You’re feeling frustrated because people are not looking at your affiliate products, let alone buying them.

I can relate to it because in 2013, I tried my hands on affiliate marketing but didn’t succeed.

To be honest with you, I failed.

The highest monthly income was in September of the same year when I earned $308.99.

The months before have experienced staggering failure – it’s common to see just $74.22 or less on my merchant account at month end.

However, things started to change in 2014 when I signed up to promote recurring high-ticket offers.

Trust me, offering a high-ticket product for sale is the ONLY way to work less, drive fewer visitors to your ‘money page’ and still make decent income to live by.

You want proofs from ordinary people who are succeeding in this business model?

Okay, Pat Flynn makes over $30,000 monthly from Bluehost. Their affiliate program pays out $65 per referral.

An affiliate could earn up to $150 if the person they referred orders.

In this post, I want to share with you the 4-step plan you need to make at least $2,000/month, promoting high-ticket offers.

A quick definition, before we jump right in on the easy steps.

What are high-ticket affiliate offers?

These are products/programs or offer that you promote as an affiliate and earn up to $100 when a sales order is completed.

For instance, most of Brian Tracy’s video training courses and seminars are sold for $599 and beyond.

You could join as an affiliate to promote the program and earn commissions in the process.

Typically, you’ll be paid 50% commission no matter the cost of the product. But in this case, it’s $1000+.

A 50% commission rate will net you $500 or more, depending on the upsells and backend offers

That’s what high-ticket affiliate marketing is all about. Stop wasting time on peanuts.

You deserve more from your hard work cowboy!

But the question is: how do you ensure the money keeps rolling in, assuming you’re new to the game?

Just follow this 4-step plan and you’d be smiling to the bank by next month.

Step #1: Get a custom blog theme

The difference between a high-ticket and low-ticket offer is the impression you create in the minds of buyers.

According to Forbes, people only do business with who they like and trust to some degree.

Whether you’re a blogger or business coach, impression is everything.

What people say about you is much more powerful / important than what you say about yourself – more importantly on the internet.

That’s why you must get a custom blog design from day one that’s compatible with mobile devices. Econsultancy.com saw 65.71% increased conversions when their design was improved, and revenue increased by 101.25%.

You may be asking why some people succeed online without having a custom blog, right?

Well, you have to understand that even a free wordpress theme is all you need to persuade people to buy an e-book that sells for $27.

Buyers may not trust you yet, and it’s because of the low cost of your product – they’ll just buy it.

But when the same people are expected to spend up to $100 and more on a particular product/program, the fear of losing money will set in – and discouragement is the next thing.

To curb this challenge, use a custom designed blog to build influence and speak the same language your readers love – BEAUTY!

Step #2: Research high-ticket offers

There are several platforms to select high converting offers that will generate a high commission for you. Make sure in the beginning not to waste your time on low-ticket affiliate offers and instead focus on high-ticket offers.

My favorite merchant is offervault.com. On the homepage, just type the niche you want and press search.

In this case, I’m looking for a product that will pay me $150 per lead/sale in the home business niche:

Now you’ll see a lot of opportunities to earn more money as an affiliate.

Don’t be scared to pick any of the offers that pay out handsome commissions.

If you work hard for it, you’ll earn it.

Screenshot:

In affiliate marketing, choosing a niche and product to market is usually seen as the most delicate of all, because the wrong niche will drown your efforts.

Moving forward…

Step #3: Create video tutorials weekly

I love this. Video tutorials will set your posts on fire, and trigger action almost instantly.

Have you ever watched a video and got inspired to try a particular product?

For instant, if you watch Derek Halpern instructional videos, nothing can stop you from moving ahead in your online business.

Don’t just write a product review and relax.

It’s not going to work that way, and your sales conversion will be low. Remember that text-based content has a limit on how much it can engage and portray you as the go-to expert.

But when you create videos tutorials weekly, you’re reinsuring readers to hold you accountable for the things you said, not just what you wrote.

And if that happens, they’ll definitely buy your high-ticket affiliate products.

I find it pretty difficult to trust a blogger just because he wrote a useful post.

It’s possible that s/he outsourced the content to a ghost writer. Don’t you think so?

