Among the myriad of options, affiliate marketing has emerged as a powerful and accessible revenue stream for content creators, bloggers, publishers,… Affiliate marketing offers the flexibility to work from anywhere, the potential for passive income, and the opportunity to monetize your passion. This comprehensive guide providing a how to affiliate marketing and realistic roadmap from starting with no money to scaling your online income
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is one of the most popular ways to make money online. In simple terms, affiliate marketing is a process where you, as an affiliate, earn a commission for promoting another company’s products or services when someone makes a purchase (or completes an action)) through that link. It’s a win-win situation: businesses get more sales, and you get rewarded for your marketing efforts.
Unlike traditional business models, you don’t need to:
- Create your own product
- Handle inventory or shipping
- Provide customer support
All you need to do is connect the right product with the right audience.
Why so many people choose Affiliate Marketing?
Whether you’re a blogger, a TikTok creator, a stay-at-home parent with a thriving Facebook group, or just someone looking for a sustainable online income, affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to make money online in the Philippines.
- Low barrier to entry: You don’t need capital to create your own product.
- Scalable: Once your system is set up, you can grow your income without extra effort.
- Flexible lifestyle: Work from anywhere, anytime.
- Passive income potential: Content you create today can generate sales for years and the most important: you can start affiliate marketing with no money.
Imagine you’re a fan of a particular local skincare brand. You write a blog post about your skincare routine and include your unique affiliate link to the products you use. When your readers click that link and buy the products, you earn a commission. That’s affiliate marketing in action.
Types of Affiliate Programs
Not all affiliate programs are the same. Understanding the different models will help you choose the best fit for your goals.
- CPS (Cost per Sale): You earn a percentage of each sale. Common for e-commerce products.
- CPA (Cost per Action): You get paid when someone signs up, downloads an app, or completes a specific action.
- CPL (Cost per Lead): You earn for generating leads, like email signups or free trial users.
- Revenue Share: You continuously earn a percentage of recurring subscriptions (popular in SaaS).
A Step-by-Step guide: How to affiliate marketing for beginners
So, you’re asking, “how do I start affiliate marketing as a beginner?” It can seem complex, but by breaking it down into actionable steps, you can build a solid foundation for success. This 6-step blueprint is your roadmap from idea to income.
Step 1: Choose your niches
The foundation of a successful affiliate marketing venture is choosing a niche you’re passionate and knowledgeable about. This could be anything from technology and gaming to fashion, beauty, travel, or personal finance. Selecting a niche you genuinely enjoy will make content creation more authentic and sustainable in the long run.
Tips how to choose RIGHT NICHE? This is a combination of 3 factors:
- Profitable (high demand products with affiliate programs)
- Evergreen (health, finance, relationships, education, travel, tech)
- Aligned with your passion (you’ll create lots of content around it).
Suggestion popular niches in the Philippines:
- Local & International Travel: Budget travel, staycations, travel gear.
- Personal Finance: Digital banks (GCash, Maya), credit cards, beginner investing.
- Skincare & Beauty: “Glass skin” routines, local brand reviews, “morena” – focused makeup.
- Home & Living: “Team Puti” or “Team Kahoy” aesthetics, Shopee/Lazada home finds.
See more: 15 Best TikTok Niches 2025 for Affiliate and Viral Videos
Step 2: Selecting a Platform
Once you have your niche, decide on the platform where you’ll build your audience. Popular options include:
- Blogs/Websites: The best option for long-term, sustainable traffic through SEO. Ideal for detailed reviews, tutorials, and comparison articles.
- YouTube: The go-to for in-depth video reviews, unboxings, and tutorials. It allows you to build a strong, personal connection with your audience.
- TikTok and Instagram: Perfect for visual niches like fashion, beauty, food, and travel. Short-form videos, lifestyle-integrated promotions and engaging visuals are key.
