One of the reasons I gravitated towards affiliate marketing when I first learned of it was because of how introvert-friendly it is.
When I discovered it, I had been working as a web developer and I was over working in a team environment.
As an introvert, I much prefer working alone (thank goodness for remote jobs.)
Affiliate marketing offered a way to make an income online without having to talk to anyone so it made sense for me to look into it.
Over the years, I’ve made income by being an affiliate marketer. However, I slowly began to feel frustrated and burnt out by the process.
I became caught up in promoting other people’s products, primarily high-ticket courses.
While the commissions were great, it just wasn’t fun. I felt like I was building someone else’s business (essentially that’s what it was.)
I wasn’t in control of the product and I got paid when they felt like paying out commissions. Not fun.
How I Prefer to Do Affiliate Marketing as an Introvert
I realized that I wanted a more stress-free way of maintaining an online business.
The goal for me was to set up an automated system that I wouldn’t have to touch very often.
I simply wanted to focus on generating leads and building my email list. I also wanted to generate my own income without waiting 30 to 45 days for commission payments (ugh!)
So, I decided on creating my own digital product in the form of a PDF info product.
This would give me a product that I have full control over and I am able to get paid faster with a payment processor like Stripe.
It is a lot more fun, I don’t have to ship anything, and I get to help people with the information I am providing.
Then, I promote affiliate products to my email list. That way, affiliate offers are not front and center.
I don’t feel stressed to make sales of a product I don’t even own. Sales are made on the back end without me having to do anything because my emails are pre-written and scheduled to send out.
What is a Digital Information Product?
You may be wondering why anyone would pay for a PDF file. It’s not about it being a PDF. It’s about the information you’re putting into it.
Think about an issue you may have recently had that you would’ve paid to have the answer to quickly.
When I need help learning something to make progress faster, I am willing to pay for that help.
For example, maybe you are struggling to raise your credit score and would like some help doing so.
You come across an information product where the creator raised their credit score in a short amount of time.
They are only charging $27 for this information and they sell it as an eBook (PDF file.)
Would you be willing to pay for it to help resolve your issue?
You likely would.
That’s the great thing about information products. They are easy to create and low-ticket so people who need the help aren’t hesitant to pay for it.
Don’t think a low-ticket PDF can make a good living online?
Think again. Many people who have dialed in traffic sources and have an audience (plus an email list) are making thousands per month from simple PDFs.
How I Incorporate Affiliate Marketing
I still like affiliate marketing but I no longer wish to rely on it as my main source of income online.
Instead, I promote affiliate offers on the back end through my email list. This way, I already have a built-in audience that I can market to.
Some people may like the offers and choose to buy while others may not.
There is no pressure and I don’t feel pressured trying to make a conversion.
Besides that, there are many related products that I can recommend to my email list.
It’s a great way to make commissions because the more subscribers you add, the more likely some will buy from your affiliate links.
Over time, you could have a steady recurring income from affiliate products.
I Don’t Have to Spend My Time “Selling”
When I said I wanted an automated business with what I sell as an introvert, I meant it. I didn’t want to spend time writing marketing emails every day or posting IG reels daily, etc.
I wrote all of my marketing emails ahead of time for one of my marketing funnels. I created six weeks worth of email content that send out daily.
Every now and then I will write a regular broadcast email and send it out to continue nurturing my list.
Overall, I don’t spend much time worrying about marketing to my list. I wanted it to be as hands off as possible.
My only job is to keep filling my list with new subscribers and I do that with organic content and sometimes paid ads.
Filling My Marketing Funnel with Leads
My main focus is to continue filling my marketing funnel with new subscribers. I do that by creating content for a few platforms:
- My blog
- YouTube
Organic traffic is slower than running paid ads but your content will last longer. When you turn off paid advertising, the traffic stops.
Your organic content can last for years. However, you must post consistently to grow your traffic.
If you’re wondering what software to use for your marketing funnel, there are plenty out there.
Some popular options include:
- Systeme.io
- Kartra
- Clickfunnels
I like using Systeme.io because it is affordable and has all of the features I need including a landing page builder and an autoresponder.
What’s Next?
I treat affiliate commissions as a bonus when I make them. It has made affiliate marketing fun for me again.
If my subscribers like the product I’m recommending and buy, then we both win. They get a product or service that is helpful and I make a small commission by referring that product.
I will be continuing my traffic generation strategies and growing my email list.
When sales come in, it’s always a great feelling. However, my focus remains on generating new leads and gaining new customers.