If you’ve ever found yourself typing “How does affiliate marketing work?” into Google at 2 AM, you’re not alone. Whether you’re curious, skeptical, or seriously considering jumping in, this guide is for you.
We’ve pulled together the most frequently asked affiliate marketing questions on the internet—and answering all 53 of them right here and now, no fluff, no jargon. Whether you’re wondering if you need a blog, followers, or even a face (spoiler: you don’t), this is for you.
Let’s break it all down.
The Basics: What Is Affiliate Marketing?
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a way to make money by recommending products or services. You promote something using a special link, and when someone clicks that link and makes a purchase, you get a cut of the sale.
What does affiliate marketing mean?
It means you’re the middle person. You connect buyers to sellers. The seller handles the product, shipping, and support. You just bring the traffic.
What is affiliate marketing all about?
At its core, it’s about helping people discover products they want or need. When you do that well, you get paid. Simple as that.
How does affiliate marketing work?
You join an affiliate program, get a unique link, and share that link on your blog, YouTube channel, social media, or ads. If someone buys through your link, you earn a commission.
How does affiliate marketing work step by step?
Here’s the basic flow:
- Pick a niche you want to focus on
- Find affiliate programs related to that niche
- Get your tracking links
- Create content or run ads with those links
- Drive traffic to your content
- Track performance (this is where a tracker like Keitaro is invaluable)
- Improve what works, ditch what doesn’t
When did affiliate marketing start?
Digitally it’s been around since the mid-90s. Amazon made it mainstream with their affiliate program in 1996, and the industry has been growing ever since. You can learn the full history of affiliate marketing here.
When is affiliate marketing used?
All the time. Brands use it to get more sales without upfront ad costs. Creators, bloggers, and marketers use it to monetize their audience or traffic.
What’s the difference between affiliate marketing and digital marketing?
Digital marketing is the tree—SEO, email, paid ads, etc. Affiliate marketing is just one branch of that tree, focused specifically on results-based commissions.
Affiliate marketing vs digital marketing—what’s the real difference?
Affiliate marketing is about promoting other people’s stuff and earning when you drive a sale. Digital marketing can include promoting your own product or brand with broader goals, like visibility or engagement.
Getting Started: Who, When, and Where
Who can do affiliate marketing?
Anyone. You don’t need a marketing degree or a fancy setup. If you can learn, test, and stick with it, you can do affiliate marketing.
Who can start affiliate marketing?
Literally anyone. Teens, students, side hustlers, freelancers, stay-at-home parents, retirees—there’s no gatekeeping here.
When can I start affiliate marketing?
Right now. There’s no ideal moment to begin. You can start with what you have—even if it’s just your phone and free time on weekends.
Where to start affiliate marketing?
Start with what you already know and like. Choose a topic or niche you care about, sign up for a related affiliate program, and begin creating content or running ads to drive traffic.
Where can you do affiliate marketing?
Anywhere online. Your own blog, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit, forums, email newsletters—you name it. If it attracts attention, you can turn it into affiliate income.
Where can you learn affiliate marketing?
YouTube tutorials, free blogs (like this one), Reddit threads, and affiliate platforms themselves are great places to start. Keitaro affiliate tracker also has useful documentation, YouTube tutorials, and a podcast for when you’re ready to track campaigns like a pro.
Exploring the Models: Different Approaches
Which affiliate marketing is best?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Blogging, YouTube, email, TikTok, and paid ads all work. The best method is the one that fits your style and resources.
Which affiliate marketing is best for beginners?
Amazon Associates is a common starting point. It’s simple, and people already trust Amazon. Platforms include CPA networks, partner networks, and affiliate networks. You simply register for the program that suits you.
Which affiliate marketing platform is best?
Use platforms with quick payouts and a vast offer selection for global reach and variety. And if you want to track performance across multiple platforms, Keitaro Tracker is a great tool to bring it all together.
Which affiliate marketing platform is best in Nigeria?
Expertnaire and Digistem are popular locally. But many Nigerian affiliates also work with global platforms like ClickBank, Digistore24, and Impact.
Which affiliate marketing is best in Kenya?
Locally, Jumia’s affiliate program is solid. For international audiences, consider Rakuten, Amazon Associates, or CJ Affiliate.
Affiliate marketing vs dropshipping—what’s the difference?
Affiliate marketing is hands-off: you promote and earn. Dropshipping means running your own online.
Affiliate marketing vs influencer marketing—aren’t they the same?
Not quite. Influencer marketing usually means you’re paid upfront to promote a product. Affiliate marketing pays you only when someone buys through your link. That said, influencers often use affiliate links too—for extra income.
Affiliate marketing and AI—do they mix?
Totally. AI can help you write content, design creatives, or even automate campaign decisions. Pair it with a tracker like Keitaro, and you’ll have data-driven performance with less manual work.
Earning Potential: Is It Worth It?
What’s the average affiliate marketing income?
It varies a lot. Some people make a few bucks, and some make six figures. Beginners might earn $100–$500 a month. Pros can hit $10K+ monthly with the right system and tools.
