The affiliate marketing industry is constantly growing at an impressively rapid pace. It is a huge industry with a ton of opportunity to earn a great income and challenge yourself professionally.
There is no question that it is a great industry to be a part of. However, no job is all good or all bad.For those who are thinking of getting involved, here are some of the biggest pros and cons of working in the affiliate marketing industry:
Pros
Affiliate marketing pays well
Many people are interested in getting into affiliate marketing because it is portrayed as being an easy way to make a lot of money. While affiliate marketing is definitely not easy, it can pay extremely well if you are good. It is largely performance-based work, which means affiliates can make a lot of money if they master the craft. Although, this does not come without long hours and hard work.
As affiliates become more comfortable and gain experience, they can make a very comfortable living. Many successful affiliate marketers say that they “make money while they sleep”. Not only can you earn great money, you can earn a passive income.
Work and make friends with like-minded people
One of the great things about the industry is that it is surprisingly social. Affiiate marketers often make friends and develop working relationships with other like-minded people in the industry. Be it through Skype or social media, affiliates stay in touch with friends and work partners in the industry despite working remotely.
Conferences
Part of professional development in most industries includes going to conferences, and affiliate marketing is no exception to this. However, since affiliate marketing is such a large industry, the conferences are spread out all over the world, which makes them much more appealing. Some of the big conferences this year have taken place in Vegas, London, and Moscow.
The tight knit nature of the industry means that the conferences affiliates attend are also really fun. There is some work involved, but it is balanced out by good times shared with friends and colleagues in the industry.
Flexible work schedules
Since most affiliate marketers work remotely, they also benefit from having more freedom in their work schedules. Working remotely allows individuals to work from home, wherever that may be. Affiliates work hard, but they have the opportunity to build their work schedule around other commitments as well.
Array of opportunity
As an affiliate, you are not limited to working in one particular niche. It is an ever-changing industry, which can be tricky at times, but it does keep things interesting. There are many opportunities for affiliates to experiment with different verticals.
Cons
Unstable industry
As mentioned above, affiliate marketing is always changing, which can be great for those who love to learn new skills and want to keep their job interesting. Nevertheless, many believe the industry to be ‘unstable’. Sometimes your campaign will go well and sometimes it won’t. It’s the nature of the beast.
Long work hours
One of the biggest misconceptions about affiliate marketing is that it is ‘easy money’.
For most affiliates, this is not the case. It’s true that many in the industry are high earners, but they do work a lot. There are many days of long working hours for affiliate marketers.
Affiliate marketing can be regarded as “spammy”
Affiliate marketing can sometimes be viewed as “spammy”. Like in most industries, not every one plays by the rules. Some affiliate marketers produce misleading content, and this has put the industry’s reputation at risk. However, it is important to remember that the work you do is as legitimate as you make it.
Trial and error
As an affiliate marketer, you work mostly on your own. This means that there is no training or on boarding process like an office employee would receive during their first week at a new job. Affiliates teach themselves how to do the job. Very often, this means they learn through trial and error, which can be costly.
Remote life is not for everyone
Affiliates live remote lives, which means they need to be comfortable being on their own for much of their days, and this is not for everyone. Working remotely allows people a lot of freedom with their time, but it also requires individuals to be very independent. It can be lonely for those who are used to spending a large part of their day socializing with others.
Scammers
Finally, the affiliate marketing industry has a reputation for being cash hungry, which means there are a lot of scammers to watch out for. It is not uncommon for affiliates to work with someone who ends up never paying them.
As with any industry, there are advantages and disadvantages to working in affiliate marketing. Despite its cons, affiliate marketing is a dynamic industry that is always changing and expanding. For those who enjoy a challenge, want flexibility in their lives, and are looking to earn a great income, affiliate marketing could be for you. It is a prosperous industry that can afford many opportunities to those who take them.