Ralph asks: I am a newbie and want to get started in affiliate marketing – Do you think affiliate marketing is saturated?
It seems every guru is selling an affiliate marketing program or have their own membership site to teach someone how to do affiliate marketing.
Do you think it is still possible for a newbie like me to get started?
Hi Ralph,
Affiliate Marketing is a method of online marketing and can be used in any niche.
As an affiliate marketer, I promote products online from backyard swings to bobbleheads – and everything in between. Most often physical or tangible products.
It’s a common misconception to think that Affiliate Marketing is all about selling ebooks or info-products about Affiliate Marketing. But you actually have Affiliate Marketing as a niche, and then Affiliate Marketing as a method…
For more on that, see: What is Internet Marketing (wake-up call!)
Affiliate Marketing is very similar to commission-based sales jobs you may be familiar with in the offline world. You earn commission on every sale you make.
The commission can be earned on a digital OR physical product, a service, or even a free offer (often called CPA for Cost Per Action, or Pay Per Lead programs).
As an affiliate, your job is to either bring the product to the market – or bring the market to the merchant. The more value you can add to that process, the more successful you’ll be as an affiliate.
Back to your question, Affiliate Marketing as a niche is quite saturated. It’s covered by industry experts who have been successfully promoting affiliate programs for as long as 10 years and do a very good job of teaching it to others. Rosalind Gardner and her Super Affiliate Handbook is one example.
That said, if you have a unique angle or target a specific micro-niche, or perhaps have a flair for detailed case studies, you stand to do well in this niche over time. It’s best to have your own experience and ultimately your own product to compete in the Affiliate Marketing niche.
But Affiliate Marketing as a model – that’s wide open to anyone of any experience level that is willing to position themselves well within a specific niche market.
It’s much easier than product creation, offering a service, or drop shipping even. As an affiliate you don’t have to carry inventory, process payments or deal directly with customers. You simply focus on the marketing, and on serving your market.
If you look around, you’ll notice there are affiliate programs available for just about everything you can imagine. Everything from Wal-Mart to Netflix to Elvis memorabilia. People are shopping online now more than ever, so this is a great time to get into Affiliate Marketing! 
Best,
