A few years ago, I wrote a blog post about my favorite productivity app.
Just a casual, “hey this helps me stay sane” kind of thing.
Two weeks later, an email landed in my inbox:
“You’ve earned \$46 in affiliate commissions.”
Wait… what? I had accidentally stumbled into affiliate marketing, and it completely changed how I saw blogging.
If you’ve got a personal blog (or you’re planning one), affiliate marketing is hands-down one of the easiest ways to start making money from it. No inventory. No customer support. Just sharing tools you genuinely use and love.
Let’s break it down.
1. What Even Is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is basically word-of-mouth… with a commission.
You sign up for an affiliate program, get your unique referral link, and when someone buys through your link, you earn a small cut.
Think of programs from , , , or even smaller niche brands.
It’s like recommending your favorite coffee shop to a friend—except this time, the coffee shop gives you \$5 for it.
2. Pick a Niche You Actually Care About
Here’s the thing: people can smell fake enthusiasm a mile away.
If you blog about something just because “it’s profitable,” it’ll feel… flat.
When I first tried writing about credit cards (high-paying niche, right?), I bored myself to sleep. My readers bailed.
But when I switched to writing about remote work gear and online tools? It clicked.
Ask yourself:
- What do I genuinely love talking about?
- What tools, products, or services do I already use weekly?
Your niche lives at the intersection of passion + profitability.
3. Create Content That Naturally Fits Affiliate Links
This part matters. Don’t just drop links everywhere like confetti.
Instead, build helpful content around the products.
A few blog post ideas:
- Reviews (“Why I Swear by This Task App”)
- Comparison guides (“This vs That: Which Tool Wins?”)
- Tutorials (“How I Built My Portfolio Site in 1 Hour”)
Speaking of which… if you don’t already have a sleek blog or portfolio site, build one fast with Visitfolio. It’s a professional website builder that’s clean, quick, and beginner-friendly—perfect for hosting affiliate content that looks trustworthy.
4. Drive Traffic — Lots of It
Affiliate income is a numbers game.
More visitors = more clicks = more commissions.
Use -friendly blog titles, promote your posts on socials, join communities where your audience hangs out, and build an email list if you can.
One of my blogger friends got her first 100 affiliate sales just by answering questions on and linking to her blog. Tiny actions stack up fast.
5. Track, Tweak, Repeat
This is where it becomes fun.
Most affiliate dashboards show which links are getting clicks and sales.
Double down on what works, ditch what doesn’t.
I still update my old posts with fresh affiliate links and new calls-to-action. Some of those posts still bring in money years later — while I’m literally asleep.
That’s the dream, right?
Affiliate marketing isn’t about pushing random products.
It’s about building trust and sharing genuinely useful stuff.
Start small. One blog post. One product you love.
Get it out there. See what happens.
Who knows? A month from now, you might be the one waking up to that “You earned \$46” email. And honestly, that first one… it hits different.
If you want your affiliate blog to look polished from day one, give Visitfolio a try. It’s fast, clean, and makes your site look pro without needing to touch code — so you can focus on writing and earning.
Top comments (1)
Affiliate marketing is finding its perfect match with personal blogging! 🤝