Affiliate Marketing Requires Work Upfront: Success takes time, effort, and building a foundation before income becomes steady.
Recurring Commissions Over High-Ticket Sales: For beginners, recurring commission products offer more stability than high-ticket sales.
Email Lists are Essential Assets: Building an email list is crucial for a sustainable, long-term affiliate business.
ClickBank Isn’t the Only Option: While popular, ClickBank is often overhyped; independent programs can offer better product alignment.
Not for Everyone: Affiliate marketing requires content creation and copywriting skills, so it may not suit everyone’s strengths.
15 minute-video condensed to 5 minute-read
Affiliate marketing is a popular way to earn an income online, but with its rise, many myths and misconceptions have flooded the internet.
In his recent 15-minute video, published on September 13, 2023, successful affiliate marketer Chad Bartlett takes a critical look at some of these common myths, especially as “get-rich-quick” promises continue to attract newcomers to the field.
Drawing on his six years of experience, Chad breaks down what’s real and what’s misleading, offering a straightforward view of what it really takes to succeed.
In this post, we’ve summarized Chad’s key insights, so you can save time while still getting the main takeaways from his guide to navigating affiliate marketing. Here’s a breakdown of Chad’s advice for anyone interested in starting in this field.
1. “Affiliate Marketing is Passive and Requires Little Effort”
One of the biggest myths in affiliate marketing is that it’s a “lazy” way to make money. Many gurus pitch affiliate marketing as a side hustle for the “broke and lazy,” but Chad dispels this idea, emphasizing the amount of upfront work required to succeed. Affiliate marketing isn’t a quick cash grab; you need to spend time building a strong foundation—like creating content, setting up an email list, and developing an audience.
This upfront work can take months before you start seeing results. Chad likens this effort to other jobs, such as window washing, where hard work directly translates to earnings. In affiliate marketing, however, you may not see income immediately, and it’s not until the “ball starts rolling” that it becomes more passive. Once you’ve built an audience and established trust, it may require less daily effort, but you’ll still need to stay engaged.
2. “High-Ticket Products are the Only Way to Make Money”
Many assume that promoting high-ticket products is the only way to earn a good income in affiliate marketing. Chad disagrees. He points out that selling high-ticket items, like products priced at $1,000 or more, is much more challenging than selling lower-cost items. Higher-priced products require more trust, and it takes more time to convince someone to make that investment. Starting with lower-ticket items or products that offer recurring commissions can be more stable for beginners.
For example, Chad showcases his earnings from a lower-ticket, recurring commission product that he hasn’t actively promoted for months but still generates daily income. This consistent income offers more reliability than occasional high-ticket sales. Chad encourages beginners to think long-term and focus on stable income rather than solely chasing high-ticket commissions.
3. “You Must Use ClickBank to Succeed in Affiliate Marketing”
ClickBank is a well-known affiliate marketplace, and while many affiliate marketers use it, Chad cautions against thinking it’s the only or even the best option. The appeal of ClickBank lies in its popularity and high visibility, but it can be overhyped. Beginners may assume that promoting ClickBank products is the only way to make money, but Chad points out that most top earners in affiliate marketing don’t exclusively rely on ClickBank.
Instead, they focus on products and companies they personally use and believe in. Promoting products outside of ClickBank—especially software or services with recurring commissions—often provides a more reliable income. Chad promotes several tools he uses in his day trading niche, like Builderall and Apex Trader Funding, which offer reliable, recurring income.
4. “Anyone Can Do Affiliate Marketing and Make It Big”
Technically, anyone with a laptop and internet connection can start affiliate marketing, but Chad cautions that this doesn’t mean everyone will succeed. While it’s accessible, affiliate marketing requires specific skills, especially in content creation and copywriting. To make money, you need to know how to create content that attracts leads and build an email list. Additionally, you need to be able to write persuasive emails that convert those leads into buyers.
If content creation or writing isn’t your strength, affiliate marketing may not be the best fit. Other business models, like freelancing or working directly with clients, might suit you better. Chad encourages aspiring marketers to evaluate their interests and strengths and ask themselves if they’re willing to commit to these core skills for the long haul.
5. “You Don’t Need a Website or Email List”
A common myth is that you don’t need a website or an email list to make money in affiliate marketing, but Chad insists this is misguided. Building a business around assets is crucial, he explains, and for affiliate marketers, digital assets—especially email lists—are invaluable. Early in his career, Chad was making money through Facebook ads, but when his ad account was suddenly shut down, his income dropped to zero overnight because he hadn’t built a sustainable asset like an email list.
An email list allows you to control your audience and generate income anytime by simply sending an email to your subscribers. Unlike social media platforms, which are prone to algorithm changes or account suspensions, an email list is a long-term asset. Chad emphasizes that to succeed in affiliate marketing, your focus should be on building and growing these assets, ensuring consistent income over time.
Final Thoughts
Chad’s insights are invaluable for anyone interested in affiliate marketing, especially beginners. While affiliate marketing offers great potential, it requires commitment, hard work, and a focus on building long-term assets. By debunking these myths, Chad encourages viewers to approach affiliate marketing with realistic expectations and a sustainable mindset.
For those looking to dive deeper into Chad’s affiliate marketing strategy, he offers a free guide that covers the steps he would take if he were starting from scratch. Following Chad’s advice may help aspiring affiliate marketers navigate the industry with more clarity and confidence.
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