How to Earn Passive Income with Affiliate Marketing

Let’s talk real for a second. Who doesn’t want to make money while they sleep, travel, or binge-watch Netflix? That’s the magic of passive income, and affiliate marketing is one of the easiest ways to get there especially if you're starting with zero experience. If you've ever seen someone on Instagram or TikTok say, “Link in bio!” and wondered what that was about… yep, that’s affiliate marketing.

In this blog post, I’m breaking down how it all works, the steps to get started, the best affiliate programs to join (including one that’s seriously powerful—Shopify), and how to market your affiliate links in a way that feels natural, not spammy.

First Things First: What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is when you promote someone else’s product or service and get paid a commission when someone buys through your unique referral link.

You don’t need to create your own product. You’re just the connector—the person who helps someone discover something useful, and you get rewarded for it. Win-win.

Let’s say you’re a content creator, blogger, or even just someone with a small online presence. You write a post or make a video about “The Best Tools to Start an Online Store.” One of the tools is Shopify, and you drop your affiliate link. Every time someone signs up through your link? You get paid.

Why Affiliate Marketing = Passive Income

Affiliate marketing becomes passive when you create content once and it keeps earning you commissions over time.

Here’s what that might look like:

- You write a blog post: “How I Started a Business with Shopify in One Weekend”

- You record a YouTube video: “Shopify Tutorial for Beginners”

- You make a Pinterest pin: “Start a Shopify store in 5 simple steps”

All of those have your affiliate link inside. As people find your content (via Google, social media, Pinterest, etc.), they click, buy, and you get paid—even months later.

That’s the beauty of it. Set it up once, and let it work in the background.

1. Pick a Niche That Pays

Choose a topic you actually care about and has good earning potential. Some solid niches:

- Personal finance

- Health & wellness

- Beauty & skincare

- Travel

- Tech & gadgets

- Online business / side hustles

2. Sign Up for Affiliate Programs

You can apply to individual programs or join networks. Here are a few options:

High-paying affiliate programs:

1) ConvertKit – email marketing tool, pays recurring commissions.

2) Bluehost – hosting for websites/blogs, popular with beginners.

3) Coursera or Skillshare – online courses, great for education content.

4) Shopify – pays up to $150 per signup (great if you make business content).

5) HelloPrenup – digital prenup service, good for relationship or legal niches.

6) Amazon Associates – low commissions but tons of products = volume game.

You can also check out affiliate networks like:

- Impact

- Rakuten

- CJ Affiliate

These let you apply to a bunch of affiliate programs from one dashboard.

3. Create Content Around Your Links

This is where most people overthink things. You don’t have to be an influencer or own a fancy website. Just choose a platform and start sharing helpful content.

Easy platforms to use:

- Pinterest: Pins that link to blogs or affiliate landing pages.

- Instagram Reels: Short vids showing the product, benefits, etc.

- TikTok: Authentic product reviews, unboxings, or tutorials.

- YouTube: Reviews, how-tos, “best tools for X” videos.

- Email marketing: Send tips, stories, and your favorite tools to your audience.

- Blogging: SEO-friendly articles with links (best for long-term passive income). 

How to Market Affiliate Products 

This is where people get stuck—but marketing your affiliate links doesn’t have to be pushy. In fact, it works best when it’s honest and helpful.

Here’s what works:

Product Roundups

Example: “10 Must-Have Tools for New Freelancers”
Include your affiliate links and explain why you recommend each.

Tutorials or Demos

Example: “How I Set Up My Shopify Store in 30 Minutes”
Show the process and drop your link.

Personal Stories

Example: “How I Made My First $100 Online (No Degree, No Experience)”
People love stories. If it helped you, they’ll be curious to try it.

Comparison Posts

Example: “ConvertKit vs Mailchimp – Which One’s Better for Beginners?”
You can include affiliate links for both and still win.

Top Affiliate Programs That Are Actually Worth It

Here’s a quick list of solid programs that pay well and have good support:

How Much Can You Make With Shopify’s Affiliate Program?

This depends on how many people you refer, but payouts can range from $58–$150 per sale. If you’re making regular content and building your audience, you can absolutely hit $1,000/month+.

Let’s say:

- You create a blog post that gets 2,000 monthly visits

- 2% of readers sign up for Shopify = 40 signups

- You earn an average of $100 per signup

That’s $4,000/month off one blog post.

It won’t happen overnight, but it’s possible with consistency.

Final Thoughts: Affiliate Marketing + Shopify = A Business You Can Build for the Long Haul

Here’s the truth: Affiliate marketing isn’t a scam or a get-rich-quick scheme.

It’s a smart way to create real, sustainable passive income—especially if you pair it with platforms like Shopify, which helps others start their own businesses while you grow yours.

You don’t need a big audience. You don’t need to be a tech genius. You just need to:

- Pick a niche

- Create helpful content

- Promote high-quality tools (like Shopify!)

- Stay consistent

Start simple. Keep learning. And remember, every successful affiliate started with zero clicks.