Affiliate marketing can be a really powerful way to make serious money online. There are all kinds of affiliate marketing websites, from small beginnings to big success stories, and the stories behind them can be really inspiring and informative.
In this article, we're going to take a close look at a variety of different affiliate marketing websites that have not only survived and grown, but have actually redefined what's possible when it comes to earning a living online. These websites have used strategic content creation, effective monetization techniques, and a whole lot of hard work to achieve some incredible results - we're talking anywhere from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars in monthly revenue.
We're going to analyze the secrets behind their success and share valuable insights that can help aspiring affiliate marketers find their own path to financial freedom. If you're interested in making money through affiliate marketing, this is an article you won't want to miss.
What is an affiliate marketing website?
First, to quickly explain what an affiliate marketing website is. These are websites that make money by promoting and selling other companies' products or services. They earn a commission every time someone buys something through the links on their site. These types of websites are often called affiliate sites, authority sites, or niche sites. But they all work in a similar way at the core.
How does an affiliate site make money?
The process of earning money through an affiliate marketing website is relatively straightforward. Let's use the Amazon affiliate program as an example to illustrate how it works:
- You create a website focused on a specific niche or topic.
- You sign up for an affiliate program, for example, Amazon Associates (the Amazon affiliate program), and obtain your special links for promoting Amazon products.
- You promote Amazon products related to your niche on your website, using your affiliate links.
- When someone clicks on one of your affiliate links and buys something on Amazon, you earn a commission on that sale.
So in a nutshell, the process is to build a niche website, become an Amazon affiliate, promote Amazon products on your site and then earn commissions when people buy through your links. It's a pretty straightforward way for these websites to generate revenue by connecting their audience with products they might want to buy.
This model is not limited to Amazon alone. Many other e-commerce platforms, such as AliExpress, eBay, Target, and Walmart, offer similar affiliate programs. Additionally, many online businesses in different niches have affiliate programs. The best way to find these is through websites called affiliate networks. The key is to find products or services that align with your website's niche and promote them to your audience using your affiliate link.
How much money can you earn from an affiliate marketing website?
The answer varies greatly depending on the niche, traffic, monetization strategies, and many other factors.
To provide some real-world perspective, let's take a deep dive into 35 examples of successful affiliate marketing websites and explore their earnings, business models, and key success factors. From small niche sites to multi-million dollar empires, these case studies will give you a sense of what's possible and what it takes to achieve different levels of affiliate income.
1. Camper Report - $8,000/month
CamperReport.com is a review site focused on RVs, campers, and related gear. Built by the creators of Income School, the site generates over $8,000 in monthly revenue from display ads and Amazon affiliate commissions.
One remarkable aspect of Camper Report is how quickly it achieved profitability. Within a year of launching, the site was already earning four figures per month, thanks largely to the Income School team's efficient content and link-building systems.
By targeting a passionate niche with sizable potential and maintaining high publishing standards, the site has become a go-to resource for camping enthusiasts. Its earnings will likely continue to grow as traffic increases over time.
Key takeaway: With a proven blueprint and the right business systems, it's possible to build a profitable affiliate site from scratch within a matter of months. Income School's success with Camper Report is an inspiring example.
2. Breaking The One Percent - $1500/month
Jeff Proctor and Ben Huber run the personal finance site DollarSprout.com, which cleared $240,000 in revenue in 2018. What most people don't know is that they started out with a site called BreakingTheOnePercent.com that was earning $1500/month within its first 6 months.
The interesting story behind Breaking The One Percent is that Jeff and Ben used it as a case study to test their affiliate marketing skills. Both recent college grads, they wanted to see if they could use blogging to earn more than their entry-level jobs.
By applying SEO best practices and creating highly focused content aimed at specific products, they were able to gain traction quickly. Their initial success gave them the confidence to go all-in on the larger DollarSprout site while continuing to grow Breaking The One Percent in the background.
Key takeaway: Using a small starter site to test your affiliate marketing abilities is a smart way to gain experience and proof of concept before embarking on a larger project.
3. Just A Girl and Her Blog - $39,832/month
Abby Lawson's site JustAGirlAndHerBlog.com follows the classic "blogging about blogging" model, but the twist is how transparently she shares the journey from side hustle to full-time business. Abby's conversational style drives millions of pageviews per year.
