Affiliate Marketing Explained

Financial independence is the key to a good life, and can you imagine making and generating cash even while you are sleeping? That is the concept of affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is the additional income, and you can make this income anytime and anywhere.

According to a survey done in 2022, affiliate marketing in the US rose from 5.4 billion to 8.2 billion between 2017 and 2022.

In this article, let’s look more into the details of what affiliate marketing is and how it works.

What is Affiliate Marketing?

A process where the publishers earn commission by promoting the products of another retailer or companies through an affiliate link.

The affiliates are rewarded with commissions when sales are made. In some other cases, affiliates make money by promoting free trials, leads, getting downloads, etc.

Typically, an affiliate network is a website that links creators with different brand affiliate programs for promotions.

The good thing about these affiliate programs is that they are free. When you know how to use these programs well, what is considered a side hustle or additional income can turn into an active business.

Amazon also popularises the affiliate marketing scheme by using influencers to link product reviews in their content so that more viewers will search, download, and buy the products. So, yes affiliate marketing is technically a pay-for-performance marketing strategy too.

In the case of an established or a new e-commerce merchant wanting to expand his crowd or attract buyers, an affiliate can be hired to do so. When you hire an affiliate with multiple websites, the promotion of your products will have a wider network, which will, in return, bring a good number of customers.

So, when the sale is made for the products promoted by the affiliate to his network, the merchant of the e-commerce will compensate the affiliate for the same.

The scheme for affiliate marketing is a win-win situation for the merchant and the affiliate.

Different Types of Affiliate Marketing:

There are three different types of affiliate marketing. Let us break down one by one.

  1. Unattached affiliate marketing: The first type of affiliate marketing we will look into is unattached. Here, the affiliate has no connection whatsoever with the products being promoted. Since the nature of unattached affiliate marketing is the most uninvolved, it becomes a little burden for the affiliate to give honest and personal reviews about the products. Typically, this affiliate marketing type is for those who are not interested in building or investing in customer or product relationships.
  2. Related affiliate marketing: So, in related affiliate marketing, there is not necessarily a very close connection or relationship between the product and the affiliate. However, there is some sort of connection between the product and the affiliate’s background of interest. For example, if the affiliate is a baker and a food blogger, then whether or not the affiliate is a vegetarian, the vegetarian sauces can be promoted. So, simply, there is some sort of connection between the product and the niche of the affiliate. 
  3. Involved affiliate marketing: In involved affiliate marketing, as the name rightly suggests, there is a close connection between the affiliate and the product. Here, the affiliate has personally used the products being promoted and can very well give honest and authentic reviews and leads. Trust is easily built in this type of affiliate marketing between the company and the buyers because of the involved nature of the affiliate.

Most web properties that monetize via affiliate marketing, whether they be websites, social media accounts, podcasts, etc. tend to straddle the lines of these different types of affiliate marketing. For example, a product recommendation website like duuupe.com that details the best dupe products across a variety of categories, utilizes both involved and related affiliate marketing. The more you know to look for it, the more you will see affiliate marketing being employed all over the internet. This becomes obvious to the trained eye for everything from social media influencers to very large online publications like Forbes and Cosmopolitan.

How are affiliate marketers paid?

The commissions earned by the affiliate for promoting and connecting the products with the customers may range from 1% to 20% of the sales generated. 

Income earned by affiliates may vary from some earning a few hundred to some earning in six solid figures. The income varies due to so many factors involved. The size of the affiliate network, the company, its popularity, the kind of products being promoted, and so on.

However, despite the hassle and time it takes to make a profit out of affiliate marketing, we can say that it is also beginner-friendly because one can start an affiliate marketing easily because there are platforms that require little or no money at all. In short, you need to have a wider network of viewers if you want to excel as an affiliate.

We can also look into different ways affiliates are paid.

The first is, pay-per-sale, and it is the standard structure of the affiliate marketing scheme. Here, the company or the e-commerce merchant will pay the affiliate after every sale of the products promoted by the affiliate using its marketing strategies.

