The title of my blog post and video today is how making money online really works. Over the years, many people have asked me how I make money online. When I tell people that I work online, the most common response is, “How do you actually get paid for that?” The reality is that most people have no idea how the process works. It can sound mysterious, but in truth it is very straightforward.
In this post, I want to show you the basic online money-making process, using affiliate marketing as the main example. This is the method I have used for many years, and it is something that almost anyone can learn if they are prepared to be consistent and patient.
The Simple Online Money-Making Diagram
The easiest way to understand the process is to break it down into a simple diagram:
- Content: Website, blog or YouTube videos.
- Traffic: Visitors coming to your content.
- Affiliate link: A special link that sends people to a product or service.
- Earnings: When someone buys after clicking your link, you earn a commission.
That is really all affiliate marketing is. You do not hold stock, you do not run a physical shop, and you do not have to deal with packaging or posting. Your job is to create useful content that helps people and then point them towards products or services that can solve their problem.
If you would like a broader overview of the Wealthy Affiliate platform, you may find this post helpful:
What Is Wealthy Affiliate?
Step 1: Create a Website, Blog or YouTube Channel
The process begins with a platform where you can publish content. For most people this will be a WordPress website, a blog, a YouTube channel, or a combination of these. Setting up a basic website is much easier than it used to be, and there are plenty of step-by-step guides available.
The platform you choose is not as important as your willingness to use it regularly. A half-finished website with two posts on it will not generate an income. You need a home base online where people can find you and where your content lives for the long term.
If you are just getting started with Wealthy Affiliate, you might also like to read:
Why Wealthy Affiliate Training Really Works
Step 2: Choose a Niche You Care About
Before you build your site or channel, it is important to choose a niche. Your niche is simply the topic you want to focus on. I always recommend choosing something that you have an interest in or some experience with. Every niche I have worked in has been something that genuinely interested me.
If I tried to build a website about football, it would be almost impossible. I do not follow football and I have no desire to write about it, even if there was a lot of money in it. For me, that would quickly become a chore. When you choose a topic you enjoy, creating content becomes much easier, and that makes all the difference over the long term.
For more thoughts on starting an online business simply, you may like this article:
How To Start Making Money Online Simply
Step 5: Consistency and Time
This is the part that many people underestimate. They build a website, write a few posts, maybe make a video or two, and then wonder why they have not made any sales after a couple of weeks. Sadly, a large number of people give up at this point.
Affiliate marketing is not a “write one post and get paid” type of business. You are building a real asset. You need to gain trust, build authority and give search engines time to recognise your site. That takes consistency and patience.
In my experience, the people who succeed online are the ones who decide that giving up is not an option. They keep publishing useful content, learning, and improving as they go. Over time, the work compounds and the website becomes more valuable.
Getting Step-by-Step Help with Wealthy Affiliate
If you are wondering how to put all of this into practice, you may find a structured training platform helpful. I have been a member of Wealthy Affiliate for many years and still use the platform daily.
Wealthy Affiliate provides step-by-step training that shows you how to:
- Choose your niche.
- Build your website.
- Create helpful content.
- Find and add affiliate programs.
- Attract traffic and grow your business.
You can create a free account without entering any payment details and stay a free member for as long as you like. This allows you to test the platform and see if it suits you before you consider upgrading. At the time of writing, there is also a Black Friday offer available for a limited period each year, which can be a good time to upgrade if you decide the platform is right for you.
For more on my experience with Wealthy Affiliate over the long term, see:
Entering My 12th Year at Wealthy Affiliate
Final Thoughts
Making money online is not magic and it is not a secret. The basic process is simple:
- Create helpful content on a topic you care about.
- Attract visitors to that content.
- Recommend relevant products and services using affiliate links.
- Earn a commission when people buy through your link.
The real challenge is not understanding the steps but sticking with them long enough to see results. If you are prepared to learn, put in the work and remain consistent, affiliate marketing can be a very realistic way to build an online income.
If you have any questions about this process, or if you are thinking about getting started and would like some guidance, feel free to reach out or leave a comment. Thank you for reading.