Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we think are genuinely useful. Read our affiliate disclosure.

Affiliate marketing has a reputation for spammy “top 10” lists. Done properly, it’s the opposite: you recommend the tools you already rely on, explain them better than the vendor does, and get paid when readers act on your advice. These are the lessons from monetising our own sites.

1. Choose programs like an investor

• Recommend what you use. Your enthusiasm — and your caveats — are what make readers trust the link.
• Favour recurring commission. Subscription tools (email, podcasting, software) can pay every month a customer stays.
• Read the terms. Cookie window, payout threshold, first-order-only rules and brand-bidding restrictions all affect what you’ll actually earn.
• Check the network. Many programs run through networks such as Impact, PartnerStack or CJ — one dashboard for several partners.

2. Write content that converts

The formats that earn most consistently are the ones readers search for right before they buy:

1. “Best X for Y” comparisons — e.g. best web hosting in Australia.
2. Honest reviews that include who a product is not for.
3. Tutorials that use the tool to solve a real problem.
4. A resources page — like our Tools We Use — that becomes your most-linked page.

3. Placement beats volume

One well-placed recommendation outperforms ten scattered links. Put a clear call to action near the top for skimmers, a comparison table in the middle, and a verdict with a button at the end. Use buttons for primary recommendations and plain text links in context.

The best affiliate link is the answer to a question the reader already asked.

4. Track everything

• Use each program’s sub-ID or tracking parameter to see which page and position earned the click.
• Keep a simple sheet of programs, links, commission and cookie length — and store logins in a password manager, not the sheet.
• Review quarterly: update prices, swap out underperformers, refresh screenshots.

5. Mistakes that quietly kill revenue

• Not disclosing. It’s a legal expectation in Australia and a trust issue everywhere. Put a clear note near the top of every page with affiliate links.
• Forgetting rel="sponsored" on affiliate links.
• Promoting on commission alone. Readers can tell, and they won’t come back.
• Letting content go stale. Outdated prices erode trust faster than anything.

General information only, not financial advice. Last reviewed: October 2026.