The number of social media users in India stood at 518 million in 2020. It is expected to reach around 1.5 billion by 2040, making these platforms one of the biggest opportunities to leverage affiliate marketing through social media platforms.
Affiliate Marketing has become an effective way for companies to expand their reach and tap into new customer bases, especially when used in tandem with the immense potential offered by the country’s vast pool of active social media users.
On the flip side, it has become a source of passive income for most individuals seeking to make money online in India.
According to a Bain & Co report, India has the third-largest online shopper base globally, with 180-190 million shoppers in 2021.
Do you know what’s exciting about this?
Affiliate marketers are responsible for about 15% to 20% of all online sales?!
That’s huge!
In fact, according to a recent report from IAMAI (Internet and Mobile Association of India), the affiliate marketing business in India will exceed ₹66168.07 million by 2025.
Want a piece of this pie?
Social media is your best chance.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is actually a sales promotion strategy in which an online retailer pays its affiliates (you) for each customer that they refer through their own marketing efforts.
To get this commission, you can use different tactics such as creating content, setting up social media accounts and websites to promote the online store’s products or services.
In India, affiliate marketing has become increasingly popular on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter due to the large user base.
How Affiliate Marketing Works
Let’s make this simple, shall we?
Imagine you have a lemonade stand and sell lemonade to your neighbors.
Now, let’s say your best friend also has a lemonade stand, but they sell a different kind of lemonade.
They offer you a deal: if you help them sell their lemonade, they’ll give you a portion of the money they make from selling it.
This is similar to affiliate marketing?!
In affiliate marketing, companies offer to pay you a portion of the money they make from selling their products, if you help them sell them.
This can be done by promoting their products on your own website, social media, or blog.
For example, let’s say you have a blog about toys and write a review about a new toy that’s just come out.
You can include a special link in your blog post that takes your readers directly to the website where they can buy the toy.
If someone clicks on your link and buys the toy, the company that makes it will give you a portion of the money they made from selling it.
So, in simple terms, affiliate marketing in India is a way to earn money by helping companies sell their products.
Affiliate Marketing in India: Pros and Cons
To grasp the upsides and downsides of this online business, let’s examine its pros and cons.
Pros
- Affiliate marketing in India provides an additional source of income for businesses.
- It can be used to reach new customers and increase brand awareness.
- It is relatively low-cost and requires minimal resources to implement.
- The performance-based structure of affiliate marketing makes it attractive to marketers as it allows them to control costs and increase profits.
- Affiliate marketing has the potential to be highly effective in India, due to its large population and the increasing number of internet users.
Cons
- Affiliate marketing in India is still a relatively new concept, making it difficult for some companies to set up campaigns effectively or find reliable partners.
- There is a lack of regulation and oversight, which can lead to inconsistencies in payouts and unethical practices on the part of affiliates or networks.
- The online market space can be competitive, making it difficult for companies to get their message out and establish themselves as a leader in the industry.
- There is a risk of fraud, as some affiliates may use unscrupulous tactics to inflate their sales numbers artificially.
- Affiliate networks can be expensive, with some charging high setup fees or commissions.
Related: How To Start An Online Business In India With No Money
Social Media Platforms for Affiliate Marketing in India
The platform you pick to promote your affiliate products matters a lot!
In this section, we will dive into the best social media platforms to join as an affiliate in India.
A. Instagram
Instagram is an increasingly popular platform in India.
According to Statista, India had a total of 230.25 million Instagram users, the largest Instagram audience in the world as of January 2022.
This is a large user base, which means you have a chance to connect with the target audience easily.
Setting up an Instagram account for affiliate marketing
Instagram is an effective tool for brands to showcase their products and services through visual content, making it ideal for affiliates looking to make money from promoting products.
First, you need to create a business account on Instagram.
This will give you access to insights, such as engagement rate and follower growth, so they can measure your campaigns’ success.
Also, set up shop – this allows customers to purchase directly from posts – making it easy for them to take advantage of offers they find while scrolling through their feed.
That said, here are the exact steps to create a business Instagram account in India.
- Download the Instagram app: If you don’t already have the app, download it from the App Store or Google Play Store.
- Sign up for a personal account: You’ll need to create a personal account before creating a business account. You can sign up by providing your email address, phone number, or connecting through Facebook.
- Convert your personal account to a business account: Once you have a personal account, you can convert it to a business account by going to your profile and tapping the three lines in the top-right corner. Then, tap “Settings,” followed by “Account,” and then “Switch to Business Profile.”
- Connect your business account to a Facebook page: Instagram requires connecting your business account to a Facebook page. If you already have a Facebook page for your business, simply select it from the list. If you don’t have a Facebook page, you can create one for free.
- Provide business information: Once your business account is set up, you’ll need to provide information about your business, including your business name, contact information, and a brief description of what you do.
