I have never worked in a true sales role - but I have always loved selling to people.This is the first job I have had where it is solely commission- based. Well, not solely. We do accept a few partnerships from time to time.
When I look at our revenue breakdown, our income comes from about 75% affiliate sales. Sometimes I do not even understand how I make money. I sell enough things to get that much in affiliate sales?
There is so much pressure from every end during big sales days. All of our affiliate platforms come at you with marketing materials about how to maximize earnings. How to post more than you did last year. How to make more than you did last year. It is like being in competition with yourself. And then you log in to Instagram and see everyone else posting story after story about one of the sales and you feel like a failure because you are not doing that. It is why I have to be careful about the content I consume on Instagram - it is too easy for me to get anxious and discouraged!
It is also so easy to fall into the dopamine rushes of a good sales day. It is like being at a hot craps table and you’re the shooter. All the affiliate networks are at the same table and cheering you on, watching you kiss the dice and line them up perfectly so you are always throwing the numbers you need. The pressure can become suffocating.
How affiliates make money
You know when you are on a website and a little popup comes up that says something about cookies? Well the cookies tell the store who sent you there. Even when you google something and then click on something google brings up in that little shopping section - that tells the store Google sent you and they have to pay Google.
Have you ever noticed how hard magazines go for big sale days? Like why does US Today care about Amazon Prime Day? Well that is because they also make money from the links and roundups. Online magazines and blogs are like little SEO (search engine optimization) farms - writing and creating content that will rank high on google. If people are searching for “best Amazon Prime Day buys”, their article will come up. Someone will click on one of the links. And then bam. If they check out, that magazine will make commission off of the entire cart total (most of the time - it varies based off of agreements).
It is exactly how I make money, too. If I post something directly to a website, I am telling that website that I sent you. If you buy anything - even if it is not the item you clicked on, I will receive commission based off of it. It is how sites like Rakuten pay you cash back. You are shopping through your own commissionable links!
Look at this link to Nordstrom. While the link you click on may say “rstyle….”, when you look at the link once you get to the page, it will actually say this - the end part is what tells Nordstrom I sent you!
It is against my agreement with any of my affiliate networks to disclose commission amounts or how long a cookie is good for. But I can tell you, that Amazon is the shortest cookie window. And if you click on another influencer’s link, it will override my cookie.
The Cookie Olympics
The name of the game for these big sales is to get the links out there, and to get them out there before the customer makes a purchase. You are not only in competition with yourself, but with every other influencer out there. It does not seem like there are enough followers to go around, but that is because it is hard for us to picture just how many people are actually following us and see our stories. I usually average 15k story views. I just assume the same 15k people are watching everyday. It is not that though - it is really any of my almost 75k followers could be watching my stories at any given time. I had to re-take college stats, so I am unsure how many different combinations that is (do I do 75k x 75k?), but I just know it is a lot.
How can I support you?
PSYCH! No one asked this. Well, actually I do get this DM from time to time. I could do a “cookie thirst trap.” That is what I call the links where there is not much context, just a link you have to click to see what the item is. Usually people click the most on a link when we say it is expensive. (Like this necklace) (see, you clicked). We are alllllll nosy. It works for me EVERY TIME.
Or I could just lay it out how you can support us as these big sales (July + Holidays) usually make up 25 -30% of our annual revenue. Isn’t that wild? And scary?!
Engage with our content! Likes, comments, shares.This helps the most. It tells Instagram that you want to see our content. So many people feel bad DMing me, but I love DMs! And it means our name won’t get buried in your stories.
Share our content! We love when you share our content with someone you think would like us. I am honestly fine with the number of followers we have now - it feels safe, I have very engaged followers, and everyone is really nice - I hardly get any trolls. So I only want to grow if it is organic growth and people who want to follow me - no hate following.
Use our links before making a purchase. Any links will work. If you are buying something on Amazon, you can go to our storefront and click on anything in our storefront and your purchase will be credited to us.
