On the surface, Affiliate marketing sounds simple: share a link and get a commission. But if you’ve tried it before, you know that it’s not always that straightforward. To make real money, you need to know how to promote affiliate products effectively, and that’s exactly what we’re diving into in this article. 

Whether you’re a content creator, blogger, or just getting started in the online space, this guide will walk you through practical strategies tailored for African creators. Let’s get into it!

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where you earn a commission for driving sales or traffic to a business. You act as a bridge between potential customers and a brand, sharing your unique affiliate links. Every time someone clicks your link and makes a purchase, you earn a share of the revenue. It’s a straightforward, flexible way to make money online, and the best part? It’s incredibly rewarding, especially when you get the right systems in place.

We shared more on the definition of Affiliate marketing in this piece: The Difference Between Affiliate Marketing And Influencer Marketing 

What are the best ways to promote affiliate products? 

There are many ways to promote affiliate products, and some work better than others. Here are a few tried-and-tested methods:

1. Plug them on social media: Use platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok to share product recommendations. Pick a platform where you know your audience will be. For example, if you’re a fashion creator in Lagos, you might use Instagram to showcase outfits with affiliate links in your bio or stories. 
2. By embedding affiliate links in your blog posts: If you write detailed reviews, how-to guides, or listicles, you can include affiliate links to products you’re selling to direct readers to them. In this blog, 
3. Sell on YouTube videos: Create videos that share product unboxings, tutorials, or honest reviews. For example, Emmanuel Adanu, is an affiliate marketer on the Selar platform, who makes up to $5000 per month by plugging links to his videos. Read this article to find out how he does this.
4. Email marketing: Build an email list and send out helpful newsletters with affiliate links. You can read this article for more insights on building an email list that can actually convert. 

Many people think affiliate marketing needs to be done on a blog. You don’t need a blog, but having one can give you more control and make your content easier to find on Google. The key is to choose the method that feels natural to you and your audience. It may not be conventional, but if it works for you and it converts, then it’s great. 

How do I choose the right affiliate products to promote?

Choosing the right affiliate products for you generally depends on what your interests are, and what your goals for affiliate marketing are. However, not all affiliate products are created equal, so here’s how to pick the right ones:

1. Relevance: Does the product fit your niche? Would your audience care about it? If you’re into beauty and you are promoting tech gadgets that are not related to the beauty industry, then you might confuse your audience.
2. Quality: Only promote products you believe in, products you can trust. Your reputation is valuable so guard it with your life.
3. Commission Rates: Higher commissions are great, but balance that with product quality and relevance.
4. Local Availability: Can your audience in Africa easily access or ship the product? If they cannot, then it might not be a good idea to sell them to an African audience. 

High-ticket products tend to be a lot more technical and difficult to sell, and might require a lot more energy from you. More common products may not pay as much but may require less effort. 

What values should guide your selling affiliate products? 

Content is king, but creating and sharing the right content is queen. The idea of the right content is very subjective, but it rests on several pillars: 

1. Honesty: Share the pros and cons of the product. If the product is faulty, do not sell it. This would only make you less reliable. Transparency builds trust. Always let your audience know when you’re using affiliate links. For example: “This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.”
2. Storytelling: Don’t just drop the product. Talk about how it solved a problem for you, and its benefits for the audience you are trying to target. For example, instead of saying, “Buy this amazing skincare product now!” try, “I struggled with dry skin for years, but this moisturizer has made a huge difference. Here’s why it worked for me.”
3. Engage your audience: Ask questions, get feedback and create a conversation. Trust is everything in affiliate marketing. Without it, people won’t click your links, let alone buy anything.

Remember: Nobody likes being sold to 24/7. When creating content, remember to add value first and promote second.

What types of content work best for selling affiliate products? 

1. Product reviews: Honest, detailed reviews build trust.
2. How-to guides: Showing people how to use a product.
3. Comparison posts: Comparing different products in your niche.
4. Listicles: Think “Top 10 Gadgets for Students in Nigeria.” 
5. Personal stories: Share your own experience with a product.

Where should you sell your affiliate products?

There are plenty of affiliate platforms out there, however, Selar’s Affiliate Network is one of the best Affiliate Marketing platforms in Africa to promote affiliate products.  Selar’s Affiliate Network is rapidly growing in Nigeria and Africa at large, enabling creators to sell digital products like eBooks, courses, and memberships. It’s a goldmine for affiliate marketers who can earn commissions by promoting these products. 

On Selar’s Affiliate Network, there are over 70,000 products to choose from, and affiliates can earn up to 70% commission. The platform is user-friendly, offering personalized dashboards to track sales and performance, quick payouts, and support for multiple currencies. The annual fee is minimal, making it an attractive option for both beginners and experienced marketers due to its simplicity and earning potential.  All it takes is a membership fee of N3,000 to get started.  

Why Selar’s Affiliate Network is great for Africans:

1. Wide product range: With over 70,000 digital products from Nigerian creators, it’s easy to find items that resonate with your audience, including eBooks, courses, and more.  
2. Multiple currencies: Selar’s Affiliate Network supports payments in Naira, USD, GHS (Ghanaian Cedi), and KES (Kenyan Shilling), making it convenient for local and international transactions.  
3. Fast payouts: Enjoy quick and reliable payouts, so you can access your earnings without delay. 

What are common mistakes to avoid when selling affiliate products?

1. Overloading with Links: Having too many links on a piece of content can overwhelm your audience.
2. Promoting irrelevant products: Stick to products your audience cares about. If you try to sell to everyone, you may end up selling to no one. 
3. Ignoring engagement: Don’t just post and ghost. Engage with your audience.

In conclusion,

Promoting affiliate products effectively isn’t about spamming links everywhere. It’s about building trust, providing value, and staying consistent.

As an African creator, you have a unique perspective and audience. Use that to your advantage. Whether you’re promoting fashion in Lagos, tech in Nairobi, or beauty in Accra, the strategies in this guide will help you succeed.

Now, it’s time to put these tips into action.

Join the Selar Affiliate network today to start promoting affiliate products.  Use the code SELAR10AFF for 10% off.