Affiliate Marketing in 2025: Everything you need to know

Affiliate marketing is a great way to generate additional income or as some economic experts call it: passive income. 

Because you can become an affiliate marketer and recommend other brands, or you can start an affiliate program to start promoting your own existing brand.

That's why today we want to tell you how to start making money with affiliate marketing. What is the condition? That you keep reading this article.

👉 Note: This article was originally published in 2023 and has been fully updated for 2025 with the latest programs, strategies, and trends.

What is affiliate marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a process where you as a publisher earn a commission by using an affiliate link to promote a product or service created by another retailer or advertiser. 

The affiliate partner (you) gets paid for providing a specific result to the retailer or advertiser. In most cases the result is the sale of a product and/or service. 

However, some affiliate marketing programs may reward you for leads, free trial users, clicks on a website or downloads of an application. The truth is, there are a wide variety of types of programs but we'll talk about that later.

Most affiliate programs are free, so you don't have to worry about high upfront costs. If done right, an effective affiliate marketing strategy can turn from a side hustle into a profitable online business idea by generating a healthy income for you.

What has changed in 2025? Today, affiliate marketing is no longer just a “side hustle.” Thanks to AI-driven tools, social platforms like TikTok, and the rise of micro-influencers, it has become a mainstream income source and even a full-time career path.

How does affiliate marketing work?

Affiliate programs work by allowing individuals (affiliates) to promote and sell a company's products or services in exchange for a commission on each sale. 

The affiliate, which would be you in this case, earns a commission every time someone makes a purchase through the unique affiliate link associated with your referral.

Here's how it works at a high level:

• You join an affiliate program.

• You get a unique affiliate link or code.

• You promote it via blog, social media, YouTube, TikTok, email, or ads.

• A user clicks and completes the action (sale, signup, install).

• The affiliate network tracks it and pays you.

Many platforms now use first-party tracking instead of cookies (due to privacy regulations). Expect more reliance on AI attribution, unique promo codes, and cross-device tracking.

Some affiliate marketing programs offer a flat fee per sale instead of a percentage, but this varies greatly depending on the type of agreement you have reached with the company.

Types of affiliate marketing

We're not going to lie to you, affiliates are always a bit of a mystery. You never know if the person actually used the product or if they are just promoting it for the money. 

To this day, both cases have been seen.

In fact, it wasn't until 2009 when renowned affiliate marketer Pat Flynn divided the different types of affiliate marketers into three groups. Therefore, understanding these types of affiliate marketing can show you the different ways you can make money online in this space. 

1. Independent Affiliate Marketing

The first type of affiliate marketing is known for being untethered, or when you have no authority in the niche of the product you would be advertising, meaning there is no connection between you and the customer. 

This often involves running pay-per-click (PPC) advertising campaigns with the affiliate link and hoping that people will click on it, buy the product and earn a commission. Example? Google Adsense advertising.

Independent affiliate marketing is attractive because you don't need to do any legwork. Affiliate marketing companies rely on reputation and trust with a target audience online. 

Some affiliate marketers don't have the time or desire to build those relationships, so this type of marketing is their best option and may be your case at some point.

2. Related affiliate marketing

Related affiliate marketing is the practice of promoting products and services that you don't use but that are related to your niche. But how would that work? Let's look at an example: 

You as an affiliate marketer have an audience, either through blogs, YouTube, TikTok or another channel. As a related affiliate marketer you also have influence, making you a trusted source for recommending products, even if you've never used them before.

After prior arrangement, it’s possible to reach an agreement where, for example, in a YouTube video, the content creator recommends a product and/or service of a product that is not related to their channel.

While related affiliate marketing can generate you more affiliate income, it comes with the risk of promoting something you've never tried before. It could be the worst product or service ever, and you wouldn't even know it. Let's call it a coin flip.

It only takes one bad recommendation to lose the trust of your audience. Without trust and transparency, it will be difficult to build a sustainable affiliate marketing business.

3. Involved affiliate marketing 

Lastly, we have involved affiliate marketing, which refers to recommending products and services that you have used and really believe in. Let's say it’s the opposite of the previous one.

In this type of marketing, you as an affiliate marketer have used your influence to promote products and services that your followers might need, instead of paying to get clicks on a banner ad. 

