Do I need a website to start affiliate marketing?

Not always. Some programs accept social media accounts, newsletters or video channels. Each program sets its own rules about allowed channels, so check the terms before you apply.

Does it cost money to start?

Many programs are free to join. You may still pay for a domain, hosting, tools or ads if you choose to use them.

Do I have to say that I earn a commission?

In the United States, the FTC expects a clear and conspicuous disclosure of material connections, including affiliate commissions. Many programs also require it in their terms.

How long until my first commission?

It depends on your audience, your content and the program, so no timeline can be promised. Programs may also hold commissions for a period before paying them.

Basics

How Do You Start Affiliate Marketing? A Simple Beginner's Guide

Affindly editorial team · Published 10/14/2026 · 5 min read

Affiliate marketing means you recommend a company's product through a personal tracking link. When someone uses your link and completes the action the company defines, such as a purchase or a sign-up, the company pays you a commission according to its program terms.

Think of telling a friend about a coffee machine you like. If your friend buys it through your link, the company may pay you a commission under its program terms. That is the idea in a nutshell.

This guide shows how it works and how to start. It makes no income promises: results depend on your audience, your niche and the program's rules.

How does affiliate marketing work?

Every affiliate sale usually involves three parties.

The merchant (also called advertiser) sells the product and sets the commission and the rules.
The affiliate (you) recommends the product to an audience.
The customer clicks your link and buys or signs up.

Many merchants run their program through an affiliate network. A network handles links, tracking and payouts for many merchants in one place. Examples are Impact and ClickBank.

Other merchants run their own program directly, as Amazon does with Amazon Associates.

Here is the key point for beginners. The merchant, not you, controls the product, the price, the checkout and the customer service. Your job is to help the right people find the right offer and to describe it honestly.

How do affiliates get paid?

Programs pay in different ways, and the program terms state which model applies.

Model	You are paid when
Pay per sale	A visitor buys, usually a percentage of the order or a fixed amount
Pay per lead	A visitor completes a form or starts a free trial
Recurring	A visitor subscribes and you earn on renewals, if the program allows it
Pay per click	A visitor clicks, rarely offered

What are cookies and attribution?

Attribution is how a program decides that a sale came from your link.

Your tracking link carries your affiliate ID. When a visitor clicks it, the program usually stores a cookie or a similar identifier. If the visitor completes the action within the program's attribution window, the sale is credited to you.

The length of that window and the rule for competing clicks differ by program. Read them in the terms before you join.

Browser privacy settings and app switching can also affect tracking. That is one reason reported numbers do not always match what you expect.

Because terms vary so much, two programs in the same niche can behave very differently. Treat the terms as part of the product you are recommending.

What are the steps to start affiliate marketing?

You can get going in six steps.

Choose a niche and a channel. Pick a topic you can write or talk about with real knowledge. Then pick a place to publish: a website, a social account, a newsletter or a video channel.
Choose programs that fit. Match programs to what your audience already looks for. Browse the affiliate program directory or start with our list of programs for beginners.
Apply and read the terms. Approval can depend on your channel, content and traffic sources.
Create your links. Use only the link formats the program provides. Altered links may not track.
Disclose the relationship. Tell your audience clearly that you may earn a commission. See our guide to affiliate disclosure and the FTC.
Track and adjust. Check clicks, conversions and payouts in the program dashboard. Note which content leads to action.

Do you need to disclose affiliate links?

In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expects you to disclose a material connection, such as a commission, clearly and conspicuously.

The FTC advises that "the closer the disclosure is to your recommendation, the better." It also says a single disclosure on a home page is not sufficient.

Programs can add their own wording rules on top of this. This is general information, not legal advice.

How do you choose a program?

Compare the facts that the program terms state, and do not rely on a headline rate alone. Here is a quick checklist:

Commission model and rate, and which products or actions qualify.
Attribution window and how competing clicks are handled.
Payout threshold, payment methods and payment schedule.
Allowed traffic sources and channels, and any restricted methods.
Rules on promotion wording, brand terms and paid ads.
Whether the program runs through a network or directly.

Affindly lists these details on each program page. Our methodology explains where the data comes from and how we check it.

Always confirm current terms on the program's own site before you join.

Sources

Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers, Federal Trade Commission (retrieved 10/14/2026)
The FTC's Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking, Federal Trade Commission (retrieved 10/14/2026)
16 CFR Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, eCFR (retrieved 10/14/2026)