5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Actually Starting My Affiliate Marketing Journey (For Real This Time)
Starting an affiliate marketing business feels a bit like deciding to reorganize your pantry—it sounds simple enough, but you quickly find yourself knee-deep in expired spices and wondering why you even started. I’ve been there. I’ve tried and failed more times than I care to admit. Thanks, ADHD. But after a lot of shiny object syndrome and late-night googling, I finally got serious.
Here’s what I wish someone had told me before I dove in for real. If you’re just starting out, hopefully, this saves you some tears—and maybe even a few broken mugs (don’t ask).
1. A Plan Beats Motivation Every Time
Motivation is like my 9-year-old when he gets a new LEGO set—intense, but fleeting. What really keeps you going is a plan. I used to wing it, thinking my passion alone would get me to the finish line. Spoiler alert: it didn’t.
I had to sit down (yes, with snacks) and decide:
What’s my goal?
Who am I talking to?
What’s my strategy to actually reach them?
For someone with ADHD, having a plan is like having a GPS that keeps rerouting you when you inevitably take a wrong turn. It’s not perfect, but it gets you back on track.
2. Pick a Niche That Doesn’t Bore You to Tears
I thought the secret sauce was finding the most profitable niche. Turns out, working on something you don’t care about feels like dragging a 50-pound backpack uphill. If you love what you’re talking about, it shows.
When I picked topics I was genuinely interested in, everything clicked. Creating content didn’t feel like pulling teeth, and my audience? They could tell I actually cared. ADHD bonus: passion keeps me engaged when my brain wants to wander.
3. Money Takes Time, and That’s Okay
I used to think affiliate marketing was the fast track to riches. Ha! Reality check: it’s more like planting a garden. You water it, weed it, and wait. And wait.
It took me ages to accept that success isn’t instant, and that’s where routines saved me. Small, consistent actions kept me moving forward, even when the ADHD part of my brain wanted to scrap it all and start a new project (again).
4. You’re Never Done Learning
Affiliate marketing changes faster than my daughter changes outfits. New tools, new algorithms, new trends—it’s a lot. But staying curious has been my secret weapon.
At first, I hated the constant updates. But then I realized: adaptability is my ADHD superpower. Trying new strategies and tweaking what wasn’t working became less scary and more like solving a puzzle.
5. Relationships Are Everything
When I started, I was so focused on sales that I forgot people were, well, people. It wasn’t until I shifted my focus to building trust that things started to click.
People don’t buy because of flashy ads—they buy because they trust you. And honestly? Making real connections feels way more rewarding than chasing sales numbers. Plus, as someone who loves a good chat, building relationships made the work way more fun.
If you’re thinking about jumping into affiliate marketing, know this: it’s not about being perfect or having it all figured out from the start. It’s about showing up, learning as you go, and giving yourself grace on the hard days.
And if you’re like me—balancing life, ADHD, and the occasional existential crisis—you’ve got this. Just don’t forget snacks. 🍎
