Your Guide to Earning Your First 5 Referrals (and Revenue) at Wealthy Affiliate
Hey folks,
If you're reading this, chances are, you're just like me when I first started. Hungry to learn, eager to succeed, and just a little confused about where to start. No worries...we have all been there.
The game of affiliate marketing (like any game) has its own set of principles. Let's dive into a strategy that could help you land your first 5 referrals at Wealthy Affiliate, thus unlocking your initial revenue potential.
And each referral that you generate, offers you the potential to earn recurring commissions, and up to $320 per sale!
Irrespective of your niche direction you are headed, you can reach out to ANYONE that you know that would be interested in starting a business online, doing something they love and are passionate about, and ultimately the benefits of an online business in the process.
Let's first discuss the process of "inviting" people and connecting with people in a relatable way.
Mastering the Art of Connection...
Making a connection with your audience is the first step in any successful affiliate marketing venture. And, let's be honest... it's not always the easiest thing to do.
You must learn to be open-minded, and to connect with your audience in a way that is relevant to them. Be receptive to new ideas, perspectives and learn to resonate with different people.
Remember, affiliate marketing is not a numbers game; it's a PEOPLE'S game. When you understand that, you are going to have the skill set to reach any level of affiliate marketing success you are willing to work towards.
If you can help people, ultimately you can build a successful business in any niche. So keep that in the back of your head with every single connection you make, your goal is to help people and establish trust.
How exactly do you connect with your audience?
First, truly UNDERSTAND your audience... understand their needs, fears, aspirations, and preferences. Develop empathy, talk their language, and make sure you communicate with them, not AT them.
Second, provide VALUE. Give your audience something they cannot find elsewhere... unique insights, helpful tips, or personalized solutions. Become a trusted resource, someone they can turn to when in doubt.
Transforming Visitors into Referrals: The Wealthy Affiliate WAy
Once you've established that connection with your audience, it's time to turn visitors into referrals.
The secret sauce here is CREDIBILITY. If you're not credible, then why should someone take your word when you recommend Wealthy Affiliate?
But Kyle, how do I build credibility (even within limited experience online)?
Great question! The strategy is fairly straight forward here. Be REAL.
Pain + Reflection = Progress.
Embrace your struggles, share your journey, mistakes and all... Be REAL, be HUMAN, be YOU.
By sharing your honest journey and reflecting on your mistakes, you become relatable. This level of authenticity breeds credibility. Show them your progress, the value you've received from Wealthy Affiliate, what your accomplishing thus far, and how it can do the same for them.
Your next step is to make your call to action irresistible. Make your audience feel they're not just signing up for a "program", but becoming a part of a COMMUNITY that supports and mentors them towards success.
Lastly, never forget to follow up. Keep the conversation going, continue to engage with your audience. Remember, patience and perseverance is key in the game of affiliate marketing.
Now, let's get down to three hands-on strategies that you can leverage to make those connections turn into your first referrals.
Strategy 1: Leverage Your Circle of Influence... Your Friends
In the world of affiliate marketing, it's easy to overlook the power of your immediate network... Your friends. Remember, each of your friends is a potential doorway to a new world of connections.
But how do you do this without sounding pushy?
The key is to be casual yet persuasive. Share your journey. Let them know about the value Wealthy Affiliate has brought into your life. Your enthusiasm might pique their curiosity.
Remember... you're not selling. You're sharing an opportunity that has personally benefited you and can benefit them. And who knows, they may turn out to be your strongest advocates!
Strategy 2: Harness the Power of Your Social Followings
Got a decent social following? It's time to let your followers know about Wealthy Affiliate.
Get your affiliate link at any point from the "$" icon in the header menu, and click the "Copy Link" button.
Don't spam people though. Incorporate your Wealthy Affiliate experiences organically into your content. For example, if you've learned something new about affiliate marketing, share that nugget of wisdom, and mention Wealthy Affiliate as the source.
Most importantly, always end your posts with a strong call to action. Invite your followers to explore Wealthy Affiliate and become a part of your journey.
Strategy 3: Engage Potential Interests through Email
Email, despite being one of the oldest forms of online communication, remains one of the most effective ways to connect with people who might be interested in Wealthy Affiliate.
Begin by compiling a list of people who you think would be genuinely interested. You don't want to end up in the spam folder.
Personalize your emails. Make the recipient feel valued and understood. Briefly share your experience with Wealthy Affiliate, the benefits you've gained, and how you believe it can help them too. Focus on the outcome, where they would want to be, versus telling them about features.
People want flexibility in their life, they want to earn more money, they want to do something they are passionate about, and they want to be fulfilled. These are all things that WA can offer them.
Lastly, follow up, but don't bombard. If they show interest, great. Guide them on their journey. If not, respect their decision, and move on.
Remember, your first few referrals can often times be the hardest, but they're also the most rewarding. Once you unlock this initial achievement, there's no looking back.
Here’s to your success with Wealthy Affiliate, and if you need a hand with any promotional techniques or strategies to help you get your first 5 referrals (or your next 5), please do let me know.
Also, if you have a "referral" strategy that has worked for you, I would love to hear about it. Drop your comments below.
Recent Comments
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Hi there, Kyle. I enjoyed this post-- and it gave me several ideas. I have been entertaining various versions of this. Let's see what you think:
My husband and I live in a very nice 55+ community. People here have started interest groups, such as photography, guitar, hiking, etc. These are reoccurring from 1 to 4 times per month. We have some access to meeting rooms with wifi and TV screen. I attend the photo club, which has 6 to 12 in attendance and meets once a month.
I am considering offering to host a group interested in learning how to use AI because it's popular and the platforms are fairly easy to use.
