As a South African that wants to earn money online, becoming an affiliate marketer is an ideal solution.
Don’t get it twisted on how you can become one. This article is for you.
This post is about how to start affiliate marketing successfully and the best programs available in South Africa, you can join to make money online.
Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to earn income on the internet in South Africa.
It is all about referring people to products or services and earning a commission when they make any purchase via your affiliate links.
Getting started…
Who is an Affiliate Marketer?
An affiliate marketer is a person who promotes a company’s products and services via digital marketing using affiliate links.
Here, the marketer searches for the products and services people enjoy.
Then, promotes and gets a commission from each sale made.
Affiliate Marketer Duties
- Maintain open communication with the customers.
- Promote the company’s products.
- Responding to the customers’ inquires.
- Set marketing and sales goals and objectives to accomplish revenue growth.
- The suggestion of the process advancements to boost revenue target.
- Tracking customer conversion.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a marketing arrangement where a business pays you for every visitor or customer you get them through your marketing efforts.
You get paid every time you generate a lead or drive a sale for the business, depending upon the agreement.
In affiliate marketing, you basically recommend a product or service to your audience and readers using custom tracking links, and then get a referral commission every time someone makes a purchase using your link.
Affiliate marketing is a high-paying online business to learn and do in South Africa.
With affiliate marketing, there’s no limit to how much you can make.
Becoming an affiliate marketer in South Africa is simple.
You just need to choose a niche, register for an affiliate program, choose an offer, and start promoting it.
How Affiliate Marketing Works in South Africa
Here is how affiliate marketing works in South Africa:
- You find a wonderful product or services online that solves a problem and people are interested in buying or join.
- You recommend the product or services to your followers on your blog or on social media with the help of a special link.
- Once your followers click on the link and buy a product or pay for any service, you get a commission.
So, assuming you have up to 5,000 readers or followers on your blog or social media account (WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram), and you find a digital product on “How To Lose Weight After Pregnancy In 4 Weeks With A Special South African Diet” that costs ZAR500 which they really need and will solve their problem and recommend to them.
Let’s say about 2000 of them click on your affiliate link and 500 ends up buying this product.
Assuming your commission is 50% per sale (i.e., ZAR250), that means you have made ZAR125,000 (i.e., ZAR250 x 500).
Affiliate Marketing = Join Affiliate Programs + Promote Products + Earn.
Steps to Starting Affiliate Marketing in South Africa
These are the steps to start affiliate marketing and earn money online in South Africa.
1. Find a Lucrative Niche
Not all niches are beautiful enough to attract customers.
Some niches are boring.
So, choose your niche right.
You must be passionate about this business and be ready to put in the work.
Before even setting up your marketing strategy, define your affiliate niche according to:
- Your expertise
- Your skills
- Your experience
- Your passion
- Interest on the topic
- Niche profitability
- Niche competition
- Affiliate programs availability
Your niche is the market you would like to step into and the products you offer your audience.
Your niche is very fundamental to what affiliate program you want to join.
It determines what affiliate programs to focus your attention on and what you want your business to be known for.
Examples of lucrative affiliate niches to consider include:
- Sports Betting
- Travel Abroad
- Study Abroad
- Make Money Online
- Weight Loss (Slim Teas, Meal Plans etc.)
- Cooking Guide and Healthy Eating
- Electronic Gadgets
- Skincare and Beauty Products
- Natural and Herbal Remedies
- Web Hosting
- Fertility Products
- General Health
- Personal Development
- Security
In affiliate marketing, choose a niche, product or service that is problem solving and many people will be interested in buying.
The health niche is very profitable to join as an affiliate because anybody, including you, will spend the last money in their purse, wallet, or bank to ensure that they get rid of any health challenge.
For security niche, you and I will spend a lot to ensure that we are secured, our family, cars, house, shops, and businesses are safe.
For the health, fertility and beauty niche, a lot of women will buy a product that will help them give birth (e.g., fertility tea), eliminate diseases (e.g., ulcer treatment, arthritis pain relief), look more beautiful (e.g., bone straight wig, stretch mark remover) despite the price.