Secondly, there is another method called pay-per-lead. Here, the merchant compensates the affiliate for leading the customers to its websites, fulfilling required sign-ups for subscriptions, or leading them to download files, etc.

Thirdly, there is also a pay-per-click strategy where the merchant compensates the affiliate mainly for website traffic. It is based on Search Engine Optimization.

Lastly, the pay-per-installation method is where an affiliate will be paid for every installation of an app by the user from the merchant’s website. Installation can be an app or a software.

Why become an affiliate?

In this section of the article, we will look into some reasons why being an affiliate is a good call.

  1. It is free of customer support service. Therefore, there is no hassle to be the responsibility of the buyers as an affiliate. All you need to do as an affiliate is to connect the product to the buyers.
  2. You can easily work from anywhere and at any time without an issue. The ease of working from home is truly the backbone of why being an affiliate can be fun.
  3. To become an affiliate, one need not worry about the cost-effectiveness. This line of work is pretty straightforward and without much hassle.
  4. The job of an affiliate is flexible and convenient. The job is all about how much you put effort into performance, as it is primarily performance-based income.

That’s all about affiliate marketing and a guide to everything you need to know about the same.

E-Commerce Platforms Compared

What may seem unapproachable or unattainable a few years ago is now at a close reach of our hands. Yes! I am talking about the rise and popularity of e-commerce.

If you’re still finding it hard to trust the e-commerce sector, here is a statistic to back your doubts. 

According to the survey done in 2022 by eMarketer, it is estimated that e-commerce will surpass 5 trillion dollars in sales globally. Now, isn’t that amazing? Remarkably, it is going to grow its global sales up to 7 billion dollars by 2025.

So, if you are an established merchant or an underdog thinking about venturing into the e-commerce sector, There are a few things to look into and learn before you move to an online business.

You will have to look into the best e-commerce platforms that will help you in the long-term growth of your business.

But first, what is an e-commerce platform to begin with? An e-commerce platform is a software application. So, this software will help any business owner manage the company’s online activities, such as the business website, sales, and marketing.

Here are some features to ensure you how good the e-commerce platform you pick is:

  • It helps the customers of your business to get the required type of products they might be searching for quickly.
  • Rightly serving you with the service for the cost you paid for installation and software maintenance.
  • Making sure that the employees are met with everything needed for the implementation of sales and marketing plans.
  • Feature such as shipping-inclusive software is a necessity for any business online.
  • The running of the software shouldn’t be too complicated for the users. Ease of use is another feature to consider.
  • A good customer management feature is a sure sign of good e-commerce software. Features such as a solid customer account for the customers, a wish list, and an order summary are a must.

Another important fact to know about e-commerce platforms is that every e-commerce software falls under two categories.

  1. Self-hosted: When the e-commerce platform is self-hosted, it means that you are your own navigator. Although a little hassle is included in this type, it also rightly ensures full control over your security, privacy, scalability, and overall management.
  2. Cloud-based: When the e-commerce platform is cloud-based, it means the whole maintenance and management of your website is done by the software provider. So here, you don’t have to worry about the personal hassle of managing the flow of your business online, but you won’t have full control and access like in the case of self-hosted platforms.

So yes, the choice is on the merchants as to how the company or the business website is handled. Both of these two categories come with their own pros and cons.

In this section of the article, we will be delving into some of the most chosen and merchants’ favorite e-commerce platforms globally.

