When I landed my first $10,000 commission check promoting ClickFunnels, doing affiliate marketing in Ghana I was ecstatic.
I immediately took a screenshot and shared it on my WhatsApp status and Facebook.
This wasn’t beginner’s luck; I had been promoting this software for over a year, and that commission represented my earnings for the past 12 months.
More importantly, that $10,000 was validation that I could actually live on affiliate marketing commissions without needing a full-time job.
I had quit my job two years earlier to pursue this business model full-time, so this moment felt like a sweet success after putting in many long hours.
Seeing a five-figure deposit hit my bank account from a single affiliate promotion motivated me to double down.
I realized the immense money-making potential sitting right at my fingertips.
If I could make $10,000 as a relative newcomer to affiliate marketing, I wondered where this could lead long-term with some dedication.
Fast forward just a couple years, and affiliate promotions now make up the bulk of my online business’s revenue.
I’ve built an asset that pays me thousands of dollars a month in hands-off commissions, simply for promoting valuable services that actually help my readers.
The passive income allows me extra freedom to work when I want, travel, and pursue other business ideas and passion projects.
Affiliate marketing has given me a level of security and flexibility I never dreamed possible earlier in my career.
In this post, I’ll share the seven affiliate programs that have worked well for me right here in Ghana…
The same types of money-making affiliate opportunities that changed my business are waiting for you too. I’ll break down exactly how each program works, tips for getting your first sales, and help you choose the right products or services to promote in your niche.
https://kwabenaokyire.com/how-to-do-affiliate-marketing-in-ghana-best-affiliate-programs-in-ghana/
Affiliate Marketing Basics
If you’re new to affiliate marketing, let me give you a quick rundown of how it works before diving into the different program types.
In a nutshell, affiliate marketing is where you promote someone else’s products or services on your website, social media, or other channels and earn a commission when someone makes a purchase or completes a desired action.
So as an affiliate, you don’t have to create your own products or services. Your role is to find audiences who are interested in certain offers and send them to the merchant’s website through your affiliate link. If they end up buying after clicking your link, you get paid a percentage of the sale or a set commission.
For example, if you review tech gadgets on your blog, you could become an Amazon Associates affiliate. When you recommend a certain smartphone and include your affiliate link, you’ll earn a small commission whenever a reader buys it.
The commission structures vary, which I’ll explain shortly, but they ultimately motivate you to drive targeted traffic and sales to the merchant. It’s a win-win because merchants gain more sales channels and only pay commissions on results.
Now let’s look at the common commission structures:
Pay-Per-Sale (PPS) – This is the most popular model where you earn a commission when someone purchases a product after clicking your affiliate link. Commissions are a percentage of the sale price, usually ranging from 5-30%.
Pay-Per-Lead (PPL) – With this model, you earn a fixed bounty whenever someone fills out a lead form or becomes a qualified lead from your link. Common in insurance, mortgage, and B2B niches.
Pay-Per-Click (PPC) – You earn a small commission whenever someone clicks your affiliate link. It’s not as lucrative but adds up with high traffic volumes. Some use this along with PPS.
Pay-Per-Call (PPC) – Used for service-based businesses, you earn a commission whenever someone calls the advertiser’s tracked phone number from your link.
As a beginner, the main mistake is chasing after any affiliate program that offers a commission without a clear audience in mind. It’s tempting to promote products randomly simply because of high commission rates. But without targeting, you won’t gain enough conversions and sales to make a profit.
Let’s say you create a review website for the latest gadgets. Promoting any affiliate offer just because it pays well won’t convert your tech-focused audience. But becoming an Amazon Associates affiliate to showcase cool tech products makes sense.
Here are some tips for affiliate marketing success:
– Choose a niche you’re passionate about and find affiliate programs that align with your website or audience. Don’t do it the other way around.
– Focus on providing value through helpful content rather than aggressive sales pitches. Content like reviews and tutorials builds authority.
