Benefits of Affiliate Marketing (and Drawbacks)
As with anything, affiliate marketing has its upsides and its downsides.
Later in this guide, I’ll give you the guidance you need to go about affiliate marketing smartly so you can make the most of the opportunities out there and avoid the potential downsides.
Here are the main pros and cons of affiliate marketing.
Affiliate Marketing Pros
Low barrier to entry. Affiliate marketing is easy to get started with, and costs little. Most affiliate programs are free to join, and you don’t have to create, stock, or ship products, which also means less hassle/responsibility.
Low risk. You’re not the product owner, so you don’t lose anything if a customer doesn’t buy.
Passive income potential. Affiliate marketing provides the potential for passive income.
More freedom. When you start earning passive income, you can work anytime and from anywhere, as long as you have internet access.
Affiliate Marketing Cons
Not a quick fix. It can take time to generate the amount of traffic needed to result in substantial income.
Less control. You don’t own or control the product/service you’re recommending, so you can’t control the quality or customer experience.
Competition and audience fatigue. An attractive affiliate program means you might be competing with others for customers.
Offer fatigue. Audiences can also get “offer fatigue” if they see too much ongoing promotion from you.
Not all affiliate programs are created equal. While most companies that offer affiliate commissions are stable and ethical, there are shady companies out there too, some of which may not pay what they say they will. It’s important to do your homework.
Risk of link hijacking. Unscrupulous individuals may hijack your affiliate links, known as “clickjacking,” potentially stealing your commission in the process.
