Ask HN: Does Affiliate Marketing Works?

[PEOPLEgetoff]

Hi, I'm working full time programmer but I'm interested to pursue affiliate marketing as my side business. Does anyone here have the same experience? What are the pros and cons?

[sharemywin]

As far as I know there are two basic business models for that. Monetized content. Product reviews, email courses. etc.

coupon/deals search engine. Some people have worked out special deals with amazon sellers to promote limited promo codes. Honey is a chrome extension that finds coupon codes.

The problem with all of that is it's highly saturated.

So, you really need to think about what your going to create content about and how is it different.

Can also be used as more of an add on for your products.

[Gustomaximus]

Yes it can work amazingly well or be a total money dumpp. Its one of the harder areas to do well but when things align it has great costs and scale. It can be difficult to a large part 1) it doesn't suit all products and 2) affiliate is full of dodgy brothers that know the game well.

When you say you want to pursue affiliate marketing what are you picturing? Its a very broad enviroment.

[bwb]

Ya it works, but you need to bring value to the equation.

It is just like ads, only you are only paid for a successful transaction.

[cande]

Why? You may lose friends. I’d recommend getting equity and building

[borplk]

I think you are mixing up affiliate marketing with MLM? (multi-level marketing) Not sure why they'd lose friends over affiliate marketing if they promoting products/services to strangers on the internet with some site/app/product.

[pknerd]

I use my tech blog to promote affiliate products. It works well