In December 2016, Abby reported over $40,000 in monthly revenue, a large chunk of which came from affiliate marketing. That same month she earned over $27,000 from affiliates, more than many bloggers make in a year.
One factor in Abby's extraordinary affiliate success is how deeply integrated relevant product recommendations are into her content. Posts like gift idea roundups, product comparisons, and organizing hacks all thoughtfully include affiliate links.
The site has also expanded to sell its own info products like ebooks and printables which complement the affiliates. Altogether it's a highly profitable, diversified blogging business model.
Key takeaway: Creatively weaving affiliate offers into your content in a way that provides genuine value is key to driving high commissions. Offering your own complementary products can further boost income.
4. The Wirecutter - Sold for $30 million
Product review site TheWirecutter.com sold to the New York Times for around $30 million in 2016, just five years after Brian Lam started the site. At its peak The Wirecutter was generating over $150 million in e-commerce transactions per year, profiting handsomely from affiliate commissions.
What separated The Wirecutter from other gadget blogs was its journalistic approach to reviews. Lam's team conducted exhaustive testing on every category of product, becoming the definitive source for "the best X for most people". This earned reader trust resulted in astronomical conversion rates.
Not all affiliates need to invest in original research to the degree The Wirecutter did. But its success does illustrate the power of becoming the most credible evaluator of products in your space. The more people trust your recommendations, the more you'll earn.
Key takeaway: Establishing unparalleled authority through comprehensive, objective, and original product coverage can help your affiliate site stand out and attract lucrative acquisition offers.
5. Financial Samurai - Valued at $10+ million
Finally, we have Sam Dogen's personal finance blog FinancialSamurai.com. Since 2009, Sam has built Financial Samurai into one of the most widely-read investment advice sites on the web, attracting over 1 million monthly visitors.
Sam monetizes that traffic primarily through affiliate offers for financial products, real estate investing platforms, and online brokerages. After years of strong growth, the site now reportedly generates over $1 million in annual profits at an 80-90% margin.
What's remarkable is that Sam has been able to achieve this with no staff other than an assistant - he still writes the vast majority of Financial Samurai's content himself. That lean operating model combined with his lucrative affiliate relationships has made his blog incredibly valuable. Recent estimates peg its worth at over $10 million.
One of Sam's advantages is his deep expertise in investing from his former career in equities trading. Readers trust his insights and recommendations more than the average personal finance blogger. That hard-earned credibility translates into much higher affiliate conversions.
Key takeaway: Leveraging your professional experience and insider knowledge can help you create exceptionally convincing affiliate content. Running a lean operation allows more of those commissions to drop to your bottom line.
6. RyRob.com - $57,195/month
Blogger and podcaster Ryan Robinson openly shares his monthly income reports, revealing he averaged over $57,000 per month in affiliate earnings alone over a four-month stretch in 2019. His site RyRob.com teaches entrepreneurs how to start and grow profitable side businesses.
One striking aspect of Ryan's earnings is just how much he was able to make from a single affiliate partner. At his peak, he was pulling in over $50,000 per month just from Bluehost web hosting commissions. His high-converting "how to start a blog" content funnel was responsible for a big chunk of this.
While Ryan has had a ton of success with Bluehost, he's diversified his income streams over time to include other affiliates, course sales, and freelance client work. This has helped him maintain a solid income as Bluehost payouts have decreased.
Key takeaway: It's possible to achieve very high earnings as an affiliate for just one or two key partners in the right niche. But diversifying is important to protect against downturns.
7. Swim University - $25,000 per month
Matt Giovanisci started SwimUniversity.com back in 2006 to share his pool and hot tub maintenance expertise. Today the site earns him roughly $25,000 per month semi-passively, thanks largely to the affiliate product guides he's published over the years.
Beyond just being a leading pool resource, Swim University is a great example of designing an affiliate site with visual flair. Matt's customized illustrations, diagrams, and web design make his content more compelling than the typical generic affiliate blog covering similar topics.
Matt has expanded his earnings by creating niche sites in several other spaces like coffee (RoastyCoffee.com) and home brewing (BrewCabin.com). His success in pools gave him the blueprint and resources to tackle new niches with the same in-depth, visually-polished approach.
