There are many companies that can be considered to be competitors in the online affiliate marketing sphere, but few that can be considered to be true competitors. Amazon dominates the ecosystem with its affiliate program, which is available to any website owner who wants to participate. Its range of products and marketing tools makes it a worthy contender for any online marketer’s attention. Perhaps the best thing about Amazon is that if you are new to the industry, there are very few barriers to entry. You simply need to decide whether you want to become an Amazon affiliate or not. If you are confident in your niche and have the resources to support yourself, then starting a website to promote products associated with your niche and registering that website with Amazon might be a good idea.
Google is also a contender, providing a wide array of both free and for-pay tools that can be used to promote products.
Cost Effective
The most obvious advantage of the Amazon affiliate program is that it’s free. You don’t have to pay a penny to start promoting any product associated with amazon, and you don’t have to give them any commission if a sale is made. When a customer clicks a product and buys it on amazon, you will earn a small commission. You can then use that commission to invest in more traffic.
On the other hand, Google Affiliate Marketing is only available to those who have a Google account. Google takes a cut out of every purchase that is made through its platform, which means that you will have to pay per sale. However, the amount that you will have to pay is very small, typically ranging between 4 and 8 percent, depending on where you are in the global scale.
Broad Reach
The reach of the Amazon affiliate marketing program is much broader than Google’s, which is both good and bad. The bad part is that the vast majority of products on Amazon are affiliate marketed, so it means that you will have a hard time choosing what products to promote. The good part is that Amazon’s affiliate marketing ecosystem is open, which means that there is a large amount of choice in relation to the products that you can promote.
The vast majority of products on Google’s affiliate marketing platform are provided by specialized companies who sell affiliate programs, and the products that you can promote are typically focused on a very specific niche. For example, you could promote dog harnesses if you are an affiliate marketer for a company that provides that type of product, but you would have to have a very specific audience in mind. If that audience doesn’t exist, then it’s hard to see how you would make any money from that particular product.
E-Commerce Platform
Google doesn’t offer an e-commerce platform under its affiliate program, which makes it a little less suitable for business owners who want to promote online stores. On the other hand, Amazon’s e-commerce solutions are very popular, which means that there is a large audience ready to be converted into customers who want to make a purchase. Amazon’s focus on creating a one-stop-shop for everything you could need has made it a favorite platform among online store owners who want to increase their sales.
Marketing Tools
The range of marketing tools that Amazon offers to its affiliates is truly impressive, from basic websites to video platform, email marketing, and mobile applications. When choosing an affiliate marketing platform, it’s important to remember that you will need to work with a reputable company that can provide the tools needed for your particular niche.
Variety Of Products
Another important point to make in favor of the Amazon affiliate marketing program is the variety of products that you can promote. While Google’s affiliate marketing program is good at covering niches that it is designed for, it doesn’t offer as wide a range of products as Amazon does. The majority of the products that you can promote on Amazon are affiliate marketing products, which can mean anything from health and wellness products to electronics and appliances. When choosing an affiliate marketing platform, make sure that you are comfortable with the range of products that you can promote.
The best part about Amazon is that not only can you promote a diverse range of products, but you can also create and manage affiliate marketing campaigns, which allows you to choose precisely which products to promote at any given time. You can use tools like ClickTracking and Conversion Optimizer to track the success of your particular campaigns.
Scalability
One of the things that make Amazon such a popular choice among online marketers is its unique ability to scale up quickly. It was originally designed to be a place where people could find whatever they were looking for, and the fact that it has turned into such a large ecosystem, with millions of active affiliates, is testament to its design. Scalability is one of the most important issues to consider when choosing an affiliate marketing software or platform, and while you shouldn’t necessarily choose a product that scales poorly, you should choose one that you trust will scale effectively and won’t let you down in the process.
Reliability
Another important factor to consider when choosing an affiliate marketing software or platform is reliability. It’s no secret that the internet can be a fickle beast, and while you might have the perfect product to promote, if the platform that you are using isn’t reliable, then it’s better to choose another one.
The worst thing that you can do for yourself as an online marketer is to invest heavily in trying to drive traffic to your website, only to have it disappear without a trace a few months later. Choosing a reliable affiliate marketing platform is essential if you want to avoid disappointment and have the trust of your customers.
Security
It’s important to keep your customers’ data secure when processing any online transaction, and the same goes for the data of those who use your affiliate platform. Hackers are always looking for ways to get their hands on sensitive information, and while there are some simple steps that you can take to secure your data, using a trusted web host and locking away your customers’ and affiliates’ data from prying eyes is the best way to ensure peace of mind.
Another important security measure that you can take is to use two-factor authentication whenever possible. This way, not only are you protected from hackers, but so are your customers when logging in to make a purchase. Using software like 2fa (or YubiKey Personal) with Google Authenticator or an SMS code with Authy is the simplest and most convenient way to ensure your account security.
User-Friendly
Another important factor to consider when choosing an affiliate marketing software or platform is ease of use. Even if you know how to use a computer, it’s not necessarily the case that you’ll know how to use the software or platform that you’ll be using to promote your products. Choose a product that is designed for use by people with little to no experience in digital marketing, or at least that is simple to use for those who do have experience.
It’s also important to bear in mind that not all customers are created equal. Some customers are more valuable than others, and while you might have the perfect product to promote, if the tool that you are using isn’t user-friendly, then it’s better to choose another one.
When choosing an affiliate marketing platform, it’s important to remember that not all products on a platform are created equal. Some products will offer a lucrative affiliate commission, while others will just be a waste of your time. Choose a product that is suited to your needs, goals, and budget. Also, make sure to read reviews of the product before committing. That way, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting into and won’t be surprised by any missing features or unexpected fees.