Iāve been working the past few weeks on my upcoming 5 Days of Deals Black Friday Sale (it begins November 25th – Iāll share a sneak peek next week!).
One of the things I have been creating are thank you pages once someone purchases to let them know their order is complete.Ā Typically mine are pretty basic pages where I say thank you and direct them to check their inbox for their download.
However, Iāve decided to spice things up this year and freshen up my thank you pages, so Iāve been doing some research on different types of thank you pages because these thank you pages are a great opportunity to keep customers engaged and even encourage further actions.
Here are are 8 effective strategies Iāve recently learned about for making the most of your thank you pages (these ideas work great for both physical and digital product sellers):
1. Encourage Social Sharing
Add social sharing buttons so your customers can share their purchase on Instagram or Facebook.
Tip: Provide pre-written, shareable posts or images, especially if the item is something they’d be proud to show off. 2. Invite Your Customers to Join Your Community
If you have a Facebook group or online community where they can interact with other buyers, pop the link to join on your thank you page!Ā This will work especially well if you are a brand with a passionate following or products that encourage user creativity or improvement.
Comments Off on You canāt compete with Amazon (And why that’s a good thing.)
November is here, which means the holidays arenāt far behind.
For some people, it feels like itās too late in the year to reach the revenue goals you set for your product business.
Iāve been seeing people say things on Insta and Threads like:
I canāt compete with Amazon.
People are only paying attention to the election and then itās going to be chaos depending on who wins.
No one is spending money on $28 candles when they can barely afford to go to the grocery store.
But there are still 56 days left in 2024 as of today.
And thatās still plenty of time to make more product sales.
Because hereās what I believe:
š¤ No, you canāt compete with Amazon.Ā But thatās a good thing. Amazon doesnāt build relationships with its customers the same way you can on Instagram.Ā Amazon doesnāt take the time to beautifully gift wrap the item someone purchased and include a personalized thank you card from the person who created it.Ā You canāt compete with Jeff Bezos, so donāt even worry about it.Ā Stay in your lane, create amazing products, and delivery exceptional customer service.Ā {I love and recommend this book for all my product seller friends.)
š¤Ŗ Yes, people are paying attention to the election, and yes, things might be chaotic for a while.Ā But the holidays are still going to happen.Ā Think about itā¦ has there ever been a year when people didnāt buy Christmas gifts?Ā Not that I can remember. So donāt stop marketing your products now.
š People will absolutely still buy your $28 candle (or whatever youāre selling that you think is ātoo expensiveā for people to buy} even if bread costs eleventy billion dollars.Ā Christmas is happening regardless of whatās going in the world, which means gift buying will still be happening.Ā As a product seller, youāll want to make sure that you are getting your products in front of as many people as possible this Christmas.Ā Facebook ads is one way to do that (but can be costly this time of year) and participating in in-person markets is another way to make more sales (though it requires a lot of your time).Ā My favorite way of course is starting an affiliate program so you can get other people sharing your products all across the internet this holiday season.Ā
I know you have amazing products. Donāt let whatās going on in the world discourage you from marketing your business these last 2 months of 2024.Ā Ā
Cheers to more sales in 2024 (and also cheers to the election texts and calls ending today! š)
Comments Off on 2 ways to make a little extra moolah this week
While normally I talk about setting up your own affiliate program so that others can promote your products for you, this week I want to switch gears temporarily.
What I share in this post will still help you make money, so keep reading.
Earlier this year I announced The Affiliate Program Directory, which is a list of affiliate programs you can join today!
It is designed to connect affiliates with amazing brands offering various products and resources your audience will enjoy, and that you can earn commissions by promoting!
If you are looking for great products to share with your audience, the Affiliate Program Directory is for you!Ā Ā
It contains a mix of physical products, services and digital products that you can begin promoting today to make extra income.
A little extra moolahĀ is something Iāve created to show my fellow online entrepreneurs exactly how I earn a little extra money each month in my business through affiliate marketing, and how you can do the same.
This isnāt a course on how to make thousands of dollars every month sharing your affiliate links online while you sip mojitos on the beach in Miamiā¦
This is a simple PDF of me sharing the realistic behind-the-scenes of how I, as an online course creator and digital product seller, make an extra $200-$500 a month through simple, repeatable, easy to implement affiliate marketing strategies.
