Hey there! You’ve reached this page because you saw a disclosure on my website, social media, and/or my newsletter. The disclosure mentioned that I am an affiliate or associate, and now you’re wondering what the heck that even means.
Well, I’m glad you asked because I strive to be transparent with my readers!
What Is An Affiliate?
Let’s say, I’m in the middle of Target and you’re wearing the cutest shoes ever. I stop and ask you where you bought them.
You proudly tell me you found them online then text me a link to the shoes.
I click your link and buy a pair of the shoes in my size.
That’s pretty neat, right?
But what if you had a special ID in the link that let the online store know you were the one that referred me? You would get a little bit of thank-you cash (usually between 1-5% of the purchase price) called a commission.
Now, it works just like that online. I tell you about a book (maybe my own or a friend’s) and I use a special link that tells Amazon, B & N, Apple Books, or another retailer that I was the one who sent you.
If you make a purchase, the retailer credits me and I get the commission.
Now, at 1-5% commission rate, I’m not getting rich. But the extra income does allow me to keep my own TBR stack filled with good books. As I’ve explained to family and friends, I write books so that I can afford to buy books.
Will I Pay More?
Some people are afraid to click on links they find on the web. They think they’ll pay more for the item (such as a book or t-shirt) if they do this. But that’s not actually true.
As an affiliate, I don’t get to control the price of the item. All I can do is link to the store. This means I have no control over whether Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, or any other retailer has a deal going.
If I had that level of control over those mighty retailers, I’d have already built my tiny cabin in the mountains.
Why Are You An Affiliate?
As a writer, my income is what’s known as variable. I can’t predict how many copies of my books I’ll sell on release day or how many downloads I’ll get this month.
Since I don’t have a set salary, I practice creating multiple streams of income. This is why I sell my books on many retailers (such as Amazon, B & N, Apple Books, etc) and why I use affiliate links.
All of these small income streams add up and allow me to write full-time. This is good news because it’s a LOT easier to write my books when I’m not worried about how I’m going to pay my light bill.
I hope I’ve answered all of your questions clearly. I want you to be able to click on my links with full confidence, understanding exactly what it means when I tell you I’m an affiliate. If you have questions, reach out and contact me.