If you typed “how to start a blog or affiliate marketing to make money” into Google, this probably isn’t your first time searching.
Let’s cut through the noise.
You’ve asked YouTube. You’ve asked Reddit. You’ve read endless blog posts hoping one of them will give you the secret formula.
But here’s the truth you don’t want to hear: your problem isn’t a lack of information.
It’s a lack of action.
The problem isn’t “what’s the best niche,” or “what platform should I use,” or “how do I make money with links.”
The problem is simple… You haven’t done sh*t yet.
You’re still in research mode. Still watching from the sidelines. Still waiting for “the right time.”
That’s why you’re stuck.
The way forward isn’t another article, another course, or another YouTube rabbit hole. The way forward is simple:
Sit your ass down and start.
Grab your phone. Grab your laptop. Write something. Post something. Record something.
Because clarity doesn’t come before action—it comes after.
And the sooner you start, the sooner you actually begin figuring this out.
Why Most Beginners Stay Broke
Now, let’s dig deeper.
Why do so many beginners say they want to blog or do affiliate marketing—but never get anywhere?
It comes down to false beliefs, shiny-object chasing, and straight-up fear.
1. They Think They Need Everything Perfect Before Starting
Most beginners waste months obsessing over the “perfect niche,” “perfect domain name,” or “perfect first post.”
They’re waiting until they feel ready. But here’s the truth: you’ll never feel ready.
Perfection is just procrastination in disguise.
2. They Believe Money Comes Fast with Affiliate Links
A beginner mistake…
obsessing over affiliate links before building an audience. They ask: “How much can I make per click?”
or “What’s the highest-paying affiliate program?” without realizing that no one cares about their links yet.
You can’t cash out what you haven’t earned. You can’t harvest seeds you never planted.
3. They Fall for Social Media Myths
Beginners think, “If I just start a blog, people will find me.” Wrong.
Nobody cares about your blog at first.
Traffic doesn’t magically appear because you hit publish.
They also believe they need to be on every platform
- TikTok
- YouTube
posting everywhere at once. That’s a fast track to burnout.
4. They Underestimate Consistency
Success in blogging and affiliate marketing isn’t about doing something once.
It’s about showing up daily, even when it feels pointless, even when no one’s watching.
Most people quit after two weeks of silence.
The winners? They post through the crickets until the crickets turn into a crowd.
The Real Way to Start (and Stick With It)
So, how do you actually start blogging or affiliate marketing in a way that leads to money, not just wasted hours?
Here’s the straight answer.
1. Start With What You Have—Today
You don’t need a website on day one. You don’t need fancy tools or expensive hosting.
If you’ve got a phone, you’ve got enough to:
- Post on Medium
- Write a Quora answer
- Drop insights on LinkedIn
- Write a Twitter/X thread
- Shoot a TikTok video
- Start an Instagram reel
Stop telling yourself you need “more research.” You figure it out while you do it.
2. Choose an Evergreen Niche
Evergreen = it never goes out of style. People will always spend money on:
- Health
- Wealth
- Relationships
- Self-improvement
- Spirituality
But don’t stop at the broad category. Niche down.
Not just “health”—but “home workouts for busy parents.”
Not just “wealth”—but “freelancing tips for college students.”
Make your niche specific enough to stand out but wide enough to have demand.
don’t spend months deciding. Just pick something and go.
3. Forget Monetization—for Now
Your first job isn’t to make money. It’s to build trust.
People click links because they trust the person behind them. And trust comes from consistency, not a one-time post.
Think about it. You wouldn’t buy from a stranger who popped up once.
But if you’ve been following someone’s posts for months, you’d listen to their recommendations.
So, don’t chase the money. Chase attention. The money follows attention.
4. Build on Platforms with Traffic First
Starting a blog with zero audience is like throwing a party in the desert.
Go where the people already are.
That means Quora, Medium, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube.
Pick one platform. Master it. Post daily. Once you’ve built trust and attention, then you funnel people into your own blog, newsletter, or affiliate offers.
This is faster, smarter, and how most creators build momentum today.
5. Prioritize Habit Over Strategy
Forget “content calendars” and “monetization roadmaps.”
The most powerful thing you can do? Build the habit of creating daily.
Write. Post. Record. Share.
Your first posts will suck. You’ll cringe at your early videos. You’ll feel awkward.
That’s the price of learning. Pay it now, or pay with regret later.
6. Don’t Wait for Confidence
Confidence isn’t a prerequisite. It’s a result.
You gain confidence by doing the scary thing, not before.
So write your first post even if it’s terrible. Film your first video, even if you hate how you sound. Publish even when no one’s watching.
That’s how you grow. That’s how you separate yourself from the endless “researchers” who never move.
How This Turns Into Money
At this point, you might be thinking:
“Okay, I get it. Start now. Be consistent. But how does this actually make money?”
Here’s the transformation bridge.
- You post daily → you attract attention.
- Attention builds trust → people start following you.
- Trust turns into influence → people listen when you recommend products.
- Influence + affiliate products = money.
That’s the pipeline. Attention → Trust → Sales.
The beauty? You don’t need to invent a product. You promote ones that already exist.
- Amazon
- ClickBank
- Software. Courses
- Books
- Fitness gear
- and much, much more…
Anything tied to your niche.
Affiliate marketing is simple.
It just requires patience. You can’t plant seeds and harvest the same day.
But if you show up, water them, and keep going? The harvest comes.
People Who Started Small and Won
Still skeptical? Let’s talk about proof.
- Medium writers started with simple posts. A few months later, they’re earning from affiliate links and platform bonuses.
- YouTubers posted shaky videos from their phones. Now they run full-time businesses.
- Quora writers (like me on anonymous accounts) answered questions for free. Today, those answers funnel readers into blogs and affiliate offers.
- Twitter/X creators wrote threads daily. Within a year, they built newsletters, sold products, and promoted affiliates profitably.
The common thread? They didn’t wait. They started messily. They stayed consistent.
And that’s why they won.
Take Action Now
If you’ve read this far, you’re at a fork in the road.
You can close this page and keep Googling, keep waiting, keep making excuses.
Or—you can start today. With whatever you have on whatever platform feels easiest.
Write one post. Film one video. Share one thought.
That single action is worth more than every blog post you’ve ever read.
Stop thinking. Start moving.
Because the only way you lose in blogging or affiliate marketing is if you never start.
Actionable Takeaways
- Start today. Don’t wait for confidence or perfection.
- Pick one evergreen niche. Health, wealth, relationships, self-improvement, spirituality.
- Post daily on one platform. Build attention before worrying about your own blog.
- Forget money at first. Build trust, then monetize.
- Stay consistent. Your first posts will suck. Do them anyway.
Remember: Act fast, fix later.