This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I may also earn commissions from other affiliate programs at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Thinking about affiliate marketing or digital products but not sure where to start? Whether you haven’t started yet, tried one without success, or want to try both, this guide will show beginners simple, practical ways to start earning online.
Affiliate Marketing vs Digital Products: Quick Overview
- Affiliate Marketing:
Affiliate marketing is when you join a program, like the Amazon Associates program. You get a unique link, then start promoting Amazon’s products. When someone clicks your link and buys something, you earn a commission on that purchase.
Affiliate marketing is the best option for beginners because you’re promoting a business that already has a huge buyer base. People know the company, they trust it, and they’re more likely to buy. If you start your own shop, you’ll quickly realize how hard it is not just to bring customers in, but to get them to actually make a purchase.
But don’t forget to disclose it! You are legally required to disclose any affiliation (just like I did at the very beginning of this blog post). Each company has different rules, but Amazon specifically says to use this template: ‘As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.’
- Digital Products:
Here, you create a Canva template or any kind of digital product, then upload it to Etsy, Payhip, Fourthwall, or any platform where you want to sell it. Then, you promote it and make sales that way.
With digital products, you have full control over pricing, design, and profit margins, which can be quite high depending on your strategy and audience.
Does Affiliate Marketing Actually Work for Beginners?
In short, yes, but it depends on what you do.
If you think you can just join an affiliate program and post here and there, hoping money will flow in, you’re in for a hard time.
But if you work smart and have a strategy, you have a very good chance of making it work and earning your first sale.
How Beginners Can Work Smart With Affiliate Marketing
It doesn’t matter whether you choose affiliate marketing, digital products, or both, you need a blog. For digital products, it builds trust and showcases your offerings. For affiliate marketing, it gives you a space to share different types of content, such as videos, photos, and examples, that can help your audience make a buying decision.
If you do both, you can include affiliate links when you write about digital products. For example, mention tools like Canva, Kittle, or other programs that help you make them.
While you can post direct affiliate links without a blog, for example, on Pinterest, you might get flagged for that. But if you lead people to a helpful blog, that’s a different story.
I sometimes share my storefront links on Pinterest (with disclosure), and it works fine. But a storefront is not the same as a regular affiliate link, which doesn’t add any value.
However, getting a storefront on Amazon isn’t easy. So, especially in the beginning, your best bet is to start with a blog and join affiliate programs that accept beginners, like the standard Amazon Associates program, not the influencer one.
Seasonal Content
Another thing: you have to plan your content for each season.
For example, if Halloween is coming in October, you should start creating content in the summer. This is because it takes time for your content to be indexed and gain engagement.
If you’re promoting on Pinterest, remember that Pinterest users plan way ahead. They save Halloween and Christmas stuff early, then buy later. If you don’t post on time, your pins won’t have a chance to rank in search or earn from saved boards.
And this applies not only to affiliate marketing but also to digital products.
Why I Recommend Affiliate Marketing for Beginners?
When you launch your digital product shop, you might not see any sales right away. Of course, if you sell on a marketplace, you probably will, but on your own website, it won’t be an easy ride.
When you launch your site, it can take months to get indexed, and that’s if you did a good job with SEO from the start. On Pinterest, everything is usually much easier and faster, but you still need to be patient.
So, while your site is getting indexed and you’re promoting your business on social media, you can also start adding affiliate content. As mentioned before, in most cases, you are promoting well-known brands, and it will be easier to earn your first commissions than on your own brand-new site. It takes time for people to get to know you and your products, but with affiliate marketing, you don’t need to wait for that.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start your site. I suggest this so you can start making some money while your site grows, which helps you stay motivated and avoid burnout.
Should You Do Affiliate Marketing Only?
No.
Affiliate commissions can add up over time, but the payout is usually small. Each program has its own rules, and you must follow them. If you put all your eggs in one basket and lose your account, you could lose all your income.
Having multiple income streams is really the smartest. If one stream isn’t converting, you can still earn from others, and vice versa. That way, you secure your future.
Think of affiliate marketing as the icing on the cake, not a replacement for your own products.
Is Affiliate Marketing Easy?
I started promoting affiliate content in the summer of 2025. I got a few commissions in the fall, but the most came during the winter. I’m consistent and hard-working, and I had a plan. I worked every single day on promoting my digital products, my blogs, and my affiliate content.
So, is it really that easy?
Well, it is easier than selling your own digital products for the reasons I mentioned earlier. But I wouldn’t call it easy. It takes time, a lot of content, planning, and steady traffic.
And if you ever hear a YouTuber or blogger say you’ll make $10k a month, run fast. They’re lying just to sell you a course you don’t need.
What you do need is consistency, a plan, and being okay with small commissions at first.
So, Affiliate Marketing or Digital Products?
A combination is really the sweet spot.
Promoting both on social media also lets you reach more people than just talking about digital products alone.
Including affiliate links adds more income streams than just relying on digital products.
It’s especially a great choice now, as AI is shaking everything up. People are losing jobs or looking for extra income. This way, if something happens, you have money coming from different places to support you and your family.
That’s it from me today. I hope you have a wonderful day! Take action on your dreams now, don’t wait until tomorrow. You’ll thank yourself later.
Love,
Gabi
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