a common path to passive income
What Is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is the process of earning a commission by promoting other people’s (or companies’) products.
Simply put, you recommend a product or service to your audience. If they buy based on your recommendation, the product owner pays you a cut of what they earned. When done ethically—meaning you only recommend tools you truly believe will help your audience—affiliate marketing is a great way to start generating an income for your business. It's how Pat Flynn got started with SPI—and it can be a great place for you to start, too.
A lot of people who give advice on affiliate marketing gloss over the ethics, but we believe strongly that being open and honest with your audience is the key to long-term success. The resources you'll find on this page are dedicated to helping you create a sustainable, ethical affiliate marketing program for your business.
On this page, you'll find:
- A detailed guide to get you started
- Courses designed to help you go deeper
- Our best free articles and tutorials on affiliate marketing
- Our favorite tool for affiliate marketers
- Podcast interviews with successful affiliate marketers
Free step by step advice
Our essential guide to affiliate marketing
Courses and Workshops
Courses to guide you through the process
1-2-3 Affiliate Marketing
Click and Convert Workshop
Learn to capture attention, increase engagement, and grow your business with this workshop from Pat Flynn and guest expert Darrell Vesterfelt.
Pricing for Profit Workshop
A pro workshop to help you learn and apply smart pricing methods to optimize your profit and grow a healthy and sustainable business.
Traffic Booster Workshop
Learn to increase your exposure and grow your business without paying for ads with this 90-minute workshop from Pat Flynn. Learn strategies you can immediately put into action.
Articles
Tutorials and Case Studies
How Creators Make Consistent Income with PAID Sponsorships
The proven 8-step sponsorship wheel that will help you land consistent, well-paying brand deals allowing you to finally go full-time with your creator business.
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Announcing A Great Affiliate Marketing Opportunity
Today I'm announcing a great affiliate marketing opportunity! Join the brand new Smart Podcast Player affiliate program and start earning affiliate income!
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3 Types of Affiliate Marketing Explained—and The One I Profit From—UPDATED!
Affiliate marketing is a large part of the Smart Passive Income business. I'm here to share the three types of affiliate marketing that have worked for me the best.
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The 2 Quickest Ways to Generate an Income Online—UPDATED!
Why reframing “how do I make fast money online?” can help you better understand what it truly means to generate an income online, and how to do so quickly.
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A Letter to All Current and Future Affiliate Marketers
It's time to rewrite the story on affiliate marketing. That's why I'm launching my brand new course, 1•2•3 Affiliate Marketing. Sign up for the waitlist today!
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A Beginner's Guide to Predictable Marketing Funnels
In this guest post, Greg Hickman gives us an in-depth beginner's guide to predictable marketing funnels. Learn how to set up a reliable system for growth.
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The Truth about Scarcity Online
How you can use scarcity to incentivize your audience to take action—whether you want them to buy a product, or make a choice on your website, and more.
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Make Affiliate Marketing Part of Your Success
Choose the Right Products and Services
The success of your affiliate marketing depends on choosing the right products for your audience. The Affiliate Marketing Cheat Sheet gives you three exercises to help you find the products best aligned with the needs of your audience.
Access SPI's free business toolkit library
In addition to the Affiliate Marketing Cheat Sheet, you'll also get access to the free resource library, packed with other cheat sheets, videos, and challenges to help you grow your business.
Podcasts
Affiliate marketing podcast episodes
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Smart Passive Income Podcast with Pat Flynn
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AskPat 2.0
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Smart Passive Income Podcast with Pat Flynn
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AskPat 2.0
Smart Passive Income Podcast with Pat Flynn
Weekly interviews, strategy, and advice for building your online business the smart way.
Featured Episodes:
November 22, 2017SPI 293: My Top Performing Affiliate Marketing Products, and Why They Performed So Well
November 8, 2017SPI 291: A Blueprint for a Successful Short-Term JV (Joint Venture) Affiliate Campaign
November 1, 2017SPI 290: Affiliate Marketing: An Insider Look at My Most Successful Long-Term Campaigns
December 28, 2011SPI 030: Pat's Top 30 Tips for Successful Affiliate Marketing
AskPat 2.0
A weekly coaching call on online business, blogging, marketing, and lifestyle design.
Featured Episodes:
February 7, 2019AP 1054: How Do I Diversify My Affiliate Income in My Business?
July 26, 2018AP 1026: How Can I Monetize My Hobby Website? Can It Make Money?
July 12, 2017AP 0907: How Do I Handle Negativity Towards Affiliate Marketing?
December 10, 2015AP 0493: Should I Bother with Low Value Affiliates?
Recommended Tool
ConvertKit
ConvertKit makes communicating with your audience easier, helping you to manage your email list, set up autoresponders, and create automations so easy and user-friendly—that way you can make sure you’re sending the right email to the right person at the right time. It’s the perfect blend of power and simplicity, and it's the best tool for promoting products to your audience.
Get ConvertKit
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