The men will also invest their money in products that will enable them to look more handsome (e.g., beard growth oil) or improve their sperm count and make them last longer in bed.
Parents would also like to purchase any product and services that will enable their kids to become intelligent, neat, healthy.
Benefits of focusing on a Niche
- To help consumers identify your business in the crowd.
- Targeting and maintaining good customer relations.
- To help establish authority in your niche.
- To help find the best affiliate marketing program that supports your niche.
2. Get a Platform
To become an affiliate marketer in South Africa, there is a need for you to select the right platform to publicize or advertise your products and services.
Your social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram can serve as a platform.
Also, YouTube channels are not left out.
For you to be getting into perfection, I would advise you to start a niche blog as this enables you to get more clicks from interested customers.
Building a blog around your affiliate business makes it a recurring income.
A blog makes it possible for you to make money from the previous works you’ve done even while you’re not working again.
Building a blog is now very easy using WordPress and Namecheap.
To have your blog site up and running today, follow these few steps:
Get a Domain Name
First on your list should be getting a domain name for your affiliate business.
Your domain name is going to be the name of your website. A good example is mine (siwesbeginner.com)
Try to look for a unique name and mind you, the first name on your mind might have been taken already, so make sure you have several alternatives.
There are various places you can get a suitable domain name like Namecheap.
Here are some tips for choosing a suitable domain name:
- Pick something that defines you and your niche. It’s always a good idea to self-title or include your name. That way, readers can build a relationship with the person behind the blog.
- Make your domain name easy to spell and pronounce. Don’t use misspelled words, numbers, or hyphens in your domain name. These things will make your name a lot harder for people to remember.
- Make sure that the .com of your chosen name is available. Try to avoid endings like .net or .org because they are less common and harder to remember.
- Make your domain name related to your affiliate niche. This way people will instantly know what your blog is about. For example, spotless.com or skinmagic.com is perfect for a skincare blog, and healthyliving.com for a health blog.
- Add changing words. If the domain name you want is not available, consider changing words. For example, if skinmagic.com isn’t available to purchase for your skincare blog, you could use magicskin.com.
- If you can’t think of a catchy name for your blog, using your own full name as your domain name is always a safe bet.
Just in case you have a domain name in mind, check if it’s available below and secure it today before other affiliates do!
Buy and Set Up Hosting for Your Website
Just like a domain name is the address of your website, hosting is like the actual house your website is living.
If you don’t already have one, the best I can recommend is Namecheap.
A good hosting determines how your website is going to respond on the internet and they are also responsible for how fast your website loads.
If you must get anything right, it should be your hosting company because a bad hosting can cause downtime for your website at any moment.
WordPress Installation
After you’ve set up your web hosting with your domain name, the next thing in line is to install WordPress on your website.
The good thing is, if you’re using Namecheap, WordPress is pre-installed.
So, you won’t have to bother yourself with the installations.
3. Create Content for Your Affiliate Products
Having so many affiliate clicks is very important.
Make it easy for your audience to click on your links.
So, provide the right content that will be most engaging to your audience.
Some popular marketing contents you can create on your blog include:
- Reviews
- Tutorials
- Commodity comparisons
- Case research
- Guides
- Promotion of the products you sell is in your hand.
4. Drive Traffic to Your Site
Don’t forget that one reason you created your website was for your audience to get to see your affiliate products.
No matter how attractive your website topic is, and no one is seeing it, you won’t be happy.
And the blog is of no use.
To be successful at affiliate marketing, you have two (2) options:
- Use free traffic from your blog and social media accounts (WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, etc.)
- Run paid ads.
As a beginner without money to run paid adverts, you need to learn Search Engine Optimization and use targeted keywords in the content you create.
This takes time to take off, but you can get good organic traffic once ranking for these keywords.
Readers won’t stop by your site unless you create quality content that keeps them coming back for more.
You need to learn how to write good content for your blog.
Here are qualities of a great content:
- It is useful and has keywords in all the right places.
- It must answer a key question (or one key question and a couple of related questions).
