Affiliate marketing isn’t easy money — but it could be big money for those who show up with the right skills. Now, what is in a high earner’s toolbox? Open it up and find out:

• Killer marketing & sales instincts
• The ability to read (and tweak) HTML without crying
• Designs that can stop thumbs mid-scroll
• Copywriting + psychology that turns skeptics into buyers

All these can be acquired if you are willing to put your nose to the grindstone and hear us out. After all, we have almost 20 years under our belt, working with our advertisers and so on. During this time, we have noticed a few patterns that make them very good at what they do.

The fundamentals of marketing

Marketing is all about promotion and selling, so you have to accept that mindset or find another vocation. Promotions can be different, though; as they say: don’t sell the steak, sell the sizzle. People don’t really care about a cutting-edge product, but they do care about solutions to their problems and the emotions they receive. So, first, focus on polishing your marketing angles, making your product relatable and helpful without going too much into its features.

Since affiliate marketing is a volatile field, you need to account for fluctuations and be ready to bounce back when odds are just stacked against you. Whether it’s an algorithm or user preferences, sometimes your promotional angles miss the mark for no reason — that’s normal, we’ve all been there, we feel you. Fortunately, you can consult us whenever you need assistance ASAP.

Affiliate marketers don’t always run campaigns, as they might need data to narrow their target audience. That’s why research and reconnaissance are irreplaceable in our line of work. From knowing the latest trends to the cultural specifics of a particular GEO, you need to get as much info as you can before launching a campaign to avoid translation blunders and gaffes. A good place to start would be the Country Comparison Tool or social media profiles of local influencers. This should provide you with enough context to start designing creatives and approaches.

Practical competences

When it comes to designing creatives, having some design background is great. You don’t have to be a professional designer, but knowing the basic principles of color combinations and composition won’t hurt either.

Technical proficiency is another valuable skill to minimize the time spent preparing your funnel. From setting up 3rd-party trackers to using AI assistance, knowing how to analyze and work with every last bit of your data helps speed things up, improve quality, and increase accountability.

With all that abundance of programs and possibilities, you need to remain focused. It’s not only about relying on tried-and-true tools, but rather about specializing in one vertical or niche, especially if you’re getting started. When you get used to it, you can broaden your range of operations, but until that time comes, you’re risking spreading your resources too thin, ending up with two failed campaigns and a blackhole in your budget.

Focus also involves exploring your niche in depth with data and analysis. Get used to taking notes and keep a log of your stats, as every tiny detail, like smile vs. closed lips, can have an impact on your user behavior. But without big chunks of data and analytics, you will have a hard time uncovering intricate patterns that can help increase conversions and lower costs.

Talking about budget management, do you keep a ledger? It’s a good idea to write down all your financial records, so that you know how well you perform in the long run — a good skill for strategic planning. And keep in mind that there are two kinds of campaigns: testing and scaling. What seems like a loss initially might only be part of a larger strategy.

Communication and miscellaneous perks

Communication is not exactly a must, but it’s a very good skill to have. There are two main applications for it: interacting with colleagues and mingling with peers and prospects at the conferences.

Whether you’re a rookie media buyer or a team lead, communication is the key to setting achievable goals, delegating tasks clearly, and ensuring your work runs smoothly. Communication is crucial for cooperation, learning about new trends, exploring advanced approaches, and so on. When you communicate, you not only exchange information but also build relationships with your account manager and interact with colleagues who might help you with new ideas.

All in all, it takes time and effort to become a skillful media buyer. But with TwinRed by your side, you can nail the task. Remember that we regularly attend major conferences, where you can meet us in person and gain new insights. Follow us on social media to stay up to date, and feel free to reach out if you need any help.