Comments Off on 20 Ways to Get More Traffic to Your Online Shop
Below is a list of 20 ways to get more traffic – aka potential customers – visiting your online shop.
My favorites are ideas 1, 3, 5, 12 and 19 – they would be the fastest ideas to implement from the list if you are wanting to make more sales asap.
I sprinkled in some resources that align with some of the ideas below, too. They are my affiliate links but as always I only recommend resources I personally love and use.
Okay, letās hop into the listā¦.
š¦ 20 ways to get more traffic to your online shop š¦
Run paid Social Media Ads š² ā Use Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest ads to target your ideal customers and direct them to your website. I highly recommend Jana Bishopās Facebook ads course.
Start a Blog š ā Share helpful tips, stories, and product insights to boost SEO for your website. If youāre worried you wonāt have enough ideas, check out Lucyās Endless Content Ideas Bank.
Collaborate with Influencers šāāļø ā Partner with influencers who align with your products to promote your products. Influencers in the 5k to 25k followers range seem to be the sweet spot with my clients – they are often willing to promote in exchange for free product and a commission without requiring large fees.
Start an Affiliate Program š¤ ā Reward people with commissions for promoting your products and driving traffic to your site. Get started here.
Offer Time-Sensitive Discounts ā³ ā Run flash sales or limited-time offers to create urgency.
Create Eye-Catching Pinterest Pins š ā Pin your products, blogs, and gift guides on Pinterest to boost visibility.
Start an Email Newsletter š§ ā Build an email list and share regular updates, promotions, and product launches.
Go Live on Social Media š„ ā Host live product demos, Q&As, or behind-the-scenes IG lives to engage your audience and get them curious about what you are offering.
Optimize Your Website for SEO š ā Make sure your product titles, descriptions, and images are SEO-friendly to improve search rankings. This isnāt a āget traffic quickā strategy but definitely something you should be doing for long-term growth.
Run a Referral Program š¬ ā Give customers rewards for referring friends to your Shopify store.
Use TikTok Trends š¶ ā Jump on TikTok trends to showcase your products in a fun, engaging way.
Host a Giveaway š ā Collaborate with other brands or influencers for a giveaway to expand your reach.
Collaborate on a Bundle š¦ ā Partner with another brand to create a special bundle and promote it to both audiences. One of my favorite brands, Wondermint Goods, does a great job of partnering with others brands.
Leverage User-Generated Content šø ā Share reviews, testimonials, and customer photos on your website and social channels, and tag the creators if you can so their audiences see it, too.
Write Guest Blog Posts āļø ā Partner with other websites to write guest posts and link back to your Shopify store. For example, if you sell stationary, you might write a blog post for coaches on the power of sending thank you cards to your clients. Or you could write a blog post on how best to address Christmas cards.
Start a YouTube Channel š¬ ā Create tutorials, unboxings, or product reviews to attract new customers.
Run Google Ads š» ā Use Google Ads to show your products at the top of relevant search results.
Partner with Local Businesses šļø ā Collaborate with local stores to promote your products to their customers. If you sell physical products, this is also a really great way to start building relationships so you can get more wholesale orders for your products. (Side note: Cat with Kitty Meow Boutique is the wholesale queen.)
Create Seasonal Promotions š ā Align your marketing with seasonal events and holidays to attract new buyers. You might even consider running a Black Friday Sale for a cash-injection in November.
Engage in Facebook Groups š„ ā Join groups related to your product niche and provide value while subtly sharing your products.
Hope this helps boost your traffic. Head over here and let me know which ones youāre going to implement next!
Comments Off on Why Every Product-Based Business Needs an Affiliate Program
Ever wonder what it would actually take to get your products in front of hundreds or even thousands of potential customers every single month?
Maybe youāre already posting on social media but you find it exhausting having to post every day, keep up with the reel trends (very mindful, so demure! š), and hope that the algorithm even shows your posts to people.
Yes you could run Facebook adsā¦ but phew, that might cost a small fortune trying to DIY it and figure out how to make it work.