Can an affiliate marketer, blogger or business coach outsource video creations?

Yes they can, but on that type of video, it’d simply be a guide, not on personal relationship.

Step #4: Target low-hanging keywords

Since “home business” is our preferred niche for this case study.

How do we generate low-hanging keywords, which are less competitive and profitable at the same time?

Just go over to Google and type, “home business” and watch the auto generated search queries.

See what I’m talking about:

I think I like ‘home business opportunities’.

I’ll click the keyword, copy as it is and go to Google Keyword planner (here).

Once I get there, I’ll paste it, and hit “Get ideas.”

From the screenshot above, the low hanging keywords (a.k.a. long tail keywords) you should target if you were to promote a home business program/offer are:

• Work from home business
• Starting a home business
• Legitimate work from home opportunities
• Home based business opportunities
• Work from home scams

Note: Targeting a long-tail keyword doesn’t mean you’re over-optimizing or stuff keywords.

In fact, Google recommends that you research the top search queries people are using to search for you. So it’s vital, it’s fundamental!

If Google is against keyword research and targeting, why are they still allowing us to use Google keyword planner.

Step #5: Create excellent content

Now, based on the keywords you found, as suggested in the previous point, you are ready to start the part that takes the most time (but potentially the most profitable) of producing the affiliate content. This is where the phrase abused but more true than ever comes into play: “Content is king”.

Your goal will be to turn your website into an authority in your niche and the most effective way to do this is to create fresh, unique and high-quality content.

Now, do not write to sell, but try instead to create a relationship with your audience.

Your reader, before being converted to a full-fledged buyer, needs to be attracted to your brand (or simply your name). That’s why when you create content, it must never be purely for the sale of your product or service. On the contrary, it should be always aimed first at creating a relationship of trust, encouraging your reader to follow you over time because you have something interesting to say and tell and that can be really useful to him in his life.

Only when this relationship of trust is created, only then, you can start earning with affiliate marketing.

Conclusion

In all, you’ve to understand the psychology of persuasion, as laid out by Robert B. Ciadini; Author of Influence.

Whether you’re selling a $17 product or a $1999 high ticket product, knowing what prompts people to press the buy button is a powerful force you can’t do without.

Most of the time, people buy out of emotional signals going on within their minds and afterwards, they justify it by giving cognitive reasons why they bought it.

If you want to succeed at selling other people’s products, start speaking to the minds of your target audience.

Use your videos, posts, podcasts and slide presentations to evoke curiosity, captivate potential buyers and nudge them to action.

If you continually do this, nothing can stop you from making $2,000 per month through high-ticket affiliate offers.

As always, what is the biggest commission you’ve ever made per sale in your affiliate career so far?

Share your value-based thoughts in the comment box below. See you ahead!

Savvy marketers are doing it. Even the next internet guy would have something to do with email list. I’m yet to see any marketing tactics that works so efficiently, like email.

If you can get your message to sit at your prospect’s inbox, you’ll have increased the chances of building a deeper relationship and increasing sales by 203%.

Enough of the ranting, I want to show you how to build a profitable email list from scratch. We shall be looking at 12 steps to get you started. There are three things you must do when you’re done with this post. Catch it:

Read – Understand – Implement

That’s sounds like a rule of thumb. Now let’s take it 12 steps further and satisfy your quest for success via emails. Let’s dive in.

12 Action Steps To Build A Profitable Email List

1.    Set A Long-Term Goal

Well, who says you’ve to be in BIG business to do BIG business? Don’t believe some of the lies out there – with a concise goal, email marketing can grow your business. Before you start collecting leads, you’ve to know that email marketing isn’t a short term project.

Of course you can build a list to market your product or host a webinar, which is a short-term project. But ideally, setting up a long-term goal that builds a strong business relationship with target audience is where the profit lies.

From the outset, don’t use free email marketing software or a mediocre tool. Invest in a reliable email marketing software and service. Don’t even capture your first email except you’ve written down a set goal for this formidable business. There is more to writing a clear goal – see next line…

2.    Get Ready To Strike

Are you ready to press the right buttons? I don’t think so. Don’t forget that several people have failed woefully because they didn’t prepare. As he right quoted, “Proper preparations prevents poor performance” – Matthew Ashimolowo.