Yes, it's true that you need more time to build this kind of credibility with an audience, but it's necessary to build a sustainable business.

How do you generate money through affiliate marketing?

That's a wonderful question! Good thing you asked it, isn't it? Come on, affiliate marketing income encompasses a wide variety of money making methods.

On the one hand there are those who will make a few hundred dollars a month and others who make six figures a year. As you can imagine, the more followers you have, the more money you can make as an affiliate marketer.

However, we can sum it up in 5 different payment methods:

1. Pay per sale

In this case you have to generate a sale through your link to make a profit. This is one of the first methods used in affiliate marketing, and it was also quite popular at the time.

You may remember a few years ago when there were product review pages and when you clicked on them you were taken to an Amazon page. While there still are, there aren't as many as there were a few years ago, but this is a clear example of pay-per-sale affiliate marketing.

2. Pay per action

Let's say you're an influencer on Instagram and a company that wants to promote a new social network has contacted you. They are willing to pay you for each user who signs up through your link. 

There you have a clear example of pay-per-action affiliate marketing payment. It can be a newsletter subscription, a click (Google Adsense), contact request, form submission, among others.

3. Pay per install

Have you heard of a video game streaming platform called Twitch? While they are not the parents of this method, they are one of the platforms where you can see this practice.

Streamers receive requests for games and they promote video games. During a stream they invite all viewers to download the game with their link and for each installation they will receive a certain payment.

4. Pay per lead

Here you will receive a payment for each new user that registers with your link, it can be a new social network, messaging, application, sweepstakes, whatever you can imagine. It’s very common in companies looking for a new generation of customers.

This type of affiliate marketing offers are an excellent option for those who are starting in this market, and it’s quite easy to generate customers through the sale of products for a related audience.

5. Pay Per Click

We will be honest with you as we’ve always been, this is one of the most effective affiliate marketing methods, but at the same time it’s more difficult to achieve because it generates excellent earnings.

You don't have to do anything else but get users to click on the ad to visit the advertiser's website. Therefore, based on the number of clicks, you will receive payment.

Best Affiliate Programs in 2025

Some networks and programs remain leaders, while others are emerging thanks to AI tools and new digital niches.

Traditional giants like Amazon Associates and CJ Affiliate continue to dominate because of their vast product catalogs and trusted infrastructure, but in 2025 affiliates are increasingly moving toward SaaS programs (such as HubSpot, SEMrush, and ClickUp) that offer recurring commissions and higher average payouts. At the same time, the explosion of AI-driven tools (Jasper, Copy.ai, Canva Pro, Notion AI) has created a wave of new affiliate opportunities, as businesses and creators are eager to adopt automation solutions.

E-commerce platforms like Shopify and niche networks in fintech, crypto, and online education are also booming, with competitive rewards for affiliates who build trust and authority in these sectors.

In short, the best programs in 2025 are those that combine high demand, strong brand reputation, and sustainable commission models, making it easier for affiliates to build long-term, scalable income.

Affiliate Marketing Trends 2025–2026

Affiliate marketing has evolved a lot in the past few years, and in 2025 it looks very different from what it was even two or three years ago. New technologies, consumer habits, and regulatory frameworks are shaping how affiliates operate and where the biggest opportunities lie. Let’s break down the most important trends you should be paying attention to if you want to stay relevant in 2025 and beyond:

• AI-Driven Recommendations
  Artificial intelligence is now at the core of most successful affiliate strategies. Tools like Mutiny, Optimizely, and even ChatGPT plugins help affiliates personalize product offers, CTAs, and landing pages in real time. Instead of promoting the same static link to everyone, you can now adapt messages to match user behavior, demographics, or even browsing history. This personalization massively boosts conversions and is becoming the new standard.

• Rise of Micro-Influencers
  In the early days of affiliate marketing, big influencers with millions of followers dominated the space. But in 2025, it’s the micro-influencers—creators with smaller but loyal communities—who are leading in conversions. Their audiences trust them more, and brands are noticing that a recommendation from someone “real” can outperform a celebrity endorsement. If you’re just starting out, this trend is a huge opportunity, because you don’t need a massive following to succeed.