You could work with influencers if youāre selling physical products, but then you have to pay those hefty influencer fees to have your products promoted with no guaranteed return on your investment.
There are so many dang ways you can market your products, it can be hard to know what to do. š
Ever feel like that?
If so, youāre not alone. Many product-based business owners and eCommerce brands face the challenge of finding cost-effective ways to grow their audience and increase sales.
While yes, you can run Facebook ads and post on social 24/7 and work with influencersā¦
But what if instead you could have others promoting your products for you?
Thatās why Iām so passionate about affiliate marketing and why Iām sharing this post with you to explain exactly why you you should leverage the power of partnerships to boost your brandās visibility and revenue.
In this post, weāll explore why your product-based business needs an affiliate program and how it can transform your marketing efforts.
š¤ What is an Affiliate Program?
Letās start with the basics before I jump into the reasons why your product-based business needs to start an affiliate program.
An affiliate program is a marketing strategy where you have other people [your affiliates] promote your products for you and in return, they earn a commission for every sale they drive through their unique referral links.
Itās a win-win situation for everyone involved: your affiliates earn money for their efforts, and you gain new customers without the hefty price tag of traditional advertising.
Imagine you sell handmade jewelry, and a popular fashion blogger becomes an affiliate. They write a blog post featuring your stunning necklaces, including their affiliate link. When their readers purchase your jewelry through that link, both you and the blogger benefit. This is affiliate marketing in actionāsimple, effective, and scalable.
š¹ Expand Your Reach Without Breaking the Bank
Having other people sell your digital and physical products also gives you the ability to reach new audiences without the upfront costs typically associated with running ads or paying influencers. Affiliate marketing is based on performance, which means you only pay a commission when an affiliate successfully drives a sale.
This pay-for-performance model is particularly exciting if youāre a small business owner without a huge marketing budget. It allows you to maximize your marketing efforts while minimizing financial risk.
Take, for example, a small skincare brand that launched an affiliate program. By partnering with beauty bloggers and asking their customers to become their affiliate partners, they could quickly reach a broader audience and see an increase in salesāall without spending a dime on ads upfront.
ā”Leverage the Power of Trust and Authenticity
I donāt know about you, but my Facebook and IG feeds are filled with ads. What sets affiliate marketing apart is the trust factor. Affiliates, especially those with established audiences, bring a level of credibility and authenticity that traditional marketing efforts simply canāt match.
Think about it: when you hear about a product from someone you trustāwhether itās a friend, a favorite blogger, or a business colleague āyouāre more likely to make a purchase. Your affiliates will act as brand ambassadors, sharing their genuine experiences with your products. This word-of-mouth marketing is incredibly powerful and often leads to higher conversion rates.
šø Boost Your Sales and Revenue
At the end of the day, the goal of any marketing strategy is to drive sales, and affiliate programs help you do just that. By tapping into the networks of your affiliates, you can increase your sales and revenue without having to be on social 24/7 or pay for expensive Facebook ads.
Affiliates bring pre-existing trust and credibility, which often results in higher conversion rates compared to cold traffic from ads. Plus, as your affiliate program grows, so does your potential for sales. Whether youāre just starting out or looking to scale your business, an affiliate program can be a powerful tool to drive consistent revenue.
š Build Long-Term Relationships
One of my most favorite parts of starting an affiliate program is the opportunity to build long-term relationships with your affiliate partners. Over time, your affiliates become more than just marketing partnersāthey become part of your brandās community. Theyāre invested in your success because it directly impacts their earnings, creating a mutually beneficial relationship.
Many businesses Iāve worked with have found that their affiliates become some of their most loyal advocates, continually promoting their products and helping to drive more sales for them every single week!
If you are a digital or physical product seller, starting an affiliate program could be the missing piece in your marketing strategy puzzle. By expanding your reach, boosting sales, and building authentic relationships with your customers and affiliates, youāre setting your business up for long-term success.
If youāre ready to take your product-based business to the next level, thereās no better time to start than now.
š„³ Ready to get started?
There are a few ways I can support you!
