$31 BILLION Affiliate Marketing Industry Secrets

How To Start Affiliate Marketing – The Boring Video You Need 🙂 Part One 

Affiliate marketing often gets sold as an easy way to “make money while you sleep.” You’ve probably seen videos of people flashing screenshots of earnings or promising instant success if you just follow their method. The truth is more grounded. Affiliate marketing does work, and it can be incredibly rewarding, but only if you approach it with focus, effort, and ethics. 

“There is no magic button that you push. This takes work and it takes effort. But for those willing to do it, I think it can be very rewarding.” 

Let’s break down what affiliate marketing really is, how it works, and what you need to do to actually get results—without hype or shortcuts. 

What Affiliate Marketing Really Is 

Let’s start with the basics. Affiliate marketing is simply a partnership between a business and someone (the affiliate) who promotes its products or services. You earn a commission when someone takes an action through your promotion—this could be a purchase, a lead submission, or even a free trial signup. 

Think of it like being a digital middle person. 

“Affiliate marketing is basically a business over here who wants customers and you over here who can get customers. And there you go—that’s how affiliate marketing works in a nutshell.” 

Here’s a simple way to visualize it: 

Role	What They Do	Example
Merchant	The business offering products/services.	Amazon, Bluehost, Nike, Flex Seal
Affiliate (You)	Promotes the merchant’s products to the right audience.	Blogger, YouTuber, TikTok creator
Customer	Buys or signs up after clicking the affiliate’s link.	A visitor purchasing through your link
Network (Optional)	Acts as a middleman managing offers, tracking, and payments.	Commission Junction, MaxBounty, Impact

So the process is simple: 

1. A business wants customers. 

1. You promote their product through your link. 

1. A customer buys or takes action. 

1. You get paid a commission. 

Why Affiliate Marketing Works 

Affiliate marketing has grown into a massive industry (over $31 billion projected market size), and there are good reasons for that: 

• Low risk for businesses – They only pay when results happen. 

• Low barrier to entry for affiliates – You don’t need to create a product, handle shipping, or deal with customer service. 

• Scalable – Once you figure out how to drive traffic to offers, you can repeat and grow. 

• Trackable – Every click, lead, and sale can be monitored. 

But while it’s simple in concept, success depends on understanding the details—like what commissions mean, how cookies work, and how to pick the right niche. 

Ethics and Transparency in Affiliate Marketing 

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is thinking they can just throw up links and make quick cash. That mindset leads to shady tactics and eventually burns trust with audiences. The truth is, transparency isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a trust builder. 

“If I was out there saying, ‘Hey, this is my favorite type of coffee,’ but I don’t disclose that I was paid to say that, then that’s an ethics issue.” 

Why Transparency Matters 

• It’s the law. Regulators like the FTC require affiliates to disclose relationships. 

• It builds credibility. Being honest doesn’t hurt sales. 

• It protects your brand. Cutting corners can destroy trust. 

“I’ve tested it. There’s no difference in conversions from being upfront versus not.” 

Ethical Do’s and Don’ts 

Do: 

• Always disclose affiliate links (“I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you”). 

• Promote products you’ve tested or believe in. 

• Provide real value and insight, not just a sales pitch. 

• Research the merchant—are they reliable, ethical, and worth associating with? 

Don’t: 

• Hide the fact that you’re an affiliate. 

• Recommend low-quality or scammy products just for money. 

• Overhype earnings or mislead people. 

• Fall for “get rich quick” affiliate schemes. 

Questions to Ask Before Promoting Any Offer 

1. How is this company making money? 

1. How will I be paid? 

1. Is the product genuinely useful or valuable? 

1. Would I recommend this to a friend or family member? 

If you can’t answer these honestly, don’t promote it. 

The affiliate marketing space is filled with flashy courses and “gurus” trying to sell the dream. But as the speaker warns: 

“Don’t get into anything based on hype. Do your due diligence. Research it.” 

How Commissions Really Work 

The entire reason affiliate marketing exists is because of commissions. This is the system that determines how you get paid for your work. Understanding commissions is crucial, because the wrong assumption can leave you working hard but earning very little. 

“A commission is the payment made to affiliates for successful referrals. So, I get someone to do X, this company pays me Y.” 

Different Commission Models 

There are several ways merchants and networks structure payouts. Each comes with advantages and challenges. 

Commission Model	How It Works	Example
RevShare (Percentage)	You earn a percentage of each sale.	Amazon pays 1–10% depending on category.
CPA (Cost Per Action)	You earn a flat rate when someone completes an action (sign-up, trial, lead).	Hosting companies often pay $50–$100 per signup.
CPL (Cost Per Lead)	You earn when a lead is generated (email, phone, form submission).	Insurance companies paying $10–$50 per lead.
Tiered Commissions	Payouts increase based on your performance.	Sell 100+ products in a month = higher % commission.
Recurring Commissions	You earn ongoing revenue as long as the customer keeps paying.	Software subscriptions paying 20–30% monthly.