• Video & Short-Form Content
  The explosion of TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts has completely reshaped affiliate promotion. Short, authentic, and visually engaging content is now the number one driver of affiliate traffic. Product unboxings, quick tutorials, and side-by-side comparisons often outperform long blog posts, especially for younger audiences. Affiliates who master video storytelling will continue to dominate traffic acquisition in 2025 and 2026.

• Recurring SaaS Programs
  One of the biggest shifts has been the preference for recurring commission models, especially from SaaS companies. Instead of earning a one-time payout for a sale, affiliates can now generate monthly revenue for as long as the customer stays subscribed. This creates predictable income streams and is why SaaS affiliate programs (HubSpot, SEMrush, ClickUp, Jasper, etc.) are among the most attractive in 2025.

• Privacy & Regulation
  The affiliate world is also facing new challenges. With third-party cookies disappearing and stricter FTC and EU regulations, affiliates can no longer operate in the “gray areas” of the past. Full transparency, clear disclosure of affiliate links, and respecting GDPR guidelines are now non-negotiables. The winners will be those who build trust with their audiences rather than trying to game the system.

• Affiliate + Creator Economy
  Finally, affiliate marketing is merging with the broader creator economy. Many affiliates no longer rely solely on links; they diversify revenue by combining affiliate deals, brand sponsorships, paid communities, online courses, and exclusive content. This hybrid monetization model makes affiliates less vulnerable to algorithm changes or commission cuts, while also opening new ways to build long-term relationships with audiences.

How to get started in affiliate marketing

It may sound cliché, but in this market you can be your own boss, however, we are not going to tell you that it’s easy as other people would have you believe. In fact, it requires the same dedication as a business, but with effort and dedication you can achieve it by following these steps.

1. Choose the platform and methodology

The first thing you should do is choose the platform where you will create your content. You must keep in mind that each platform is best suited to a format, whether images, videos, audios (podcast), among others. 

Common platforms used by affiliate marketers are:

• Blogs.

• Instagram.

• Tik Tok.

• Facebook.

• Pinterest.

• Pay per click (PPC).

• YouTube

2. Decide your market and audience

This is one of the most difficult parts of the whole process because you have to ask yourself: what do you want to talk about? Ideally, you should choose a topic that you master, because if you know about video games, it doesn't seem like a good idea for you to focus on creating videos about sporting events, for example.

Remember that you should end up being an expert that generates diffusion to an area or topic, so it’s important that you have mastery over the subject so you can create the audience you are looking for more easily.

3. Find products of interest

When you’ve already had time creating content it becomes important that you start looking for methods that allow you to monetize your content. This is when affiliate marketing enters the whole process for the first time.

Because you must search and find products that are of interest to your audience, either from a company or person who is interested in the type of audience you have. Here you will also have to choose what type of affiliate marketing you will implement.

4. Choose your affiliate program

It’s time for you to choose your first affiliate marketing program, but for this you must consider the first point, that is, the platform on which you create content and how you create it, otherwise, affiliate marketing may not be so effective, but let's look at an example.

Let's say you are an influencer who gives voice to video games, ideally your advertiser should be related to the area, like a gaming computer, for example, not a fast food service.

Tips to succeed in affiliate marketing

To conclude, we would like to give you some tips to succeed in this world:

• Create an email list of interest.

• Create a tutorial on how to use the product and/or service.

• Consider related search terms.

• Offer some additional reward.

• Be honest with the products and/or services you promote.

But before you go let us ask you one last question: would you be willing to try affiliate marketing? Let us know in the comments.

FAQs About Affiliate Marketing

Is affiliate marketing still profitable in 2025?
Yes, but it requires building trust and using modern platforms (TikTok, YouTube, newsletters).

Do you need a website to start?
No. Many affiliates begin with social media or email lists, although websites give more long-term stability.

What’s the best niche for 2025–2026?
AI tools, e-learning, health/wellness, fintech, and eco-friendly products are among the fastest-growing.

How much can you earn?
Beginners might earn $100–$500/month. Advanced affiliates with established audiences can make $10K+ monthly.

Will AI replace affiliates?
Not exactly. AI helps affiliates personalize and scale, but audiences still demand authentic human recommendations.