Affiliate Marketing: A Passive Way to Make Money Online (But Don’t Quit Your Day Job Just Yet)

When you're scrolling through social media like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc., you often see those influencers claiming they make $10k/week. They are always in swimsuits, lying on the beach, or eating at a really nice cafe. 

They all claim affiliate marketing has them earning thousands in their sleep. And honestly, some of them are not lying. It can be a lot of money. But it’s not as easy, fast, and effortless as you might imagine. 

Let’s talk about the reality of affiliate marketing, the pros and cons, and how much people can make.

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is when you promote someone else’s product or service, and if someone buys it through your special link, you get a commission. Tons of companies like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and most online companies have some type of affiliate program, which is easy to join.

By making a video or posting something about a product or service you recommend, people who follow your link and buy it will earn you a percentage that can be anywhere from 1% to even 90%. 

Here’s how you get started:

  • You join an affiliate program (Amazon, ClickBank, Shopify, etc.).

  • You get a custom link to a product or service.

  • You share the link through the Internet (social media, emails, blogs, etc.)

  • You get paid a percentage (or flat fee) when someone purchases through your link.

The best part is that there is no extra cost to the person, so it works out for both parties. You are just the middleman between the company and the consumer.

The Pros of Affiliate Marketing

Let’s start with why affiliate marketing is so attractive, especially if you’re looking to escape the 9 to 5 grind.

PROS

  • Low Startup Costs

    No need for inventory, employees, or a business loan. You can start for free. You just need to have a computer with Internet.

  • Work from Anywhere

    As long as you can access the Internet, you can work from anywhere. Hence, all the people posting about working from the poolside or beach.

  • Passive Income

    Once you post, the rest is up to the Internet to do its thing. Successful affiliate marketers use things like funnels and automation to do as little as possible. 

  • Tons of Niches

    There is literally an affiliate program for any product or interest. Pets, electronics, books, cosmetics, investing, dating, fitness. If there are people who love something and are purchasing it, there is an affiliate program available.

CONS

  • It Takes Time

    Most people don’t make money right away. You’ll need to create content, build trust, grow traffic, and test different products before you see your first commission. That could be days, weeks, months, and in my case, even years.

  • You Don’t Own the Product

    You have no real say in the product, how much the commission is, if it will change, if the product will stop providing affiliate options, etc. It’s risky as income could stop overnight.

  • Payouts Can Be Slow

    Sometimes there is a minimum payout, which could take months to reach. Some companies also pay out after 30 to 90 days, meaning you could be waiting a long time to cash out. Unlike the guaranteed biweekly paycheck of a regular job, affiliate marketing is sporadic.

  • Competition Is Fierce

    Many products are saturated, and everyone and their mother is promoting the same product so getting noticed is hard. Why would someone click on your link to buy a product when a famous YouTuber or Influencer is offering the same thing? 

How Much Can You Actually Make?

Here’s the reality.

Some make millions through affiliate marketing. The ones who have been doing it for decades, who are celebrities or YouTube gurus who have followings of millions of people.

The massive audiences they have make it highly likely that if even 10% of their followers were to purchase something using the affiliate link, there would be a sweet commission. 

But the average person, like me, starting out?

I joined the Amazon Affiliate program a couple of months ago and have been adding links here and there on my social media.

I have made zero commission, and only a handful of people have clicked on my links. Here is a screenshot:

Tips to Actually Make Money with Affiliate Marketing

I asked ChatGPT for some advice on how to actually make some money with affiliate marketing, since obviously I am a beginner and haven't made anything yet. It gave me these tips, which I give to you!

  • Pick a Niche You Actually Care About

    You’ll be creating content around this topic, so don’t just chase high-paying commissions. Choose something you can stick with.

  • Start Building an Audience

    Whether it’s TikTok, YouTube, a blog, Pinterest, or a newsletter, you need people who trust you. The more eyeballs you get, the better.

  • Be Honest

    People can smell BS a mile away. Recommend products you actually believe in. If you wouldn't recommend it to a friend, don’t push it just for the money.

  • Focus on Evergreen Content

    Reviews, tutorials, how-tos — these stay relevant longer and can generate consistent traffic. That funny meme might go viral, but your “Best Budget Mic for Podcasting” post can make sales for years.

  • Diversify Your Income Streams

    Don’t rely on one link or one platform. Spread your efforts across different products and channels. That way, if one flops, you’re not screwed.

My Thoughts

Affiliate marketing has a possibility to someday make lots of money in your sleep. It truly can be a great and long-term passive income possibility.

But it takes a lot of time and effort in the beginning.

It’s easy to start and very low risk, as you don’t need any real start-up money. So, in my position, where I am a clueless beginner, it is definitely a good place to start. 

You probably won’t be like those Influencers on the beach sipping cocktails on a Tuesday afternoon for a while.

But in a few months, you might make enough to buy a coffee, then dinner, then pay electric bills, and rent. If you keep at it and you choose a good program, you may even be able to Ghost Your Job someday. And that’s the dream.