Affiliate Marketing
How Does Affiliate Marketing Get Started
Affiliate marketing involves promoting another business’s products or services online in return for a small affiliate commission after each sale. Learn how to get started.
Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective ways to generate passive income online. Once you sign up for a participating platform, you’ll get a unique affiliate link. You can then embed this in your website, blogs, emails, or social media. When a consumer clicks that link and buys a business’s products, you’ll receive a percentage of the sale.
In return for providing a cut of the profits, the participating business benefits from cost-effective marketing, helping them attract more customers and generate more sales. Think of it as a mutually beneficial partnership. It’s no surprise that the global affiliate marketing industry is worth around $17 billion and is on track to hit $27.78 billion by 2027.
In this article, we’ll share what affiliate marketing is, how to start doing it yourself, and how much you can earn in 2026.
What is affiliate marketing and how does it work?
Affiliate marketing is when a third party, like an influencer, promotes a business’s products or services and earns a commission for each sale they help generate. It works through a unique tracking link shared by the affiliate. When someone clicks the link and buys something, the system tracks the sale and pays the affiliate a portion of that purchase.
For example, a YouTuber might share a product in their video, then direct their audience to click the link in their video description to learn more. When someone clicks through that link, it will record that they came from the YouTuber’s link.
Affiliate marketing follows a simple structure where businesses reward their affiliate partners for driving traffic or sales through their promotion. Here’s how the process typically works, step-by-step:
Step 1
Share the product
The affiliate partner creates content that promotes a product or service. This content includes a unique tracking link that identifies them as the referrer.
Step 3:
Track the sale
The affiliate link contains an ID (UTM) and might connect this with cookies to record the referral source. This makes sure that the sale is attributed to the correct place.
Step 2:
Customer clicks the link
A customer clicks the affiliate’s link and visits the business’s website. If they make a purchase or complete another conversion action, like filling out a form, that activity is tracked.
Step 4:
Get paid
After the sale is confirmed, the business pays the affiliate based on their agreed commission model. Common payment models are:
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Pay-per-sale (PPS): Commission for each completed sale
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Pay-per-lead (PPL): Payment for generating leads, such as free trial sign-ups
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Pay-per-click (PPC): Earnings for each click, regardless of a sale
What are the different types of affiliates?
Affiliate marketing includes a wide range of partners, each using different methods to promote products and drive sales. Whether you’re looking to become an affiliate or build a program for your business, here are the main types to be aware of.
Affiliate type & What they do
Content creators: Create content like articles, videos, or podcasts that promote products and include affiliate links.
Influencers: Share products on Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube using links or discount codes.
Bloggers: Write reviews, tutorials, or listicles that link to products or services relevant to their audience.
Coupon and deal sites: Post deals and promo codes that encourage people to buy through a link.
Review sites: Compare products or services, like cafes or software, and link to each option.
Email marketers: Send newsletters or emails that feature affiliate products.
Paid traffic affiliates: Run paid ads on Google or social media to drive traffic and sales through their link.
Loyalty or cashback sites: Offer points or cashback rewards when people shop through your affiliate links.
Each affiliate type offers different strengths. The right choice depends on how well it fits your product and how much effort the affiliate wants to invest. For example, some may prefer earning passive income through links in their content, while others might want to actively run ads to drive sales.
The most popular niches for affiliate marketing
While it’s always best to choose a niche based on your own interests, some sectors have been historically more lucrative than others. Let’s take a look at a few top performers in 2026.
Technology
Tech is a seriously profitable niche because it never stops evolving. Promoting technology Software as a Service (SaaS) products to a tech-focused audience will always be a lucrative choice for those who can prove their credibility. Just make sure the field interests you, as your audience will be able to tell if you lack knowledge in the niche.
Personal finance
Promoting financial products can be very profitable, but it’s important to show honesty and transparency so people know they can trust you.
Health and fitness
The sheer number of health and wellness products available for affiliate marketing makes this a lucrative niche. As with tech, this field is always growing and evolving as more people make fitness a priority.
Travel and adventure
This is a particularly good niche for involved affiliate marketing. After all, who doesn’t like the sound of travelling the world while testing out experiences and earning commission?