  1. Wix: Wix is a website builder that allows you to build any basic website freely. However, in order to use their e-commerce website-building features, you will have to go for the paid plan. WIX stands firm with its motto, “One platform, infinite possibilities. The pricing for using WIX website building features starts from 27 dollars. Facebook and Instagram are two integrated social media channels for sales, but a third-party Ecwid app is required to make sales via social media channels. The lack of the WIX platform is that it has limitations on inventory management features, which many product-based businesses will need.
  2. Shopify: With Shopify, you can build your website as a merchant from the comfort of your house. Shopify offers you free trials for beginners to make your online website with 100 themes to choose from. As your business grows, Shopify will expand your sales potential. Shopify offers the best inventory features that any merchant will need for the online business. You can opt for a three-month paid plan for just 1 dollar per month. With more understanding and rapid business growth, the merchant can choose Shopify as a full-fledged platform to help expand the business at 29 dollars per month when paid annually. Shopify has integrated Facebook, Instagram, Walmart, Google, eBay, Amazon, and Marketplace as sales channels. 
  3. BigCommerce: As its name rightfully suggests, BigCommerce is typically built for enterprise-level companies with high-scale sales and a bigger volume of trades. This is also the reason why many small business merchants do not opt for BigCommerce software for their lack of ease and flexibility. But, BigCommerce is management that is fully hosted for big businesses. The pricing starts from 29 dollars per month when it is paid annually. The integrated sales channels are Amazon, Instagram, eBay, Etsy, Walmart, Facebook, and Google Shopping.
  4. Adobe Commerce: Formerly known as Magento, it is a platform mainly for developers, and it supports custom designs. However, Adobe Commerce does not keep the box tool, and it requires a technical grip to manage the site and get the most out of this e-commerce software platform. The pricing is custom pricing, and Amazon is their integrated sales channel.
  5. Squarespace: It is a SaaS (Software as a service) provider with built-in convenience for content creators and entrepreneurs to showcase art through visuals. So, if you are a creative looking for a software platform, Squarespace can be of much help and can even contribute to your art sales by capturing viewers and followers. However, Squarespace has limited technical support and a very insignificant app marketplace.
  6. OpenCart: A free, open-source e-commerce platform to create and manage many stores on a single dashboard showcasing scales of sales, customer summaries, etc. OpenCart is self-hosted and free but has limited features for marketing. OpenCart has not yet integrated any sales channels.
  7. WooCommerce: An open-source platform that is free for WordPress, the blogging platform. Basically, WooCommerce converts the WordPress content into a complete store with price listings, carts, and checkouts for products you wish to sell online. However, this e-commerce platform is limited to WordPress and requires the merchants to handle many extensions.

As the world of e-commerce evolves, aren’t you ready as an established merchant or even someone waiting to experience a business venture to scale the world of online business? 

May your business increase as much as e-commerce grows in popularity and efficiency.

Our Favorite Online Programming Bootcamps

Our Criteria Of A Good Coding Bootcamp:

Reputation and Reviews: Positive reviews and testimonials from alumni provide in-depth information into the effectiveness of a bootcamp.

Curriculum and Technologies: A well-designed curriculum should cover relevant programming languages, frameworks, and tools is essential.

Instructors and Mentors: Experienced and knowledgeable instructors contribute significantly to the quality of a bootcamp.

Career Services: A good bootcamp should offer comprehensive career services. Programs that have partnerships with companies facilitate networking and job opportunities.

Flexibility and Post-Grad Support: The flexibility of the bootcamp in terms of scheduling and learning formats while offering continued support after completing the bootcamp is more beneficial.

The Best Online Programming Bootcamps

Thinkful

Programs:

Data Science, Data Analytics, Software Engineering, UX/UI Design

Delivery Format: Fully Online

Time Commitment:

Full-time: 4 months

Part-time: 6 months

Tuition:

Part-time: $9,500

Full-time: $16,000

Flexibility:

Evening and weekend class options are available

The part-time option allows 20 to 30 hours per week of independent study

Hiring Partners:

Google, IBM, WebFlow, Amazon, Walmart Labs, X

Thinkful offers extensive career coaching and one-on-one mentorship. Thinkful also offers a money-back guarantee and allow students to start for free. According to CIRR data, 73% of 2018 online data science bootcamp graduates were employed within 180 days. Thinkful’s program offers flexible payment plans and a tuition refund program for graduates who are unable to secure relevant positions.

