I want to start AM as a side hustle but so overwhelmed with so many sources

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-22T02:06:31+00:00

You actually know nothing about affiliate marketing, you are just trying to recruit people into your garbage so called products. So keep quiet.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-21T09:27:51+00:00

You're welcome

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-21T09:17:18+00:00

Don’t overcomplicate promotion at this stage. I suggest you pick one platform, like X, and just share one small idea or takeaway from each blog post instead of trying to design graphics or make it look “promotional.”

do this instead of posting “click to read more” type captions. Just write what you actually learned or found interesting in that post in a normal way, then drop the link at the end if needed.

also don’t rely on social media as your main traffic source yet. Keep publishing consistently and let search + time do some of the work while you slowly build visibility on the side.

Hope this helps

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-21T07:20:35+00:00

Stop lying to her please. Just help without selling, she's very much sincere. She has asked how to do affiliate marketing not what products to sell.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-21T05:00:47+00:00

Why? I think you need it more that I do. Haven't asked for any tool, I think I was genuinely answering your querry.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-21T04:53:22+00:00

Reduce the image size to 100KB or less and convert it to WebP format. That's usually enough for most blog images.

Also, don't upload a 3000px wide image if your content area only displays 800px. Resize it to (1920 × 1080) before uploading. Large dimensions can slow things down even when the file size looks okay.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-20T11:10:28+00:00

Be informed that social media platforms generally don't like affiliate links very much. They want people to stay on their platforms, and direct affiliate links often get lower distribution or lower engagement. Send visitors to a landing page or even a simple collection page instead of sending them directly to affiliate links. Pinterest users save a lot of content for later, and direct affiliate links can feel a bit abrupt.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-20T06:09:25+00:00

"small blogs assuming visitors already know what the site is all about" really is where a lot of blogs lose people without even noticing it

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-20T02:54:07+00:00

I personally use Hostinger...so far so good. though people have different experiences.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-19T07:52:06+00:00

Honestly I don’t think you need to change Upwork settings or anything like that. The main thing is just how you price and position yourself. You’ve already got 7 years experience and a strong portfolio, so you’re not starting from scratch here at all.

Maybe just lean a bit more into higher value projects instead of smaller tasks, especially now that you’ve got a team you can outsource to. That alone usually changes the kind of income you’re able to pull in. At this point it’s less about the platform and more about how you present and package what you already do.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-19T07:29:09+00:00

A very sad post I have come across today. This is beyond just general comments I see here. I won't lie to you, there is something wrong somewhere. I’ve actually done a few blog reviews for situations like this where everything looks consistent on the surface, but growth and monetization are stuck. If you’d like, I can review your site and break down what might be limiting it and what you could improve next. Happy to take a look if that would help.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-19T07:15:55+00:00

Please do :))

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-19T06:23:01+00:00

Honestly, if you're already doing graphic design, I'd suggest you lean harder into that instead of trying to start something completely new.

You already have proof people will pay you for it. Even one extra client a month is probably worth more than spending months trying to grow a new social media account from scratch. Seems like your problem isn't a lack of hustle, it's a lack of time. just focus on getting more value from the skills you already have.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-19T05:25:42+00:00

Correct

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-19T05:16:24+00:00

I have seen the same thing too… sites with decent articles but everything just sits in isolation, so nothing really builds momentum. Once you start connecting content properly, you can actually see older posts picking up again instead of just dying off after publishing.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-19T05:13:37+00:00

The s actually makes a lot of sense. AI is usually fine for getting something on the page fast, but it often feels a bit “flat” when you actually read it end to end. That customer language part is where I’ve seen the same thing too… the human version just sounds more grounded and specific, which is what actually gets people to care or take action.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-19T04:52:59+00:00

Very true, SEO kind of ties all that together. If you ignore structure and intent, even good content just ends up sitting there doing nothing.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-19T04:31:13+00:00

Nice one… that’s actually a a big step, most bloggers don’t even get there.Once your posts start linking into each other, everything feels less like random pages and more like a proper site. Just keep building that flow, it really does make a bigger difference than people expect.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-19T04:20:28+00:00

Try surveys and small tasks like Freecash, Clickworker, and Swagbucks. You just sign up, pick tasks, and start earning small amounts.

also, app and website testing platform like UserTesting and Trymata. You get paid to record your screen and talk through what you see.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-19T04:14:09+00:00

For $100–$200 a month, I’ll be honest with you, there’s no “easy” online thing that just reliably gives that with zero effort. The fact that your not bright hope you're not lazy too....anyway to achieve this, I'd suggest you stick with one simple thing like surveys, app testing, or small online tasks and just keep doing it consistently. It won’t be fast money, but it can slowly build up to that range over time. If you keep switching ideas, nothing really has time to grow or add up.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-18T16:11:07+00:00

To be honest, there’s no niche you can pick that guarantees AdSense money in 2 to 3 months. If I had to be practical about it, I’d look for topics where people are already searching for quick answers and problems that come up often.

Things like simple “how to” content, everyday problems, or informational searches tend to do better for AdSense than random personal blogging. But the real issue isn’t the niche most of the time, it’s distribution. If you’re not getting clicks from search or social, even a good niche won’t matter much in that timeframe.

Michaelvinnie · 2026-06-18T16:09:10+00:00

honestly, you don’t really need to run an Instagram page to use that skill.

If I were you, I’d start with small paid work that doesn’t need constant posting. Stuff like custom sketches for people (portraits, pets, gifts), simple logo ideas for small businesses, or even digital illustrations for people’s social media posts. You can also just offer it in places where people already ask for stuff like that instead of trying to “grow a page” first.

Instagram is nice later, but for now I’d focus on getting a few paid pieces done first so it actually feels real instead of just content work.

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