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Example: Small vs. Big Ticket Items 

A common beginner mistake is chasing only “big ticket” offers, assuming bigger means better. But in reality, smaller commissions often add up faster because they’re easier to sell. 

“High-ticket affiliate marketing has not been my biggest earner. Actually, my biggest earner has been smaller-ticket stuff.” 

Scenario 1: Small Ticket 

• Product: $50 kitchen gadget 

• Commission: 10% ($5 per sale) 

• Sales: 200 per month 

• Earnings: $1,000/month 

Scenario 2: High Ticket 

• Product: $1,000 course 

• Commission: 30% ($300 per sale) 

• Sales: 2 per month 

• Earnings: $600/month 

Even though high ticket pays more per sale, it can be harder to convert. Smaller, impulse-friendly products may generate more consistent income. 

Cookie Duration and Tracking 

Another overlooked part of commissions is cookie tracking. When someone clicks your affiliate link, a small file (cookie) tracks whether their future purchase counts for you. 

• Amazon: 24-hour cookie. If they buy within a day, you earn. If not, you don’t. 

• Other programs: 30-day, 90-day, or even “lifetime” cookies. 

• Lead-based cookies: If someone signs up with their email, they’re tagged to you permanently. 

“Once the lead is stamped to the affiliate, if they ever buy anything, that lead is stamped to you forever.” 

The longer the cookie, the better your chances of getting paid. Always check this before committing to an affiliate program. 

Key Takeaways on Commissions 

• Don’t assume “high ticket” is always better. 

• Look at conversion rates, not just payout. 

• Check cookie length before promoting. 

• Mix commission types—combine small, recurring, and occasional big-ticket items for stability. 

Choosing the Right Niche 

If commissions are the fuel of affiliate marketing, your niche is the vehicle that drives your success. Pick the wrong one, and you’ll struggle no matter how hard you work. Pick the right one, and you can build authority and income faster. 

“In my opinion, this is the most important part of affiliate marketing. You get this wrong, you’re going to struggle.” 

What Is a Niche? 

A niche is a specific, focused segment of a larger market. Instead of “fitness,” you might focus on “yoga for beginners over 40.” Instead of “cooking,” maybe it’s “budget-friendly air fryer meals.” 

The more specific your niche, the easier it is to: 

• Stand out from competitors. 

• Build trust and authority. 

• Create targeted, relevant content. 

• Find the exact audience you want. 

Broad vs. Narrow Niches 

Too Broad	Better Niche Choice
Cooking	Air fryer recipes for college students
Fitness	Muscle gain for men over 50
Technology	Reviews of budget-friendly laptops
Finance	Credit repair tips for students
Pets	Dog training for apartment living

The Niche Selection Checklist 

When picking a niche, ask these four key questions: 

1. Do people care about it? – Is there search traffic, communities, or demand? 

1. Can I reach them? – Is the competition reasonable, or are you up against huge brands? 

1. Can I make money? – Do affiliate products exist with good commissions? 

1. Can I scale it? – Can you expand into related topics later without losing focus? 

“I always find the market first. If you go into something that has no traffic, you’re never going to get that far.” 

Example Niches That Work 

• Home & Kitchen: Air fryers, non-stick pans, coffee machines. 

• Health & Fitness: Supplements, home workout equipment, yoga programs. 

• Technology: Web hosting, AI tools, affordable laptops. 

• Finance: Budgeting apps, debt management, insurance. 

• Hobbies: Fishing gear, photography equipment, gardening tools. 

Remember, authority is easier to build when you focus on one small market first. Later, you can branch out once you’ve established yourself. 

“Why not focus on one really good thing with one really good product or focus? That tends to do a lot better.” 

Landing Pages and Conversions 

Driving traffic to your affiliate link is only half the battle. What really determines success is what happens after someone clicks. That’s where landing pages come in. 

A landing page is simply the page where your visitors arrive after clicking a link. It could be your own custom page or the merchant’s page, but the goal is always the same: get the visitor to take one specific action. 

“If you get a bunch of traffic and your landing page doesn’t convert, you just wasted a bunch of traffic.” 

Why Landing Pages Matter 

• They shape the first impression of your offer. 

• They direct focus toward a single goal (signup, purchase, or download). 

• They can dramatically increase conversions compared to sending traffic directly to a product page. 