Key takeaway: Investing in design elements like custom images, infographics, and layouts can make your affiliate site more memorable and engaging. Applying your affiliate model to new niches after you succeed in one is a smart expansion strategy.
8. Authority Hacker - $102,800/month
While not exclusively an affiliate site itself, AuthorityHacker.com is one of the leading resources on building profitable authority sites monetized through affiliate marketing. Founders Gael Breton and Mark Webster practice what they preach, pulling in over $100K/month in revenue.
The vast majority of Authority Hacker's income comes from its info products - intensive courses teaching the ins and outs of affiliate marketing. But the strategies and examples shared draw heavily from the founders' experience growing their own affiliate sites like HealthAmbition.com.
One unique aspect of Authority Hacker's success is its community-focused approach. Providing support and networking through its private mastermind group helps boost the success rate and lifetime customer value of its members.
Key takeaway: Teaching what you've learned building affiliate sites can itself become an incredibly lucrative business. Recurring membership offerings can generate consistent high-margin income to supplement affiliate earnings.
9. This Is Why I'm Broke - $50,000 per month
Adam Freeman's site ThisIsWhyImBroke.com is a curated collection of cool, offbeat products for sale around the web. It reportedly generates over $50,000 per month in affiliate commissions, primarily by promoting unique gadgets and gift ideas.
While not a typical affiliate "blog" with long-form content, This Is Why I'm Broke shows the power of curation in e-commerce. The site doesn't actually sell anything directly. Instead, it collects interesting items from other online stores, attracting window shoppers and sending them off to merchants.
This Is Why I'm Broke succeeds because it knows its audience and leans heavily into its quirky editorial tone. Visitors come to the site for entertaining product discovery, knowing they'll find stuff they wouldn't see on traditional e-commerce sites. Each fun, surprising find builds more trust and credibility for the brand.
Key takeaway: An affiliate site doesn't have to produce tons of original content to be profitable. Sometimes just aggregating the right mix of products for a specific audience is incredibly valuable. Establishing a strong voice and viewpoint is key.
10. SFTourismTips.com - $12,000/month
SFTourismTips is a great example of a niche affiliate site focused on a single city - San Francisco. Founded by Jill Loeffler in 2009, the site provides insider tips, recommendations, and guides for San Francisco visitors.
As of 2023, SFTourismTips generates around $12,000 in monthly revenue, with a 60/40 split between advertising (Mediavine ads) and affiliate marketing. This is up from $5000/month in 2019, demonstrating the long-term growth potential of a well-run niche site.
Interestingly, Jill built and still runs the site using a platform called Solo Build It rather than WordPress. This shows that while WordPress is the most common choice, it's possible to succeed with alternative site builders as well.
Key takeaway: By focusing on a specific niche and providing genuinely helpful information to a target audience, even a single-person website can generate a full-time income.
11. The Modest Man - $600 per day
Brock McGoff started The Modest Man in 2012 to help short men dress better and feel more confident. Over the years he's grown TMM into a highly profitable affiliate business averaging around $600 per day in revenue.
By combining detailed product reviews with visual how-to content, Brock has made his site the go-to resource for an underserved segment of the men's fashion niche. His tailored advice for this 5'8" and under audience has earned him trust and credibility that converts into thousands per month in affiliate commissions.
Brock has also created complementary info products like style guides to further monetize his readership. His 'Short Man Style' ebook has sold over 1000 copies so far. Adding these assets has diversified his earnings and increased his average visitor value.
Key takeaway: Serving a specific underserved audience exceptionally well is one path to a highly profitable affiliate business. Creating complementary information products tailored to your target market can enhance your earnings per visitor.
12. Money Saving Mom - Sold for $2 million
In 2008, Crystal Paine started the frugal living blog MoneySavingMom.com to share her best couponing tips. Over the next decade, the site grew into one of the biggest personal finance resources for moms, generating millions in affiliate revenue.
In 2018, Crystal sold Money Saving Mom for around $2 million to a digital media company. By that point, the site had become a small business empire with books, courses, and a loyal following all driving affiliate profits.
One key factor in Money Saving Mom's growth was Crystal's commitment to community. She responded to nearly every reader email and constantly looked for ways to better serve her audience. That personal touch made her affiliate recommendations even more powerful.