- Set up an Instagram Shop (optional): If you want to sell products directly through your Instagram account, you can set up an Instagram Shop. This feature allows you to tag products in your posts and add a “Shop” tab to your profile.
Now that your business account is set up, you can start posting content to your followers.
Post regularly and engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages.
More on this in the next section.
Best practices for using Instagram for affiliate marketing in India
Now, to maximize the effectiveness of affiliate marketing on Instagram, several best practices can be implemented.
The first step is to choose a niche that aligns with your product or service.
This will ensure that you’re targeting the right audience and helping them find what they need.
Next, create visually appealing content that will stand out from the competition and attract potential customers.
Utilize tags, captions, and hashtags to increase engagement and reach more people.
And provide value by sharing helpful tips or information about your product or service.
Finally, consider using Instagram ads to reach a larger audience.
Ads can be tailored to target specific interests or demographics, which can increase the effectiveness of your affiliate marketing efforts.
In short, with the right strategy, Instagram can be an effective platform for affiliate marketing in India.
Influencer marketing on Instagram in India
Influencer marketing involves working with influencers who have established themselves as authorities in their niche, and who have a loyal following of followers.
This process isn’t as complicated as it sounds.
Influencers share content related to the product or service that they are promoting, such as reviews, photos, or videos.
This can also include link sharing, which directs users back to the website for more information about the promoted product or service.
This type of new-age marketing works by exposing potential customers to the message about the company’s offerings through trusted sources that already have a large network of followers.
What’s in it for you as an affiliate?
Well, there are two options:
- Work with an established Instagram influencer in India, like Bhuvan Bam. And they promote your affiliate business.
- Or, strive to be an influencer yourself. Here, you start by building a huge followership on IG and then build a relationship with your audience. Next, monetize this audience using affiliate marketing!
Whichever direction you go, don’t ignore influencers in your business.
B. Facebook
Facebook is the most popular social media platform in India.
There were 489,900,000 Facebook users in India in January 2022, which accounted for 34.2% of its entire population.
This makes it an ideal platform for affiliate marketing since a large number of potential customers are accessible through the site.
It is easy to create ads and campaigns on Facebook and build relationships with potential customers.
Additionally, Facebook allows affiliates to target specific audiences based on interests and geographical location.
And provides valuable analytics that can help marketers track their progress and make adjustments accordingly.
Lastly, Facebook also provides access to its own ad library so that affiliates can gain insights into what types of ads are working for them and learn from competitors’ strategies.
All these features make Facebook an attractive option for affiliate marketers in India who wish to reach a large customer base quickly and effectively.
Setting up a Facebook account for affiliate marketing in India
You only need a Facebook page to get started!
This gives you access to the immense potential of this platform – from its user-friendly interface to its expansive global reach.
Before doing anything else, go to the ‘Create Page’ option located at the bottom of any Facebook page and fill out all required information.
This includes entering a page name and category, uploading profile and cover photos, adding a description for their page, and selecting featured images.
Once this is complete, start exploring the various features that make using Facebook so effective for affiliate marketing such as creating targeted ads and utilizing groups or pages related to their product or service.
Best practices for using Facebook for affiliate marketing in India
Facebook is a great platform for affiliate marketing in India.
And several best practices should be followed when using Facebook for affiliate marketing.
First, create attractive and engaging content that will appeal to your target audience.
This could include eye-catching visuals such as pictures, infographics or videos, along with well-written copy that is relevant and informative.
Use keywords throughout the post so it can be easily found by potential customers who might be searching for related topics on Facebook.
Second, leverage advertising tools available on Facebook such as sponsored posts or ads in order to reach larger audiences more quickly.
When using these features, select the right targeting options to ensure that the right people see the ads.
AND don’t forget to use use a tracking code on your site to measure the performance of your campaigns accurately.
Third, take advantage of the insights available on Facebook to measure the performance of your campaigns.
This will allow you to identify which strategies are working and which are not, so you can adjust and improve your campaigns accordingly.
Finally, build relationships with your customers by engaging with them through comments, messages, and reviews.
Doing this will help to create loyalty and goodwill, and can lead to more sales down the line.
Facebook Groups for Affiliate Marketing in India
Facebook Groups is an affiliate’s invaluable tool.
Joining existing Facebook Groups related to affiliate marketing can be beneficial in many ways when trying to grow your business in India.
These groups provide access to a variety of resources such as advice on best practices and strategies, as well as networking opportunities with other affiliates who can help you get your message heard.
Beyond this, you can join groups where your target audience hangs out, and share your affiliate links where appropriate.
You can also use these groups to advertise and share any special offers or discounts you may have.
Finally, you can use these groups to get feedback from other affiliates, as well as customers, in order to improve your products and services.
C. YouTube
As of January 2023, India was the country with the largest YouTube audience by far, with approximately 467 million users (Source: Statista).
