8 Steps I’d Use to Start Affiliate Marketing (If I Had to Start Over Today) | by Gen. A Ishimwe | ILLUMINATION | Mar, 2025

With no followers, easy and free.

I still remember the day.

Sitting at my command center—a.k.a. my cluttered desk—back in the middle of COVID-19, I was just another small guy searching for a way out.

I typed into Google and YouTube:

And that’s when the dream sellers showed up.

YouTubers with clickbait titles. Flashy cars. Rented mansions. Talking a big game about “passive income” but secretly making their real money from ads and course sales.

If they weren’t rich before that video, they were definitely rich after a few million views.

I don’t remember the exact video I watched, but I remember the channel: H-Educate.

That was my first introduction to affiliate marketing. And at the time, I believed every word.

But here’s the truth: YouTube is designed to sell dreams, not real strategies.

I wasted years consuming low-quality content before I finally found people who actually knew how to monetize their knowledge. And I didn’t find them on YouTube.

So, if I had to start over today—no followers, no budget—here’s exactly what I’d do:

Step 1: Pick a Profitable Niche

Not just any niche—one with high demand and people willing to spend money.

Step 2: Choose High-Ticket or Recurring Affiliate Products

Why sell something for $20 when you can sell something for $500? Or better yet, get paid every month for one sale?

Step 3: Get on a High-Authority Blogging Platform (Like Medium)

No website? No problem. Platforms like Medium give you built-in traffic.

Step 4: Create a Lead Magnet

Something valuable people want—an ebook, checklist, or free training—so they join my email list.

Step 5: Set Up an Opt-in Page

A simple landing page where people sign up to get my lead magnet.

Step 6: Use an Autoresponder

Emails go out automatically. I set it up once, and it works forever.

Step 7: Craft a Killer Welcome Email Sequence

Introduce myself. Deliver value. Build trust. Then…

Step 8: Promote Multiple Affiliate Offers—Over and Over Again

One email, one product? Nope. One audience, multiple offers. That’s how you build long-term income.

No magic. No hacks. No chasing YouTube dreams. Just a strategy that works.

what would I do differently if I had to start over?

Let me know in the comments section!

Absolutely. But now, I’d do it the right way.

…If after all of this, if starting affiliate marketing feels like a better fit for you, then snag our 6 steps affiliate system. Join other 1670 affiliate marketers and get it here.