If truly you want to build an email list that can generate income and business ideas for you, there should be a shift in your thoughts. Once you’ve a clear goal, the next step is to think like an entrepreneur. You’ll no longer be dealing with strangers, but with real people who have problems and requires urgent attention.

Email marketing is not for hit-and-run marketers. It’s for those who have made up their minds to connect and engage the right audience. Yes, everyone is not meant to be on your list – but the right people. The competition out there is fierce, are you prepared to trounce every hurdle and excel?

Note: The aim of building a list isn’t to compete with others. That would be a fight in futility. Rather, you should complement what other marketers have done and put a new meaning into a common idea. No matter your niche or business model, don’t compete. Complement instead!

3.    Define Your Platform

The third piece of our email marketing puzzle is to define your platform. How do you intend to capture leads? Will you be using a blog or a separate landing page? The beauty of blogging is that you can create unique landing pages that can work like a typical squeeze page.

Most successful bloggers have turned their homepages into a landing page. The sole aim is to collect leads before redirecting the reader to the posts. And I think this is the best way to go if you’re a blogger. A well-designed squeeze page can work efficiently for other entrepreneurs who run e-commerce and corporate websites.

In all, the platform you’ve chosen must offer value to the prospect. No one is going to give you their email address if you can’t satisfy their taste for exclusive information. Do you know what makes a list building platform enticing? Step 4 has the answer…

4.    Get A Powerful List-bait

What do I mean by a list-bait? Before you could catch a fish, you need a hook, a line and bait. The fish definitely is hungry and needs to satisfy this feeling. The moment you throw the hook into the water, the fish would run toward the bait – not the line.

If you want to capture and build a profitable list, from the outset, you need a powerful list-bait. This can be a valuable short report (7 – 15 pages), an e-book, a software, membership access, WordPress plugin or themes, packaged graphics (buttons, headers, e-covers, vector photos) and so on.

Whatever list-bait you’ve in mind, make sure it’s valuable and would assist the subscriber to achieve his or her goals. The impression you create with your bait would determine how much success it brings.

Don’t give away free stuffs that wouldn’t help someone. Even though the product you’re giving away is free, make it valuable with professional packaging.

5.    Craft Quality Contents

Quality contents that offers something valuable to blog readers and potential customers is the only ‘spice’ that can inspire them. You need people to op-tin? Then stop pushing them. Your focus should be on crafting exceptional contents that cannot be found elsewhere.

We call this “exclusive.” If you’ve this on your blog or landing page, your subscription-rate would go through the roof. Yes, a list-bait has its place in persuading people to subscribe, but insightful content is still King.

But what exactly is quality content? If a 2-year old should ask you the question, what would your response be?

The truth is, every article topic or subject has been written by someone, somewhere. If your article, your review, your press release or blog post offers a practical and authentic solution, then it’ll be regarded as quality content.

And a thorough market research can help you know your audience so that you can write for them. A blog or landing page that offers helpful answers need a roof over its head. Want to know how?

6.    Choose A Reliable Autoresponder

The autoresponder service you choose will either make or mar your success. When I started marketing online, promoting affiliate offers was my first business model. Yes, I did well at it but the email service I was using hindered me from making more money.

It’s important that you choose the right one – streamline your campaigns and have separate email letters for customers and subscribers. In order words, a service that allows you to track clicks, manage campaigns and import contacts from another campaign is important.

There are free email marketing services out there – but don’t fall into using any of them. Invest in a good service (aweber, getresponse, icontact, constantcontact, mailchimp and so on). Remember: Email marketing goal is long-term, not a get-rich-quick tactics.

7.    Attract Targeted Traffic Only

Web traffic is the lifeblood of your online business. But all traffic is not created equal – some are juicier than others. Your list would be more responsive if the right people subscribes to your newsletter.

It boils down to the traffic generation strategy you’re using. Some people use social media to drive traffic to the landing or squeeze page – but ideally, using content marketing could produce better results.

I’ve built a responsive list of 736 people, earlier, who are desperate to buy whatever product I would recommend for them – valuable products, actually. I only used guest posting strategy to drive traffic to my squeeze page and it worked out fine.

