How I Make Money With Affiliate Marketing

Today I want to talk about something that tends to be taboo on some blogs. Money.

The truth is, no matter how much you love blogging, blogging alone doesn't pay the bills. Many of the bloggers that I know are stay-at-home moms like myself who could really use some extra cash but are afraid to push affiliate links for fear of losing their readership.

This is a very valid concern, as you certainly don't want to push a bunch of spammy affiliate links onto people who have no interest in those products or services.

But clouding up your readers' news feeds with irrelevant links is not the only way to go with affiliate marketing.

I currently average about $100-$200 a month using affiliate marketing using just one affiliate network. And I'm still learning.

Here is a screenshot of what I made for the month of May using the ShareASale Network:

I've heard of affiliates making LOTS of money using affiliate marketing. I'm not there yet but like I said, I'm still learning and just starting out.

When I first signed up for ShareASale, I kind of let my account sit there for awhile. I wasn't sure how to go about using the interface or advertising the links.

Then I started seeing emails for $5.00 bonus blog posts. Notice in the image above where there are $0 sales but still $5 or $10 commissions? Those are from the bonus blog posts.

Let me stress that these companies are legit, well-known, online stores that are trustworthy and dependable. They are not going to sell your readers' email addresses or send them bad products if they order.

The companies that you market should ALL be trustworthy like this. Send a reader to ill-reputated company that immediately sells a person's email address and see what happens. Your reputation, along with that company's, just went downhill.

Here are some of the companies that I use and trust and have had pretty decent conversions for me. 

Some of these are my affiliate links:

First off, if you haven't already signed up with ShareASale, go here and get an account.

Merchants with ** beside them indicates that they offer $5 Bonus Posts.

One Kings Lane**

One Kings Lane is the leading online home and lifestyle shopping destination. Featured in InStyle, Better Homes and Gardens, People, Lucky, The New York Times, and other publications, it sells spectacular designer furniture, accessories, antiques, and vintage finds, in a curated setting, at prices up to 70% off retail. More than 3 million registered users shop One Kings Lane to get inspired, find their favorite home and lifestyle brands, and discover new ones.

One Kings Lane treats affiliates as valued partners with generous commission-earning opportunities. Good affiliate candidates include design, style, home decor, and gift websites as well as other sites appealing to high-end consumers.

ModCloth**

ModCloth.com is a top online retailer of vintage-inspired and independently designed clothing, accessories, and apartment items. In just a few years, ModCloth has grown from humble beginnings in a college dorm room to "America's Fastest-Growing Retailer" securing a significant spot in the indie fashion industry.

Much of ModCloth’s success is due to our loyal and dedicated community. You’re invited to join us on our mission to democratize the fashion industry by becoming an affiliate. Good affiliate partners include sites focused on fashion, beauty, lifestyle, shopping, thrifting, vintage, gifts, eco-friendly, diy, weddings, prom/formal wear, creativity, decor, and other related topics.

The ModCloth affiliate program is a great way to connect with our growing community and earn commissions on all of our wonderful wares. Sign up to be an affiliate today!

Mabel's Labels**

Mabel's Labels creates innovative and award-winning labels for babies, kids and grown-ups. Featured in InStyle and People magazine, our sticky labels and clothing labels can be customized with a child’s name, choice of colors and icon. And, best of all, Mabel’s Labels are dishwasher, microwave and laundry safe! Our expanding line also includes ID wristbands, allergy alerts and bag tags.

Good affiliate candidates include family, mommy, education, home, design, style, and gift websites as well as other related blogs. Join today!

Kiwi Crate

Kiwi Crate is a monthly subscription service for kids. Each month, subscribers receive boxes filled with fun and engaging kids' projects. Each box includes plenty of materials and inspiration for 2-3 projects in arts & crafts, science activities or imaginative play. Previous crate themes include Dinosaurs, Gardening, Colors, Space and more. Kiwi Crate projects are age-appropriate for boys and girls ages 3 to 7 and are designed to encourage discovery, exploration and expression. Each project is designed by moms, reviewed by child development experts, and, of course, tested by kids.

Subscriptions can be ordered month-to-month ($19.95 per month) or annually ($220). Kiwi Crate also makes a great gift for birthdays or holidays. We have 3 and 6-month gift subscriptions available (for $59 and $110, respectively). Also, additional materials can be purchased for siblings.

Craftsy**

Craftsy is the leading online social crafting platform. We offer full-length, professionally-produced HD video courses in quilting, sewing, knitting, crochet, food, jewelry, paper craft, and more. Custom interactive features allow students to connect directly with each other and with award-winning instructors.

Craftsy is the largest online community in this high-growth market, and we invite you to join us. Our affiliate program is for bloggers and other content-rich sites that cater to the craft, DIY, and women's lifestyle communities. If that sounds like you, please apply!

Layla Grace And Zinc Door**

Known for traditional, cottage, European and coastal décor, Layla Grayce is a curated shopper’s delight that offers more than 300 renowned brands and 13,000 home, fashion, gift and children’s products. Never mainstream but always classic and functional, Layla Grayce hand-selects beautiful, one-of-a-kind and heirloom-quality pieces so you can effortlessly express your unique style.

Zinc Door presents the modern décor enthusiast with a carefully curated collection of more than 4,000 home décor must-haves both on-trend and transitional. From iconic 20th century classics to contemporary, clean-lined pieces, the lifestyle shop’s furniture, lighting, bedding and accessories outfit today’s sophisticated interior with leading edge style that feeds your distinct design obsession.

Smilebox

As a Smilebox affiliate, you'll be joining a leading photo sharing service that lets you quickly turn life’s moments into digital creations you can email, post, blog, print or save. It combines the best of ecards, photo & video sharing, and social networking.

Blurb**

Blurb enables anyone to design, publish, share, and sell their own bookstore-quality books. Blurb books feature professional printing, top-notch binding, and a range of creative customization options that customers use to make all kinds of beautiful books, from wedding books and cookbooks to baby books, travel books, portfolios, and more. Ranked 47th overall on Inc. 500’s list of the fastest-growing privately held companies, Blurb created and shipped more than 1.8 million books in 2011 alone.

Little Passports**

Little Passports (www.littlepassports.com) develops fun and exciting children’s subscriptions that deliver the world to your child's doorstep. Imaginary penpals Sam and Sofia travel the world on their scooter, visiting a new country each month and send a package in the mail to your child. Packages arrive full of goodies including a letter, souvenirs, activities and online games! Award-winning Little Passports has been featured in Parenting Magazine, Real Simple’s Holiday Gift Guide, the Wall Street Journal and many more! Children and their parents absolutely love Little Passports! Our expanding line now includes a USA Edition in which Sam and Sofia visit two states each month.

Tea Collection **

Tea Collection is a fast growing designer and retailer of baby clothes and children's clothing. We design distinctive apparel collections inspired by the beauty we discover in our travels around the world. From the art of traditional Korean patchwork to the graphic boldness of Brazilian street graffiti, Tea designers find inspiration during their journeys, interpreting their discoveries into unique, beautiful clothing for children. Tea invites you to share our journey. Through our affiliate program you can earn a generous commission selling our globally inspired clothing. 

It's important to note that I am suggesting the merchants with $5 post to get you interested. The $5 posts alone will not be enough to generate payout each but it will get you started in affiliate marketing with ShareASale.

Affiliate marketing takes work. As I learn, if there is interest, I will continue to post on this subject so please leave a comment if this post was helpful to you.

Disclosure: My Journey to Living Well uses affiliate (marketing) links whenever possible. This post may contain affiliate links. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”