Crystal also expanded strategically into related verticals like productivity and home cooking over time. That content diversification kept readers engaged even as their immediate couponing needs dried up.
Key takeaway: Treating your audience like family and involving them in your site's evolution can create incredible loyalty over time. Carefully widening your niche as you grow can expand your affiliate potential immensely.
13. Hunting Gear Deals - $7,500/month
HuntingGearDeals.com is a niche site that finds and shares discounted hunting equipment from around the web. Site owner Camron Stover acquired the site and grew it to $90,000 in annual revenue in 2021.
The site makes money by driving sales through affiliate links. When visitors click on the deals and make purchases, Camron earns a commission. He built up traffic by emailing his list and promoting deals on social media daily.
After purchasing the site for $100,000, Camron recouped his investment within 14-15 months. This illustrates how buying an existing affiliate site can provide a faster path to profitability compared to starting from scratch.
Key takeaway: Acquiring a site with existing traffic and revenue can be a smart investment if you have the capital and see potential for further growth.
14. The Points Guy - Valued at $1+ billion
While not a pure affiliate site, travel rewards blog ThePointsGuy.com is still a fantastic example of the immense value you can build by helping consumers navigate the complex world of credit card bonuses, airline miles, and hotel loyalty programs.
Started by Brian Kelly in 2010, The Points Guy (TPG) is now one of the most visited travel sites on the web with over 10 million monthly readers. That massive audience has translated into phenomenal credit card application conversion rates through affiliate links, reportedly valuing the business at over $1 billion.
Much of TPG's success stems from its relentless rate of publishing high-utility content. By maintaining a team of expert writers, the site is able to put out multiple articles and videos per day comparing rewards programs and highlighting the best deals. Few competitors can match that pace of output.
TPG has also done a great job of building its brand through PR, partnerships, and even TV shows. That mainstream credibility makes its credit card endorsements even more powerful compared to lesser-known affiliates.
Key takeaway: In highly competitive affiliate verticals, becoming a prolific publisher of useful content is essential to winning the most traffic long-term. Investing in brand reach through other channels can multiply the impact of all your affiliate links.
15. 1st Phorm - $350,000/month
These sites are all part of a network owned by Andy Frisella and his company 1st Phorm. Most of the sites in the network revolve around health and fitness, but some touch on related outdoors niches. Combined they pull in around $350,000 per month, with the majority coming from affiliate income and ad revenue.
What's fascinating about this model is how Andy uses his other businesses and personal brand to fund content on a wide range of websites. His supplement company 1st Phorm and the associated MFCEO podcast following give him a platform to cross-promote his other sites.
Another key advantage is the range of affiliate programs the sites are able to promote given their broad but related topics. Offers span everything from survival gear to fitness equipment to protein bars. This diversity protects against any single merchant's terms or algorithm changes hurting too much.
Key takeaway: Building a mini-empire of several related sites can give you expanded monetization options and cross-promotional opportunities to grow your collective audience rapidly. Larger affiliate budgets also allow for higher content investment.
16. Fin vs Fin - $50,000/month
A relative newcomer compared to other examples, FinvsFin.com has achieved rapid success in the product review space. Just a year after launch, the site was generating $17,000 - $20,000 per month. One year later, that figure had jumped to over $50,000 monthly.
Founders Alex Goldberg and Healy Jones credit their fast growth to creating in-depth comparison content focused on affiliate-friendly consumer products. By doing detailed head-to-head reviews of mattresses, meal delivery kits, and other items, the site earns substantial commissions on high-ticket purchases.
Another key factor is the founders' expertise in paid and organic search marketing. By combining SEO with paid acquisition channels, the duo has been able to scale traffic and revenue quickly.
Key takeaway: Targeting affiliate offers with high commissions and average order values is an effective way to build a profitable site faster, especially when you can pair SEO with paid traffic.
17. Money Under 30 - Sold for $7 million
In August 2017, marketing company XLMedia PLC acquired personal finance site MoneyUnder30.com for approximately $7 million. Site founder David Weliver started the site in his 20s to document his journey getting out of debt and building wealth.
Over the years, Money Under 30 grew into a go-to resource for young adults looking to improve their finances. The site monetized largely through credit card affiliate offers and display ads, leveraging its organic search rankings.
