Aristotle on Affiliate Marketing

You are the affiliate marketer. So, what do you do?

Aristotle wrote The Art of Rhetoric, and the Oxford Dictionary online define "rhetoric" as:

Yes, in your blogs, email, videos and all kinds of content marketing, you are applying the art of effective or persuasive communication (speaking or writing).

Aristotle defines the three principal forms of rhetoric as Ethos, Logos and Pathos.

Ethos

Ethos is an appeal based on the character of the speaker. This approach relies on the reputation of the author.

Affiliate Marketers use Ethos:

• The "Slumdog millionaire" or "rags-to-riches" avatar that Internet Marketers use.

• Write based on how your life has changed and your audience can too

• Referral programs that leverage the success of product creators

• Use of personal experience testimonial to sell products
  

Logos

Logos is an appeal based on logic or reason. This is information provided in product description and data sheets. Research documents fall under this definition as well.
Affiliate Marketers use Logos:

• Write product review based on logic and reason

• Create product comparison sites

• Leverage evidence-based data on product review

• Results or outcome based marketing
  

Pathos

Pathos is an appeal based on emotion. Advertisements are pathos-driven.

Affiliate Marketers use Pathos:

• Write an emotional blog post

• Whenever you use paid advertising

• Create a pin on Pinterest or post on Instagram

• Engage in Social media discussions whether on Facebook or YouTube
  

The methods we are using for affiliate marketing are over 2000 years old.

So, it has been around and will be around for many years to come.

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