Are you looking to get started with affiliate marketing in India? Are you considering using YouTube as one of your main channels?
If so, this guide is for you.
As per a recent report from IAMAI (Internet and Mobile Association of India), about 15% to 20% of all online sales in India are currently driven by affiliate marketing.
It is estimated that the affiliate marketing business will exceed ₹66168.07 million by 2025!
Now is the time if you’ve ever wanted to enter this industry.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
To get you on the same page, we will introduce some concepts involved in YouTube affiliate marketing in India.
Affiliate marketing is a popular way to monetize content on the internet.
It involves promoting products and services through links, banners, and other promotional material.
When someone clicks through those links or purchases something after being referred by an affiliate link, the affiliate earns a commission from the merchant.
Affiliate marketing can be used for any type of product or service, including digital items such as ebooks and software.
What is YouTube?
In India, YouTube has become one of the most popular platforms for creating content and gaining an audience that can be turned into customers through affiliate marketing.
While YouTube does not have its own affiliate program like many other digital platforms do, there are third-party programs in which YouTubers can take part to monetize their videos with promotions from companies looking to increase their sales.
YouTube is an online video streaming platform owned by Google.
It is one of the most popular websites in the world, with more than 2 billion monthly active users.
This social media platform has become a go-to resource for entertainment and information, allowing people to watch videos from around the world on topics ranging from music and comedy to education and lifestyle advice.
In addition to providing users with access to content creators’ videos, YouTube also offers features such as live streaming and ad support that can help content creators make money through their channels.
This makes it a great platform for affiliate marketing in India, as it allows marketers to reach out to potential customers more directly than traditional advertising methods such as print or television ads.
Again, YouTube’s analytics tools give marketers insight into their viewers’ behavior to tailor their campaigns better.
Pros and Cons of YouTube Affiliate Marketing in India
Exploring YouTube affiliate marketing can be a great opportunity to monetize your content in india.
With over 2 billion users, it is a great platform to reach potential customers and make a commission by referring them to products or services.
Getting started won’t be difficult if you’re already familiar with affiliate marketing.
But even for beginners, the process is relatively simple.
As we’ve already mentioned, affiliate marketing works like a referral program, in which you register for an affiliate program and use a custom link to refer people to the product and earn a commission.
Depending on your content niche, you have a diverse selection of products to choose from and link to.
This could range from clothing to cooking gadgets to coaching services.
Although there are benefits to YouTube affiliate marketing, there can be drawbacks as well.
It takes time to build an audience and grow views, which could limit the number of clicks and sales. Additionally, some products may be more difficult to promote than others.
| Pros of YouTube Affiliate Marketing | Cons of YouTube Affiliate Marketing |
| Easy to start and for almost every niche | Commissions might differ between programs |
| Big YouTube audience and traffic potential | Video creation can be time-consuming |
| Wide selection of products to promote | Might take a while to get approved |
| One of the best things about YouTube affiliate marketing is the passive income you can earn from it. Once you’ve set up your channel and started promoting products, you can continue to earn money from your videos even when you’re not actively working on them. | Payouts could take time to be released |
| Minimal investment | You don’t own the platform |
| Another great thing about YouTube affiliate marketing is that you can work on your own schedule. You can choose when and how much time you want to devote to creating content and promoting products. | Can be time-consuming. You need to research campaigns and find the right ones for your channel. You also need to create content and promote it in order to generate clicks and sales. |
| YouTube also has extensive marketing tools and strategies to help you reach your target audience. From creating engaging videos to using YouTube Ads, the platform has plenty of options to help you promote your products and services. | YouTube is extremely competitive, so it’s not easy to stand out from the crowd and make money. |
Getting Started with Affiliate Marketing with YouTube in India
Now that you know what’s in store for you with this venture, let us discuss exactly what you need to do to get started.
a. Pick a Niche
Regarding affiliate marketing with YouTube in India, the first step is picking a niche.
A niche is a specific market you want to target and focus on.
It can be anything from health and fitness products to handmade crafts or electronics.
What’s important is that you find an area of interest that connects with your viewers.
That said, having a well-defined niche is essential for any successful business, especially when it comes to affiliate marketing.
