Introduction: The Simplest Online Business Model You Can Start Today
Hi again!
Suppose you’ve been looking for a way to start making money online without needing your own product, a warehouse, or even customer service skills. In that case, affiliate marketing might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
I’ve seen complete beginners, with no prior experience and zero budget, earn their first £100 online simply by recommending products they believe in and following a simple plan.
In this guide, I will walk you through exactly how affiliate marketing works, why it’s perfect for beginners, and how you can take your first steps today, using nothing but free tools and smart strategy.
It’s time to get started.
Can You Really Make Your First £100 Online with Affiliate Marketing — Even as a Complete Beginner?
Absolutely, you can, and I say that with complete confidence because I’ve seen it happen time and time again. In fact, affiliate marketing is one of the few online business models where beginners can earn their first £100 without needing their own product, any tech experience, or a big social following.
Here’s the truth: your first £100 isn’t about being an expert, it’s about being consistent, genuine, and willing to share helpful information with others.
You’re simply recommending tools, services, or products that solve a real problem, something you’d probably talk about anyway. And when someone takes your advice and clicks your link? You earn a commission. It’s as straightforward as that.
Of course, there’s a learning curve (like anything), but with the right tools, a bit of guidance, and willingness to take action, yes, you can do this. In fact, by the end of this post, you’ll have a clear plan for how to make that first £100 online, and probably much more if you keep going.
What is Affiliate Marketing
At its core, affiliate marketing is simple:
You earn a commission by promoting someone else’s product or service.
Here’s how it works:
You join an affiliate program.
You get a unique tracking link.
You recommend the product through your blog, social media, or email.
When someone clicks your link and buys, you earn a percentage of the sale.
That’s it. No inventory, no tech headaches, and no need to create your own products.
Why Affiliate Marketing Is Perfect for Beginners
Affiliate marketing checks all the boxes for someone just getting started:
✅ Low to no startup cost ✅ You don’t need to be an expert ✅ There’s no need to create a product ✅ You can work from anywhere ✅ You earn as you learn
Plus, you can grow it alongside a job, side hustle, or another business. Many affiliate marketers start by earning their first £50–£100, and eventually scale into full time income over time.
Step by Step: How to Get Started with Affiliate Marketing
Let’s break this down into simple, actionable steps.
Step 1: Choose a Niche You Can Stick With
Your niche is your target topic or audience. Choosing the right one helps you focus your content and build trust with your readers.
Popular beginner niches:
Health & fitness
Personal development
Side hustles / make money online
Productivity & tools
Travel hacks
Online business
💡 Pro Tip: Pick something you’re already interested in. It’s easier to stay consistent that way.
Step 2: Sign Up for Affiliate Programs
Once you’ve chosen your niche, join affiliate programs that offer products or services in that space.
Beginner friendly affiliate programs:
Amazon Associates – huge range of products
Canva – perfect for creators and digital marketers
ConvertKit / MailerLite – recurring commissions for email tools
💡 I personally recommend starting with Wealthy Affiliate, it not only teaches affiliate marketing from scratch but also lets you promote the platform itself.
Step 3: Choose Your Platform
Where will you publish your content and share your affiliate links?
You don’t need to be everywhere. Choose one to start:
Options:
Blog (WordPress.com or self-hosted)
YouTube
TikTok or Instagram
Medium
Email newsletter
If you’re building a blog like mine, WordPress is ideal. If you’re more comfortable on camera, start with short videos.
This is where most people get stuck, they think they need to be a “guru” to start. You don’t.
Start by sharing helpful content:
Product reviews
“How-to” tutorials
Top 5 product roundups
Beginners’ guides
Comparison posts
Example topics:
“Best free tools to start a blog”
“Why I use Canva to create digital products”
“My first month using Wealthy Affiliate — honest review”
💡 Be helpful, be honest, and always disclose when you use affiliate links.
Step 5: Add Your Affiliate Links Naturally
When writing, insert affiliate links where it makes sense, not just randomly.
Example:
“One of the best platforms I’ve used to learn and start affiliate marketing is Wealthy Affiliate — they offer training, hosting, and a helpful community all in one.”
💡 Tip: Shorten your links with a plugin like Pretty Links or Bit.ly if needed (especially for social media sharing).
Step 6: Share & Promote Your Content
You don’t need to go viral to succeed. Just get your content in front of people who care.
Here’s how:
Share blog posts in relevant Facebook groups
Answer questions on Quora or Reddit (link to your content)
Pin your graphics on Pinterest
Repurpose blog content into short social posts
Start small. Consistency always beats intensity.
Step 7: Track Your Clicks & Learn
Most affiliate platforms give you access to a dashboard with:
Click-through rates (CTR)
Earnings per click (EPC)
Sales and commissions
Use this data to:
See which content performs best
Focus more on the topics/products that are working
Adjust what isn’t converting
💡 Tools like Google Analytics and Ubersuggest can help track overall traffic and keyword performance.
Helpful Free Tools to Get Started
If you haven’t already, make sure you’re set up with these:
Canva Create blog graphics, social posts, and PDFs
Google Docs Write and organize your posts or lead magnets
WordPress.com Host your free blog or landing page
MailerLite Start growing your email list
ChatGPT Brainstorm content ideas, outline posts
Linktree Share multiple links in your bio (great for socials)
Let’s make sure you don’t waste time spinning your wheels:
❌ Not choosing a niche – Too broad and unfocused ❌ Only posting links, not content – People buy based on trust ❌ Spamming Facebook groups – Adds no value and gets you banned ❌ Quitting too soon – Most beginners see traction after 30–60 days, not overnight
Stay focused, keep publishing, and give it time.
How Long Does it Take to Earn £/$100 with Affiliate Marketing?
The honest answer? It depends.
If you publish high quality content weekly and promote it consistently, you could earn your first £100 in your first 30–90 days. Some do it faster, especially if they already have a social following.
Affiliate marketing is slow to start but powerful long term. Once your content ranks, it can earn money passively for months or even years.
Final Thoughts
Affiliate marketing is one of the most accessible and rewarding ways to start making money online, even as a complete beginner.
You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t need a big following. You just need to choose your niche, sign up for a few affiliate programs, and start publishing content that helps people.
If you stay consistent, your first commission isn’t far off — and your first £100 is just the beginning.
Want a guided way to get started? I highly recommend Wealthy Affiliate. It’s one of the best beginner friendly platforms to learn affiliate marketing step by step.
What to Do Next
Choose your niche and platform
Sign up for at least one affiliate program
Publish your first affiliate related post
Track your progress and stay consistent
Bookmark this guide and return to it as you grow
What Do You Think?
So tell me, what route did you take to make your first £/$100? Let me know in the comments below, and remember, I always reply.
Here’s a little transparency: Our website contains affiliate links. This means if you click and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission. Don’t worry, there’s no extra cost to you. It’s a simple way you can support our mission to bring you quality content.