Coding Dojo

Programs:

Data Science, Cybersecurity, Software Development

Time Commitment:

Full-time: 16 weeks

Part-time: 32 weeks

Career Services: Comprehensive

Flexibility:

Evening and Weekend class options

Tuition:

Part-time: $9,745

Full-time: $16,495

Hiring Partners:

Microsoft, IBM, Amazon, UCLA, Children’s Hospital LA, WTIA, Merit America, Tombolo Institute, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership,

Financial Assistance:

Multiple $1,000 scholarships available for underrepresented groups, military members, and career changers

GI Bill® accepted for service members and veterans.

Coding Dojo is an online coding bootcamp that covers front- and back-end languages like Python, MERN, Java, and .NET/C#. Coding Dojo emphasizes flexibility, allowing part-time students to complete one, two, or three stacks in a self-paced format over 16 to 32 weeks. The bootcamp boasts success rates, with 83.8% of graduates finding relevant jobs within six months and 91.1% within a year. Graduates reportedly earn an average starting salary exceeding $69,000.

Fullstack Academy

Delivery Format:

Online

Hiring Partners:

Google, Spotify, Amazon, Andium, Simon, Wayfair, BlackRock, Datadog, Etsy.

Bootcamp Options:

Beginner web development bootcamp (full-time) – 19 weeks, $18,910

Software engineering immersive (full-time) – 17 weeks, $18,910

Software engineering immersive (part-time) – 28 weeks, $17,480

Fullstack Academy’s curriculum is project-based, focusing on creating a portfolio with four projects and emphasizing pair programming. The bootcamp caters to both beginner and intermediate coders.

The program consists of three phases: foundations, junior, and senior, featuring live online instruction. Fullstack Academy is licensed by the New York State Education Department and is a CIRR reporting member.

General Assembly

Disciplines:

Data Science, Software Engineering, UX/UI Design, Web Development

Delivery Format:

Online and in-person classes

Tuition:

$15,950

Time Commitment:

Part-Time: 12 weeks

Full Time: 24 weeks

Self-Paced

Hiring Partners:

Google, Facebook, IBM, Microsoft, Chase, Adobe, PlayStation, DirectTV, Coca-Cola, Samsung,

Program Options:

Full-time software engineering immersive (in person and online) – 12 weeks, 480 hours of study

Part-time software engineering immersive (online) – 24 weeks, 420 hours of study

Financing Options:

Tuition deferral through an income-sharing agreement

Installment and financing plans available

Tuition discounts for full-time immersion bootcamp students

Learning Experience:

Taught through Zoom and Slack

Focuses on professional web development techniques and workflows

General Assembly’s financing options include income-sharing agreements and installment plans, with tuition discounts available. General Assembly, established in 2011, offers various technical disciplines and comprehensive career services and accepts the GI Bill®.

CareerFoundry

Delivery Format:

Online

Hiring Partners:

Google, Apple, Mercedes-Benz, PayPal, eBay, Netflix, Facebook, Visa, Booking.com, Bank of America,

Program Details and Tuition:

Part-time option (10 to 20 hours per week) – less than ten months – $7,650

Full-time option (30 to 40 hours per week) – as little as five months- $8,500

Flexibility:

Fully flexible and self-paced full-stack web development program

Commitment of about 420 hours

Payment Options:

10% discount for upfront payment

Monthly plan with a $1,600 down payment

Education loan options through Ascent or Climb

Custom payment plans are available

Deferred payment plans offered

CareerFoundry’s program includes a dual mentorship model with a senior mentor and a course expert tutor. CareerFoundry provides a free web development short course for those uncertain about their career path. It provides a flexible and mentor-supported learning experience, allowing learners to pace themselves through the program. With a range of payment options and a commitment to mentorship, CareerFoundry prepares students for in-demand web development careers and connects them with industry-leading hiring partners.

Altacademy

Delivery Format:

Online

Duration:

25 weeks (up to 50 weeks part-time)

Cost:

$1,090 – $1,670

Hiring Partners:

Google, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Cisco, Swift, Uber, Tesla, Merrill, Deloitte, Yahoo.