One key to the site's success was its targeting of a specific demographic with tailored advice and product recommendations. By building trust with this audience over time, Money Under 30 was able to drive extremely high-value leads to its affiliate partners.
Key takeaway: Becoming a trusted authority for a specific target market can make your site incredibly valuable to affiliate merchants and potential acquirers. Honing in on the needs and problems of your core audience is critical.
18. Survival Life - $100,000/month
SurvivalLife.com is a prepper site that teaches survival and emergency preparedness skills. Back in 2014, site owner Ryan Deiss revealed that the site was generating over $1 million in monthly sales, a mix of affiliate offers, info products, and physical goods.
Based on Ryan's comments about the site's revenue mix, affiliate commissions likely accounted for at least 10% of sales at its peak - or roughly $100,000 per month. This made Survive Life one of the most profitable affiliate sites in the survival niche.
While its traffic and revenue have since declined, the site remains a prime example of combining affiliate marketing with in-house offers to maximize monetization. Retaining visitors with a compelling email series is one of SurviveLife's strong suits.
Key takeaway: Survivalist preppers are a massive market for certain affiliate offers. Linking multiple monetization methods into an automated funnel can yield extraordinarily high visitor values.
19. Gear Patrol - Partially sold for $5+ million
While larger than the typical affiliate site, men's lifestyle publisher GearPatrol.com shows what's possible when you build a true media brand in a high-value niche. With millions of monthly visitors, the site earns substantial affiliate commissions alongside traditional display ads.
In 2018, private equity firm Hearst Ventures bought a 20% stake in Gear Patrol, reportedly valuing the company between $25-50 million. Original site founder Eric Yang remains majority owner and CEO, demonstrating the potential of maintaining control even after a major financing event.
One factor that makes Gear Patrol appealing to investors is its access to an attractive demographic for high-end affiliate offers. Men's watches, luxury cars, upscale clothing - these are all natural fits for the site's readership. The brand's reputation for independent editorial also boosts conversion rates.
Key takeaway: Building a premium content brand aimed at a coveted consumer segment can attract venture-level investment while still preserving founder ownership and independence.
20. Millennial Money Man - $25,000/month
Bobby Hoyt and Mike Yanda are the duo behind Laptop Lifestyle Academy, an online program teaching digital marketing skills. Before creating their course business, Bobby grew the affiliate site MillennialMoneyMan.com to over $25,000 per month in revenue.
What's inspiring about Bobby's story is that he started his site as a side project while working full-time as a band teacher. He was able to scale to a significant income within two years through persistent content creation and networking with other bloggers.
One of Bobby's most effective traffic strategies was guest posting on bigger personal finance sites to build backlinks and gain exposure. Some of his most profitable posts tied financial planning advice to major life events like getting married or having a child.
Key takeaway: Even with a demanding day job, it's possible to build a high-earning affiliate business in your spare time. Strategic guest posting and making genuine blogger connections can massively accelerate your growth.
21. Dirt Bike Planet - $2,500/month
Another example site from the Income School team, DirtBikePlanet.com offers an inside look at buying, building, and flipping an existing affiliate website. Currently, the dirt bike site earns roughly $2,500 per month with relatively little active management.
What's most intriguing is that Income School acquired the site for just $7,000. At the time of purchase, it was only generating about $3,000 per year. But by leveraging their content framework and on-page SEO strategies, they've grown the site's traffic and revenue exponentially in under two years.
This case study suggests that with the right systems, even a small, underperforming affiliate site can be turned into a significant income stream. Uncovering sites with untapped potential in high-value niches can be a lucrative investment.
Key takeaway: Buying and improving an existing affiliate site can be a profitable alternative to starting from zero. With the right skills and processes, you can dramatically increase a site's revenue in a relatively short period.
22. Everyday Carry - $1000+/day
EveryDayCarry.com is a hugely popular site dedicated to EDC gear - the tools and gadgets people carry with them on a daily basis. The site features product recommendations, reviews, and user-submitted photos of EDC setups.
According to the site's editor, Everyday Carry pulls in over $1000 per day in affiliate commissions, primarily from Amazon. Over 50% of its total revenue comes from sponsorships and direct advertising deals with brands.
