// Pinterest has grown into a huge selling platform where both visuals and text are central factors. I have recently found myself using Pinterest more and more to explore travel options, hoping to stumble upon a great travel blog that might have been pushed so far down the Google search results that I would never have come across it. Pinterest gives us creatives, even if we are just beginners, a good chance to reach new audiences, if we do it right. That’s why, when it comes to your monetization strategy, Pinterest should definitely play a significant part in your efforts. You should...

// Why you should be on Instagram – regardless of your niche? In 2017, the worldwide Instagram influencer market value was estimated to be 1.07 billion US dollars. This value is predicted to more than double to 2.38 billion US dollars in 2019. Source. This means that increasing numbers of marketers are appreciating the impact of social media and, especially, the role of influencers in increasing awareness and improving the engagement and conversion of promoted products. You can learn more about over 24 Instagram statistics in 2018 here, but look out for the statistics...

The word "influencer” for online marketing campaigns is no longer a buzzword. With the rise of social media relevancy for online marketing, there is a growing need for companies, brands, and retailers to harness the power of social media to impact consumers’ buying decisions. Whether you have a large or small number of followings on Instagram or Pinterest and whether you do or don’t have a blog, you still have influence. Brands and affiliate networks understand that and recognize the importance of working with influencers with a wide range of audience sizes. Who is a micro-influen...

// How To Help Your Audience Save Your Affiliate Products For Later Shopping Put yourself in the shoes of your followers…they just saw a nice fitness suit that you shared or a useful kitchen appliance or great hotel that you recommended with an affiliate link on your blog. You may have also shared it on Instagram, referring to your blog and hoping that your affiliate link will be clicked. Whatever the value you create for your readers, while they may appreciate it, they do not necessarily want or feel able to make a spontaneous decision to purchase your recommended product...

Let me start by saying that this post does not constitute legal advice! This is for informational purposes only and you should seek your own legal counsel about your responsibilities under GDPR. What is GDPR? As of May 25, 2018, with the entry into application of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), there is one set of data protection rules for all companies operating in the European Union (EU), also referred to as the European Economic Area (EEA), regardless of where they are based. These rules aim to improve consumer data protection, allowing consumers to...

// The American Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires advertisers and endorsers (i.e. publishers, bloggers and influencers) to disclose their relationships when promoting any affiliate content, or receiving something in exchange for their promotion method, such as: Receiving commission if someone uses your affiliate link. Receiving a product or compensation in exchange for writing a post on your blog or on your social media (sponsored content). If you are one of those who aren’t sure about using affiliate marketing because you fear scaring people away by co...

It doesn’t matter whether you started your blog recently or have been blogging for a while! It doesn’t even matter why you started blogging in the first place…was it as creative outlet to share your passion or as a means to make money online and quit your day job? Or were you looking for a stress-free-life or the flexibility to stay home with your kids? No matter what your motivation, treating your blog like a business is one of the first things you need to do. Let’s start by understanding what it actually means to relate to your blog as a business and then we’ll discuss wh...

If you are new to affiliate marketing, you can familiarize yourself by reading the Basics of Affiliate Marketing, When Is the Right Time To Start Using Affiliate Marketing, and the Best Affiliate Networks for Beginners. Our Affiliate Marketing Guides should help you better understand the advantages of affiliate marketing and get you started. Why is now the time to use affiliate marketing? Although it’s been around for over 20 years, there are a few reasons why affiliate marketing is flourishing today. E-commerce is constantly growing and still has...

// Presentation tools are of great importance when evaluating which affiliate network to join, especially in niches where images are a major factor in converting readers into customers. Although, for digital products, you can get by with only incorporating affiliate links into text, that is not the case for lifestyle related items (clothing, hotels, food, accessories, beauty, wellness and fitness).  A picture is worth a thousand words, so you should take advantage of images wherever possible.  The incorporation of image related tools, such as Shop the Post widgets, can...

// Here is what Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income says are the two most important rules for affiliate marketing:  1. I only recommend products as an affiliate that I’m extremely very familiar with—preferably products that I’ve used before and have helped me achieve something. If I’m not confident in the product and I don’t feel it will positively help people, I will not promote it. 2. I never directly tell anyone to buy a product. I always recommend products based on my experience and in the context of what I’ve done or what I’m doing. While this...