If someone can read your guest post or article without skimming through, it shows the person is searching for the right answers to her needs. Write relevant contents and submit to relevant blogs in your niche, you’ll attract targeted traffic consistently.

8.    Set up and Schedule Follow-Up Messages

Gradually, we’re building a credible business. If you’ve read this far, I would like to say a BIG thank you. You’ve done a fantastic job.

But I’m not done with you yet. We need to set up follow-up messages to further strengthen the bond. In fact, this is the first email your subscriber will receive after downloading the list-bait you exchanged for their email address and name.

A lot of people argue that you don’t have to capture names. It’s true that email address it what matters, but now we need to personalize the follow-up messages. Personalization creates an aura for both parties (you and subscriber).

The first email to your subscriber is usually a WELCOME message. It’s a shout out email. In this email letter, you’ll set the interval to “0” so that the message can be sent immediately, after confirmation. I’ll show you how to make this work – a single tweak will do. It’s about your obedience to the 7-rule concept.

9.    Obey the 7-rule Concept

A successful email marketer is someone who’s obeying the 7-rule concept. It’s a simple rule that works to build rapport first, before pushing sales offer to your subscribers.

According to marketing elites, psychologists and behavioral research studies, selling to a stranger would lower your conversion rate. In order words, everyone who subscribes to your email list is a stranger. How do you connect with a stranger in the offline world? You need to introduce yourself, your business, and family and so on.

On the internet, we do similar things. But we use emails to make introductions and showcase our expertise. Therefore, schedule 7 emails to go out to your subscribers starting from the first day.

Some folks like to send emails daily, while others send twice weekly. All in all, don’t bore your subscribers with too many emails. And remember, these 7 emails must be aimed at building relationships – no selling whatsoever. Focus on establishing rapport. I’ll show you how.

10. Educate Your Subscribers

The 7-rule concept is about educating your subscribers. Yes, these people may be Lawyers, Medical practitioners and from different fields, well trained and sophisticated, but we’re all students at every point in our lives – we all need to learn.

Subscribers have given you an open check to educate them. If you do it creatively, without pushing sales down their throat, you’ll make more money and build a thriving business.

Education doesn’t end at your blog alone; you’ve to give away e-books, short reports and any other product or service that can help your subscribers achieve tremendous success.

And don’t be stereotyped to one form of content – use videos, podcasts, slideshows and photos to convey your message.

The goal is to build your credibility and self-esteem needed to market your products later on. Educating your subscribers is a continuous thing, but the first 7 emails will be the foundation. Have you thought about branding?

11. Build Your Email-Brand

Standing out from the crowd is the secret spice in your email marketing arsenal. How do you grow your email list and convince people to buy from you when there are millions of marketers sailing against you?

It’s a tough world out there. The email marketing world is overcrowded and every step you take would enhance or demean your chances of attaining success. Brand building is important. Your brand is your identity – that thing that makes you exceptional and the go-to-person for a specific need in your field.

Your emails should have a format each time you send it. Interestingly, sending emails on a specific day of the week can help you build a memorable brand, provided your emails are worthwhile, well-crafted and easy to use.

Build your email brand by offering subscribers what they can’t get elsewhere. Invite them to your inner circle (membership site) and unveil your underground marketing secrets – that’s a sure way to begin your journey. We’re yet to make any money, why?

12. Profit From Your List Creatively

It takes time to build a huge list of responsive subscribers. But the time spent is never a waste. An email list has the potential to generate five or six figures for you if you’ve been following the above steps.

But making money from your subscribers is the first equation. There are many benefits of having a responsive list of people who enjoy listening to you. You could get product ideas when you throw a poll open. You could get better business connections and deals from your loyal subscribers.

And besides, blasting the hottest affiliate offer to your list isn’t the only way to earn extra income online – in fact; it’s not a good way. The best way is to refer these people to a subscription-based service.

That way, you could earn monthly recurring income without lifting a finger. Refer subscribers to a reliable web hosting company and earn decent income every single month.

Your turn to talk

Phew!

We’ve come to the end of the post – the 12 action steps to build a profitable email list from scratch.

Did you enjoy it? Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Have you started building your email list yet?