Concentrations and Hours:

Front-end and back-end web development: 240 and 200 hours, respectively

Full-stack web development: 500 hours

Additional Features:

Career guidance and interview preparation

Interview questions database

Includes a final capstone portfolio project

Guideline schedules and soft deadlines for motivation

24/7 online curriculum access for flexible, self-paced learning

Incorporates Data Science and A.I. in one bootcamp

Altacademy’s web development bootcamps offer flexible, fully online learning with personalized paths to cater to individual career goals. With diverse concentrations, immersive options, and a strong focus on mentorship, Altacademy equips learners for success in collaboration with renowned hiring partners.

Altacademy presents two pricing options for each bootcamp: a personalized and an immersive career path. The immersive path offers valuable features like lifetime access to base coursework, a Q&A database, and code reviews by mentors. Opting for the personalized career path unlocks additional benefits, including mentorship office hours, career guidance, interview preparation, and access to an interview questions database.

Springboard’s Software Engineering Bootcamp

Disciplines Offered:

Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Data Science, Tech Sales, UX/UI Design, Software Engineering.

Delivery Format:

Online

Tuition:

$9,900 – $16,500

Hiring Partners:

Microsoft, Amazon, Ford, Facebook, Apple, CapitalOne, J.P Morgan, Verizon, Oracle, Boeing, State Farm, American Express, Dell, Bank of America, and Lockheed Martin.

Program Details:

Self-paced 800-hour bootcamp in nine months (20 to 25 hours per week)

One-on-one mentorship for guidance

Career support services:

Networking, mock interviews, resume crafting, and salary negotiation practice

Full refund of paid tuition if graduates are not offered a qualifying position

Additional Features (36-week program):

Longer duration for in-depth learning

Comprehensive frontend and backend development using Python, Flask, SQL, Node, and Express

Springboard offers one-on-one mentorship and robust career support services. Springboard stands out for its deferred tuition system and job guarantee, promising a full refund of tuition to graduates who don’t secure a qualifying position. This bootcamp is part of a broader offering of technical disciplines, and flexible payment options are available.

Our Favorite WordPress Hosting

wordpress hosting

Are you looking for a reliable and top-quality WordPress hosting service? Yes, there are hundreds of service providers, but how to tell which one happens to be the best? All of them look attractive, but they’re not. 

If you aren’t familiar with WordPress hosting services, we have you covered. We looked around and found a few things, and we listed a few facts about the top service providers. If you’re as curious as we are, look no further because, by the end of this short write-up, you’ll have an idea about some of the best WordPress hosting services.

What Is WordPress?

In simple terms, WordPress is the world’s most sought-after content management system (CMS0. Ever since WordPress came on the scene in 2003, it has changed the world of websites. Initially created for bloggers, WordPress has become an indispensable tool for millions who want to build websites. 

Another reason for its popularity is that WordPress is open-source and freely available for anyone who wants to create a website.

What Is WordPress Hosting?

All websites need a hosting service. WordPress hosting is a hosting service specifically designed for WordPress CMS-powered websites. It looks after the needs of WordPress websites by providing services such as security, customized features, and enhanced environments.

How To Select The Right WordPress Hosting Service?

As mentioned earlier, many service providers exist, but not all are exceptional. So, before rushing to buy any package from anyone, it’s essential to consider a few aspects. You’ll save hefty amounts of money when you assess your requirements for WordPress hosting before purchasing any plan.

There are various web hosting services, but how can you determine the most suitable one? Let’s first look at each one so that you can choose easily. 

Free WordPress Hosting: Many web hosting services are available for free, but almost all of them come with a catch. Often, individuals run these free hosting sites, but they aren’t that reliable.

WordPress Dedicated Server Hosting: Dedicated servers are physical servers that hosting providers rent out to site owners. You have the authority over it and manage it as you wish. It’s ideal for websites that receive non-stop traffic.

