# Affiliate Marketing 101: What it is and How to Get Started

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## Table of Contents
- [What is affiliate marketing?](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/ecommerce/affiliate-marketing/#h2_what_is_affiliate_marketing_)
- [How does affiliate marketing work?](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/ecommerce/affiliate-marketing/#h2_how_does_affiliate_marketing_work_)
- [Types of affiliate marketing](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/ecommerce/affiliate-marketing/#h2_types_of_affiliate_marketing)
- [How do affiliate marketers get paid?](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/ecommerce/affiliate-marketing/#h2_how_do_affiliate_marketers_get_paid_)
- [Affiliate marketing channels: Where to promote products](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/ecommerce/affiliate-marketing/#h2_affiliate_marketing_channels__where_to_promote_products)
- [How to succeed as an affiliate marketer](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/ecommerce/affiliate-marketing/#h2_how_to_succeed_as_an_affiliate_marketer)
- [Common affiliate marketing mistakes to avoid](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/ecommerce/affiliate-marketing/#h2_common_affiliate_marketing_mistakes_to_avoid)
- [How AI enhances affiliate marketing](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/ecommerce/affiliate-marketing/#h2_how_ai_enhances_affiliate_marketing)
- [The final word](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/ecommerce/affiliate-marketing/#h2_the_final_word)
- [FAQs about affiliate marketing](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/ecommerce/affiliate-marketing/#h2_faqs_about_affiliate_marketing)

## What is affiliate marketing?

Affiliate marketing is typically a [performance-based arrangement](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/ecommerce/performance-marketing/) where marketers promote products to a broad audience and earn a commission on sales, leads or clicks. It's generally a B2C (business-to-consumer) model, though B2B affiliate programs exist.

## How does affiliate marketing work?

**Three players make the system run.**  
Every affiliate transaction involves:
- The seller (product creator)
- The affiliate (marketer)
- The consumer (buyer)

## Types of affiliate marketing

**How connected are you to what you promote?**  
Renowned marketer [**Pat Flynn**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/patflynn3/) identified three distinct approaches:
- Unattached
- Related
- Involved

### Unattached.
**Promote products without personal experience.**

### Related.
**Use niche authority without direct product use.**

### Involved.
**Share genuine experiences with products you've actually used.**

## How do affiliate marketers get paid?  
**Four main payment structures exist.**

### Pay per sale (PPS).

### Pay per lead (PPL).

### Pay per click (PPC).

### Pay per install (PPI).

## Affiliate marketing channels: Where to promote products

**Multiple platforms amplify your reach.**
Successful affiliates diversify across channels rather than relying on a single traffic source.

### Blogging.
**Content creates lasting value.**

### Social media.
**Engage audiences where they already spend time.**

### YouTube.
**Video content builds deep trust.**

### Email marketing.
**Direct communication drives conversions.**

### Podcasting.
**Audio builds authentic connections.**

### Large media websites.
**High-traffic websites with massive audiences extend your reach.**

## How to succeed as an affiliate marketer
Success as an affiliate isn't just about placing links or spending hours researching the best affiliate marketing products; it's about strategy, authenticity and continuous effort.

### Cultivate a niche audience.
**Specificity beats generalization.**
Narrow niches build engaged audiences faster than broad topics.

### Find affiliate programs to join.
**Three main ways to find opportunities:**
- **Option 1: Join affiliate networks.**
- **Option 2: Search "brand name + affiliate program."**
- **Option 3: Check brand websites for partnership pages.**

## Common affiliate marketing mistakes to avoid
**Learn from others' errors before making your own.**  
These pitfalls trap beginners repeatedly. Recognizing them early saves time and lost revenue.

### Choosing the wrong niche.
**Passion without profit fails.**

### Promoting too many products.
**Focus beats scattered approaches.**

### Not building an email list.
**Social media platforms control your audience's access.**

### Ignoring analytics.
**Gut feelings lose to data.**

### Failing to disclose affiliate relationships.
**Legal requirements exist for good reasons.**

## How AI enhances affiliate marketing
[Artificial Intelligence (AI)](https://www.bigcommerce.com/articles/ecommerce/ecommerce-ai/) is rapidly transforming the affiliate marketing landscape, moving beyond manual processes to offer unprecedented efficiency, optimization and growth opportunities.

## The final word
Affiliate marketing offers genuine income potential for those willing to invest effort strategically.

## FAQs about affiliate marketing
### Is affiliate marketing legal?
Yes, affiliate marketing is entirely legal and widely practiced.

### How do affiliate marketers disclose links to comply with FTC guidelines?
The [**FTC requires**](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/advertising-and-marketing/endorsements) clear and conspicuous disclosure of affiliate relationships.

### How much money can I make as an affiliate?
The earning potential in affiliate marketing varies wildly.