Affiliate marketing is harder than they make it sound.
If you have tried it, you already know this. You find a product, get a link, post it everywhere, and hear nothing but silence. The commissions do not come. The stats do not move. It feels like you are shouting into a canyon.
There is a better way, and it might be right for you.
It has worked for 25 years. Almost nobody talks about it, and that is good news for you.
It is a private joint venture.
A private joint venture is not an affiliate program. It is a private arrangement between you and a person who has a product you believe in.
You offer to promote that product to your audience, or on social media, or however you choose to reach people. In return, you negotiate a percentage that beats any affiliate program on the market.
These arrangements are personal. They are built on trust, not tracking links. They happen because one person has a great product and another person has a relationship with an audience that would love it. When the fit is right, everybody wins.
Here is how to start.
Step 1: Identify something you believe in.
Make a list of people you trust, products you have used, and results you have gotten yourself. If you do not believe in it, do not promote it. That is the rule. Your credibility is worth more than any commission.
Step 2: Make a list of what you bring to the table.
Ask yourself why you would be a good joint venture partner. Do you have an email list? A social following? A reputation in a niche? A willingness to create content or run a webinar? Write it all down. You are building an offer before you ever send an email.
Step 3: Reach out with a simple, direct message.
Here is a template you can use today:
Subject: A quick idea that could help us both
Hi [Name],
I have been using [Product Name] for [time period] and the results have been excellent. [Add one sentence about the specific result.]
I would like to explore a private joint venture where I promote [Product Name] to my audience in exchange for a commission we agree on together.
Here is what I bring to the table:
[Your asset, e.g., an email list of X people]
[Your asset, e.g., a YouTube channel with X subscribers]
[Your asset, e.g., a willingness to create a case study or host a live session]
I believe your product and my audience are a strong match. Would you be open to a 10-minute call to discuss?
Hope to work with you,
[Your Name]
That is it. No fancy software. No hype. Just a person with a product, a person with an audience, and a private agreement that serves both sides.
If you have been frustrated with affiliate marketing, this is your off-ramp.
Pick one product you love, write one email, and send it today. The worst thing that happens is they say no. The best thing changes your business.
Charlie
P.S. Did you know I do this with Business Builder?
Now THAT’S a commission worth going for!