š¤ FREE RESOURCE: Sign up for the free 5 day email series for Product Sellersā¦ Create Your Affiliate Program. Each day youāll get a bite-sized lesson to implement immediately to start creating a profitable affiliate program for your business so your products can start flying off the shelves because other people are selling them for you!
š DIY Your Affiliate Program Set Up: You can also scoop up The Profitable Affiliate Program Template Bundle. These are the exact templates you need to create a profitable affiliate program so that other people {your affiliate partners!} can market and sell your products for you on a consistent basis! Access the template bundle today.
š LIVE GROUP PROGRAM: Iād love to have you join me inside āØMake More Together āØ 4-Week Affiliate Program Intensive for Product Sellers. This high-touch, low cost program walks you through EXACTLY how to set up your money-makinā affiliate program so that you can sell more products every single week. Make More Together includes 1:on:1 support, 3 live group implementation sessions, templates galore, plus a Facebook community!Enroll in Make More Together here.
Comments Off on My Top Takeaways from Ultimate Product Party 2024
In May I headed to Orange County, California to attend the Ultimate Product Party, a 2-day business conference for product sellers. This was my third year to attend, and while itās a conference geared towards physical product sellers, even as a service based business owner who works with product sellers, I had so many takeaways and ahaās from this event.
I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite moments and takeaways from the conference with you below. While I wonāt highlight all of the speakers and roundtable leaders, I do want to emphasize this: EVERY SINGLE PERSON was amazing. You can see the full list of speakers at ultimateproductparty.com – go follow them all on Instagram!
Okay, now letās dive into a few of my top takeaways!
Tuesday evening before the event officially kicked off on Wednesday there was a pre-event cocktail party. The venue location was AMAZING and the appetizers and drinks were tasty.
What was especially awesome was getting to connect with some of the attendees before the official first day. I was able to meet one of my Affiliate Program Intensive students in person – Stacy from The Rad Mama Shop – which was fun.
I also connected with Erin from Product Powerhouse and her bestie Shaina who she runs Caffeine + Carbs with. The UPP hosts, Cat and Allison, were also there hugging and mingling and just being the best hosts and leaders ever.
Wednesday and Thursday at UPP were packed full of keynote speakers, roundtable sessions, and breakout sessions.
Here are some of my favorite takeaways from some of the speakers this year at Ultimate Product Party 2024:
Some other things I learned re: AI: from Duo Collective: ChatGPT is great for writing social captions. When writing prompts, always use an action word. Gemini (Googleās AI software) is great for more research based things and typically cites their sources.
āConsistency is critical when it comes to growing your business.ā – Lucy Kelly @bloombybelmonili
Lucy is another client of mine whoās affiliate program I set up, and she is a marketing genius for product sellers and makers.
āPin some of your top Instagram content to Pinterest.ā – Mel Robbins @thelotco
This can be automated via Zapier and is something Iāll be implementing into my business this summer.
āPeople need to hear about something 25 times before they buy.ā – Monica Little @monicalittlecoaching
This blew my mind because it used to be that it was only 7 timesā¦ but the world is moving faster than ever before so makes sense. Monica also did a session on using Etsy ads – if you are a product seller on Etsy, be sure to follow her and check out her resources as what she shared could definitely help you make more sales on Etsy.
āWe are here to be influential, not influencers.ā – Lauren Nelson @iamlaurencnelson
āMake a list of 100 leads within your niche and spend time every day connecting with 20 of those leads on Instagram.ā – Shannon + Ryan Matson @thesocialbungalow
I loved everything Shannon and Ryan had to share about how to connect with others on Instagram. I think sometimes it can seem like others are just easily growing on the gram, so it was refreshing to hear them share something specific I can be doing weekly to grow.
āHow would your day as a business owner look if you operated from a place of abundance?ā – Mary Tappert @marytappertfinancialcoaching
This was a great journaling prompt shared by Mary during her session. Definitely something I want to continue to think about and will make time to journal on soon. Itās so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of being a business owner sometimes, am I right?
One last thing I want to mention about UPP 2024 is that their hosts, Allison @allisoncartercelebrates and Cat @kittymeowboutique are two of my favorite business owners and mentors. They genuinely care about every single person who attends UPP, and poured so much into making the event awesome for all of us {as did their amazing team.} Iām so grateful to know them both and for their support of my business.
