Done right, affiliate marketing’s a goldmine. Done wrong, it’s a sleaze-fest. How I’ve kept it clean and green since the ’90s.

Been grinding online since 1996, back when affiliate links were clunky banners and “click here” was cutting-edge. Here’s how I’ve raked in cash through affiliate marketing for nearly three decades—without turning into a spammy used-car salesman.

Pick Products You’d Buy Yourself

Don’t peddle junk. I learned this the hard way in ‘98 when I pushed a $49 “miracle” diet pill that turned out to be sugar capsules. Refunds hit, trust tanked. Now, I only link what I’d use—tools like web hosting I rely on or books I’ve read cover to cover. If it’s not good enough for my desk, it’s not good enough for your wallet. Ask yourself: Would you stake your name on this?

Know Your Crowd

You’re not selling to everyone. Early on, I blasted links to hunting gear on a tech blog. Crickets. Took me a year to figure out my readers—geeks tinkering with code, not camo. Match the offer to the audience. Tech nerds want software deals. Homesteaders want seed kits. Get it wrong, and you’re yelling into the void.

Be Straight, Not Sleazy

Nobody likes a shill. I don’t slap “Buy Now” buttons on every post like some late-night infomercial. Instead, I weave affiliate links into real talk—reviews, tutorials, how-tos. In 2003, I wrote a post about building cheap websites, dropped a hosting link, and made $500 that month. No hype, just help. Readers smell BS from a mile away. Give them value first.

Build Trust, Not a Billboard

Your site’s not a Times Square ad. I’ve stuck to this since the Geocities days: earn the click. Share what you know—free tips, hard-won hacks. When I started writing about online marketing in the early 2000s, I gave away strategies for nada. Readers trusted me, so when I linked a $97 course, they bit. Trust pays more than pop-ups.

Spread the Net

One link won’t cut it. I’ve juggled dozens of affiliate programs—Amazon, ClickBank, niche software deals. In 2010, Amazon’s cut dipped from 8% to 4%. Hurt, but I didn’t sweat it because I had hosting commissions and ebook sales humming. Diversify. Lean on one stream, and you’ll drown when it dries up.

Track What Works

Guessing’s for suckers. I’ve used basic trackers since the ‘90s—first spreadsheets, now tools like Bitly. Last year, a link to a $20 graphic tool pulled $300 in a month. Another to a $99 course? Zilch. Test, tweak, ditch the duds. You can’t fix what you don’t measure.

Stay Legal, Stay Clean

FTC rules aren’t optional. I slap “affiliate link” next to every pitch—clear as day. Got a $200 fine in 2007 for skipping that step. Not worth the hassle. Transparency keeps you legit and keeps readers from bolting. Why risk a paycheck for a dumb shortcut?

Play the Long Game

Quick cash fades fast. I’ve seen “gurus” burn out hawking $1,000 scams. Me? I’m still here, banking steady checks from links I planted five years ago. A post I wrote in 2015 about email marketing still pulls $50 a month. Build something solid—slow beats sleazy every time.

That’s my playbook. No soul-selling, no slime. Just cash from clicks, done right. Been at it since modems buzzed and screens glowed green. You can make affiliate marketing work without losing sleep—or your spine. Start small, stay honest, and watch the green stack up.