My affiliate marketing fail and what I learnt from it

If you’re exploring online income opportunities, you might have heard of affiliate marketing. I want to share my personal story of an affiliate marketing fail — and more importantly, what I learned from it to achieve success later.

By now, you might know that I used to be a marketing manager at a listed company. The demanding hours, constant travel, and being away from home drained me. Despite loving the job, it was exhausting.

Since around 2017/2018, I started working on my website during December breaks. I shared my story but didn’t monetize because I didn’t know how to. Fast forward to 2021/2022, I finally decided to jump into making money online.

I bought a digital marketing program, borrowed R60,000 from the bank to afford it, and I thought paid advertising was the quick path to income. I spent R7,000 on ads and made zero sales — a clear affiliate marketing fail.

1. Know Your Target Audience and Solve Their Problems

My biggest mistake was not understanding my target audience. I jumped straight into paid ads without building trust or relationships. The key to successful affiliate marketing is to know your audience better than anyone else.

2. Build Authority and Trust First

Before promoting products, I should have created content, videos, and interactions that establish my authority and trustworthiness. People buy from those they trust, especially in a marketplace full of scams.

3. Do Organic Marketing and Relationship Building

Instead of rushing into paid ads, I learned that building relationships through organic content — like videos and posts — is crucial. People need to know who you are before they buy from you.

4. Focus on Solving Customer Problems

The true secret to success in affiliate marketing is to solve real problems. When you focus on helping your audience, the sales become a natural outcome.

In 2023, I applied these lessons and created a program tailored for the South African market. The results? I made six figures within my first year — all because I understood my audience, built trust, and provided value.

Everyone experiences setbacks. My initial affiliate marketing fail taught me good lessons — and those lessons paved the way for my success. If you’re struggling, remember: failure is just a stepping stone to achieving your goals.

Ready to Start Your Affiliate Marketing Journey?

If you’re serious about making money online, my program can guide you through building a genuine, sustainable business. Click on this link below to get started or send me an email through the contact form — I look forward to helping you succeed!