- Facebook Pages/Groups: Effective for building a community around your niche.
| Platform | Pros | Cons | Best For… |
| Blog/Website | Full ownership, best for SEO, long-term asset. | Slower to get traffic, requires some technical skill. | In-depth reviews, tutorials, comparisons. |
| TikTok | Massive organic reach, high engagement, perfect for visual products. | Fast-paced trends, content has a short lifespan. | Quick product demos, “budol finds,” fashion. |
| YouTube | Builds deep trust, high commission potential, evergreen content. | High effort to create videos, very competitive. | Detailed reviews, unboxings, tutorials. |
| Facebook Page/Group | Excellent for community building, easy to share links. | Declining organic reach, algorithm can be tricky. | Niche communities (e.g., parenting, gardening). |
Step 3: Sign up for affiliate networks and programs
After establishing your platform, the next step is to join affiliate programs. You can either apply directly to individual companies or join an affiliate network that connects you with numerous brands.
E-commerce Platforms: Shopee Affiliate Program and Lazada Affiliate Program are popular in the Phillipines. Their products are diverse, and the trust is already built-in, making conversions easier for you. Discover more about fee, primary audience, marketing & promotions,… for each e-commerce site in How to succeed in Ecommerce.
Affiliate Networks: An affiliate network is a hub that connects you with hundreds of brands. For beginners in the Philippines, joining a network is often more convenient. Ecomobi is a top-tier choice for Filipino social media creators and influencers, offering high commissions and dedicated support.
Direct Programs: Brands like Klook, Trip.com or Traveloka (travel), and other international brands also have programs accessible from the Philippines. Discover: Top 5 Best Affiliate Programs in the Philippines worth joining for Creators and 12+ highest paying travel affiliate programs in 2025 (Up to 75% Comm).
Step 4: Creating content that converts
Your content’s job is to help the user solve a problem.
- “Best of” Lists: “The 7 Best Power Banks on Shopee for Under ₱1,000”
- Product Reviews: A deep, honest review of a single product, with photos/videos.
- Tutorials: “How to Set Up Your First Smart Home with these Lazada Gadgets”
- Comparison Posts: “Niacinamide vs. Vitamin C: Which is Best for Your Skin?” (linking to products for both).
Read more:
Step 5: Driving traffic to your content
- For Bloggers (SEO): Learn the basics of keyword research. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find what Filipinos are searching for and create content that answers their questions.
- For Social Media Creators: Master the algorithm. Use trending audio on TikTok, relevant hashtags on Instagram, and create shareable content that encourages engagement.
Step 6: Scaling your affiliate income
Once you have a steady stream of income, you can scale by:
- Expanding to a second platform (e.g., from TikTok to a blog).
- Negotiating higher commission rates.
- Creating your own digital product.
How much can you really earn? A realistic look
Let’s be clear: affiliate marketing is not a get-rich-quick scheme.
- Beginner (Months 1 – 6): Expect to earn anywhere from ₱1,000 – ₱10,000 per month. Your focus should be on learning and consistent content creation, not the income.
- Intermediate (Months 6 – 18): As your traffic and audience grow, ₱15,000 – ₱50,000 per month is a realistic target for a dedicated affiliate marketer.
- Advanced (18+ months): As the case studies show, top-tier affiliates in the Philippines can earn well over ₱100,000 per month. This requires authority, a large audience, and a well-optimized system.
Common Challenges & Solutions for Beginners
| Challenge | Solution |
| Building an Audience | Consistently create high-quality, valuable content that resonates with your target audience. Engage with your followers on social media and in comment sections to build a loyal community. |
| Creating engaging content that converts | Focus on your passion and expertise. Your genuine enthusiasm will shine through and build trust. Promote products you genuinely use and love for authenticity. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different content formats like videos, tutorials, and reviews to see what performs best. (In the case study below, you’ll learn how a TikTok content creator overcame her fears to start livestreaming on TikTok, then received engagement rates with affiliate revenue many times higher than posting videos) |
| Overcoming technical hurdles | Take the time to familiarize yourself with the tools and features of your chosen affiliate platform. Utilize the platform’s analytics to understand what content and products your audience prefers, allowing you to make data-driven decisions. |
| Slow initial earnings | Understand that affiliate marketing is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Be patient and consistent with your content creation and promotion. Focus on building a strong foundation and a loyal following, and your earnings will grow over time. |
Case Studies: Real affiliate income examples
Here are summaries of real-world examples showing what’s possible with a focused strategy and the right partnerships.