It provides direction for your content, helps create an identity for your brand, and allows you to build relationships with potential customers.
At the same time, having a narrow focus allows you to understand the needs of your audience better and tailor content more effectively.
Again, there are many niches that can be profitable for affiliate marketing in India.
Here are a few examples:
- Health and wellness: This includes products and services related to fitness, nutrition, mental health, and overall well-being.
- Personal finance: Products such as credit monitoring, debt management, and investment services can be profitable in this niche.
- Technology: This includes a wide range of products such as laptops, smartphones, and other electronics.
- Home improvement: This niche includes products such as tools, appliances, and home decor.
- Beauty and personal care: This includes makeup, skincare, hair care, and other personal grooming products.
- Pet care: This includes pet food, toys, and other pet-related products.
- Travel: This includes products such as travel gear, booking services, and travel insurance.
- Outdoor gear and activities: This includes camping gear, hiking gear, and other products related to outdoor activities.
- Fashion and accessories: This includes clothing, shoes, and accessories for both men and women.
b. Find Affiliate Partners
This crucial step can make or break your YouTube affiliate marketing business in India.
But first, an affiliate partner is an organization that pays you a commission for referring customers to their product or service.
They are often referred to as “affiliate merchants” or “programs” and the commission you earn depends on the type of program they offer and how many sales you generate.
When searching for an affiliate partner, choose one that is compatible with your YouTube content and audience.
The ideal partner will be able to provide relevant products or services related to your niche, have attractive commission structures, and offer customer support if needed.
Don’t worry, we have included a list of the top affiliate programs in India you can join now and start earning.
But in the meantime, get this;
Many companies allow affiliates from India, but it may be necessary to contact them directly if they do not offer an online application process.
Above all, researching each potential partner can help ensure that the partnership will be mutually beneficial for both parties involved.
c. Set up Your YouTube Channel
Once you’ve selected a niche and identified the right program, creating a YouTube channel in India is next.
Setting up your channel requires you to provide some personal information, such as contact details and payment methods.
You should also upload a profile picture and create a custom background for your channel page.
Once your account is set up, you can begin creating content that will drive people to your affiliate products.
One more thing; include your niche relevant keywords in the title and description of each video so viewers can find it more easily.
You should also create playlists and link related videos together so viewers stay engaged on the channel for longer periods of time.
And don’t forget to add social media widgets and buttons on your YouTube page so people can easily share their favorite videos with their friends or followers.
Other things you may require for this step:
- Invest in equipment: You’ll need a good camera, microphone, and lighting to create high-quality videos. You can use your smartphone camera and a low-cost tripod if you’re just starting out.
- Plan and create your content: Yes, this is should be in your mind as you create the channel in India. Write down ideas for videos, create a content calendar, and stick to a consistent posting schedule. Make sure your videos are well-lit, well-edited, and provide value to your audience. For more information on this, see the next step to start affiliate marketing with YouTube in India.
Related: How to Do Affiliate Marketing in India: 5 Easy Steps
d. Start Creating Your Videos
Creating videos for your YouTube channel is an essential step to take in order to succeed in affiliate marketing with YouTube in India.
Start by looking at your niche and generating ideas based on the target audience you want to reach.
Think about topics that will be interesting, informative, and entertaining for people within your niche.
Consider what type of video content could benefit viewers, such as tutorials or reviews.
Once you have a list of potential topics, research them thoroughly to create accurate and engaging videos showing off your expertise and knowledge in the field.
In terms of production quality, it is important to remember that first impressions last – try to make sure each video is as professional-looking as possible.
Investing in quality lighting equipment, audio equipment, and other tools can help enhance the viewing experience and make sure your viewers keep coming back for more content!
Unfortunately, this is where most people get stuck.
Nobody is asking you to invest on a professional camera!
Why?
Because you don’t need it, at the beginning at least.
You can use your phone camera to record quality videos, edit, and upload them to your channel.
Steps to Upload Your Videos to YouTube in India
To upload a video to YouTube, follow these steps:
- Sign in to your YouTube account: Go to the YouTube website and sign in to your account.
- Click on the camera icon: This is the upload button located in the screen’s top right corner.
- Select the video file: Choose the video file you want to upload by clicking on the “Select files to upload” button.
