How Do You Explain, “What is Affiliate Marketing?”
Anyone who spends any amount of time in affiliate marketing will eventually have to answer the question, “What is affiliate marketing?” For those who aren’t highly computer literate, it can take a while to grasp the concept. For others, the field is synonymous with scammers and multi-level marketers who pollute otherwise enjoyable websites with their promotions. Either way, you’re likely to encounter both confusion and stereotypes when you venture out into the world of non-affiliates.
One of the best ways to explain affiliate marketing to strangers is to invoke examples of traditional sales reps or commissioned sales people. You can point out the examples of manufacturer’s reps who go to stores, or door-to-door salesmen who go around marketing their wares. They don’t earn the entire sale. Instead, they get paid a percentage of the total sales that come through them.
Of course, people will then wonder how anyone knows you sent the sales, not to mention how you do your promotions. You can explain that you have special web addresses (most people will glaze over if you start talking about URLs) that contain a piece of code that lets the original merchant know who you are. When people click on those links and end up making purchases, you make money.
And how do you get those clicks? Well, you make websites about related topics and build a following, or you purchase advertising through other sites that already have many visitors.
In most cases, this simplified explanation will eventually sink in. It may take a little longer with, say, your grandmother, but have patience – she’ll get it someday.