WordPress VPS Hosting: It’s a suitable hosting service for different websites, such as high-traffic blogs, upcoming web developers, and designers. Though you share the server with other users, you have complete privacy and can control it as a dedicated server. 

Managed WordPress Hosting: It’s considered the most hassle-free hosting type because it’s “Managed WordPress Hosting” and you don’t have to stress about anything at all. 

Shared WordPress Hosting: It’s the most used web hosting type by beginners for several reasons. You share a server with many sites, but it’s affordable. It’s ideal for any startup site.

When looking for a hosting service, you must consider not only the type but also other aspects, such as reliability, security, and speed for smooth functioning.

Top WordPress Hosting Services

We have listed at least ten service providers considered the best at the moment. However, we didn’t rank them and added them in random order because all have positive and some negative aspects. So, you can go through each one and choose the right one.

Hostinger

Have you heard of Hostinger? It’s one of the most sought-after WordPress hosting services worldwide. It’s affordable and offers plenty of features, such as free CDN, improved security, and organized automatic updates. 

Pros 

  • AI SEO tools and website creator
  • Installation of 1-click WordPress
  • Free email
  • Free SSL unlimited
  • Limitless bandwidth
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Rates for renewed services are a bit expensive

HostGator

HostGator is also a popular brand that offers WordPress hosting services. It’s suitable for business owners trying to boost visibility and beginners looking for affordable service.

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • 1 click install
  • Free SSL certificate
  • Free domain for one year

Cons

  • Add-on services come at a price
  • No servers in other countries

IONOS

IONOS is ideal for startups and small and mid-sized businesses. It’s one of the top hosting service providers in the world. It offers multiple plans with various features. It also provides solutions for different needs.

Pros

  • Fast
  • Affordable
  • Huge SSD storage
  • Free SSL
  • 30-day money-back guarantee offer with every plan

Cons

  • Few features with the basic plan

SiteGround

SiteGround is another hosting service provider popular with WordPress website owners. Founded in 2004, it provides a number of solutions across the globe. SiteGround offers many hosting plans

Pros

  • Excellent customer support
  • Fast servers
  • Free offers on CDN, website backups, domain, and CDN
  • WordPress officially recommends it
  • Simple staging tools

Cons

  • More Expensive than other top service providers
  • Small storage space

Bluehost

Small businesses, bloggers, and entrepreneurs love Bluehost because it offers great services and features. It’s one of the few hosting service providers that WordPress recommends. The highlight of Bluehost is you can create as many websites as you want on one hosting plan.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Affordable starter plan
  • Free CDN, domain name
  • One-click installation of WordPress

Cons

  • Renewal plans are expensive
  • Small storage space
  • Monthly plans unavailable

DreamHost

What makes DreamHost a popular service provider is you can get free features no matter whichever type of hosting you select. So, it’s ideal for beginners and experts. A few plans also come with a money-back guarantee. Hence, you’ll see it on many top service providers’ lists.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Free SSL, WHOIS Privacy
  • Free domain for 1st year
  • Unlimited bandwidth on all plans
  • Shared hosting comes with a money-back guarantee offer

Cons

  • Renewed plans are expensive
  • No free domain
  • VPS and dedicated plans don’t have a money-back guarantee

GoDaddy

Besides offering hosting and domain registration services, GoDaddy allows you to build a website from scratch. It is easy to use, making it a superb tool for even those who don’t have any coding or design knowledge. It offers inexpensive hosting plans with several features and is suitable for those who want to increase their database.

Pros

  • Free Domain
  • Inexpensive plans
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • AI tools 
  • Free Microsoft 365 email

Cons

  • Add-ons are expensive
  • Few features for customization

Bottomline

With so many hosting services available for WordPress-powered sites, you don’t have to worry too much. There are many more, but we couldn’t include them due to word limitations. 

However, those mentioned above are all noteworthy. You can choose a hosting service depending on what fits your needs and budget.