Case 1: Travel affiliate earning $50,000/Month
A publisher, previously impacted by the pandemic’s effect on the tourism industry, started affiliate marketing with no experience and initially saw zero revenue. By joining travel affiliate program with Ecomobi, they gained 1:1 support and access to high commission campaigns like Trip.com. Then, generated over $1 million in revenue and a personal commission of over $50,000 in a single month, just four months after starting. Read detail: How I earn $50,000+/month from Travel Affiliate marketing programs (Case Study)
Case 2: Creator Tiktok niche Mom&Beauty earn $1000/Month
G*** (name changed for privacy) – a TikTok channel focusing on Beauty & Mommy content joining Ecomobi’s TikTok Affiliate Partner program. The result: boosting her content’s trust and increasing conversion rates from 2% to over 5%. This strategic partnership transformed her few hundred dollars a month income into a staggering $1,000 per month.
Case 3: The power of Livestreaming for new affiliates
Success isn’t limited to massive accounts. By using platform features TikTok LIVE, a new creator in Tiktok with just 1000 follower have earned IDR 7 – 8 million per month ($700 – $800) per month and even she earned an incredible IDR 800,000 in a single day from livestreaming alone. >>> Lesson: You don’t need millions of followers. What matters is targeting the right audience with valuable content.
Is the Affiliate market saturated?
With so many creators, is the affiliate market, especially on TikTok, saturated? No. The market is highly competitive, but not saturated.
The market is expanding every day as more Filipinos shop online and new products launch. The opportunity for newcomers is immense, but the strategy has changed. Success is no longer about being first; it’s about being different and authentic. New creators can thrive by:
- Focusing on a hyper-specific niche
- Building a genuine, trusting community
- Using their unique voice and authenticity.
As the success story above shows, this TikTok creator once struggled to earn through affiliate marketing by simply attaching links to her videos. But everything changed when she switched to livestreaming Tiktok with Ecomobi’s support. In just a single TikTok livestream, she was able to generate commissions worth several hundred dollars – a breakthrough that highlights the true power of livestream affiliate marketing
FAQs about how to affiliate marketing
How do I start affiliate marketing as a beginner?
Start by choosing a specific niche you are passionate about. Create a platform (like a free blog or a social media page) and start publishing helpful content. Then, join beginner-friendly affiliate programs like Shopee, Lazada, or a network like Ecomobi, and integrate your unique affiliate links into your content.
How to start affiliate marketing with no money?
Absolutely. You can start affiliate marketing with no money by using free platforms like social media and free blogging sites. The key is to create valuable content that attracts an audience organically.
Can you make $10,000 a month with affiliate marketing?
Making $10,000 a month is a goal achieved by top-tier affiliate marketers globally. In the Philippines, this would be considered an elite level of income, requiring a highly authoritative brand, a massive audience, and a sophisticated business strategy.
Can you make $100 a day with affiliate marketing?
Making $100 a day (approximately ₱5,800) is a challenging but achievable goal for established affiliate marketers in the Philippines. It typically requires a platform with significant traffic and an engaged audience. Beginners should focus on reaching their first ₱100, then ₱1,000, and scale from there.
Does affiliate marketing really pay?
Affiliate marketing is one of the most powerful ways to earn money online. Whether you’re a beginner looking to make your first $100 or an experienced marketer aiming for $1,000/month, the opportunities are endless.
Ready to take the first step? Join the Ecomobi Affiliate Network today and get access to exclusive campaigns, powerful tools, and the support you need to turn your passion into profit!
Contact us, Ecomobi:
– Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/ecomobi.ssp
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecomobi_ssp
– Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ecomobipassiovietnam
– Email: info@ecomobi.com
