Affiliate Marketing: What Products to Promote?

When you start thinking about all the affiliate products in the world that can be promoted, it can seem a bit overwhelming. What type of product should I work with?

Here are two main options:

1. Digital and,

2. Physical

Each type comes with its own set of pros and cons, and it’s best to take a look at all the data before deciding which one you want to promote.

Digital products

These are the information and service related products that can be found online. These include e-books, software, videos, and audios that the customer has immediate access to after purchase. ClickBank is among the most popular marketplaces for registering and promoting these products.

Advantages of digital products

• Easy to set up accounts and start promoting

• No need for customer to wait for product to ship

• Typically, higher commission percentages (50% or more) are offered.

Cons of digital products

• Product owners can disappear or disconnect their sales page at any time

• Refunds are typically higher for digital products

• Those with email lists tend to have more opportunities than the competition.

• Converting browsers to buyers can be more difficult

• Can be paid weekly or biweekly

Physical products

These are all the things you can buy at Walmart or another retailer. With physical products, you can promote many different products within the same niche. Most of your readers will be looking for reviews on these products, so they will be ready to buy once they can make the right choice.

For physical products online, many people choose the Amazon Affiliate Program.

Advantages of physical products

• Many options and niches to choose from

• It can be more reliable to work with large companies than with owners of digital products.

• Fewer refunds or returns

• Most of those looking for physical products are already on the market to buy

• Higher commissions when promoting high-priced items

Cons of physical products

• Lower commission percentages (typically 5% to 10%)

• Difficult to promote these products without a website

• It usually takes longer to receive payment

The verdict

Most affiliate marketers find it a good idea to promote physical and digital products. Many niches will allow for both information products and tangible goods, so why not give your readers the option of having everything they need, as well as the right information they need to solve their problem.