- A great content must be unique, easy to read and understand, and includes images when necessary.
Note: Content is not necessarily just articles and text and images.
Content includes videos, infographic, slideshows, podcast, webinar, etc.
I recommend choosing a consistent frequency for your articles.
You can start by adding a few posts per week and then gradually increase your frequency to daily updates.
For you, to create good content, you need to do extensive research.
You need to constantly read for other blogs similar to your niche.
But that doesn’t mean you should copy them word for word else you’ll face a penalty from Google.
You just need to gather topics, collect ideas, and get inspiration.
After that, use those ideas on your blog by adding your own unique voice, style, and flavor to it.
If you want to get quality articles written and delivered to you, I recommend HIREWRITERS.COM
You can get your article written with as low as 3–5 dollars.
5. Find an Offer and Join Affiliate Programs
To become a successful affiliate marketer, you need to join affiliate programs and get your custom links.
Select the one that suits your interest and is in line with your niche.
Any product you dislike, don’t join.
The products you promote must be the ones you have used, and it is trusted.
When you find a suitable offer, check whether it’s available for your country and traffic type.
Check out the product or company’s landing page — make sure it looks neat, presentable, and attractive.
Don’t take up offers that look shady.
After you find an offer you like, join the network where it is posted.
For this, you’ll need to fill out application forms.
Choosing the right program will make your affiliate marketing career worth your while.
Keep in mind the relationship between your niche and the affiliate program, the type of merchants and their offerings, the marketability of their products and services, and how valuable their commission is.
Once you get accepted into the network, you can promote the offer on your website.
Ensure you insert your affiliate links at the right place in your content that can generate clicks and sales.
Market the product in a way that doesn’t look very sales and doesn’t put off your audience.
To succeed in affiliate marketing, ensure that your niche, content and products apply to your target audience.
6. Start Building an Email List
The biggest mistake many new and existing affiliates make is they don’t start building an email list from day one.
Most people will visit your blog once and never return, because they already have somewhere else they get information on the type of content you’re offering.
The only way to get them back is to prompt them to sign up for your newsletter.
And every time they get an email from you on a new post, they’ll click to read, and overtime, come to trust your blog enough to visit it directly.
If you don’t build a mailing list from day one, your chances of becoming a successful affiliate marketer would be slim, because all your marketing expenditure could go down the drain when Facebook ads or pages, Google SEO, or any other marketing platform either goes down or blacklists you.
A great tool you can use to collect and send emails to your newsletter subscribers, manage your marketing campaigns and keep track of your leads is GetResponse.
GetResponse empowers businesses to do what they do better, because solutions are made for customers whose needs are as diverse and multifaceted.
You can use GetResponse FREE plan to get started today.
And when you’re ready to take your affiliate business and marketing to a new level, upgrade to one of the premium plans.
I equally use them, and their service is outstanding.
7. Promote Your Blog and Grow Your Audience
Promoting your blog is essential if you want to develop an audience and, eventually, monetize it to earn money.
Some are easy to set up and do, while others require a little more investment of your time (and maybe your money.)
These are ways you can use to promote your blog:
- Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)
- Guest Posting
- Paid advertising
- Sending emails to subscribers
Affiliate Programs in South Africa
Affiliate programs in South Africa allow eligible members to join and earn money daily by promoting various physical and digital products and services to their customers, blog visitors or social media fans.
Depending on your niche, passion or market interest, there are different affiliate marketing programs you can join.
Most affiliate programs are free to join in South Africa while few require payment before sign-up.
Features of the Best South African Affiliate Programs
A good affiliate marketing program must:
- Be mobile friendly
- Have good payment threshold and withdrawal options
- Be fully registered with the proper agency
- Not have hidden charges
- Have fair customer policies
- Have good users’ reviews
- Have marketing materials for affiliates
South Africa Affiliate Programs Requirements
These are some requirements and documents that you need to provide before you’ll be able to join some affiliate marketing programs in South Africa and earn money:
- You must be above the age of 18 years old.
- You must have a Valid ID card for verification.
