When I first dipped my toes into affiliate marketing, I thought it would be simple: share a link and get paid. Spoiler alert: it’s not that simple. Building a sustainable affiliate marketing income takes effort, strategy, and a bit of trial and error.
But with the right approach? It’s absolutely worth it.
These days, affiliate marketing brings in a consistent, six-figure income for me. And while it didn’t happen overnight, it did happen by focusing on specific strategies that work for my business. Today, I’m sharing those strategies with you — along with the reality check that making real income from affiliate marketing is possible, but it’s not magic, it takes work and consistency.
Affiliate Marketing Income: What It Takes
Is it really possible to make six figures from affiliate marketing?
Absolutely. But first, let me clear the air: affiliate marketing isn’t scammy or sleazy, and it’s also not a super duper easy post-and-ghost revenue stream.
Affiliate marketing is straightforward in concept: you promote products or tools you love, and when someone purchases through your link, you earn a commission. The reality, though, is that success depends on trust, visibility, and a willingness to put in the work.
Earning six figures in affiliate marketing isn’t a casual “link-and-earn” game. It’s about creating valuable content, understanding your audience, and being consistent with your efforts.
About audiences: yes, you’ll need an audience. I won’t sugarcoat it: the more you grow an engaged audience, be it on social or –even better – on your email list, the easier and more consistent your affiliate marketing will become. You’ve got to have someone to recommend those offers to! That said, with some focus, you can absolutely grow this into a profitable income stream.
Ways I Make More Affiliate Marketing Income
Here are a few of the key strategies I use to keep my affiliate marketing income not just steady but thriving.
1. The 4×4 Footer Method
If I had to pick a favorite from my affiliate strategy lineup, my 4×4 Footer Method would win. This simple but genius approach lets me pop carefully chosen affiliate offers in the footer of every email I send, without the slightest inkling of being spammy. It’s also my absolute lowest-lift (read: easy) yet still very lucrative affiliate marketing strategy.
Why? Because email is prime real estate, and these footers keep my favorite tools and offers in front of my audience consistently — without feeling salesy.
The results speak for themselves: consistent, low-maintenance affiliate income from products I genuinely use and recommend, and it only takes me 10-15 minutes a week.
Want to dive deeper into the strategy? I break it all down in my Four by For Footers Strategy training.
2. Offering Strategic Affiliate Bonuses
One of the fastest ways I’ve grown my affiliate income is by offering bonuses. People love added value getting something for free, and an affiliate bonus can be the deciding factor in whether someone purchases through your link — or a competitor’s.
For example:
If someone buys Thrivecart through my affiliate link, they get access to up to 10 of my most-loved Thrivecart templates, free.
Purchase ConvertBox through my link? You get free access to my strategy vault of money-making campaigns, with templates and tutorials, that make your investment even sweeter.
By creating bonuses that align with the product, I’ve significantly boosted my conversions — and added extra value for my audience. This is important: both of these bonuses are high value, sell all by themselves, and help the buyer get the quickest quick-win possible, letting them see instant ROI on their purchase.
If you’re curious about how I structure these bonuses, check out my free Thrivecart templates here.
3. Evergreen Content That Keeps on Selling
Evergreen content is the secret sauce to affiliate marketing that works around the clock. From blog posts to automated email sequences, evergreen content lets you promote affiliate products long after you hit “publish.”
Some examples:
- Blog posts just like this one that solve specific problems your audience is searching for (hello, SEO traffic!).
- Email newsletters that seamlessly weave in affiliate recommendations alongside valuable tips.
These aren’t one-and-done efforts — they’re assets that keep driving traffic and generating affiliate marketing earnings over time.
4. Clever Use of ConvertBox for Strategic Promotions
Let’s talk tools. ConvertBox has had a big impact on my affiliate marketing success. This tool lets me create smart pop-ups and banners highlighting affiliate offers without annoying my audience.
For example, I’ve used ConvertBox to:
- Promote limited-time affiliate promos, with or without a video.
- Highlight exclusive bonuses for specific products.
- Drive attention to offers during launches or sales.
And because it’s so customizable, I can create promotions that look and feel like part of my brand. If you’re ready to dive into ConvertBox, check out my ConvertBox Jumpstart course here.
Other Resources to Boost Your Affiliate Marketing Income
Looking for even more strategies?
Here are a couple of my favorite resources:
Income Boosters for Service Providers: Two workshops, including one dedicated to getting started earning affiliate marketing as a service provider, even if you don’t have an audience or email list.
Confessions of an Affiliate Marketer: A behind-the-scenes look at what’s worked (and what hasn’t) in my own affiliate marketing journey.
These resources are packed with insights that can help you improve your affiliate marketing game.
What It Really Takes to Earn 6-Figures
If there’s one thing I hope you take away, it’s this: earning six figures in affiliate marketing isn’t about luck — it’s about consistency, strategy, and serving your audience well. You don’t have to do everything at once, but you do need to approach affiliate marketing with intention.
Start with one strategy (like my Four by For Footer Method) and build from there. Success takes time, but with the right approach, it’s absolutely achievable.
What It Really Takes to Earn 6-Figures
Ready to Start Growing Your Affiliate Income?
Want to learn the exact strategy that keeps my affiliate marketing income on track month after month? Check out my Four by For Footers Strategy training and start turning your email footers into a revenue-generating machine.
Affiliate marketing doesn’t have to be complicated — but it does take a plan. Let’s get yours in place.