Sales we are shopping
I will save the big ones for last — but here are a few of the sales I shopped:
Dermstore - up to 25% off - you have to be signed in, though.
Bioeffect - My love knows no bounds when it comes to Bioeffect. A brand that
introduced me to.I have been using the eye serum consistently for a year and I really think it has helped to lift and firm my eyes. I use it under the Clarins Total Eye Lift during the day. And under a moisturizing eye cream at night. This is the best deal because you get a full size + a refill.
The EGF Power Serum - WOW. I would pay full price for this. I started to use SkinMedica TNS serum (another type of growth factor serum) a few years ago and loved how it made my skin look. Growth factor serums tell your skin cells to work harder and then they produce more collage. They are a great complement to wrinkle relaxers and retinoids. I started to use the power serum in November. $219 for 15 ml?! Seems expensive. But you only need two tiny dots to cover your face. So a bottle lasts me 2-3 months. It has made SUCH A BIG difference in my face. I bought a bottle for Brittany to try (for science) and she said the same thing. Our face is glowier. More radiant. Helps with hyperpigmentation. Firming. Fine lines and wrinkles. It makes me feel so confident!
Augustinus Bader - 25% off. I don’t use this regularly, but if you do - this is a great discount!
Ulta is doing a sale just like Sephora where your discount is based off of what your status is. It does not work on Chanel or Dyson, but works on other prestige brands, like Dior.
I need everyone to get on the Dior Star Filter train because I cannot get over how great my skin looks with it. Not a foundation, not a highlighter. Skincare and makeup in one? Sinks into your skin and gives you an incredible je ne se quoi glow. Check out all of the reviews — GLOWING reviews (get it?)
A skin enhancer that gives you the most natural glow. I did a shade 3, a shade darker than my usual shade. You can use it as a base, a primer or highlighter - or all three. In the picture below, I am just wearing it as my base!
This Dior blush. I discovered in May at the Sephora in NYC and it is perfect. A great blonzer color that adjust to your skin. Wearing below as my blush and my bronzer.
What I bought during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
The Nordstrom Anniversary sale opens tomorrow to the public! A lot of our favorite things have not been sold out yet, which is great! Here is a list of our tried and true favorites, if you missed it.
Now on to what I purchased. We went to our local Easton to do a try on and they had no plus sizes. So I have to just order online and try it out. However the stores do have a lot more inventory left for things that maybe sold out online.
Jewelry - Love these stud earrings, but the 2 ct are too big for my ears, so I bought 1 ct. And these hoops are so lightweight and pretty! And this necklace.
Byredo perfume is so expensive, so I took advantage of this set still being in stock.
Amazon Prime Day
Amazon Prime Day starts Tuesday. I remember two years ago I had to go to a tradeshow right after pulling an all nighter getting Prime Day sales ready. So glad I do not have to do that this year. But I have been spending 12+ hours a day since last week trying to get content prepped. I cannot wait until Thursday! Again, it is not HARD work. It just takes a long time to prep everything.
I will be sending out a newsletter on Tuesday and Wednesday with some deals I think are worth a look. But our storefront will be the most updated with things we like. I am excited because one of my favorite purchases of all time will be included in the sale this year!
Well, I am off to go get a Sonic slushy - my newest food obsession. Cranberry slushy, add extra limes, light nerds. SO REFRESHING FOR SUMMER.
LYLAS!
Sarah
I appreciate you explaining how links work! I will be honest, I subscribe to a lot of emails, and with everyone featuring the same sales, I have a feeling a lot of cookies are being overridden, unfortunately.
Also, as a sales associate on commission in a department store (also in Handbags, hi Missy!) I appreciate you reminding people that sales people are there to help you, and also need to get paid for their time by earning commission. The other day a customer asked co worker for an item, we didn't have it and the associate said "I can have it sent to you" and the woman clicked her phone and said "I just did". Well, the store won't be here in a few years if you continue to do that, but ok!
So interesting how you make money. Thanks for explaining. I'm going to try that cranberry slush!