– Build real relationships with your audience by interacting on social media, email lists, and comments. Don’t blast anonymous links.
– Promote affiliate products you have used and actually recommend. Forced promotions backfire.
– Transparency is key – use affiliate disclaimers and disclose if you received a product for free to review.
– Track your affiliate links with UTMs and monitor performance to double down on what converts.
Okay, now that you know the basics of how affiliate marketing works and how to get started on the right foot, let’s explore some of the most popular program types to promote in different niches.
Digital Product Affiliate Programs
Promoting digital products like ebooks, online courses, and software is one of the most common forms of affiliate marketing for beginners. The commission rates tend to be higher than for physical products, regularly 40-75% in many cases!
The trade-off is that it’s an incredibly competitive space. Thousands of affiliates compete to promote evergreen offers on networks like ClickBank, JVZoo, WarriorPlus, and Digistore24. Standing out takes effort.
When I first started with affiliate marketing, I naturally gravitated towards digital products on ClickBank. The commissions seemed unbelievable compared to physical products. I created some basic review sites and sent traffic to various offers.
Sure enough, I made my first few sales and saw some decent commission checks come in! It was motivating at first, but two issues arose over time. The first was that my account eventually got terminated as ClickBank stopped allowing affiliates from certain countries, like Ghana and Nigeria.
The second issue was that many products I promoted, despite being of decent quality, simply didn’t stand the test of time. New “shiny” products would get launched every week and steal the attention.
So I moved onto JVZoo and WarriorPlus, which worked well as networks. I was able to find offers in internet marketing and SEO that resonated with my audience. As you can see from some of my payment screenshots, I had some great months.
But deep down, I felt like I was always promoting the next hot product launch rather than creating lasting value. That’s when I transitioned to promoting evergreen products on Digistore24.
Here are a few examples of digital products you can promote as an affiliate:
– eBooks – These are popular for affiliates since they have high perceived value for a low cost to create. Promote ebooks related to your niche.
– Video Courses – Structured training programs in video format convert well to many niches, from cooking to business. Udemy is a popular platform.
– Software Tools & Apps – Utilities and software for purposes ranging from productivity to finance SaaS products convert nicely.
– Online Courses – High-touch training programs with premium pricing work well through Teachable or Kajabi.
– Membership Sites – Niche subscriptions for communities work great through platforms like MemberMouse.
Now let’s look at some tips for success with digital products:
– Review and test products extensively before promoting – don’t just rely on sales copy.
– Compare competing offers and promote ones that provide lasting value.
– Create detailed content and tutorials around the product versus a basic review.
– Make sure your target audience matches the product – don’t force it.
– Use email sequences and multiple touches to promote, not just a single blast.
– Negotiate higher commissions once you prove your promotional abilities.
The key is to move away from promoting every new product launch and only focus on evergreen offers that actually deliver value. This results in a more ethical and sustainable business model in the long run.
- Saas Affiliate Marketing
A specific type of digital product I’ve had great success with is software as a service (SaaS). These are cloud-based software tools and apps that users pay a recurring subscription for, often monthly or yearly.
The commissions might not seem too high initially, but the lifetime value of a referred SaaS user can be immense thanks to recurring monthly payments and locked-in contracts.
For example, I promoted ClickFunnels heavily when I first discovered their generous 40% commission affiliate program. By targeting online entrepreneurs and sending them to ClickFunnels via my link, I was able to generate over $10,000 in commissions within just 3 months.
And here’s the best part – over 90% of those users are still active paying subscribers years later. That means I continue collecting 40% commissions from them each month just for my initial referral.
Other SaaS products work the same way. Once you refer a user who signs up and sticks around, you keep getting paid month after month. Some other examples beyond ClickFunnels are tools like:
– System.io – automation platform
– ActiveCampaign – email marketing
– ClickUp – project management
– Grammarly – writing assistant
– Calendly – scheduling software
The key is to match the tool with your audience. For example, if you have a following of fiction authors, promote Grammarly. Or if your audience is marketers, suggest ActiveCampaign.
