I once sat in a meeting with the CEO of the company I was working for, and the senior client of the large electronics brand we represented.
The CEO proudly proclaimed to our client that we were now going to discuss “the dark art of Affiliate Marketing”, adding, “I mean, no one really understands it do they?”
I’d like to think that after a dozen years in the Affiliate Marketing industry, I get the gist of what it’s all about.
So, what is Affiliate Marketing?
At its most basic level, Affiliate Marketing is essentially a digital version of something that’s been happening for centuries - referral marketing.
A says to B “if you tell C about my shop and he buys something, I’ll make it worth your while”.
It’s a bit like a giant, online Tupperware party. The difference is that now, rather than getting your friends around your house so Sally can sell them some quality kitchenware, and you can bag some freebies for your troubles, it’s all done through websites and tracked digitally.