Key Elements of a High-Converting Landing Page 

1. Clear headline – State the benefit upfront. 

1. Compelling subhead – Reinforce the promise. 

1. Focused call-to-action (CTA) – Only one primary goal per page. 

1. Trust signals – Testimonials, reviews, or guarantees. 

1. Mobile-friendly design – Most traffic is mobile; your page must load fast. 

1. No distractions – Fewer links = higher conversions. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid 

• Too many CTAs (confuses visitors). 

• Long forms that scare people off. 

• Cluttered design with too much text. 

• Slow-loading pages that make people bounce. 

Quick Tips for Better Conversions 

• Use bullet points instead of long paragraphs. 

• Keep forms simple (name + email is often enough). 

• Test your CTA button text (“Get Started” often outperforms “Submit”). 

• Use visuals or demos to show the product in action. 

• Add urgency without being manipulative (e.g., “Limited offer” if true). 

Landing Page Types That Work Well for Affiliates 

Landing Page Type	Best For
Bridge Page	Introduces the product, warms up visitors before sending to the merchant.
Review Page	Compares products, shows pros/cons, links to the affiliate offer.
Opt-in Page	Collects emails before sending people to the merchant, builds long-term value.
Bonus Page	Offers extra perks (guides, templates) for purchasing through your link.

Using a landing page instead of sending visitors straight to the product can be the difference between 0.5% conversions and 5% conversions. 

“The landing page has to match the promise. If the ad says ‘free guide,’ the page better give them that guide right away.” 

Thinking Like a Business Owner 

Affiliate marketing is often marketed as a side hustle you can do without much thought. But if you really want to make it work, you need to treat it like a business, not a quick cash grab. 

“There is no magic button that you push. This takes work and it takes effort.” 

Why the Business Mindset Matters 

• Consistency pays off – One blog post or video won’t make you rich, but dozens over time can. 

• Tracking is everything – Without knowing what’s working, you can’t improve. 

• Reputation is your brand – Burn trust once, and it’s nearly impossible to rebuild. 

• Systems save time – Automating email follow-ups, repurposing content, and batching tasks all make growth easier. 

Key Business Practices for Affiliates 

1. Track your numbers. Use tools like Google Analytics or affiliate dashboards to see what traffic sources convert. 

1. Diversify traffic. Don’t rely on one source (e.g., just TikTok or just YouTube). Spread across SEO, email, and social. 

1. Build assets. Websites, email lists, and loyal audiences are things you own. Social platforms can change rules anytime. 

1. Reinvest. Put some earnings back into tools, ads, or outsourcing to grow faster. 

1. Stay compliant. Follow FTC guidelines and program rules so you don’t lose your affiliate accounts. 

Pro Tips for Long-Term Success 

• Start with one niche. Don’t spread too thin. Get results in one area first. 

• Document everything. Keep notes on what offers, ads, and content formats worked. 

• Learn basic SEO. Search traffic compounds over time and can bring free leads for years. 

• Focus on value. Don’t just push products—solve problems. If people trust you, they’ll buy what you recommend. 

• Have patience. Most affiliates don’t see consistent results for months. Stick with it. 

A Simple Growth Framework 

Here’s a repeatable approach many affiliates use: 

1. Pick a profitable niche. 

1. Choose 2–3 affiliate products. 

1. Create valuable content around them. 

1. Build an email list with a freebie. 

1. Send people to a landing page. 

1. Test, track, and improve. 

“The best affiliate program is the one your audience wants.” 

That single line sums up the mindset shift: your business isn’t about you, it’s about your audience. The more you understand their problems, the easier it becomes to recommend solutions they’ll actually pay for. 

Conclusion 

Affiliate marketing isn’t a secret loophole or a quick-fix money hack. It’s a real business model that works when you put in the effort, build trust, and stay consistent. By connecting the right people with the right products, you create value for everyone involved—the customer, the merchant, and yourself. 

“All I need to do is reach a small subset and do it really, really well.” 

That one thought can guide your entire strategy. You don’t need millions of clicks or massive traffic. You just need the right audience, focused offers, and a system that keeps working for you over time. 

Key Takeaways for Success 

• Affiliate marketing is simple in concept but requires real effort. You promote products, earn commissions, and scale with focus and consistency. 

• Transparency matters. Always disclose affiliate relationships and stick to ethical promotions. 

• Commissions vary. Learn the differences between revshare, CPA, CPL, recurring, and tiered programs. Check cookie durations before promoting. 

• Niche selection is critical. Go narrow, build authority, and expand later. 

• Landing pages drive conversions. Focus them on one action, keep them clear, and test for improvements. 

• Think like a business owner. Track numbers, diversify traffic, build long-term assets, and reinvest in growth. 

• Patience and persistence win. Success doesn’t come overnight, but the compounding effect of consistent effort pays off.