Originally launched in 2009, the site recently sold for $1 million. This highlights the long-term value of a successful affiliate site in a trendy niche.
Key takeaway: Combining affiliate marketing with other monetization methods like sponsorships can significantly increase a site's revenue and make it an attractive acquisition target.
23. Travel Fashion Girl - $6000/month
Alex Jimenez's site TravelFashionGirl.com shows how you can build a lucrative affiliate business in a niche where you have zero professional credentials. Alex started TFG as a hobby blog to share her packing tips while traveling the world in her 20s.
Despite having no formal experience in travel or fashion, Alex has grown her site to over $6000 per month in affiliate commissions. By providing ultra-specific advice like how to choose the best travel backpack or what to wear in certain climates, she's become a trusted resource for thousands of female travelers.
One smart tactic Alex uses is creating seasonal clothing guides that showcase trendy affiliate products. Publishing new editions of these popular posts each year yields predictable sales bumps around peak travel times.
Key takeaway: You don't need to be a recognized expert to build a profitable affiliate site. Consistently providing relevant solutions to your target audience's problems through detailed content can make you their go-to resource.
24. Investor Junkie - Sold for $6 million
InvestorJunkie.com was a prominent investing and personal finance site that founder Larry Ludwig grew to $500,000 in annual affiliate revenue. In 2018, he sold the site for approximately $6 million.
What's remarkable about Investor Junkie is that its revenue came entirely from affiliate marketing, without relying on display ads or other income sources. By creating in-depth comparisons and reviews of investment platforms, brokers, and services, the site earned high commissions in a lucrative niche.
Larry's experience demonstrates the potential exit value of a highly profitable affiliate site. By selling the business for a 12X multiple of annual earnings, he achieved a life-changing payday after years of hard work.
Key takeaway: Sticking to affiliate marketing and becoming the go-to resource in a high-value niche can pay off handsomely in the long run. Building with an exit in mind can be a smart strategy.
25. Niche Pursuits - $13,000+/month
Spencer Haws is widely considered one of the patriarchs of modern affiliate marketing thanks to his transparent blogging at NichePursuits.com. For years Spencer has openly shared his process for identifying underserved niches and building profitable affiliate sites from the ground up.
Some of Spencer's most successful sites include a site about river tubing that earned nearly $10,000 in a month and another about snowmobiling that averaged over $2000 monthly. While not always huge winners, Spencer's portfolio of small niche sites brings in well into the five-figures on a consistent basis.
One thing that makes Niche Pursuits unique among affiliate marketing blogs is how actionable the content is. Spencer frequently does public case studies where he builds new sites from scratch, documenting every step of the process for readers. This over-the-shoulder learning is rare in the affiliate space.
Key takeaway: You don't need to hit a "home run" affiliate site to build serious income. Creating a portfolio of small niche sites monetized through affiliate offers is a proven model. Transparently documenting your successes and failures along the way can itself become a lucrative brand.
26. Goats On The Road – $10,000/month
Nick Wharton and Dariece Swift run the adventure travel blog GoatsOnTheRoad.com, which funds their nomadic lifestyle with earnings of around $10,000 per month. About half of that revenue comes from affiliate marketing, alongside advertising and product sales.
What makes Goats On The Road inspiring is that Nick and Dariece had zero blogging experience before starting their site. They simply wanted to find a way to sustain long-term travel without having to work odd jobs in each new locale they visited.
By writing epic, super-detailed destinations and "how to become a digital nomad" guides, Goats On The Road has earned top rankings for lucrative search terms. Their articles often review and recommend travel gear, insurance, tours, and other big-ticket purchases that generate substantial affiliate income.
Key takeaway: You can absolutely turn a travel hobby into a full-time income through affiliate marketing. Writing definitive, search-focused guides is one key to earning consistent commissions while constantly on the move.
27. Making Sense of Cents - $50,000+/month
MakingSenseOfCents.com is the wildly successful personal finance blog of Michelle Schroeder-Gardner. Since starting the site in 2011, Michelle has grown it to over $100,000 in monthly revenue, with more than half coming from affiliate marketing.
One of Michelle's biggest earners is Bluehost web hosting, which often accounts for $50,000+ in affiliate commissions alone. Her high conversion rates come from her extremely engaged audience and "how to start a blog" content that promotes Bluehost hosting plans.