This is an overlooked area of affiliate marketing, in my opinion. Yes, the payouts seem small at first, but when compounded over years of recurring fees, promoting valuable SaaS tools can yield six figure passive income streams.
- Service Affiliate Programs
Promoting recurring services is a smart, long-term affiliate marketing strategy. The commissions might not seem as lucrative upfront compared to digital products. But the lifetime value of a customer makes it very profitable.
Services I’ve had success with include web hosting, VPNs, SEO tools, stock media, online backup, and password managers. These are all monthly or yearly subscriptions, so you continue earning commissions as long as the customer remains active.
For example, the affiliate commissions for web hosting services like Bluehost are around $65-$100 per sign-up. When you factor in the average customer lifespan of 3-4 years and automatic renewals, that adds up!
I’ll focus on web hosting as an example since it’s been my top money-maker over the years. I currently earn around $5k per month from hosting commissions, and it’s as passive as it gets.
In the early days, when I didn’t have an audience, I created niche sites specifically around “best web hosting” articles and other related content. This attracted organic search traffic interested in web hosting packages.
The SEO competition for main keywords like “web hosting” is insane, so I focused on long-tail keywords to get my site’s ranking. For quick traffic while building organic ranks, I also ran Google and Bing ads targeting low-competition keywords.
Between the ads and SEO, I was able to send fairly targeted hosting traffic to my affiliate links. The sales cycles were longer than for digital products, but the conversion rate was solid when people did need hosting.
These days, most of my hosting commissions come from email marketing. Once you build an engaged email subscriber list in any niche, promote hosting offers occasionally, and you’ll rake in the commissions month after month.
For example, if you have a list of 10,000 entrepreneurs, recommend your favorite hosting company or package every 2-3 months in an email sequence. Since everyone needs hosting, you’ll consistently see sales.
In summary, some tips for making service affiliate marketing work are:
– Target audiences who need the service for business or personal use. Don’t spam irrelevant people.
– Create detailed content like step-by-step guides – don’t just slap up thin articles to promote.
– Build your authority as a knowledgeable expert in the service niche.
– Promote exclusively through platforms you trust and use yourself.
– Email marketing, retargeting, and SEO compound your commissions over time.
– Recurring = forever commissions!
The recurring nature means you can eventually build up substantial passive income with service affiliate offers. But you need patience to see it grow, and you must genuinely help people find the right solution.
- Lead Generation Affiliate Programs
With lead generation affiliate programs, you get paid when a visitor you refer fills out a specific lead form or sales inquiry. Common niches are insurance, mortgages, loans, and B2B services.
The pay-per-lead model provides upfront commissions without needing to wait for a lengthy sales cycle. Payouts are usually $5 to $50+ per lead, depending on the niche, with the offer details provided upfront.
I’ve experimented with various lead gen offers over the years, with mixed results. When done right, you can earn solid commissions relatively quickly compared to pay-per-sale. However, there are some challenges to be aware of.
The first hurdle is finding high quality, relevant offers within your niche. Some lead generation programs are extremely broad and may not convert your audience. I’d sign up for a few lead affiliate networks like CrakRevenue, LeadDyno, Evergreen, and ReferralRock to see what’s available.
The second issue is that highly incentivized lead offers tend to attract low quality signups and abuse. You may see conversions initially, but the lead quality is low. So ask the advertiser for lead statistics like conversion rate to gauge quality.
Finally, many lead generation offers forbid certain traffic sources, like email or social media marketing. And getting Facebook ads approved can be difficult with aggressive call-to-action requirements. So you may have to rely purely on SEO or content marketing.
My best results have come from focusing on a specific audience that needs the service, like contractors or consultants, rather than a general pitch. Targeted advertisements convert much better as well, even if you sacrifice some volume.
