Affiliate marketing has become a popular way for Nigerians to earn passive income online. Before getting started with affiliate marketing, first thing first, do a very good research, pick a niche that you’re passionate about or profitable. This would help you understand. Also you must know your WHY, what’s the motivation towards starting this business.
With the growth of e-commerce and the increasing availability of affiliate programs, more people are venturing into this lucrative field.
This guide will walk you through the steps to get started with affiliate marketing in Nigeria, providing practical tips and insights to help you succeed.
1. Understanding Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services offered by others and earning a commission for each sale or action generated through your referral.
You will not succeed in the affiliate marketing industry if you do not acquire the necessary skills.
As an affiliate marketer, you act as a middleman between the consumer and the seller, using your marketing skills to drive traffic and conversions.
“Affiliate Marketing will make you rich”
Who told you that rubbish?
These will 👇🏼
• Understanding Human behaviour
• Communicating effectively
• Identifying problems
• Providing solutions
• Closing the saleNot the business… The skills involved will make you rich
— FRANCIS (@francis_oleh) June 10, 2022
2. Choosing the Right Niche
Selecting a niche is a crucial first step in affiliate marketing. Your niche should align with your interests and expertise while having sufficient demand and potential for profitability.
Its sad that a disproportionate amount of time is spent by new affiliates obsessing over niche selection. Pick something and run with it. There’s money to be made everywhere, but you’re not going to get any of it if you’re sitting around twiddling your thumbs and “researching” for two years.
When doing affiliate marketing, you need to focus on ONE (1) niche.
Here are some popular niches in Nigeria:
- Wealth Niche (Make money online) – the average youth in Nigeria is looking for an additional source of income.
- Health and Wellness: Products related to fitness, nutrition, and mental health are in high demand.
- Relationships
- Fashion and Beauty: Clothing, accessories, and beauty products have a large audience.
- Technology and Gadgets: Nigerians are increasingly interested in the latest tech products.
- Finance and Investments: Content on savings, investments, and personal finance is valuable.
- Travel and Tourism: With growing interest in local and international travel, this niche offers opportunities e.g. Travel to Canada.
If you focus on 1 niche, you’ll build authority faster.
3. Finding Affiliate Programs
Once you’ve chosen a niche, the next step is to find suitable affiliate programs. Here are some ways to find programs:
- Affiliate Networks: Platforms like Expertnaire, Stakecut, PromptEarn, Digitstem offer a range of products. These networks provide a variety of merchants and products to promote.
- Direct Affiliate Programs: Some companies offer their own affiliate programs. For example, Nigerian-based fintech companies, educational platforms, and e-commerce sites often have direct affiliate programs.
- Global Affiliate Networks: Networks like ClickBank, ShareASale, and Commission Junction provide access to international products and services.
4. Pick a hot selling product within that niche
Pick a hot selling product within that niche
The best way to find a hot selling product is by doing product research
Ask yourself..
- Who is this for?
- What are the benefits?
- Is it costly or affordable?
- Do people want it? etc
5. Setting Up Your Platform
To promote affiliate products, you’ll need a platform. Common platforms include:
- WhatsApp: The biggest business mistake you’ll make is not building an WhatsApp “The Money is in the list” That’s true! To build a WhatsApp list you need:
- A WhatsApp account
- A customised WhatsApp link To get people into your WhatsApp
- Other social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are great for promoting products.
- Blog or Website: Creating a blog or website is a popular choice. It allows you to create content, reviews, and product recommendations. WordPress is a user-friendly platform for building websites.
- YouTube: Video content is highly engaging. You can create product reviews, tutorials, and unboxing videos.
- Email Marketing: Building an email list allows you to reach a targeted audience directly.
6. Creating Quality Content
Content is the backbone of affiliate marketing. Your content should be informative, engaging, and relevant to your audience. Here are some content ideas:
4 ways to promote the affiliate product:
- WhatsApp Trainings
- Dms
- WhatsApp Status
- In your Lead magnet WhatsApp status – create emails that promote the product Lead Magnet: put your affiliate link inside WhatsApp trainings create tutorials
- Product Reviews: Write detailed reviews of products you’re promoting. Include pros and cons, personal experiences, and honest opinions.
- How-To Guides: Create guides that help users solve problems or learn new skills related to your niche.
- Listicles: Write lists of the best products in a particular category, such as “Top 10 Fitness Gadgets.”
- Comparison Articles: Compare similar products, highlighting the differences and benefits of each.
7. Driving Traffic to Your Content
Generating traffic is essential for affiliate marketing success. Here are some strategies to increase traffic:
- Social Media Marketing: Share your content on social media platforms. Engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages.
- Email Marketing: Send newsletters and promotional emails to your subscribers, highlighting new content and offers.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimize your content for search engines by using relevant keywords, creating high-quality backlinks, and ensuring a mobile-friendly design.
- Paid Advertising: Consider using Google Ads, Facebook Ads, or Instagram Ads to reach a wider audience.
The power of affiliate marketing:
– Buy a product once
– Use it to get results yourself
– Sell it hundreds of times afterTurn your knowledge into income.
— RiskTaker 🎰 (@Risk2Earn) December 7, 2021
8. Tracking and Analyzing Performance
Monitoring your performance is crucial for improving your strategies. Use tools like Google Analytics to track website traffic, conversion rates, and user behavior. Affiliate networks also provide dashboards to monitor clicks, sales, and commissions.
9. Building Trust with Your Audience
People buy from people they know, like, and trust.
Trust is vital in affiliate marketing.
Avoid promoting products solely for commissions; focus on providing value to your audience. Building a loyal following will lead to higher conversions and long-term success.
If you do affiliate marketing correctly
It’s less selling
And more helping
If they trust you
They’ll buy from you.
— Mike Smith (@mikesmxth) July 21, 2020
10. Scaling Your Affiliate Marketing Business
As you gain experience and start earning, consider scaling your business. Here are some ways to grow:
- Expand Your Niche: Explore related niches to diversify your content and audience.
- Increase Content Production: Create more content to reach a broader audience.
- Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with influencers to expand your reach.
- Invest in Paid Advertising: Increase your budget for paid ads to drive more traffic.
Why Affiliate Marketing?
1. High ROI
2. No inventory needed
3. Low risk, high reward
4. Flexible income source
5. Side hustle potential (15 Lucrative Side Hustles in Nigeria: Boost your Income and Achieve Financial Independence)
6. Start with low cost
7. Endless possibilities
Get started on your online business journey today. Here’s a testimony on why you need to start affiliate marketing as a side hustle or part of your business:
Why I chose To Become An Affiliate Marketer ⤵️
• Financial motivation;
I wanted to fund my fashion business, and affiliate marketing was a good source of income.
— Oyinkansola Ojo (@Simply_Oyin) July 23, 2024
Conclusion
Affiliate marketing in Nigeria offers a great opportunity to earn a passive income online. By choosing the right niche, creating quality content, and building trust with your audience, you can succeed in this field.
You don’t need to be some marketing expert to make money with affiliate marketing. The great thing about this business is that you can learn and earn as you find your way.
The only affiliate marketing course i recommend is the Affiliate Marketing Copy & Paste Strategies by Margaret Ododo.
I got attracted to tech from an early age getting close to my Father. Coupled with learning some high end skills i was able to build a 6 figure Ecommerce store a few years ago after graduating from Pharmacy.
The only way I have found to express myself as an introvert is through writing.
I’m convinced 100% that to build a 6-7-figure business and beyond you need to invest in yourself and your personal development.
The more you grow, the more your business will grow.
PS: I wrote a short book on why you don’t need more motivation and how to push through in such moments – get it here: