The clear, honest beginner’s guide you wish you’d found sooner.
Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular ways to make money online—and also one of the most misunderstood. Between fake “gurus,” shady tactics, and hype-heavy sales pages, it’s easy to feel skeptical.
That’s why I built this guide. I’m going to walk you through affiliate marketing step-by-step, the ethical way—so you can build real, passive income without selling your soul (or annoying your readers).
What Is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is when you promote someone else’s product or service—and earn a commission when someone buys through your special tracking link.
✅ You don’t have to create a product.
✅ You don’t handle customer service.
✅ You just recommend helpful things you truly believe in.
How Affiliate Marketing Works (Behind the Scenes)
- You sign up for an affiliate program (like Amazon, Wealthy Affiliate, or Canva).
- You get a special link with your tracking ID.
- You share that link in your content (like blog posts, emails, or social media).
- When someone clicks and makes a purchase, you earn a commission.
💡 Example: I recommend Wealthy Affiliate, a platform I’ve personally used to learn all this stuff. If someone signs up through my review, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to them.
Is Affiliate Marketing Legit?
Yes—when done right. The problem isn’t affiliate marketing itself. The problem is how some people approach it:
❌ Pushing low-quality junk
❌ Spamming Facebook groups
❌ Hiding their links
❌ Pretending to be neutral reviewers while raking in commissions
We’re not doing any of that here. Scout’s honor.
How to Start Affiliate Marketing (the Right Way)
Step 1: Pick a niche you care about
It’s much easier (and more ethical) to promote products you’d actually use. Focus on one audience and one topic to start.
Step 2: Build a platform
Most affiliate marketers use:
- A blog or niche site (best for long-term success)
- A YouTube channel
- A newsletter or email list
- Or a combo of the above
👉 Don’t have a blog yet? Start here →
Step 3: Join affiliate programs that align with your content
Start with programs you:
- Use and love
- Trust enough to recommend
- Know your audience would benefit from
👉 Here are my top recommended affiliate programs →
Step 4: Write content that helps people—not sells to them
Examples:
- Product reviews
- How-to guides that mention helpful tools
- “Best of” roundups
- Personal case studies
People buy from people they trust. So be helpful first, and the clicks will follow.
Step 5: Always disclose your links
It’s legally required (hello, FTC!), but also builds trust.
✔️ Use a simple line like:
“This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you buy through my link—at no extra cost to you.”
My Honest Tips for Affiliate Marketing Success
- Be helpful first. Promote second.
- Use tools you’ve actually tested yourself.
- Don’t try to promote everything. Curate instead.
- Build trust with your readers—then gently guide them to the next step.
- Track what works and what doesn’t (start simple with link clicks and pageviews)
Want to Learn Affiliate Marketing from Scratch?
I highly recommend Wealthy Affiliate. It’s where I learned everything I’m sharing with you right now—and the best part? You can start for free.
👉 Read my full Wealthy Affiliate review →
🏁 Final Thoughts
Affiliate marketing can absolutely work—but only if you treat it like a real business and not a quick cash grab. Be honest. Be helpful. Be patient. And always build trust with your readers first.
Scout and I are here to help you every step of the way.
Let’s make it real. 👣