When the pandemic hit, I lost both my waitressing and personal training jobs. I decided to take the loss as a sign to build the online fitness business I had always dreamed of.
I sold 90-day fitness programs, which included custom workout and meal plans, along with weekly coaching sessions via Zoom. I made about $1,000 to $2,000 a month and supplemented my income with my savings and Covid stimulus checks.
But I ended up working 10-hour days and getting burned out. So after a year of trying, I decided to part ways with my fitness business and find another way to make money.
For months, I had seen affiliate marketers — people who get paid commission by an online retailer for website traffic or sales — on my TikTok feed.
I was skeptical at first, but I had nothing to lose. I took an online course that convinced me that affiliate marketing could be a worthwhile business model, so I went all-in.
In July 2021, I used my TikTok and Instagram accounts to market affiliate products. I began posting multiple times a day, giving tips on how to start a side hustle, earn passive income, and grow your presence online. All the while, I promoted business and wealth-building tools and programs.
By October, I had amassed 43,000 followers on TikTok, my largest platform.
Since then, I’ve made an average of $8,600 per month in passive income (a.k.a. commission off my affiliate posts, including posts that are several months old and posts that sold recurring subscriptions).
If you told me a year ago that I could do what I love — creating helpful content right from my phone and work just two hours a day — I would have laughed.
I now have the freedom I’d always wanted. At 24 years old, I was able to move into a beautiful apartment in New York City, I get to travel frequently, and my life no longer revolves around work.
You don’t need to have a TikTok presence to build an affiliate marketing business. It can be through a website or some other social media platform.
Success won’t happen overnight; it takes a lot of time and effort at first. Here are my top five tips for getting started:
1. Turn to the experts for guidance
Look for people who have done what you’re trying to do and study their strategies. Reach out and ask if they’re willing to walk you through building your type of business. This will save you tons of time, energy and money.
There are also courses, one-on-one mentorship programs and online communities that can teach you …….
