As 2026 approaches, I continue to receive the same query on a daily basis: “Is affiliate marketing still a thing, or is 2023 the cutoff point?” The cutoff point is nonexistent. In fact, the last few years have been some of the easiest points for breaks in this industry, and I think the next few years will be some of the best years on record for breaks in this industry. Allow me to explain, as plainly as possible, without hype or talk of being some lucrative, get-rich-quick scheme or some other form of marketing nonsense.
The truth is, affiliate marketing is very simple.
It’s not rocket science. A company develops a brand and a product or service. The company then tells an individual like you or me, “You get paid a slice of the profits if you help us get a customer and make a sale.” That’s the entire system.
The official term is a marketing arrangement with a seller and a promoter. You receive a marketing tracking link to a seller. If someone clicks and purchases a product (or even just signs up for a free trial), a few weeks later money is deposited to you. You don’t need to manage inventory, deal with customer support, or handle returns.
The payment you receive is different based on what you are selling. An example of what could sell digitally is something like courses, subscriptions, or even downloadable templates. With physical products from larger retailers, the payment is a much smaller percentage. ZandaX has a business training and IT course from which you get 50% offered by ZandaX training. That percentage is still good and more than the average. Moreover, the courses are of great quality with high student finishes.
Why this moment feels so magical
When it comes to advertising, the public seems to be more allergic than ever to the form. Display advertising, flyers, and promotional posts have become blander and more ignored than ever. What we still enjoy, however, are authentic reviews. There are still people who take the time to listen to someone read out the entire script of a twenty-minute business marketing video, and people will stop to read a long and probably out-of-touch article comparing 5 different ways to become more skillful at learning to avoid learning.
The last twelve months have seen search engines rewarding experiential content at the expense of low-value, low-effort content. This shift has reopened the playing field to everyday creators and writers who actually use and engage at a level well above the average.
The big players also unveiled a series of new marketing features that make it ridiculously easy to buy things. Users can watch a very short video on their smartphone, tap a button, and the purchase goes through. This feature has sponsored a rocket ship bargain chain that helps new face-to-face affiliates.
What is working in the real world?
What is working in the real world? Find a small slice of the internet that you are already familiar with or that is already a passion of yours. To get the best understanding of a niche, the niche must be small. Covering something general like “fitness” or “personal finance” is usually not the best. Maybe something like “strength training for busy parents” or “simple, easy budgeting for freelancers” or “project management apps for creative teams” would be ideal. Smaller niches typically have more grateful readers with less competition.
You should only promote products you’ve done research on or used for yourself. An audience can quickly detect inauthenticity and scams. It isn’t right to ask for the reader’s money if you wouldn’t spend yours on the service.
You can be completely transparent about earning a commission. For example, “Quick note: I’ll earn a small commission if you buy something with my affiliate link, and it helps keep the lights on around here.” Most people appreciate honesty, and it usually increases clicks.
The best content truly offers value beyond potential clicks and affiliate sales. The best content provides value beyond financial gain. Still useful as a standalone piece. Create material that offers value even if all affiliate links disappeared tomorrow. Content that offers detailed comparisons, step-by-step instructions, and realizations that offer a unique perspective not commonly shared. This is the content people bookmark, share with others, and revisit.
The traps that continue to catch people out.
Overextending themselves. Trying to be on every platform at once instead of mastering one or two. Pick your home. A blog, YouTube, TikTok, email, and get good at that one platform first.
Chasing trends. The moment you jump on a trending topic, the best opportunities in that topic are gone.
Being shy about affiliate links. You are not being polite. You are being ineffective.
Putting all your eggs in one social media basket. Algorithms are unpredictable. One day you’re reaching a thousand people. The next, you’re yelling into a void.
In the end, all of this revolves largely around trust. Guard it like the precious thing it is.
Common inquiries I receive:
Q: Is it possible for complete newcomers to earn well in 2026?
A: Absolutely. The lowest barriers to entry are in 2026. The focus should be on being of service to the market.
Q: Is it a necessity to create a traditional blog, or can I rely solely on videos?
A: Short-form videos are excellent on their own. However, it is still helpful to have a blog or an email list because it is an asset that can generate revenue over time, even if you’re not posting actively. Most persistent bloggers eventually create a mixture of both.
Q: Is it still profitable to promote general retailers? Should I focus on niche or specialist programs?
A: Both approaches are valid. General retailers are easier to promote for beginners, while niche programs often have a better payout on each sale. Many successful marketers combine both approaches to get the best results.
Q: How can I achieve results quickly?
A: Identify a problem that you can solve. Then, create the best asset you can: it can be a guide, video, or even a simple walkthrough. If you have an affiliate solution, add it for the ones you honestly recommend. Identify the channels where your ideal audience can be found and promote it to them. Keep doing it, and then even more momentum starts building on its own.
Q: Are there still programs worth getting excited about?
A: Absolutely. ZandaX is still standing out and still is because of the real value the courses offer and the commission structure. Also, certain email marketing tools, course platforms, and even some project management software that pay month over month will always be a favorite.
Before closing the tab, hear this last thought:
the ones quietly doing the best with affiliate marketing; it is never the ones with the most extravagant funnels or the largest ad spending. It is the ones that, rather than being flashy, decided that being helpful at all is a great business model and stayed around enough for the compound effect.
If 2026 is the year for you, it has never been more welcoming. The internet is still absolutely enormous, people have problems they’ll pay to solve, and they still trust real people way more than they trust ads.
All that is left to do is pick your little corner of the internet, start sharing what you know, and let it grow at its own pace.
The doors open. We will see you on the inside screen.