Beyond just driving traffic, Michelle focuses on building trust with her audience. Her relatable writing style and transparency via income reports have earned her a loyal following that drives significant affiliate sales.
Key takeaway: Affiliate marketing relies heavily on trust. By authentically connecting with your audience and only recommending products you believe in, you can drive more sales than with generic, high-volume content.
28. Cloudliving - $4,000 per month
CloudLiving.com was a popular personal blog run by Italian affiliate marketer Tung Tran. The site documented Tran's experiments building small affiliate sites in obscure sub-niches like healing warts or comparing fish oil supplements.
Tran was one of the first affiliate bloggers to "open the kimono" and share actual earnings from his sites. His most successful project was a skin care site that peaked around $6,000 per month before being hit by a Google update. Other wins included a Tumblr blog about women's street fashion that hit $2600 in Amazon commissions in one month.
While no longer actively publishing, CloudLiving remains a fascinating archive of the journey from newbie marketer to multiple four-figure per month earner. It was an early model of learning through public experimentation that other affiliate bloggers would later emulate.
Key takeaway: Obscure sub-niches with commercial intent can be remarkably lucrative for small affiliate sites, especially when paired with effective link building. Sharing your journey, wins, and losses can help fuel your personal brand in the affiliate space.
29. Epic Gardening - $50,000+/month
Kevin Espiritu's site EpicGardening.com shows what's possible when you combine expertise with consistent content output. From initially earning just $500 per month in 2016, the site now generates over $50,000 monthly, sometimes topping six figures.
Kevin derives his revenue from a mix of Amazon affiliate marketing, display ads, and his own info-products like ebooks and courses. By expanding into related niches like microgreens, nature, and equipment, he's built a comprehensive resource around gardening for beginners.
The site's YouTube channel featuring how-to guides is a key traffic driver, with some videos racking up hundreds of thousands of views. This multi-platform content strategy has helped Epic Gardening weather changes in affiliate programs and advertising.
Key takeaway: Having a diverse traffic and income mix is critical for a sustainable, high-earning affiliate business. Providing massive amounts of genuinely helpful content is key to owning your niche.
30. Skint Dad - Bought for $1.7 million
UK personal finance site SkintDad.co.uk was acquired for £1,500,000 in 2018 by the parent company of fellow finance publisher PensionBee. That works out to around $35. Skint Dad - Bought for $1.7 million
UK personal finance site SkintDad.co.uk was acquired for £1,500,000 in 2018 by the parent company of fellow finance publisher PensionBee. That works out to around $1.7 million based on exchange rates at the time.
Founders Ricky and Naomi Willis started Skint Dad in 2013 to document their journey out of debt on a low income with two kids. By publishing practical money-saving tips and promoting frugal lifestyle choices, they built the blog into a top resource for budget-strapped UK families.
In addition to displaying ad revenue, the site made healthy commissions recommending financial services and products to its readers. With their relatable, transparent style, Ricky and Naomi earned a level of audience trust that made their endorsements highly convincing.
The seven-figure sale price for a relatively young site was a testament to Skint Dad's brand strength and growth potential. It shows the value of authenticity and personal storytelling in the often impersonal finance vertical.
Key takeaway: Weaving your personal journey and learnings into your content can help you connect with readers and build a following fast. That audience loyalty can become hugely valuable to the right acquirer.
31. Fat Stacks - $30,000 per month
Jon Dykstra is one of the most well-regarded affiliate marketers in the game thanks to his long-running blog FatStacksBlog.com. There, Jon has publicly built numerous profitable niche sites in verticals like pets, cars, and home decor.
One of the secrets to Jon's success as an affiliate is his 'quantity over quality' approach to content. Rather than obsessing over perfection, Jon pumps out dozens of decent articles per month on his blogs, targeting a broad spread of long-tail keywords. This strategy has allowed him to test niches quickly and rank for hundreds of affiliate terms.
Of course, some of Jon's affiliate sites have performed better than others. But by his own estimation, his portfolio of niche properties pulls in over $30,000 per month on average. And his top months have seen revenues as high as $95k.
Key takeaway: An affiliate business doesn't require world-class content to make great money. Getting "good enough" articles up at scale can be more profitable than agonizing over masterpieces.
