Have you ever thought about starting an online business but then wondered what on earth you would sell?
Perhaps you’ve considered creating an ebook, designing an online course, developing a membership site or even setting up your own product.
And then you’ve discovered just how much work might be involved.
There’s the product creation, the website, the payment processing, customer support and everything else that goes along with running a business.
But here’s something you might not know.
You can start affiliate marketing without creating your own product at all.
In fact, that’s one of the reasons affiliate marketing appeals to so many beginners.
Let me explain how it works and how you could get started.
What Exactly Is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a business model where you promote products or services belonging to another company or individual.
When someone purchases through your unique affiliate link, you can earn a commission.
You don’t manufacture anything.
You don’t need to hold stock.
And in most cases, you don’t have to deal with processing orders or delivering products.
Your job is to connect people who are interested in something with a product or service that might help them.
For example, imagine somebody is looking for a beginner’s guide to photography.
You could recommend a suitable photography course through an affiliate link.
If that person purchases the course, you receive a commission according to the programme’s terms.
It’s a straightforward concept, although building a business around it still takes time, effort and consistency.
Why You Don’t Need Your Own Product
One of the biggest obstacles for people starting an online business is the thought that they need something of their own to sell.
But that’s simply not the case.
There are thousands of businesses offering affiliate programmes.
These include digital products, online training, software, physical products and subscription services.
You can choose products that interest you and that are relevant to the audience you want to reach.
This means you can concentrate on learning how to attract visitors, provide useful information and recommend suitable products.
Instead of spending months creating something to sell, you can start by learning how to promote something that already exists.
Where Can You Find Products to Promote?
One of the best-known marketplaces for digital affiliate products is ClickBank.
ClickBank connects product vendors with affiliate marketers.
Vendors list their products, and affiliates can apply to promote them in return for commissions on qualifying sales.
There are products covering subjects such as:
- Health and fitness.
- Personal development.
- Online business and marketing.
- Hobbies and education.
- Lifestyle and self-improvement.
Of course, not every product will be suitable for every audience.
It’s important to look carefully at what you’re promoting and make sure you understand the product and its claims.
But ClickBank gives beginners somewhere to start looking for products without having to create their own.
How Do You Actually Get People to Buy?
This is where things become interesting.
Finding a product to promote is one thing.
Getting people to visit your affiliate link is another.
You need a way of attracting people who are already interested in the subject you’re promoting.
There are several ways to do this.
1. Blogging
Writing helpful articles is one way to attract visitors from Google and other search engines.
For example, somebody searching for information about starting an online business might discover one of your articles.
Within that article, you can introduce a relevant product or training programme.
2. YouTube
You can create videos answering questions, explaining how things work and sharing useful information.
People watching your videos can follow links in your descriptions to find out more.
3. Email marketing
Building an email list gives you an opportunity to communicate with people who have chosen to hear from you.
You can send useful information, answer common questions and recommend relevant products when appropriate.
The important thing is not to bombard people with sales messages.
Give them a reason to open your emails and trust your recommendations.
A Way to Get Started Without Building Everything From Scratch
If you’re new to affiliate marketing, you might be wondering where to begin.
There’s quite a lot to learn, and trying to piece everything together from dozens of different websites can become confusing.
This is one reason I’ve been looking more closely at ClickBank Profit Club, a programme run by John Thornhill.
It offers an initial free membership, so you can register and explore the programme before deciding whether you want to take things further.
There is also a VIP membership option for people interested in additional benefits and higher commission opportunities.
You don’t have to make that decision immediately.
You can start by looking around and deciding whether the programme is right for you.
If you’d like to take a look, you can find ClickBank Profit Club here:
CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE CLICKBank PROFIT CLUB
Is Affiliate Marketing Suitable for Beginners?
I think it can be, provided you approach it with realistic expectations.
You don’t need to be a technical expert.
You don’t need to be an established influencer.
And you don’t need to have a product of your own.
However, you do need to be prepared to learn.
You’ll need to understand how affiliate links work, how to attract visitors and how to communicate with people who might be interested in the products you recommend.
You should also understand that affiliate marketing is not a guaranteed way to make money.
Some people build successful businesses, while others struggle to generate sales.
There are no guaranteed results, and it can take time before you see meaningful progress.
My advice would be to start with one approach, learn the basics and build from there.
You don’t need to master everything on day one.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been putting off starting an online business because you don’t have a product to sell, perhaps it’s time to look at affiliate marketing.
The opportunity to promote existing products means you can concentrate on learning the marketing side of the business rather than developing something from scratch.
And with marketplaces such as ClickBank, there are products and programmes worth exploring.
If you’re curious about getting started, take a look at ClickBank Profit Club.
You can join initially without paying, explore what’s available and decide for yourself whether the additional VIP membership is something you’d like to consider.
There’s no need to create a product before you take your first step into affiliate marketing.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN CLICKBank PROFIT CLUB
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains an affiliate link. If you join or purchase through my link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend that you investigate programmes that you feel are suitable for your own circumstances.