Can you actually make money with affiliate marketing?
Yes, but it’s not passive right away. You’ll need to test, create, and optimize. Track everything
with a tool like Keitaro so you know exactly what’s converting—and what’s not.
How does affiliate marketing make money?
You earn a commission every time someone takes a specific action through your link—usually buying a product or signing up for a service.
Can affiliate marketing make you money?
Absolutely. And the cool thing is, you can scale it. Once one piece of content starts converting, it can earn over and over.
Can affiliate marketing be a full-time job?
Yes, and it is for many. But don’t expect it to happen overnight. It takes consistency and smart decisions, especially when it comes to picking offers and managing your traffic.
Can affiliate marketing make you rich?
It can, but “rich” is a loaded word. Let’s just say it can replace your day job if you’re strategic—and scale beyond that if you treat it like a business.
Can affiliate marketing make you a millionaire?
Yes, but it’s rare and usually the result of years of work, paid ads, and scaling with teams or automation. Most people who get there track obsessively and constantly optimize—often using tools like Keitaro.
Can affiliate marketing be a career?
Definitely. You can do it solo or use it as a stepping stone into digital marketing, media buying, or even affiliate program management.
What affiliate marketing pays the most?
High-ticket software (like CRMs), B2B tools, finance products, and recurring subscriptions tend to offer the highest payouts. Track your ROI to see which ones are actually profitable for you.
Going Faceless: No Website, No Followers, No Problem?
Can you do affiliate marketing without followers?
Yes. If you’re using SEO, ads, or forums, you don’t need a single follower—just good content and the right offers.
Can you do affiliate marketing without a social media following?
You don’t need followers if your traffic comes from Google, paid ads, or niche sites. What matters is targeted traffic, not vanity metrics.
Can you do affiliate marketing without a website?
You can, especially using YouTube, email lists, or direct-to-offer ads. That said, having your own site gives you long-term control and better tracking.
Can you do affiliate marketing without a blog?
For sure. A blog helps with SEO, but it’s not required. You can do video, audio, social posts, or even build niche landing pages and still succeed.
Can you do affiliate marketing without showing your face?
Absolutely. Tons of successful YouTube channels and blogs are faceless. You can use voiceovers, screen recordings, animations—or just write.
How does affiliate marketing work on Instagram?
You post content, direct people to a link in your bio or Stories, and earn when they convert. You can also run Instagram ads to drive clicks. Keitaro helps you see which posts or ads actually led to conversions.
How does affiliate marketing work with Amazon?
You sign up for Amazon’s affiliate program, get links to any product, and earn a small commission if someone buys after clicking. Even if they buy something else.
Legitimacy and Ethics
Is affiliate marketing legit?
Yes. It’s a well-established business model. Major companies like Amazon, Nike, Puma and Adobe all run affiliate programs.
Are affiliate marketing programs legit?
Most are. Just do your homework—stick with known networks and definetly avoid anything that charges you just to join.
Are affiliate marketing courses really worth it?
Some are. But if you’re just starting out, there’s plenty of free info to learn the basics. Invest in a course when you’re stuck or want to go deeper.
Is affiliate marketing worth it?
Yes—if you’re willing to put in the time. It won’t make you rich overnight, but it can become a long-term income stream with smart effort and tools to guide you.
Is affiliate marketing halal or haram?
It depends on what you’re promoting and how. If the products are halal and you’re marketing ethically, many consider it permissible—but you should always consult a trusted authority for personal guidance.
Challenges and Real Talk
Why doesn’t affiliate marketing work sometimes?
Usually because people give up too early, promote the wrong product, or don’t track what’s working. Keitaro helps solve this by showing you exactly what traffic is converting.
Will affiliate marketing die?
Nope. The platforms may change, but performance-based marketing isn’t going anywhere.
Will affiliate marketing crash?
It may evolve, but it won’t crash. As long as people buy things online, affiliate marketing will have a place.
Why It Still Matters (and Will)
Why is affiliate marketing the future?
Because it’s flexible, scalable, and performance-based. With remote work and creator-driven content on the rise, affiliate marketing fits right in.
Why is affiliate marketing the best?
You don’t need inventory, you don’t deal with customers, and you get paid to solve problems. It’s lean and smart.
Why is affiliate marketing the best business model?
Low startup cost, no overhead, and nearly unlimited scale. With tracking tools like Keitaro, you can optimize every part of the process.
Why is affiliate marketing booming in the 21st century?
The internet gave everyone a platform. Brands need reach. Creators need income. Affiliate marketing is the natural bridge between the two.
Curious Details
Who is David Sharpe in affiliate marketing?
He’s the founder of Legendary Marketer—a platform that teaches affiliate marketing, especially high-ticket offers. Some love it. Others think it’s overhyped.
What are some affiliate marketing apps?
Keitaro Tracker (for campaign tracking), Canva (for design), Bitly (for link management), ConvertKit (for email), and Google Analytics. Stack the right tools, and you’ll save time and make more money.