- Fill in the video information: Add a title, description, and tags to your video. You can also choose the privacy settings and whether or not to allow comments and sharing.
- Customize your video: You can add a custom thumbnail, end screens, and captions to your video.
- Publish your video: Once you’ve completed all the steps, click on the “Publish” button to make your video live on YouTube.
That’s it!
Your video is now uploaded and ready for the world to see.
Note that it might take some time for the video to be processed and become available for viewing.
So, What About Some Affiliate Marketing Video Ideas in India?
Well, as you will find out, there’s something called creator’s block.
This is when you don’t know what to create.
And to help you out, here are some video ideas perfect for an affiliate marketing channel in India.
- Product reviews: Choose a product related to your niche and create a video review discussing its features, benefits, and drawbacks.
- Unboxing and product demonstrations: Create a video showing what’s inside a product’s package and demonstrate how it works.
- How-to guides: Create a video that teaches viewers how to use a product or how to perform a certain task related to your niche.
- Product comparisons: Create a video that compares different products in your niche and highlights the pros and cons of each.
- Product demonstrations: Create a video that demonstrates how to use a product in real-life scenarios.
- Haul videos: Share your latest purchases and give your thoughts on each product.
- Product roundups: Create a video showcasing a group of related products and give your thoughts on each.
Remember, your goal is to create engaging and informative content that provides value to your viewers.
Doing so will build trust with your audience and increase your chances of successfully promoting affiliate products.
Popular Affiliate Programs in India
Now, let’s dive into some of the best affiliate programs you can join in India right now.
a. Amazon Associates
- Signup Fee: None
- Cookie Duration: 24 hours
- Minimum Payment Threshold: INR 2500
- Average commission rate: 1% to 10%
Amazon Associates is an affiliate program run by Amazon.
It allows website owners to earn commissions on products they link to.
With Amazon Associates, affiliates can promote a wide range of products from Amazon’s marketplace (150+ million products) and generate sales commissions.
You can use YouTube to create videos that showcase the different products available through the program and direct viewers to buy through special links provided by Amazon.
This helps them generate revenue without having to spend money on advertising or marketing.
b. Flipkart Affiliate Program
- Signup Fee: None
- Cookie Duration: 24-hour
- Minimum Payment Threshold: INR 25,000
- The average commission ranges from 6% to 20%.
Flipkart is one of India’s most popular e-commerce sites and it also has a successful affiliate program.
And by joining the Flipkart Affiliate Program, YouTubers in India can make money by promoting products on their channel.
The program offers generous commission rates for sales generated via your links and banners.
Not to forget, you can earn additional commissions on purchases made by existing customers who were referred through your link or banner.
Additionally, Flipkart provides an array of tools to help YouTubers promote its products more effectively.
These include customized links and banners which are tailored to fit specific product categories and data-driven insights to understand customer behavior and preferences.
c. Fiverr
The Fiverr Affiliate Program in India is a great option to consider when deciding which program to join.
It’s free to join and offers a 30-day cookie life, plus there is a commission cap of $15-$50 for CPA and 30% on all Fiverr course orders.
Again, affiliates may also earn additional commissions from Fiverr’s main marketplace, making it a great choice for those looking to maximize their earnings.
d. Hostgator Affiliate
- Signup Fee: None
- Cookie Duration: 60 days
- Minimum Payout: INR 3200
Hostgator is a well-known provider of web hosting and related services.
They offer a wide range of hosting options such as shared, Cloud, VPS, and WordPress.
Additionally, they provide monthly payouts with a 10-day delay after the month in which sales occurred.
e. Reseller Club
As an affiliate of Reseller Club, a leading reseller hosting provider in India, you can earn up to Rs. 8,000 per referral with a minimum of Rs. 2,000.
Once signed up, you will be given a unique ID to track your performance and manage your account.
Payment is rewarded on a last-click basis and the cookie remains valid for 60 days.
There are various payout options such as PayPal or Bank Transfer with a minimum balance of Rs. 50.
f. BigRock Affiliate Program
BigRock, India’s premier domain registration and web hosting provider, has an affiliate program that uses tracking to credit sales made with an affiliate URL.
