Affiliate marketing has become a powerful tool for entrepreneurs and small business owners, providing a low-risk, cost-effective way to drive sales and build brand awareness.
In today’s fast-paced digital environment, the ability to sell products without the burden of inventory has become a game-changer for those looking to enter the business world or expand their existing businesses.
Yang Pin’en
Nicholas Lim Pinn Yang, digital media entrepreneur and influencer and the brains behind Good Foodie Media, recently shared his thoughts on how affiliate marketing can change the way businesses operate, especially through social media platforms like TikTok.
“First of all, we don’t have our own products. All we can do is become an affiliate. A simpler way to explain this is to think of it as an inventory business.
“The beauty of affiliate marketing is you don’t have to hold inventory. You don’t have to fill your house with products. You get a commission on whatever sales you make. That’s why I love it,” he said as a recent guest said while on the Cotai Daily podcast.
Pinn Yang highlighted how platforms like TikTok simplify affiliate marketing, allowing users to easily create content such as product reviews and include direct purchase links that are trackable and easy to implement.
He shared his personal experience of live selling on TikTok during Ramadan. He collaborated with Bulan Bintang to display various clothing colors in the live broadcast every day while actively interacting with the audience. Pinn Yang said that interactions on TikTok are unique and engaging.
Audiences like to be directly involved, he said, prompting him to prioritize thanking buyers and addressing their inquiries during live meetings.
He attributes these people skills to lessons learned from his entrepreneur father as helping to build stronger connections with his audience. Discussing the wider impact of affiliate marketing, Pinn Yang added that it is more than just selling products as it plays a vital role in helping brands grow.
“Brands can send free samples to affiliates or creators, who will then review and promote the product. This generates user-generated content (UGC), which people trust more than traditional influencer marketing because it’s organic.
“For local brands and SMEs, one video can have a huge impact. I’ve seen videos viewed up to 100,000 times, the snowball effect is real.
“More people start talking about the brand, making more videos, which drives more sales,” he said.
Pinn Yang emphasized that affiliate marketing allows brands to collect valuable feedback from creators, which helps improve. He noted that brands often overlook how to enhance product presentation.
For example, he added a brand that initially struggled with insufficient branding and packaging details, such as calorie counts and flavors. However, after taking creator feedback into account, they improved their approach and sales increased significantly.
This dynamic strategy allows brands to leverage the influence of creators and their communities to reach a wider audience. Pinn Yang noted that brands can now invite creators to host live sessions on their channels, further expanding their reach to new customers.
To prove the effectiveness of TikTok and affiliate marketing, Pinn Yang shared the success story of a small business selling steamed buns (pau). Starting with one motorcycle, the business has now expanded to more than 15 locations, all thanks to a viral TikTok video.
He said people are attracted to authentic stories, especially when the product is of high quality. Pinn Yang also urged aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners not to underestimate the potential of digital platforms like TikTok.
“This is the best platform to start now. Even if you haven’t started yet, it’s never too late. The future of commerce is content and engagement,” he added.