- You must have a blog, YouTube channel or high engagement social media accounts.
- You must have a bank account, PayPal account or crypto wallet for payment.
Top 46 Affiliate Marketing Programs For South Africans
Here are the best affiliate programs in South Africa that pay daily:
- 4aKid
- 4aPet
- Avis
- Bags and Baggage
- Bid or Buy
- Camper Travel Africa
- Cape of Good Hope Tours
- Cape Town Pass
- Coach Parry
- Ever Beauty
- eVitamins
- Faithful to Nature
- Fasta
- Future Light
- GoRugged
- Hannah Pad
- Home Improvement Hub
- Instant Life
- Insurance Hound
- JustGO
- Kaspersky
- Lime Loans
- Linuxweb
- Loot
- Mantality
- Master Health Products
- Mrs Martins
- Natural Wise
- PetMania
- Pro Gifts
- Pure Nutracare
- SafariNow
- Shape Wear Shop
- Stallion Hosting
- The Health Nut
- Travel Check
- Travelstart
- Tripadvisor
- UApply
- USN
- Vaadi Organics
- Wonga
- Xtreme accessories
- Zalemart
- Zando
- Zasstra
How Do Affiliate Marketers in South Africa Get Paid?
South African affiliate marketers get paid commissions for referring customers to companies where they make purchases.
These commissions can range from less than 1% to 20% or more, depending on the product and level of referral volume.
For online campaigns, a customized link or referral code is used to track sales.
In this sense, it is a source of passive income since, as an affiliate, you can continue to earn money once your campaign is set up.
How Much Money Can You Make as an Affiliate Marketer?
Incomes for affiliate marketers in South Africa vary, with some making a few hundred dollars and some making six figures.
It depends on what is being marketed, how much influence the marketer has, the affiliate’s reach, and how much time is invested in marketing products.
Often, those spending more time marketing the company’s products will earn more money.
Can Beginners Do Affiliate Marketing?
Becoming successful through affiliate marketing takes time, skill, and experience.
However, it may suit beginners better than alternative platforms, since you do not have to invest in physical merchandise or inventory at the start.
Can You Start Affiliate Marketing with No Money?
There are several free platforms and affiliate networks to join for little or no money in South Africa.
How to Become an Affiliate Marketer in South Africa?
Follow these steps to succeed as an affiliate marketer in South Africa:
- Get a niche blog because it is an effective channel for advertising and promotion as it allows the blogger, serving as an expert, to earn money by expressing an opinion about the offering.
- To attract a dedicated consumer base, find a specific category that you are comfortable with or interested in.
- Research affiliate programs and choose one or more based on your needs, whether it be earning high commissions or generating more traffic.
- Develop solid and interesting content around the offerings and work to increase traffic to your site.
Final Words
Becoming an affiliate marketer in South Africa requires so many responsibilities.
It is not like a salesperson who sells in a shop and gets paid.
This is more of affiliations and links.
I know you would like to open your laptop in the morning and see how much you have earned with no visit to a company or business enterprise.
Choosing the right affiliate program in South Africa can be difficult because of the various competing options available in the market. That’s why this post was written for you.
If you are a blogger, you can make money from your blog by referring people to products or services.
If you are a regular user of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn, you can earn extra income by capitalizing on affiliate marketing.
Some of these programs require you to meet certain criteria before your application can be approved, while some don’t.
So, it’s impossible to tell you categorically which among them will accept you immediately.
So, whether or not an affiliate marketing program approves you, what is important is to ensure you have all it takes to generate leads and sales before sending your application, because no company will give you a commission without seeing your efforts.
Your authority, reputation, audience, traffic, among other key factors, are considered before any affiliate marketing program can grant you approval.
This means there is no way you can make money as an affiliate marketer if you don’t do all the needful.
I spent several hours researching each affiliate program on this list, so you can trust the integrity of the content.
Hope you enjoyed this article.
If you know any affiliate marketing program that is equally a good option or shouldn’t be on this list, please let us know in the comment section.
Tell us the affiliate program and why it is excellent or bad for South Africans.