The tracking cookie is active for 60 days.
In addition to the domain and hosting services, BigRock also provides add-ons such as email hosting, website builder, and digital certificates.
Commissions start at Rs 30 and can reach up to 30% depending on the product being sold.
If you are looking for other options, you can sign up for the Truehost affiliate program, which is part of the same group.
Strategies for Successful Affiliate Marketing with YouTube in India
Time to get the money flowing.
Here are some of India’s best affiliate marketing strategies to do that effectively.
a. Produce Quality Content
Content is the key to successful affiliate marketing with YouTube in India.
Quality content should be engaging and informative, while remaining relevant to the topic at hand.
It should also be unique, offering viewers something that they won’t find anywhere else on the internet.
In addition, ensure that your video content adheres to YouTube’s guidelines and policies in order for it to be accepted onto the platform.
b. Add chapter markers
Chapter markers are an extremely useful tool for editing videos on YouTube.
They are used to break up a longer video into smaller, more manageable segments by creating bookmarks that viewers can navigate through.
This allows them to quickly and easily find the information they’re looking for while watching a video.
For affiliate marketers in India, adding chapter markers is essential for keeping viewers engaged with their content.
In addition to making it easier for viewers to find and access specific parts of the video, it also makes it easier for them to interact with your channel by letting them jump between different topics or sections of the video without having to scrub through the entire video timeline manually.
Furthermore, chapter markers can help increase watch time and encourage more repeat viewings as viewers may opt to go back and watch their favorite segments again.
c. Optimize Your Videos for SEO
This is crucial to ensure that your content reaches the right audience.
Utilizing keywords in titles, descriptions, and tags can help your content appear when potential viewers search related terms.
Additionally, ensuring you have a properly set up YouTube channel will also improve visibility.
It’s essential to fill out all profile fields to ensure that viewers are able to easily find more of your content after watching one video.
You should also link back to other videos on which you’ve worked or any relevant websites in the video description for extra visibility and engagement from viewers.
Finally, always ensure that each video’s thumbnail image is clear and attractive; this will draw people into watching it even if they don’t recognize the title or description immediately.
Related: YouTube SEO in India – Secrets to Driving More Traffic to Your Videos
d. Create related playlists
The playlist feature of YouTube provides a great way for affiliate marketers to increase the number of views for their videos, thereby increasing the chances of earning affiliate commission.
Creating playlists with related videos creates a continuous reel of content that could help boost views.
To create your own YouTube playlist:
- Group together related videos
- Open each video in your browser
- Hit “Save” beneath each video
- Create a new playlist (or add it to an existing one)
- Change the privacy settings to public
e. Create YouTube shorts
YouTube Shorts is a new function that permits creators to publish quick, vertical, TikTok-style videos to their channel.
Videos must be filmed on a mobile device and should be less than 60 seconds long.
These are created to offer users a quick viewing experience, while still allowing you to include them in your affiliate marketing strategy.
Be transparent with affiliate links
No matter what type of content you are sharing, always make sure to mark any affiliate links you’re promoting clearly.
Failing to do so could lead to your audience not trusting the items you’re pushing.
Think about it from your audience’s perspective.
You are looking for a new meal prep service, so you check out some YouTube comparison videos between HelloFresh and Gusto.
The latter is being highly praised by the YouTuber in the video, yet there’s no disclosure of them being paid for any new customers they bring to Gusto.
That’s why it’s important to make sure your audience knows if there’s any incentive for you to promote a product.
By being upfront about your relationship with the company, your audience will be able to make an informed decision when choosing between the two services.
Final Thoughts
Affiliate marketing with YouTube in India has become an invaluable tool for digital marketers looking to reach and engage their target audience.
It allows them to create entertaining, educational, and informative content while also providing the opportunity to generate income.
While there are many different approaches one can take when utilizing this platform, ensuring that your message resonates with viewers is the most important factor.
By leveraging videos and optimizing them for SEO purposes, you will be able to reach a much wider audience than traditional methods of advertising.
Remember that affiliate marketing with YouTube in India requires dedication and hard work in order to succeed.
You must commit yourself to creating quality content regularly and build a strong presence on the platform by engaging with viewers through comments or other forms of interaction.