As per my previous posts, affiliate marketing promises an easy way to earn passive income by promoting products you love (or at least recommend). You’ve probably seen countless tutorials claiming you can make thousands per month with minimal effort. But is it really that simple?
The Overwhelming Amount of Advice Out There
Here are some examples of the sheer volume of content available:
It’s easy to get inspired (and overwhelmed!).
My First Pick
This is the first tutorial I came across when I set out to write this blog post. It does actually suggest it’s about affiliate marketing through Pinterest, but most of the video was actually about using tools like Hostinger’s AI website builder, and quickly launching a review blog.
The video made it sound straightforward: pick a niche with plenty of products, build a site fast, add content, and start earning commissions.
Choosing a Niche
My existing side hustle brand wasn’t ideal—there aren’t many direct products to promote. Instead, I chose something I’m genuinely passionate about: cleaning and organising home hacks.
This niche has endless potential—cleaning tools, storage solutions, eco-friendly products, and more. Perfect for affiliate programs like Amazon Associates.
The Website Building Journey
Following the advice, I needed to set up a new site. The tutorial recommended Hostinger for its AI-powered builder that generates content and designs quickly.
Here’s a look at Hostinger’s AI website builder interface in action:
I checked Bluehost first, but it didn’t offer the same quick AI-generated site with pre-filled relevant content.
I gave Hostinger a try, but the result didn’t feel as sleek or professional as shown in the video.
The Reality Check
After a few nights of tinkering, I realised I was spending hours (and mental energy) perfecting a second website… just for affiliate marketing. I hadn’t even published a single post yet, and my workload was increasing instead of decreasing.
This defeated the whole purpose: I’m trying to reduce my daily grind with side hustles, not add more!
Many creators portray affiliate marketing as “quick and easy,” but in practice, building a proper review blog requires significant upfront time for design, content creation, SEO, and maintenance.
Pros:
• Genuine potential for passive income if you stick with it
• You can promote products you actually use and love
Cons:
• Far more time-intensive than advertised
• Not the “quick win” shown on social media
• High risk of burnout before seeing results
If you’re willing to commit serious time (months or years) to content creation, SEO, and site maintenance, it can pay off. But for someone seeking low-effort income? This isn’t it.
What’s Next?
I’ve seen posts about doing affiliate marketing without a blog (using social media, YouTube, email, or other platforms). That’s where I’m heading next—stay tuned for my next experiment!