If you have the chance to attend a future Ultimate Product Party event, DO IT. Ā If you have the chance to work with Cat and/or Allison, DO IT.Ā I promise you will be so glad you did!
Comments Off on š Post Malone, Lemon Tumblers + The Affiliate Program Directory
Today I’m sharing my Favorite Things blog for May. š Earlier this month I vacationed to Arizona and then onto California to see the Pacific Ocean and then attend Ultimate Product Party which was amazingā¦ I’ll share more in a blog post with you next week!
Okay, now, back to the reason for today’s blog. If youāre new to the Create Your Affiliate Program community ā WELCOME! Every month I try to share some of my favorite business and product resources with you as a behind-the-scenes of what I am using and loving in my own business and with the product sellers I work with.
I hope youāll enjoy reading through this email, and will take time to check out all the resources available to you! Have a very safe and Happy Memorial Day weekend. š
Please note this blog post contains a few affiliate links, but I only share products and resources I use, love and can personally recommend!
š„³ Favorite Current Work Project
I launched The Affiliate Program Directory last week. Before I launched it, I set a goal of how many business owners I’d like to initially join it… I am excited to share that last Friday I surpassed that goal!! YAY!
The Affiliate Program Directory is a directory of affiliate programs that I will be sharing out publicly so that we can get your affiliate program in front of new potential affiliates who want to promote your products.
Hereās what youāre getting when you joinĀ theĀ Directory:
š¤ Your affiliate program will be listed in the Create Your Affiliate Program (CYAP) Directory available at creatyouraffiliateprogram.com
š The Directory is shared every week on CYAP socials and in the CYAP newsletter to 3500+ people
ā” CYAP will spotlight 10 affiliates per month on CYAP socials, in a blog post, and in the CYAP newsletter {you will have the option to sign up to be spotlighted.}
š BONUS: Empower Your Affiliates: 10 Proven Strategies to Get Your Affiliates to Promote Your Products Every Single Month {value $47}
š The Directory is launching June 10th! Itās $39 to be listed in the Directory and promoted to my community for the entire year.
My goal with this directory is to help your affiliate program get in front of new potential affiliates who will help promote your products to their audiences.
More affiliates will equal more sales!
This Directory is a perfect fit for physical and digital product sellers.
If you want more visibility for your business and affiliate program, you can simply head over here to secure your spot for only $39 FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR until June 10th.
š I met Shannon of CraftyCurations at Ultimate Product Party.Ā She was so sweet and I *love* her cuteĀ tumblersĀ in her Etsy shop.Ā I just orderedĀ thisĀ lemonĀ tumblerĀ this morning… Check out here shop here {and use code INSTA25 to save 25% off your order.Ā She said I could share this code with you – see, so sweet!!}
ā If you haven’t sent a newsletter to your affiliates for May, now is the time to do that.Ā Ā These Affiliate Newsletter TemplatesĀ are designed to make it easy for you to know exactly what to say to your affiliates every single month to encourage your affiliates to promote for you and help them drive conversions!
š Want to improve your email marketing?Ā Social platforms may come and go but your email list stays with you. If youāre able to invest 10 minutes a week in taking bitesized actions you can improve your email marketing significantly.Ā Ā Check out The Email Experimentā¢ here which will help you.
Comments Off on Why MRR (Master Resell Rights) is CRAP. ? (And what to do instead to make moolah online!) ?
Maybe youāve seen the thousands of TikToks and Reels about MRR floating around onlineā¦ (and if you havenāt, consider yourself lucky!)Ā Ā
MRR = Master Resell Rights, and basically itās someone buying a “ready to sell course” for $X amount, then turning around and selling it for $X amount.Ā Ā
It’s kind of like a pyramid scheme…Ā All you are doing is trying to sell this same course to other people so they can sell the same course to other people so they can… you get the point.Ā Ā
NO ONE actually uses the courses being sold {and that’s why no one will tell you the name of the course or what it helps you do}.Ā Doesnāt that feel a tadā¦ scammy?Ā Ā
It’s get rich quick BS and in a few months you won’t hear anything about it because itās not a sustainable way to make money long term.
