In this post:
Introduction & Defining ‘Brand Deals’
Lately, I’ve found myself really wanting to talk about this subject. I think it’s a mixture of feeling like I want to provide more clarity on this subject and how it applies to me as well as the fear of others viewing me as disingenuous.
To begin, I wanted to explain, for anyone who isn’t aware, how affiliate marketing plays a role in what I do online. Affiliate marketing is when you provide a link for a product, usually something you enjoy yourself and would recommend to a friend, and, when someone purchases via that link, you earn a small amount of commission. It also might work by the customer inputting a specific discount code so they get money off and you get a small commission (these are more of a win win situation in my opinion).
I’ve personally been a part of a variety of affiliate schemes since around 2015 but only really utilised it properly during the years I’ve been blogging (2020 onwards).
As for the term ‘brand deal’, I tend to use this descriptor when referring so something where there may be multiple elements beyond just an affiliate relationship. For example, the brand might want to send me free products for review, have me convey a particular message about the items in my writing or other online content (e.g the product’s main features) as well as entering me into their affiliate scheme for an ongoing promotional relationship. Usually I’ll be asked to enter a contract in these circumstances to ensure we both understand each other’s obligations and, sometimes, I receive some kind of payment.
Regarding brand deals, I seldom accept them as there are often several strings attached that I cannot agree to, which brings me to my next section…
How I Choose Which Brands to Work With
There are several factors that come into play when I decide whether it’s right for me to work with a brand. This is by no means an exhaustive list but here are some of the things that came to mind.
The Product
While I have given attention to items I don’t personally own in the past (such as introducing something I’m saving for that I feel is really exciting), I generally feel I need to own or have at least tried a product before I’m able to share it with others. On a similar wavelength, I do not believe in promoting something that I don’t actually like or trust myself. Unfortunately, I’ve seen far too many adverts where it’s come out that the person in the video/picture/article doesn’t even like the product they’re making big claims about. I never want to be this person.
The Terms
As I mentioned previously, opportunities to work with brands often come with a contract. This is something I look over with a fine-tooth comb to ensure that everything checks out. As an example, I am always careful to check that the contract allows me to be honest in the content I create. As an example, some brands may not want you to mention any drawbacks of the product, meaning that an article would come out extremely bias and not a true review. I avoid situations like this and always clarify that a brand is aware that I’m truthful in what I write at all times.
The Brand
Given that, if I entered into an agreement of any kind with a brand, I’d be promoting it to others, I need to be as sure as I can that the brand is in good standing. By that, I mean that they are honest, fulfil orders, have decent customer service and what they’re offering is of decent quality. I tend to do this by researching a little about the brand before replying to them. As a personal preference, I also consider value for money important too and tend not to promote things that would be way beyond my monetary reach in my own life.
What Affiliate Marketing Means to Me
I think a lot of people get an image in their mind when they consider what affiliate marketing and brand deals actually mean. To some, they think of YouTube personalities discussing how they turned down a deal worth millions of dollars because they were already too busy with one that paid more or how they bought such expensive or lavish things with ad revenue alone. Either that, or I’ve heard several people say that they think all ‘influencers’ are liars, fakes and that they cheat the system to ‘get rich’.
While I can’t change the mass opinion (or speak for the honesty of other people out there), I just want to be clear on where I stand. Firstly, I’ve never gotten ‘rich’ (and probably will never either) from what I do. I write out of passion and being able to earn a small amount is just a bonus for something I’ve already spent most of my life doing. For the most part, anything earned goes back into paying for hosting, other web-related fees or items used to improve what I can create.
I also believe that individuals deserve to earn money from something they’re putting time, effort and knowledge into. It isn’t free to run and maintain websites or to purchase equipment needed (e.g a good quality camera, microphone or other PC or recording accessories). Without tooting my own horn, I believe there is a certain skill level that goes into creating online content too and I have spent way too many hours researching the best ways to present something or learning new skills/information relevant to whatever I’m planning.
In conclusion, affiliate marketing is something that helps me to continue doing what I’m doing – discussing the topics others are too afraid or embarrassed to talk about. It also carries the added bonus of allowing me to talk about products others may not be sure about dropping their money onto and would first rather read an honest break down of it.
Conclusion
I hope this post has helped to illustrate how I personally approach the sometimes-muddy subject of making money online via brand deals or affiliate marketing. I appreciate that this wasn’t the most concise, well-thought-out piece but a small part of me also hopes that this has helped to reassure some people that not all online content creators are dishonest or ‘only do it for the money’. I started my blog with honesty and authenticity at the heart, that will never change.
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