We often have bad days doing affiliate blogging. I discovered a hot product on Amazon that is trending on X. I created a UTM for it and wrote a comprehensive blog post about that type of product on my site. This is shared on social media marketing while focusing on a keyword with high volume. Then… nothing. There were a few impressions on my UTM link, but no one is clicking it.
There are mistakes that bloggers, even I, would make without realizing it. I will go through the reasons for an affiliate fail. I will also add beginner tips to ensure your blogs have better conversions.
Affiliate Fail Reasons
Not seeing any conversions on your affiliate blog tends to be normal when you are starting. It becomes a concern when you have been making content for months and still do not see any revenue from your links. It often stems from failing to consider your niche, social media hook, and more. Here are the reasons why you are not seeing conversions and the beginner tips to correct these mistakes.
Going Broad Instead of Focused
A niche can make or break any affiliate blog. It helps a blog since audiences follow specialists. On the other hand, making your blog more general will confuse your readers. People tend to look up more of your articles or blogs if they know what the site’s target audience is.
Blogs without a niche will only attract people to one of your posts, and they will likely click out of your site. This results in a high bounce rate that negatively affects your site’s chance of ranking. In addition to bounce rate, Google crawlers may struggle to classify your blog and will have difficulty ranking your site for relevant keywords.
You can avoid this problem by using the following blogging tips:
- Pick a niche you are knowledgeable in or are comfortable tackling it. Consider ones with a large audience based on social media trends or relevance
- If you already started your blog with several posts, note ones that are getting traffic. Form a focused topic based on your high-performance posts.
- Create a topic cluster based on your niche. This is an organized content strategy that will help you capture your target audience’s attention.
Publishing Sales‑First, Thin Content
I often see this affiliate fail among new blogs. They create a short description of the UTM link they want to promote. Add the bulletpoints from Amazon or the landing page. Then call it day. A clear mistake here is the mindset: presenting a product or service to a reader will make them want to buy it. I am afraid to say that this does not happen. Even if your blog’s visitor sees a product that is right for them on your post, they are least likely to click your UTM link if you do not offer them a reason to do so.
Readers tune out when a post exists only to push links. You need to provide the reason why they should make a purchase using your article. Basically, you need to build trust to drive conversions. No one will click any affiliate link and make a purchase without any hype or answers to their concerns.
Use these beginner tips to make a compelling argument with your affiliate blog:
- When describing a product or service, give the common pain points and cite the features as the solutions.
- Use images or screenshot of the products or service your reader is purchasing. You can find these images from Amazon or the vendor’s website.
- Give a list of who the products is for. If you are promoting a grooming kit, say its for professionals with little time to look presentable.
Ignoring Search Intent and Cannibalizing Keywords
One of the important metrics of a keyword is its search intent. When your reader uses a “best cordless blower,” they are not expecting an article that gives a history lesson of the people making that blower. They are creating a shortlist of different cordless blowers and want a comparison chart. Giving what your readers expect will lead them towards your UTM link.
Another affiliate fail I see when using keywords is in using a single one across several content. You have articles about “best cordless blower” from DeWalt and another about “best cordless blower” for suburban residents. This results in keyword cannibalization where several content is competing to rank for the same search query. This has a negative impact on your ranking.
Use the following beginners tips to avoid this mistake:
- Look up your competitors article when they use a specific keyword. Note what type of article is ranking high on SERP and make that your inspiration for your blog.
- Make full use of long-tail keywords for lucrative keywords. Use “best DeWalt cordless blower” and “best suburban cordless blower” to avoid keyword cannibalization.
- If you have two or more competing content, combine them into one long post.
Neglecting User Experience and Accessibility
The technical SEO aspect of your blog should never be ignored. A slow website has a negative effect to the user experience. No one is willing to wait for a website to completely show on their browser or their phone for even a minute. Additionally, Google Crawlers will take into consideration the speed of your site, penalizing you if it’s too slow.
There is also the issue of making a blog difficult to read. Articles with large walls of text are a common reason for affiliate fail since it makes the content hard to scan. Yes, even Google will note the layout of your article.
Here are the following beginner tips to boost the user experience.
- Take advantage of free SEO audit tools that check the speed of your website. If your site is loading slowly, consider using a WordPress plugin or blog theme that optimizes your article’s images.
- Use H2/H3/H4 headings to organize your article’s thoughts.
- Keep the paragraphs concise by focusing on one or two key ideas for each.
- Include key takeaways in your articles.
Not Tracking Performance
When an affiliate fail, writers who are starting out are often clueless about the reason. It could be any of the four reasons above. The truth is, many do not have a clear picture of their blog’s performance because they are not tracking it.
It pays to see which of your pages are getting the attention of your readers and the Google algorithm. You can see which topics are getting traffic. High-performance pages can be expanded upon by finding related topics and keywords associated with them. You can also tweak low-performing pages by adding relevant content or find another way to promote the UTM link.
Follow these beginner tips to track your blog’s performance:
- Use the Google Search Console and Google Analytics tools. These are free to use and are the primary tool to see how well your blog is doing with Google’s SERP.
- Use the Site Kit WordPress Plugin tool to compile the data from both platforms. You can easily see the metrics of each page, including the amount of time visitors spend on the site.
Wrap Up: Avoiding Affiliate Failure
Many of the reasons behind affiliate fail come from not considering the content or how it is laid out. Your readers and Google crawlers pay close attention to the topics you are covering in your blog, the content within the article, and its technical SEO. Properly tracking your site ensures that you identify any issues with your blogs promptly and apply the necessary corrections. Using my beginner tips can lead to better conversions.
FAQ: Reasons for Unsuccessful Affiliate Blogs
Why am I not getting clicks on my affiliate links even with traffic?
Even if you’re getting impressions or some traffic, readers won’t click if the content is not convincing them to make a purchase. You need to build trust by addressing pain points, offering genuine solutions, and showing why the product fits their needs.
How do I choose the right niche for my affiliate blog?
Start by focusing on topics you’re comfortable writing about, and check which of your posts are already getting traffic. Use those as a foundation to create a niche-focused content cluster that attracts the right audience.
What’s keyword cannibalization, and how does it hurt my blog?
Keyword cannibalization occurs when multiple posts target the same keyword, causing them to compete against each other. This lowers your rankings. Use long-tail keywords and combine similar posts to avoid this.
How can I improve user experience on my affiliate blog?
Break your content into short, readable sections with proper headings. Utilize SEO audit tools to assess your site’s speed and consider switching to themes or plugins that load more efficiently. A smooth and readable site keeps readers engaged for longer.
Citations and Resources
https://mailchimp.com/resources/what-are-pain-points