32. Adam Enfroy - $126,389/month
AdamEnfroy.com teaches entrepreneurs how to build successful affiliate blogs and start online businesses from scratch. The site is incredibly successful in its own right, with six-figure monthly affiliate earnings.
In March 2022, Adam reported $126,389 in affiliate revenue - over 25X what he earned per month at his previous full-time job. This was double his affiliate income from just a year earlier, showing the rapid growth potential for a strategic affiliate site.
Adam's "secret sauce" is his focus on building a site like a startup rather than just another blog. He aims to create systems and scale content production to build a high-value, sellable asset. This approach has allowed him to grow much faster than the typical blogger following outdated tactics.
Key takeaway: Treating your affiliate business like a lean startup rather than just a blog or side hustle is key to achieving outsized success. Implementing systems to scale content production and build true equity can help you reach your revenue goals years faster.
33. Backlinko - $65,000+/month
Brian Dean's SEO training company Backlinko is one of the most widely-respected voices in digital marketing. His high-end courses and YouTube tutorials reach millions of entrepreneurs and agencies every month, seeking to sharpen their SEO chops.
While not solely an affiliate business, Backlinko certainly benefits from Dean's hard-earned affiliate SEO expertise. His massively popular site ranks at the top of Google for insanely lucrative keywords like "SEO tools", driving six-figure commissions from major martech companies.
What's amazing is that Dean has built Backlinko's traffic primarily through blogging, despite posting far less frequently than most other marketing sites. His "Skyscraper Technique" - finding great content and making it even better - has allowed him to outrank huge competitors on important phrases with just a handful of articles.
Key takeaway: Affiliate SEO rewards creativity and ingenuity. Radically upgrading popular content can earn you top rankings without publishing 24/7. Converting those visitors into recurring income is the playbook behind many top affiliate brands.
34. MoneySavingExpert.com - Sold for $134 million
One of the biggest affiliate site success stories of all time, MoneySavingExpert.com sold for approximately $134 million in 2012 after over nine years of operation. Site founder Martin Lewis became a celebrity in the UK for his down-to-earth personal finance tips.
In the 12 months prior to the acquisition, MoneySavingExpert generated around $24 million in revenue from 39 million users. Nearly 60% of this income came from referral fees paid by MoneySupermarket.com, a popular financial product comparison site.
Beyond just the astronomical exit price, what's remarkable is how dominant MoneySavingExpert became in the UK personal finance space. By building a trusted brand and email list over many years, Martin created an incredibly resilient, high-margin business.
Key takeaway: Achieving true market leadership in a major money-related niche can generate life-changing wealth for an affiliate entrepreneur. Building lasting brand authority is key.
35. Well Kept Wallet - $50,000/month
Launched in 2010 by Deacon Hayes, WellKeptWallet.com is a personal finance site that has grown to $50,000 in monthly revenue. The site's content focuses on helping people get out of debt, make more money, and build wealth.
While not solely reliant on affiliate income, products like online courses and printables account for a significant portion of the site's earnings. This diverse income mix has allowed Well Kept Wallet to weather affiliate program changes and other disruptions.
In addition to his own story of paying off $52,000 in debt, Deacon has formed a team of writers to create the comprehensive content that ranks and converts well. This team effort is one key to his site's consistent success.
Key takeaway: Combining affiliate marketing with your own products can raise your profit margins and make your business more resilient to external factors beyond your control.
In Summary
As these 35 examples illustrate, there are countless paths to affiliate marketing success.
From huge content teams to solo bloggers, broad general interest publications to niche-specific resources, sites monetized exclusively by affiliates to those with diversified income streams - the beauty is that you can grow an affiliate business that aligns with your interests, skills, and goals.
The keys are choosing a niche you can serve better than most, creating a genuine connection with your audience, and delivering value so consistently that your recommendations carry real weight. Master those fundamentals and the exact model you pursue matters less.
The global affiliate marketing industry is expected to reach $30 billion by 2025. That's a huge pie and even a tiny sliver can be life-changing. These sites are proof that with the right approach, you can absolutely carve out your piece.
So draw inspiration from these success stories but remember that they all started where you are now - at zero, with nothing but a vision and a willingness to put in the work. Keep learning, keep testing, and keep going. Your breakthrough is closer than you think.