If you are looking for a legit, long-term way to make money, I strongly urge you to consider affiliate marketing.Ā Ā
But not just posting our affiliate links and hoping someone buys.
Instead, become an affiliate for things you actually use and care about in your business.Ā Ā
With this strategy, you are making money in an ethical way, you arenāt scamming others, and you can feel good about what you are promoting!
Iād love to share with you the 3 strategies I use every month to earn extra income through promoting the things I am an affiliate for.Ā Ā
These are truly simple strategies that you can begin using today to earn extra income online.
Comments Off on Choosing the Right Affiliate Tracking Software for Your Business
Are you a course creator who has created an amazing course, but itās just not selling like you hoped it would?
Or maybe you are a product seller with a Shopify store full of awesome digital or physical products, yet you canāt seem to get buyers to visit your site and make a purchase?
Good news: There is a cost-effective solution to each of these problems:
Working with affiliate partners.
If you want to increase your course or product sales, you need to partner with affiliates, as it allows others to market your course or products for you in exchange for a commission. By working with affiliates, you can tap into their existing networks, reach a wider audience faster than you can on your own, and increase your course sales quickly.
Before they can start promoting your courses and products, youāve got to make sure your affiliate tracking software is in place!
One of the most common questions I get when people are thinking about starting their affiliate program is this:
āWhat affiliate tracking software should I use?ā
My answer is to always check the tools you are already using first.
Many of the popular course platforms out there offer affiliate tracking capabilities, such as MemberVault, Kajabi, ThriveCart, Teachable, Kartra, Thinkific, and others.
If your course platform doesnāt offer affiliate tracking capabilities, there are a few tools I recommend:
GoAffPro – This is my favorite affiliate tracking tool for Shopify users.
AffiliateWP – this is a wordpress plugin and so you will need to be using WordPress as your website or affiliate platform in order for it to work.
LeadDyno – If you have less than 3000 website visitors a month, LeadDyno is a great option for starting your affiliate program.
Refersion – integrates perfectly with Shopify, WooComemrce, and other platforms.
SendOwl – I use this platform for my own checkout features and they have awesome affiliate tracking capabilities.
Before you sign up for any affiliate tracking tool, I recommend you research the platform thoroughly, sit through a demo of it if one is available and ask any relevant questions to make sure you fully understand how it work. What you donāt want to do is set up your affiliate tracking tool, onboard your affiliates, and then figure out you shouldāve gone with a different tool. #eek
Ready to increase your course or product sales quickly, but need to get your affiliate tracking software set up first?Ā
Prior to the start of your Affiliate Software Set-up Session, I will make sure that the tool chosen is right for your tech stack and business needs based on a short questionnaire Iāll have you complete. During the Affiliate Software Set-up Session, I will get down to work implementing your software for you so that youāll be ready to work with affiliate partners at the end of the day.
Comments Off on BEHIND-THE-SCENES: How I Created my $9 Offer ? + How You Can, too!
I really like sharing behind-the-scenes content of how Iām building my business with you, and the resources I use, because I know business can be hard and trying to figure out how to do all the things and make a living from it can feel overwhelming sometimes.
In this post, Iām sharing how Iāve made $500+ in digital product sales in just 23 days . I hope youāll find this helpful and encouraging, and will consider creating your own $9 offer {resource below!}
On March 5th, I purchased a $9 course on how to create my own $9 offer from Elizabeth Buckley-Goddard
I listened to it that same Sunday afternoon laying in the hammock in my backyard – itās really bite-sized and easy to digest, and I could listen to it like a podcast, which I love. ?
On Monday, I made a super simple sales page for my $9 offer, which is my Invitation to Send to Potential Affiliate Partners. {You can check it out here.}
Iāve very casually been promoting it on social media and to my email newsletter list.
But hereās the cool thingā¦
As a result of taking action from that one $9 training, I sold $500+ in digital products in just the first 23 days. ?
So, what could you create and sell for $9 this month to start making more digital product sales?
If you are running an online business, I know youāve probably got an idea for a $9 offer inside of you! ??