Overall, lead generation can work well but requires research to find the right offers, traffic sources, and promotions for your niche. When done ethically without spamming irrelevant people, it provides a steady stream of commissions in addition to product sales or service affiliate programs.
- CPA Affiliate Marketing
CPA stands for cost per acquisition, where advertisers pay a fixed bounty for a specific action rather than a percentage of sales. The action could be:
– Free app download
– Free trial signup
– Newsletter signup
– Quiz completion
– Calling a phone number
The most common CPA offers are for mobile apps, where you can earn up to $2-$5 for each app install. But there are CPA offers across many niches, from games to finance to dating sites.
CPA affiliate marketing can work well because you get paid reliably for conversions, regardless of whether the user ultimately pays for something. However, there are some common mistakes I see people make:
– promoting offers that don’t match their audience, make sure there is relevance.
– Spamming irrelevant channels like email lists to force conversions.
– Using questionable traffic sources like popup ads and forced redirects.
– Promoting sketchy free trial offers that overbill users
The key to CPA affiliate marketing is trust and relevance. Only promote CPA offers that you are confident will provide value rather than an annoying experience for your audience. Read the terms closely before driving.
Vetted CPA affiliate networks like ClickDealer, Lemonads, AdCombo, and OfferVault provide many quality offers to choose from. As long as you match the offer to your audience and use ethical promotion methods, CPA can become a nice additional income stream.
- Physical Product Affiliate Programs
Promoting physical products as an affiliate is more traditional and competitive, but can still be lucrative if done right. Programs like Amazon Associates, Shareasale, Rakuten, Commission Junction, and more allow you to earn commissions from leading brands.
The commission rates tend to be lower, usually 2-10%, compared to digital products. However, physical products make up a multi-trillion dollar market so it can add up. And you gain access to a huge catalog of products to potentially promote.
Over my affiliate marketing career, one of my most successful tactics has been building niche review websites and targeting Amazon affiliate commissions. I currently have 27 active “best product” style websites earning over $46,000 per year in passive income.
The strategy is to create websites around specific product niches I’m interested in like best coffee makers, workout equipment, 3D printers, and more. I then write detailed reviews and tutorials around the top products.
This attracts organic search traffic from people researching the niche. When they click my Amazon affiliate links to view or purchase the products I recommend, I earn commissions between 4-8% on any sales.
While small on a per-sale basis, these commissions add up across thousands of products. And the sites continue earning me income year after year with little added effort.
I’ve taught this strategy to many students as well to create their own assets. The key is picking product niches you have genuine interest and knowledge in – don’t just create hollow review sites. Provide real value!
Other promotional tactics beyond SEO content include using coupon sites, cashback portals, and social communities to drive product sales through your affiliate links. There are still lots of opportunities in the physical product affiliate space.
Choosing the Right Programs
With so many types of affiliate programs available, how do you decide where to start? Here are some tips:
Take stock of your existing assets; this includes your website, email list, social media following, current traffic sources, and overall niche or industry.
Pick just 2-4 affiliate programs that closely align with your assets and can benefit your audience. Don’t spread yourself too thin early, trying to promote every program under the sun.
For example, if you have an Instagram account reviewing running shoes, the obvious program would be the Nike or Adidas affiliate program. Or if your website covers SaaS tools for entrepreneurs, ClickFunnels and LeadPages are a good fit.
Once you find initial success with a handful of affiliates, you can certainly expand into more programs and verticals. But keeping it focused early on allows you to provide genuine value vs. spammy sales pitches.
As you build your audience assets, like email lists, social following, SEO traffic, etc – open up to more affiliate programs that align with your growing reach.
Eventually, you’ll develop promotional assets like retargeting ads, email funnels, and loyal followers where you can recommend a wide range of relevant affiliate offers.
But start with your existing traffic and pick affiliate programs that truly match your niche. Prove yourself with those merchants before scaling up both programs and promotions. Patience and providing real value will pay off greatly!