As such, YouTube offers a great opportunity for Indian marketers to reach out to their target audiences and promote products or services.
It is also an effective platform for affiliate marketing as it allows influencers and content creators to use their channels and create engaging videos that can lead to increased product sales.
In fact, this video platform makes it easy for influencers and content creators to share affiliate links in their videos.
This means, you can easily earn a commission on each sale generated through your channel.
And like Facebook, you can launch ad campaigns on YouTube which are targeted based on user profiles such as age, gender, location, etc., thus ensuring that only relevant audiences view the ads. This helps increase conversions significantly.
Setting up a YouTube channel for affiliate marketing
Here are the steps to create a YouTube channel in India:
- Create a Google account: In order to create a YouTube channel, you need to have a Google account. If you already have a Gmail account, you can use that. If not, you can create a new Google account.
- Go to YouTube and sign in: Go to www.youtube.com and sign in to your Google account.
- Click on the user icon: Once you are signed in, click on the user icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Create a channel: From the drop-down menu, select the option to “Create a Channel.” You will be asked to enter your channel name. Choose a name that is memorable and represents your brand or content.
- Customize your channel: Once your channel is created, you can customize it by adding a profile picture and header image. You can also add a description to give viewers an idea of what your channel is all about.
- Start uploading videos: Once you have customized your channel, you can start uploading videos. You can upload videos directly from your computer, or you can record a video using your webcam.
- Optimize your videos: To make your videos more discoverable, make sure to add titles, descriptions, and tags to each video. You can also create playlists to organize your videos into different topics or themes.
Best practices for using YouTube for affiliate marketing in India
The first step to success with affiliate marketing on YouTube in India is to create compelling content that resonates with viewers.
This means creating videos that are informative, unique, and entertaining.
It’s also crucial to optimize videos for SEO using relevant keywords that will help viewers find them more easily.
And add closed captions to videos. Doing this makes your content more accessible and therefore more likely to be shared.
Finally, building relationships with influencers within your niche can help you spread the word about your YouTube channel even further.
I bet you’ve seen content creators appearing on more popular channels.
That’s an effective strategy to reach new audiences.
How to create video content for affiliate marketing on YouTube
If you want to reach more people and earn more commissions, you need to rethink how you create video content!
To help you out, here are some tips:
First, research the target audience and create videos tailored to their interests.
This includes creating the right tone and language that resonates with viewers in India.
Consider how your products or services will be most useful to viewers before creating a video about them.
Second, use tools like motion graphics, visual effects, and music to enhance your videos.
These tools can make your videos more visually appealing, allowing them to stand out from competitors’ videos and capture more attention from viewers.
Third, create videos that are informative and entertaining.
Viewers are more likely to watch videos that are engaging and entertaining, so be sure to include information that viewers will find helpful and interesting.
Fourth, include a call to action in each video.
A call to action can be as simple as asking viewers to like and share your video or to visit your website or social media page.
AND finally, use the right keywords in your videos and titles.
This will help your videos rank higher in YouTube’s search engine and be seen by more viewers.
Following these tips and you will be on your way to creating one of the most popular YouTube channels in India.
Good luck!
Related: Affiliate Marketing With YouTube in India: Ultimate Guide
D. Twitter
Another one of the best social media platforms for affiliates in India is Twitter.
With 24.45 million users, the platform offers great potential to reach large audiences and build relationships with potential customers.
Affiliates can use Twitter to promote their products and services through creative campaigns, such as funny videos or eye-catching images that link to their affiliate sites.
You can even build relationships with influencers who have large followings in there.
And collaborate on sponsored promotions that expand the reach of their campaigns even further.
Setting up a Twitter account for affiliate marketing in India
Here are the steps to set up a Twitter account:
- Go to twitter.com: Go to the Twitter homepage at www.twitter.com.
- Click on the “Sign up” button: On the Twitter homepage, click on the “Sign up” button in the top right corner of the screen.
- Enter your information: You will be prompted to enter your full name, phone number or email address, and a password. Make sure to choose a password that is strong and secure.
- Verify your email or phone number: Twitter will send a verification code to the email or phone number you provided. Enter the code to verify your account.
- Choose a username: After you have verified your account, you will be asked to choose a username. This is the name that will appear in your Twitter profile URL and on your profile page. Choose a username that is memorable and represents you or your brand.
- Complete your profile: Once you have chosen your username, you can complete your profile by adding a profile picture, header image, and bio. Make sure to fill out all the information to give people an idea of who you are and what you’re about.
- Start tweeting: Once you have set up your account and completed your profile, you can start tweeting. To tweet, simply type your message in the box at the top of your Twitter feed and click the “Tweet” button.
- Find and follow people: To get started on Twitter, you should start following people and organizations that interest you. You can search for people by name or username, or you can browse Twitter’s suggested users list.
