Let Others Sell for You

Day 25: Affiliate Marketing Programs—Leveraging Other People's Business and Network.

So, picture this: You run a small Nigerian skincare brand. Your soaps are amazing, but only your close friends and a few customers know about them. How do you spread the word without blowing your entire marketing budget?

This is where affiliate marketing programs step in—imagine dozens of people, each with their own network, promoting your products for a small commission on every sale. That’s like getting market sellers across Lagos and Abuja to push your goods while you sit back and watch the orders roll in.

Let’s dive into the DIY steps to set this up—because it’s easier than you think.

How to Create Your Affiliate Marketing Program (The Skincare Brand Edition):

Step 1: Choose Your Product and Commission Rate Not all products need to be part of the affiliate program. Focus on bestsellers or new products you want to promote. Offer an appealing commission—5% to 15% works for most industries in Nigeria.

Example: You decide to offer a 10% commission on each sale of your new shea butter lotion that costs ?5,000. So, every affiliate who sells a bottle earns ?500.

Step 2: Find Affiliates with Aligned Networks Look for influencers, bloggers, or even university students who love skincare and have active social media accounts. You can also recruit happy customers—because who better to promote you than someone who already loves your products?

Analogy: This is like giving your favourite cousin some of your homemade puff-puffs to sell at their shop. If they make sales, they keep a part of the profit—you both win!

Step 3: Provide Marketing Materials Your affiliates need tools to promote effectively—flyers, product images, sample captions, and discount codes. Make it as easy as possible for them to spread the word.

DIY Tip: Create a Google Drive folder with everything your affiliates need. Add a WhatsApp group where they can share feedback, ask questions, and celebrate sales.

Step 4: Track Sales and Payouts Use affiliate tracking software (like FirstPromoter or Tapfiliate) to monitor sales from each affiliate. Make payments promptly, because nothing ruins relationships faster than delayed payouts.

Analogy: Think of it like paying your apprentice on time—if they know they’ll get their share without stress, they’ll promote you with even more energy.

Step 5: Monitor and Improve the Program Check regularly to see which affiliates are performing well. Offer bonuses or shoutouts on social media to keep them motivated. If some affiliates are struggling, find out how you can help—maybe they need better promotional content or tips.

What Makes Affiliate Marketing So Powerful?

Affiliates tap into their networks, meaning your products reach people you could never target. Plus, you only pay when they generate sales—no upfront costs or wasted money on ads.

Quick Recap:

1. Choose a product and set commission rates.
2. Recruit affiliates with relevant networks.
3. Provide easy-to-use marketing materials.
4. Track sales and pay affiliates promptly.
5. Monitor performance and offer bonuses.

Did you miss yesterday's edition?

We discussed User Experience Enhancements—simple changes to your website to make it easier for customers to use and increase your chances of making sales. Go back and catch up!

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