Blogging has become extremely popular over the past decade and now you can find blogs that cover just about every topic under the sun. And it’s not just blogging that has become popular; it’s finding ways to monetize that content. For many people, that means using an affiliate URL code within their blog which tracks the use of that link back to them. This referral to a product or service can result in a commission to the blogger, thereby making them money.

If you’ve been thinking it may be time to monetize your blog and use an affiliate URL code, here are a few things you’ll want to be aware of.

Learn About Affiliate Marketing

Before you jump in with both feet, it wouldn’t hurt to do a little research on what affiliate marketing is. In a nutshell, it is a process by which you will earn a commission thanks to you promoting a product or service on your blog. As mentioned above, when a visitor to your site clicks on your affiliate URL code, it is tracked so that you can be credited for that referral.

So, what products can you refer to people? Affiliate marketing can be used on all kinds of services and products – there are no limits to what it can cover.

Take a Look at What Others Are Doing

It can also be helpful to look at what other successful bloggers are doing in terms of affiliate links, looking at what they have done right and what was a miss.

Believe In the Product(s) You Are Recommending

Because it takes a lot of time and hard work to build a loyal audience for your blog, you want to be sure that you stay authentic and truthful. This means only recommending products you truly believe in and can stand behind. You need to think about how the customer will view that recommendation, does it fit with your branding, does it seem authentic, will your readers love the product as much as you and so forth.

Use a Coupon Plug-In to Your Advantage

One of the most useful tips for bloggers who have embraced affiliate URL codes is to use a plug-in such as CouponPlugin.io. The way this works is that your link is cloaked which ensures you follow the best practices where SEO is concerned. You can also use a plug-in for those “Click to Reveal” options, wherein the coupon code is hidden until the user clicks on the reveal or show button. Once they do that, your affiliate code is automatically opened.

Do You Know the Rules Surrounding Endorsements?

Did you know that, here in the United States, product endorsements are covered under the Federal Trade Commission’s Endorsement Guidelines? These are meant to ensure that all advertising is truthful, meaning you cannot mislead your audience in any way. There is even a section of the guide that addresses affiliate marketing specifically.

After reading all of this advice, you may conclude that the time is right to explore the world of affiliate URL codes for your blog.