How to make money on YouTube with affiliate marketing
To make money on YouTube with affiliate marketing, recommend products in reviews, tutorials, and 'my setup' videos, and place your tracked links in the description with codes pinned in the comments. Because video keeps earning long after upload, a single well-ranked review can attribute sales for months — every qualifying purchase pays you a commission.
How to earn on YouTube
- 1
Choose a niche and searchable video topics
Reviews, tutorials, and comparisons attract high-intent viewers who are close to buying.
- 2
Join affiliate programs and collect links and codes
Get a tracked link and a code for each product you feature.
- 3
Put links in the description, codes in a pinned comment
Add clear labels and timestamps so viewers can find the exact product you mentioned.
- 4
Recommend products naturally on camera
Show the product in use and give an honest take — trust is what converts on YouTube.
- 5
Keep earning from the back catalog
Evergreen videos attribute sales days or weeks after the view, so your library compounds.
Ways to make money on YouTube
Affiliate links in descriptions
Tracked links under each video earn a commission when viewers buy the products you review.
Pinned-comment promo codes
A pinned code captures viewers who buy later, attributing the sale back to your video.
Sponsorships and integrations
Get paid a flat fee for a segment, frequently paired with an affiliate code for extra upside.
YouTube Partner Program
Ad revenue, memberships, and Super Thanks supplement affiliate income once you're eligible.
Your own products or courses
Sell presets, templates, or courses to the audience your review content attracts.
Tips that work
- Target buying-intent keywords like 'best', 'review', and 'vs' so your videos meet shoppers mid-decision.
- Add timestamps and clear labels in the description so viewers reach the exact product fast.
- Pin a comment with your top link and code — many viewers check comments before the description.
- Update descriptions on older, well-ranked videos as products and links change so they keep earning.
- Be genuinely honest about pros and cons; balanced reviews convert better and protect your credibility.
Mistakes to avoid
- Burying links in a wall of description text with no labels or structure.
- Reviewing products you haven't actually used — viewers can tell, and returns hurt everyone.
- Ignoring your back catalog, which is often where most affiliate revenue quietly comes from.
- Skipping disclosure of affiliate and sponsored relationships, which is required.
Top niches for YouTube creators
These niches convert especially well on YouTube. See typical commissions and the brands worth promoting.
Making money on YouTube: common questions
Do I need to be in the YouTube Partner Program to do affiliate marketing?+
No. Affiliate marketing is independent of the Partner Program — you can add tracked links and codes to any video regardless of ad-revenue eligibility.
Which videos earn the most from affiliates?+
Reviews, tutorials, comparisons, and 'my setup' videos, because they reach viewers who are researching a purchase. These evergreen formats keep earning long after upload.
How do I get paid?+
When a viewer buys through your description link or pinned code, the sale is attributed to you and your approved commission is paid out — on Afflio, via PayPal or bank transfer.
Make money on other platforms
Start earning on YouTube
Afflio gives you tracked links and codes for the brands you love, then pays you fast and fair to PayPal or bank — free to join, no cut of your commission.
Find brands to promote →