What is Affiliate Marketing – And How Do I Get Started?

Affiliate marketing can be a lucrative way to work from anywhere. But what is it? And how do you get started?

In this article we explain what affiliate marketing is, how you can get started, and provide a list of resources to get going.

Introduction to Affiliate Marketing and Its Potential

Affiliate marketing is where people like you and me, known as affiliates, promote products or services on behalf of businesses.

And we earn a commission for each sale or action that results from our promotional efforts.

This marketing model is incredibly advantageous for both companies and promoters.

Companies benefit from having a broader audience reach without the upfront advertising costs because they only pay for successful transactions such as a new lead or a new sale.

For affiliates like you and me, it offers the opportunity to earn money by promoting products we believe in. Given the growth of online shopping and the expansive reach of the internet, the potential for success in affiliate marketing is already enormous – and only growing.

Affiliate marketing may sound complicated but it’s actually very simple.

The key is to drive traffic to the company’s website using your unique affiliate link. When someone clicks on your affiliate link it means that, at no additional cost to them, you will be compensated if they click through and take action.

In fact, this blog is chock full of affiliate links that provide us a steady stream of income from companies like Amazon, Airalo eSIMs, World Nomads travel insurance, Booking, Legendary Marketer and more!

Flexibility, Independence, and Passive Income

One of the most attractive features of affiliate marketing is the flexibility it offers.

Unlike traditional 9-to-5 jobs, affiliates have the freedom to choose when, where, and how we work.

This independence means we can adjust our schedules based on personal preferences, making it an ideal source of income for those who value work-life balance.

Best of all, once the promotional content is set up and running—whether it’s a blog post (like this one), a video, or a social media post—it has the potential to generate earnings with minimal maintenance.

This ability to create streams of passive income means that with consistent effort and strategy, affiliates can build a revenue stream that continues to pay off in the long run.

We like to call it time freedom – our time does not belong to our employers anymore. It belongs to us!

How It Aligns with the Travel Lifestyle

For those like us bitten by the travel bug, affiliate marketing presents a perfect blend of work and wanderlust.

The digital nature of the work means all one needs is a reliable internet connection and a device, turning any beach, café, or mountain retreat into a potential workplace.

This removes the financial stress often associated with long-term travel. Instead of savings dwindling with each plane ticket or hotel booking, we can fund our adventures as we go!

Building Your Affiliate Marketing Foundation in 3 Simple Steps

1. Choose a Niche and Understanding Your Audience

Selecting a niche is one of the foundational steps in affiliate marketing and crucial for long-term success.

A niche narrows your focus. It ensures that your promotional efforts are directed towards a specific segment of the market. By specializing in a particular area, you can build expertise and authority, making your recommendations more credible and impactful.

Coupled with understanding your target audience, this ensures that your marketing efforts are not scattered but are tailored.

Knowing your audience’s preferences, pain points, and purchasing habits allows you to cater your content and promotions to their specific needs and desires, ultimately leading to higher conversion rates.

This blog is a good example. We tailored it for people interested in affordable luxury travel. And it has specializations in full time travel and keto travel. We know this niche because that’s the lifestyle we live and we are passionate about it!

2. Set up a Website or Platform for Affiliate Marketing

Having an online presence is non-negotiable for aspiring affiliate marketers.

A website or platform serves as the central hub for your promotional activities. It offers a space where audiences earn, engage, and get directed towards purchase points.

Whether you opt for a traditional blog like this one, a YouTube channel, or a social media profile – or a combination of platforms – the key is to provide consistent, high-quality content that adds value to your audience.

User-friendly design, clear calls to action, and regular updates not only enhance credibility but also improve search visibility, driving more organic traffic and potential earnings.

While ReadyJetRoam has been our affiliate machine since 2018, Lisa also has a website at www.lisareidmiller.com where she provides information about how to get into high ticket affiliate marketing opportunities that make hundreds or even thousands of dollars per transaction!

Sound interesting? Then you should check it out!

3. Partner with Brands and Companies

Building relationships with brands and companies is the heartbeat of affiliate marketing.

This partnership entails promoting their products or services, and in return, you earn a commission for each successful referral. It’s essential to choose brands that align with your niche and resonate with your audience.

Collaborating with reputable companies ensures that you are recommending quality products. But it also often provides access to higher commission rates, promotional materials, and exclusive deals.

As you grow and demonstrate the value you bring, there are opportunities for deeper collaborations. These include sponsored content, even co-created products, and more.

The easiest way to find brands with affiliate programs is to simply google “‘X brand’ affiliate program” to find information. For example: Gucci affiliate program

From there it’s a cinch to sign up and get your very own affiliate link.

Why It’s Worth It

Today we are traveling the world full time and funding it with several income streams including affiliate marketing. We are literally living our dream life. 

Pursue Your Dreams, Whatever They May Be

Everyone has a unique vision for their life, a dream that stirs their heart and fuels their passion.

Whether it’s traveling the world, achieving financial freedom, or simply finding work that aligns with your values, these dreams are valid and attainable. You have the power and agency to shape your destiny.

By taking calculated risks, seeking out opportunities, and remaining persistent even in the face of challenges, you can transform your dreams into realities just like we have.

Rather than unobtainable visions, allow your dreams to be your life’s compass, guiding you towards fulfillment and purpose.

Find out if Affiliate Marketing is the Key to Unlocking Your Dreams 

Affiliate marketing is more than just a source of revenue; it represents a break from the traditional, a pathway to autonomy.

With affiliate marketing, geographical boundaries fade, and the chains of a 9-to-5 routine dissolve.

Whether you’re dreaming of sipping coffee in a Parisian cafe while working or simply want the flexibility to attend your child’s weekday recital, affiliate marketing provides the means.

Beyond the allure of passive income, affiliate marketing empowers individuals to craft a life that aligns with your values and desires.

But is affiliate marketing right for YOU?

The best recommendation we can give you is to take the Legendary Marketer 15-day affiliate marketing challenge. 

We did and it changed our lives. More about that in this article: Make Money Online as a Freelance Affiliate Marketer

We learned so much about what affiliate marketing is and whether it was something that we could be successful at from that program. And for only $7, it’s a tiny investment.

We encourage you to do like we did: invest that $7 and see if you have what it takes to make money from anywhere as a freelance affiliate marketer!

Resource Guide

(Yes, many of these are affiliate links but we have affiliate relationships with these brands because we have used them and they work!)

• Legendary Marketer 15-day affiliate marketing challenge. For $7 you can take a 15-day challenge to see if affiliate marketing is right for you.
• LisaReidmiller.com. Lisa’s guide to getting started with affiliate marketing.
• Blogging Fast Lane. We took this course early into our days of blogging and it taught us step-by-step how to set up a blog that converts for affiliate revenue.
• Read our article: What is Affiliate Marketing – And How Do I Get Started?
• Read our article: 5 Tips and Tricks to Make Money Online with Affiliate Marketing
• Find out: 5 Ways to Make Money from Home – Or Anywhere!
• Learn Why Gen X and Millennials Need to Learn How to Make Money Online
• Discover Financial Freedom for People Born Between the 1960s and 1990s