Maybe you’re thinking about setting up an Amazon FBA store stocked with hot products. But you also fantasize about raking in affiliate commissions promoting brands you love.
These two sources of passive income may seem like completely different beasts. But here’s the thing: when you look past the surface differences, an unexpected amount of overlap emerges.
Curious about what an FBA seller and affiliate marketer could possibly have in common? We’ve got some answers for you.
1. Passive Income Potential
Compelling content is at the core of affiliate marketing. You write a blog, make a video, or post on social media to draw people in, and then include an affiliate link where readers can purchase your product/service. If you do it right, these links can guarantee a steady influx of commission long after you’ve moved on to your next post.
On the other hand, there is Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Setting up an Amazon FBA business requires some initial effort. However, once you have your products listed and the logistics arranged, Amazon takes over the majority of the workload. Your products are sold and shipped while giving you a degree of flexibility, so you get to make money even when you’re off on a holiday.
Looking to kickstart your FBA journey with a bang? Consider looking into Amazon FBA courses from gurus such as Sophie Howard and many others who’ve been making a killing on Amazon. They can go a long way in getting you there.
2. Need For Marketing Strategies
Both Amazon FBA and affiliate marketing aren’t just set-and-forget models. You need to have a working knowledge of relevant marketing principles.
For Amazon FBA, it’s about cracking the code of Amazon’s algorithms. You need to understand how to make your product visible to the right customers—it’s like SEO but for Amazon. It’s a game of keywords, customer reviews, and competitive pricing.
For affiliate marketers, the strategy is more about how to drive traffic to those affiliate links. It’s not just about SEO, though that’s a big part of it. It’s also about understanding what makes your audience tick: What do they want to read? What solutions are they looking for? It’s about crafting content that answers these questions and subtly guides them toward those affiliate links.
Looking to nail affiliate marketing? How about hearing from experts such as David Sharpe or others you trust? Their input can go a long way.
3. Online Platforms
Amazon FBA and affiliate marketing are like two sides of the same coin. Amazon FBA sellers have this incredible platform, Amazon itself, where millions of customers are just a click away.
On the flip side, affiliate marketers roam across various online territories. Think of blogs, websites, and social media spreading the word about products.
4. Customer Trust And Brand Building
As an Amazon FBA seller, you’re sort of riding on the coattails of Amazon’s big, trustworthy name. But here’s the catch: you still need to create your own unique identity.
On the flip side, as an affiliate marketer, you need to convince your partners that your products and services are trustworthy so they can relay the same confidence to their followers. You don’t have the luxury of a big name behind you, so you have to work hard at building that credibility. Trust is the currency here. Without it, those clicks won’t happen.
5. Dependence On External Platforms
For Amazon FBA sellers, Amazon is the big boss. They set the rules, the fees, and everything else. If Amazon decides to change something, the sellers have to adapt, whether they like it or not.
Affiliate marketers are in a similar boat, but they may have several ‘landlords’—from the companies whose products they promote to search engines like Google. If Google changes its algorithm, the affiliate marketer has to scramble to adjust their strategy just to stay visible.
6. Scalability
Now, talking about growth, both Amazon FBA and affiliate marketing are like plants that can grow as big as the pot allows.
In Amazon FBA, once you get the hang of it, you can start adding more products, maybe venture into new niches, or even go global. It’s all about how much you can handle and how far you want to expand.
Affiliate marketing is similar. Imagine starting with one website or blog, promoting a few products. As you get more traffic and understand what works, you can add more products, maybe start another site, or target different audiences.
In Closing
And there you have it—a rundown of the unexpected similar skill sets, tools, and advantages shared by Amazon FBA sellers and affiliate marketers! So which one sounds more up your alley: selling your own hot products or representing other brands to earn commissions?
No matter which direction you go, I hope this gives you a helpful head start in connecting the dots between these seemingly very different money-making vehicles.