How might I tie Wealthy Affiliate in to this scenario?
Kyle,
I did reach out to one friend who I know needs money, however, I haven’t gotten a reply from her.
All my other friends are financially well off and don’t need to start an online business.
I wouldn’t want to talk with anyone about it now because I am so stuck at the very first thing I’ve tried to do! I can’t even get my picture on my About Me page and I’ve been working on it for two weeks! It’s just one problem after another and I’m beginning to doubt my ability to do this ever!
Hi Ariella, Did you asked any of the members on how to place your picture on the About Me page? That is the first place I would start is ask for help. Then I would contact your friend and she where is at. If she should have any questions answer the questions the best that you can. Then I would reiterate the importance of building an online business is.
And don't doubt you ability you have what it takes to do this business it is just going to take time. Be patience you will succeed you just have to do it and you will surprise yourself on what you can do. Trust me I do know what I am talking about.
Mary
Hi Ariella, take a look here to see if this helps with placing your image. How to put my about page with my imag to the top right side? All the best,
Brian.
Thanks Kyle for the info you shared with us. I tried some online marketing several years ago and hit up all my friends and they all turned me down and tried to make me feel stupid. So not so sure about that avenue again. I do not have good computer skills or a big presence on social media.
I guess my question is, how do I show value prior to getting this off the ground and running. All I ever heard from my friends was: How much have you made so far? I hadn't made any so they just laughed and went their was.
Any suggestions to guide me to get this started?
Offer them help, and show them something. If you try to sell them on an idea, then that probably won't work...people don't like to feel like they are being pushed into the next "thing".
Show them the process of building a business online, share a valuable blog post with them to show that process, etc.,
Offer value, establish trust, and then people will tend to make a positive decision at a much higher rate.
Hi Cubbyd, I agree with Kyle do talk show them what can be accomplish by having an online business. As far as making anything just say it like this. It takes time to build a business rather it is a brick and mortar or online. Things just don't happen overnight.
It takes patience to build an online business nothing happens overnight. You have to work at it like anything else to make it good. In time you will have traffic looking at your website and then even possibly make a sale. The more you make you website known the more traffic will notice and the more sales you will make.
And let them laugh because the only reason they are doing that is because they want to stay in their comfort zone. You are stepping outside of your comfort zone trying something new and exciting and in the end you will be laughing all the way to the bank.
Yours friends will be in shock and won't believe what you have built. So no worries just keep on doing what you are doing and you will be successful. Enjoy your journey because then you can help someone else that is going through the same thing. Just pass it forward.
Mary
Hi Cubbyd, You are so very welcome I hope that what I said helped you out. Because I know that now you will be able to help others along the way with their online businesses as well.
Mary
Dear Kyle
I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible insights and guidance you've shared in your recent message about affiliate marketing and generating referrals for Wealthy Affiliate. Your words resonate deeply with me and countless others who are on the same journey to success.
Your thoughtful approach to addressing our aspirations, confusion, and eagerness to learn is nothing short of inspiring. Your words are like a guiding light, illuminating the path for those of us who are new to the world of affiliate marketing. Your emphasis on understanding our audience, connecting authentically, and providing real value is a testament to your commitment to our success.
The wisdom you've imparted on building credibility through authenticity struck a chord with me. Your advice to embrace our struggles and share our genuine experiences resonates profoundly. Your encouragement to be human and relatable reminds us that our journey is a story worth sharing, and our mistakes are valuable lessons that can help others.
The practical strategies you've laid out – from leveraging our circle of influence to harnessing the power of social media and engaging through email – are gems of wisdom that I will treasure as I embark on this journey. Your insights have transformed what seemed like an overwhelming task into a series of actionable steps that feel achievable and exciting.
I'm truly inspired by your words, and I am committed to putting your advice into practice with determination and enthusiasm. Your generosity in offering assistance and the willingness to learn from our experiences is a testament to your dedication to creating a community of thriving affiliates.
Thank you, once again, for sharing your expertise and insights. Your guidance has provided the roadmap I needed to navigate this intricate landscape, and I am confident that with your wisdom and support, I will be able to unlock the potential within affiliate marketing.
Here's to the journey ahead and the incredible possibilities that await. Thank you for being a guiding light in this exciting venture.
With heartfelt appreciation,
@LThabo
Thank you so much for sharing this, Kyle. It's really helpful and definitely full of great strategies. It also has me thinking of something that I'd like to do video wise since I have a YouTube channel. I've been heavily thinking of getting out of my comfort zone and start a website here from scratch, but creating videos of my journey to building a full fledged affiliate marketing business through Wealthy Affiliate. My thoughts are, if people can see what I'm doing here and how the training helps build a thriving business, it might get others who are on the fence of joining WA, that push to give it a shot themselves.
Sure, you can absolutely create videos and the more authentic, the better. Offer value, communicate with others how you can help (and how we can help), etc.
If you ever want me to review any of your content, let us know. ;)
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Kyle, I would be worried about making friends into enemies. I understand what you’re saying. But I remember, in the day many, many years ago when I was interested in multilevel marketing, it made many people very suspicious, and it was a good way of turning friends into non-friends. So I would be reluctant to go there first for referrals. Then again, I’m new to wealthy affiliate. I think once my niche is booming and I am more experienced, perhaps I may be able to have more confidence in going to Friends
Yeah, it all comes down to your delivery. If it feels like you are promoting something and offering nothing else in return, then people are going to feel like you are spamming them. Don't be that guy.
Instead, offer them value, start a conversation, and ask people questions in respect to them getting started online. Help them understand the outcome of where they will be at, versus reminding them where they are currently. That can also have an impact on things.
Thanks