Best practices for using Twitter for affiliate marketing in India
To make sure your efforts on Twitter are successful, here are some best practices to follow:
First, create an optimized profile that clearly outlines who you are and what you have to offer.
Provide detailed information about yourself or your company and use relevant keywords so that people can easily find you.
Make sure your profile picture is professional – it should represent you or your business in a positive light.
Next, create quality content that will engage viewers and encourage them to visit your website or purchase products from you.
Post helpful articles and informative videos related to the products or services being marketed as affiliates.
Provide value to your followers with useful tips and advice related to affiliate products you promote.
Make sure to also interact and engage with other users on Twitter.
Reply to any questions or comments people have about your products and services.
Follow other users related to the industry and retweet their content occasionally. This will help to build relationships and create a network of potential customers.
Finally, take advantage of Twitter ads and sponsored tweets to reach a wider audience.
Monitor the performance of your campaigns and adjust your targeting and content accordingly. This will help to optimize your campaigns and ensure that you are targeting the right people.
How to network with other affiliate marketers on Twitter
Networking is an effective way to increase your visibility in India’s growing online marketing community.
And Twitter is the perfect place to start!
So, once you’ve established your presence, start connecting with other affiliates by following them and joining relevant conversations.
Make sure to provide helpful comments related to the topic of discussion so that others will want to follow you back.
To build relationships with fellow marketers, like and retweet their posts, provide feedback on their content, ask questions about their experiences, or comment on current industry trends.
Trying new methods such as creating polls or running giveaways that allow others to engage with your brand more directly.
You can also join Twitter chats related to your niche.
These are great for networking and getting to know other affiliates.
Finally, don’t forget to follow up with the people you’ve networked with.
And it could be as simple as sending a message asking how they’re doing or offering a helpful tip.
How to find and join affiliate programs in India
Affiliate marketing in India is incomplete without an affiliate program.
And it is not just about any program out there.
Joining the right affiliate program can be critical to success in your affiliate marketing endeavors.
If you want to make more money as an affiliate in India, do the following.
Start by searching for popular Indian-based affiliate networks, such as Flipkart, Amazon or Paytm.
These networks often have various options for merchants who want to become affiliates.
Once you’ve identified potential network partners, compare offers and select one that best fits your needs.
You’ll typically need to create an account with the network before you can start promoting products on their platform.
Next, look for individual brands that may offer affiliate programs within India you could join directly.
Many well-known brands have their own programs, so you may be able to find some great opportunities this way.
For example, you can join our affiliate program here and earn a 10% commission for every web hosting customer you send our way.
Moving one, research the brand to make sure their products align with your content and audience.
Finally, reach out to brands directly and inquire about any potential affiliate programs they may have.
Often, companies don’t advertise their programs, so you could be the first person to ask.
Once you’ve identified potential affiliate programs to join, read through each program’s terms and conditions carefully.
Understanding what’s expected of you and what you can expect in return is crucial.
Once you’re clear on the details of the program, you can start promoting your chosen brands on your chosen social media platforms.
Challenges and Solutions for Affiliate Marketing on Social Media in India
As you can guess, social media marketing is not a walk in the park.
It takes a lot of trial and error.
Here are some major challenges you will encounter and what to do about them.
a. Competition on social media:
Competition on social media is fierce, particularly in India.
There are a large number of companies vying for the attention of potential customers.
To overcome this challenge, affiliates should focus on creating engaging content that stands out from the competition.
Quality content that is tailored to their target audience is key to success.
b. Effectively targeting an audience:
Affiliates need to identify and target their core audience in order to effectively promote their affiliate products on social media.
You can do this by leveraging the power of demographic and psychographic data to create targeted campaigns.
c. Tracking and measuring results:
You need to be able to track and analyze the performance of your campaigns in order to optimize your efforts.
Tools such as Google Analytics and Hootsuite can help with this.
d. Staying up-to-date on new trends:
Social media is constantly changing, so affiliates need to stay up-to-date on new trends in order to remain competitive.
Staying informed about the latest trends and tools can help affiliates keep up with the competition and take advantage of new opportunities.
And as we’ve already mentioned, engaging with influencers and thought leaders can help you as an affiliate stay ahead of the curve.
Final Thoughts
Affiliate marketing on social media in India is a great way to reach potential customers, build relationships with them, and ultimately increase sales.
We have provided a useful overview of the different strategies that can be used to succeed when attempting affiliate marketing on Indian social media platforms.
These strategies include targeting the right audience, engaging with users in meaningful ways, leveraging influencers for additional exposure, and optimizing content for maximum visibility.
Moreover, remember that affiliate marketing takes time and patience before it starts yielding results.
Therefore, stay focused on developing strong relationships with customers as well as creating quality content that will keep them coming back for more.