Is An Affiliate Program Really 'Passive Income'?

Is An Affiliate Program Really 'Passive Income'?

Unless you’ve been living under a virtual rock, you’ve probably heard of the phrase ‘passive income’.

Essentially, passive income is money that you earn without being actively involved in the process. Or as Listen Money Matters defines it ‘Passive income is money that you earn without doing much to make it.’

In the world of digital product creators, this could be anything from blogging to evergreen webinars to an online course funnel to, you guessed it, affiliate marketing!

Honestly, it’s not a phrase that I’m super fond of. ‘Passive’ implies that there’s very little work to be done and anyone who’s ever created and launched an online course knows that’s soooo not the case. 😅 Digital product creators put their blood, sweat, and tears into creating courses, e-books, templates, etc. and we spend a considerable amount of time maintaining, updating, assisting customers, and more.

I could go on about this but what I want to chat about today is if an affiliate program falls under the umbrella of ‘passive income’. 🤔

I’m not so sure, which is exactly why I wanted to avoid using this phrase in my content. However, when I read the results my latest audience survey, I realised it was a term I’m going to have to start using more.

When I asked what their goals were, my audience said - and these are direct quotes:

  • “I want to ramp up my passive income”

  • “Increase passive income. That's my biggest goal.”

  • “My goal is to move more toward passive income.”

  • “Make even more passive income and therefore work less”

And here’s one answer that really inspired this blog post: “earn more passive income with very little effort on my part.”

“Work less” and “very little effort” - eh? You’re telling this to an affiliate program manager who does this on a day-to-day basis 😉

So, let’s bust some myths and crack down on the reality of running an affiliate program! In this article, I’m going to talk about:

  • If running an affiliate program really is ‘passive'

  • My breakdown of daily to quarterly tasks for affiliate program managers (👈 this could be you!)

I also have a free checklist to help you get started with creating an affiliate program of you own! Don’t miss out!

Are You Ready To Start An Affiliate Program?

Are You Ready To Start An Affiliate Program?

You've heard of affiliate marketing - and you're probably an affiliate for products yourself - but you've paused on the idea of using it to sell your own products.

Starting an affiliate program can help increase your passive income, build authority in your niche, and more. So, what are you waiting for?

Related Post → Why You Need To Start An Affiliate Program For Your Digital Products

You see all the experts working together to rock each other's affiliate launches and it can make you feel like you need to have the same powerful connections and sales targets when you start your own program.

The truth is: you really don't.

If you're hesitating on starting an affiliate program of your own, you're in the right place. In this blog post, I'm going to tell you why you don't need a big audience, big paycheques, or big boss friends to see success in affiliate marketing.

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Why You Need To Start An Affiliate Program For Your Digital Products

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Why You Need To Start An Affiliate Program For Your Digital Products

Market research. Validation. Sales pages. Pricing. Content creation. Beta testers. Bonuses.

Launching a digital product is hard enough as it is without adding affiliates into the mix. Why should you bother? Why add another item to your to-do list and subject yourself to even more emails in your inbox?

Word of mouth is a powerful thing, folks, and working with affiliates and influencers is essentially strategic word of mouth.

Did you know that 92% of consumers trust referrals from people they know? (source) And that word of mouth is the primary factor behind 20% to 50% of all purchasing decisions? (source)

I've seen the power of affiliate marketing work for me, my clients, and my community and I want you to be able to achieve the same successes. For example, when I launched my Ultimate Instagram Hashtag Database, I had affiliates to thank for 53% of the sales! After having an affiliate team for over a year, I now make the same amount from product sales as I do from client services - and I haven't had to launch anything in over 6 months.

In this blog post, you're going to learn:

Phew! Just click on each subject if you want to skip ahead but don't miss out on my FREE checklist to help you take the first steps on your affiliate journey!

5 Rookie Influencer Marketing Mistakes To Avoid

5 Rookie Influencer Marketing Mistakes To Avoid

I have encountered influencer marketing from all angles. I have been on the side of the brand (from very large to very small) working with influencers to promote their products. I have witnessed many a Facebook group post in blogging communities asking for help and advice regarding sponsored opportunities. And I have been approached as an influencer to talk about certain things on my blog.

Though I have had many experiences in influencer marketing, I have noticed that brands and business owners are making the same 5 rookie mistakes over and over again.

We've talked about who influencers are and how they can help your biz - now it's time to talk about what NOT to do! 

Keep reading to get ahead of the game, stand out from the crowd, and wow the influencers you work with! 🙌