, CJ (formerly Commission Junction), is a major affiliate network featuring a broad range of partners, including prominent brands like Hello Fresh, Overstock, Barnes & Noble, and Office Depot, as well as smaller merchants.
Affiliates have access to a diverse selection of programs, but must apply individually to each merchant via the CJ dashboard, with no guaranteed approval. The platform is favored by marketers for its omnichannel tracking, detailed insights and analytics, and robust API, contributing to its publishers earning over $1.8 billion annually.
ShareASale
Since its creation in 2000, ShareASale has been a key player in North American affiliate marketing, focusing on relationship-building and innovative technology.
Acquired by Awin in 2017 to expand its US footprint, ShareASale now boasts 25,000 merchants and over 270,000 active affiliates. The platform is particularly appealing to newcomers in affiliate marketing, offering free joining and application to various programs, making it an accessible and popular choice.
Conferences
To truly excel and stay abreast of industry trends, stepping out of your home office is essential. While fundamentals can be learned remotely, the unique advantages of personal interactions at conferences are irreplaceable. These events are prime for learning, strengthening relationships, networking with industry leaders, and exploring new ventures.
Affiliate Summit
Affiliate Summit is a premier conference for those in the affiliate marketing industry, offering a unique opportunity to network and learn from industry leaders.
Hosting two major events each year, Affiliate Summit West (Las Vegas in January) and Affiliate Summit East (New York City in July), the organization provides the ideal platform for affiliates, advertisers, ecommerce sellers, and tech suppliers to forge strong partnerships and stay ahead of market trends.
ThinkTank US
ThinkTank US, hosted by Awin and ShareASale, is a signature event for affiliate marketing professionals. Scheduled for 1.5 days, it offers an opportunity for over 300 advertisers, agencies, publishers, and technology partners to engage in networking and thought leadership.
The event takes place in the US and includes expert-led discussions on industry trends, hands-on platform workshops, and one-on-one meetings with potential partners. It's an ideal platform for affiliates to maximize business goals, build valuable connections, and increase revenue through the affiliate channel.
Affiliate World Conferences
Despite being relatively new to the affiliate conference scene compared to other events, Affiliate World Conferences have quickly become popular with attendees globally.
Taking place in different parts of the world, including Asia, Dubai, and Europe, these events bring together a diverse group of professionals involved in affiliate marketing and ecommerce. Since 2015, Affiliate World Conferences have expanded to feature over 250 companies and 4,500 attendees per event.
Evolup
Last, but certainly not least, I present you with an affiliate resource that you definitely won’t want to do without: Evolup, the AI-powered solution for creating affiliate online stores!
With Evolup, getting your start in affiliate marketing is easier than ever.
Begin by building your website using one of our many customizable design templates, creating a store that suits the vision you have for your brand. Because the solution is compatible with all affiliate programs, including Amazon Associates, you’ll have the freedom and flexibility to add whatever products you wish in just a few clicks.
Take advantage of our powerful artificial intelligence to assist you with deciding on a niche, business name, and slogan. This amazing tool can also help you to generate all kinds of text content for your website in seconds, saving you precious time and allowing you to focus on other areas of your business!
As you’re already aware, the Evolup blog features a variety of articles involving everything from trending products and the top affiliate programs to the best strategies to employ to boost your commission earnings. However, that’s not the only learning resource available on Evolup…
From the moment you sign up on Evolup, you’ll have access to numerous video tutorials on different topics pertaining to ecommerce and running a successful online business. Furthermore, you’ll be able to avail of valuable customer support from our knowledgeable Business Coaches, who are happy to answer any questions you may have about your affiliate site.
If you’re ready to start your adventure in affiliate marketing, join Evolup today and enjoy a 7-day free trial!
