Affiliate Marketing for Gen X, Building Extra Income One Link at a Time

When I first learned about affiliate marketing, I thought it was too good to be true.

Back then I was promoting these “Learn Master Guitar” DVD courses that sold for around $150 to $200. They gave me about half of every sale just for sending people through my link.

When I saw my first couple of sales come through, I was hooked. It wasn’t a ton of money, but the idea of making $75–$100 just by sharing a link? THAT was pretty freakin cool.

Then I thought, “Okay… how do I get more of these?”

That little shot of dopamine is what pulled me down the rabbit hole of learning how to make money online. That rabbit hole lead me to learning how to build websites, write copy, run ads, and so many other skills.

And here I am 20 years later and I’m still making money from affiliate marketing—it has made me tens of thousands of dollars over time.

So today, I want to walk you through the same first steps. Nothing fancy. Just how you can get set up, share your first link, and feel that same rush when you see that first sale pop up.

Step-by-Step: How to Get Started

Step 1: Start With What You Already Use and Love
Don’t chase random products. Think of stuff you’ve already paid for and would recommend to a buddy without hesitation.

• A piece of software you use every week

• A course or book that taught you something valuable

• A tool or gadget that saves you time or frustration

Write down 3–5 of these. That’s your short list.

Step 2: See if They Have an Affiliate Program
Most online businesses do. Scroll to the bottom of their website and look for “Affiliate,” “Partners,” or “Referral Program.”

If you can’t find it, just Google:

[product name] affiliate program

Examples:

• “Amazon partner program”

• “Beehiiv affiliate program”

• “Blue Yeti microphone affiliate program”

Step 3: Sign Up
Click the link, fill out the form. Usually they’ll want:

• Your name and email

• Where you plan to share the link (newsletter, social media, blog, etc.)

• Payment info (PayPal, direct deposit, etc.)

Approval can be instant or a couple days.

Step 4: Grab Your Affiliate Link
Once you’re approved, you’ll get a unique link. It might look long and ugly, but that’s normal. That’s how they track sales back to you.

Step 5: Share It
This is where most people freeze up. Don’t overthink it. Just start with a quick story:

• Drop it at the bottom of an email: “By the way, here’s the tool I use every week [affiliate link].”

• Mention it in a YouTube description.

• Post on social: “I’ve been using this tool for years—it’s a lifesaver. Here’s the link if you want to check it out.”

Your first win isn’t a commission. It’s seeing that first click. Once you get that, you’ll understand why people stick with affiliate marketing.

AI Prompt of the Week

Once you’ve got your first affiliate link, the goal is simple — get that first click.

Most people overthink what to say or worry they’ll sound salesy. Don’t. Just be honest about why you like the product and share it naturally.

This prompt will help you do exactly that — fast.

Copy and paste this into ChatGPT or Claude: