On the 12th of November 2020, I made my first dollar online from affiliate marketing, This moment introduced me to the possibilities the internet had to offer. 

From then on, I made a couple more thousand dollars from affiliate marketing, using a system called Email Marketing. 

I built an audience on Twitter (now called X) in a specific niche and then funneled my audience to an email list; this was where I sold to them and made my money. 

From experience, affiliate email marketing is one of the most effective ways to generate consistent passive income as a beginner online. All you have to do is leverage a targeted, personalized communication with an engaged audience, and you smile your way to the bank.

If you are wondering how to start affiliate marketing through email, then you’re in the right place.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to:

• Build your email list from scratch

• Write persuasive affiliate emails

• Set up automation that works for you 24/7

Let’s get into it:

Table of Contents

• Why Email Marketing Is The Best Channel For Affiliate Marketing

  • How Email Helps You Earn More Affiliate Commissions

  • My Experience Using Email For Affiliate Sales

• Step-By-Step Guide To Affiliate Email Marketing For Beginners

  • Choosing the Right Email Platform

  • Top 5 Email Marketing Platforms for Affiliate Marketers

  • How To Build an Email List From Scratch

  • Creating High-Converting Email Sequences

  • Writing Affiliate Emails That Convert

  • Automating Your Affiliate Email Campaigns

• My Best Affiliate Email Templates for Beginners

  • Affiliate Welcome Email Template

  • Product Promotion Email Template

  • Re-Engagement Email Template

• How To Avoid Rookie Errors In Affiliate Email Marketing

  • 1. Email Spam Traps and Compliance Issues

  • 2. Overloading Subscribers With Promotions

• How To Succeed With Affiliate Email Marketing

Why Email Marketing Is the Best Channel for Affiliate Marketing

Email marketing isn’t the only method to promote products and earn commissions. People promote affiliate links through blogs, forums, and social media all the time, but these mediums often require a lot of content creation and significant resources to get good returns.  

In contrast, email marketing gives you complete control over your audience. It enables long-term relationship building and typically yields higher conversion rates.

In many cases, you can set up an affiliate marketing email system for free, and the cost of communicating with your audience remains minimal, resulting in a higher return on investment.

How Email Helps You Earn More Affiliate Commissions

• Builds Trust & Authority: When you consistently deliver valuable content, you position yourself as an authority in your niche. Your subscribers will come to rely on your expertise, which will make them more likely to act on your affiliate recommendations. 

  Even if you decide not to go through the affiliate marketing route anymore, like I did, you can pivot and still have an audience that trusts you. Win win.

• Enhanced Targeting & Segmentation: Email marketing tools allow you to group your audience based on their behavior or demographics. This ensures that your affiliate offers are highly relevant, increasing your chances of conversion.

My Experience Using Email For Affiliate Sales

When I first started affiliate marketing, I did everything: posting on Instagram, making blog posts, and even trying out a few YouTube videos. But nothing gave me consistent results, especially since I wanted something that wouldn't cost me money to start up and scale. 

Email gave me something none of those other platforms could: control. And it was also free.

I could build a list of people who wanted to hear from me, nurture them with helpful content, and recommend products I truly believed in.

Keyword: “Nurture them with helpful content.” It’s easy to make the mistake of jumping straight into promotions. I did that at first, and it didn’t go well. When you’re just starting out, people don’t know or trust you yet. You have to give them a reason to listen. 

I learned about the KLT formula (know, like, and trust) and shifted my strategy, then began sharing real tips, short tutorials, and case studies- anything that offered value without asking for anything in return.

Over time, my subscribers saw me as someone who genuinely wanted to help. So when I did recommend a product, they were far more willing to listen and buy.

Another thing to take note of: not all subscribers are the same. So, I stopped treating them like one big group. I created separate messages based on what they needed, and this shift dramatically improved my open rates and conversions. As time went on, I implemented automation into my strategy. 

This was the game-changer. I didn’t want to write new emails every day or manually track who should receive what. So, I built automated sequences. As soon as someone joined my list, they were guided through a structured journey without me lifting a finger. 

With this, I already had a foolproof strategy, and email marketing became not just a side hustle but my most reliable source of affiliate income. Here’s how to build yours:

Step-By-Step Guide To Affiliate Email Marketing For Beginners

Choosing the Right Email Platform

The right email platform is essential for success with affiliate email marketing. An effective platform should offer high deliverability rates and allow for drip campaigns, automated sequences, and targeted messaging, all while being user-friendly and easy to navigate, even for beginners.

Top 5 Email Marketing Platforms for Affiliate Marketers

1. beehiiv (My Recommendation): beehiiv is designed for content creators and also offers a high-paying affiliate program, so when you grow your email list, you can make money just from promoting beehiiv while you use it.

• Pros: User-friendly, high deliverability, responsive support, and a strong affiliate program that offers 60% recurring commissions for a full year. Plus, it’s free for the first 2,500 subscribers.

• Cons: It is a newer platform with fewer integrations than some competitors, but if you’re serious about affiliate email marketing, then beehiiv’s simplicity and affiliate-friendly features make it an excellent choice.

2. Kit (Formerly ConvertKit): Kit is ideal for creators looking to monetize their audience through automation and email sequences. 

• Pros: Excellent automation, high deliverability, great for bloggers and creators.

• Cons: Limited design options, costly for larger lists.

3. GetResponse: GetResponse possesses built-in sales funnels, webinar hosting, and marketing automation. 

• Pros: Comprehensive automation, built-in sales funnels, and webinar features.

• Cons: Overwhelming for beginners, higher pricing tiers.

4. AWeber: AWeber is a beginner-friendly platform with strong customer support and reliable deliverability.

• Pros: Simple to use, good deliverability, excellent customer service.

• Cons: Limited automation compared to more advanced competitors.

5. ActiveCampaign: ActiveCampaign has powerful automation and CRM integration, making it great for scaling businesses. 

• Pros: Advanced automation, excellent segmentation, strong CRM features.

• Cons: Steep learning curve, higher cost for premium plans.

Why Trust Me: Before I pivoted to content writing, I helped digital creators promote their digital products to my audience through affiliate marketing. Feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn anytime!

How To Build an Email List From Scratch

Your list is your biggest asset. Start by creating a lead magnet—something valuable you can give away for free in exchange for an email address. Examples include:

• A simple checklist (e.g., "Top 10 Tools Every Affiliate Marketer Needs")

• An ebook (e.g., "How to Start Earning Affiliate Commissions in 30 Days")

• A free video guide or mini-course

You then place sign-up forms on your blog, in social media bios, and even within pop-ups on your website if you have one. 

Here’s how your strategy should look: 

When you sign up for beehiiv’s free plan, you get to create a newsletter that allows up to 2,500 subscribers for free, and you can also create sign-up forms to promote your lead magnet on your social pages.

For a more detailed breakdown on how to build your email list from scratch, see: Building Your Email List To Grow Your Business: A Step-by-Step Guide.

As you grow your email list, you need to engage your audience frequently to avoid dormancy, which brings us to the next step.

Creating High-Converting Email Sequences

An email sequence is a series of automated emails that are sent to a subscriber in a specific order based on their actions. These sequences help build trust, provide value, and strategically introduce your affiliate offers without overwhelming the reader.

Why you should use them:

• They automate your communication, saving time while nurturing leads.

• They help deliver the right message at the right time.

• They warm up your audience before introducing affiliate links.

See: Creating a Lead Nurturing Email Sequence: Top Tips & Templates

Here are simple sequences that work every time:

• Welcome Sequence: Start with a warm introduction and set expectations for future emails. Deliver your lead magnet and tell them what kind of content to expect. Let them know they’re in the right place.

• Nurture Sequence: Gradually educate your audience with tips, case studies, and valuable insights. This is where you start adding subtle affiliate recommendations, like “This tool made this process 10x easier for me.” The focus remains on value.

• Promotional Sequence: When promoting an affiliate product, use persuasive copy, highlight the benefits, share personal success stories, use social proof (e.g., testimonials), and always include a clear call-to-action (CTA) like “Try it here” or “Get started today.”

Writing Affiliate Emails That Convert

Email marketing should be personal. When someone lets you into their inbox, it’s a big deal. That’s why writing affiliate emails that actually convert requires more than just dropping a link. 

You need to write with intention, connect with your readers, and guide them toward action without sounding pushy or salesy. 

Here’s how to do it, step-by-step:

• Craft Engaging Subject Lines

Your subject line is your first impression. It determines whether your email gets opened or ignored.

• Keep it short (under 50 characters is best).

• Make it benefit-driven or spark curiosity.

Examples:

• “How I Made My First $1,000”

• “Don’t Buy This Tool (Until You Read This)”

• “Quick Tip: Boost _____ With One Tweak”

• Personalize Your Content

Talk to your subscribers like a friend. Use their name and share real experiences or struggles they can relate to.

• Share your journey or a specific story that ties into the product.

• Address their pain points and explain how the affiliate product helped you solve them.

• Example: “When I started, I was overwhelmed by too many tools until I found [Product Name], which helped me simplify everything.”

• Deliver Value First

Don’t start with a pitch. Start with something helpful. Give a tip, explain a concept, or share a resource. This builds trust and makes readers more open to your recommendation later in the email.

• Introduce the Affiliate Product Naturally

When it’s time to pitch, don’t just say, “Buy this now.” Show how it fits into the context of the problem or lesson you’ve just shared. Position the product as the solution.

Example: “If you’ve been struggling with X like I was, [Product Name] is what finally helped me turn things around.”

• Incorporate a Clear and Strong CTA (Call-To-Action)

Your CTA should stand out and be specific.

• Use action words: “Try this tool,” “Start your free trial,” or “Watch this demo.”

• Avoid passive phrases like “Click here if you want to.”

• Example: “>> Start using [Product Name] today.”

• Keep It Simple and Focused

Don’t cram multiple offers into one email. Stick to one idea, one story, and one product recommendation per email.

• Use Formatting to Improve Readability

• Use short paragraphs and bullet points.

• Highlight key points in bold or italics.

• Add white space so the email feels easy to read on mobile.

Lastly, 

•  Always Be Honest

Disclose that the email contains affiliate links. Your audience will appreciate the honesty and be more likely to support you.

Automating Your Affiliate Email Campaigns

Automation might sound technical, but it’s simply a way to save time and make your email marketing run smoothly. Instead of sending emails manually, you can set them up to go out automatically when someone joins your list, clicks a link, or performs any other specific action.

Here’s how:

• Set Up Drip Campaigns: Drip campaigns are a sequence of emails that are sent out automatically over time. Think of them like a scheduled conversation:

Example: Someone signs up for your free checklist. On day 1, they get a welcome email. 

On day 3, they receive a tip related to the checklist, and on day 5, you recommend a helpful tool that you’re affiliated with.

You can use beehiiv drag-and-drop tools to build these easily.

• Schedule Follow-Ups: If someone clicked a link in one of your emails but didn’t make a purchase, you can set up an automatic follow-up email to check in with them.

Example: “Hey [First Name], just wanted to see if you had any questions about [Product Name]. I’ve personally found it super helpful, and I think you might too.”

These reminders keep your audience engaged and gently nudge them toward a decision.

• Test and Optimize (A/B Testing): Once your automation is running, you want to improve it. A/B testing helps you figure out what works best by comparing two versions of an email:

• Test different subject lines to see which gets more opens.

• Try different email content or CTAs to see which gets more clicks.

Over time, these small tweaks lead to better results with less effort.

Pro Tip: Always start simple. You don’t need anything too fancy to begin. Just start with a welcome sequence, add one or two follow-ups, and you’re good to go!

For more depth, beehiiv’s Senior Marketing Manager Tony Varghese explains how to set up email automation for growth in this article.

My Best Affiliate Email Templates for Beginners

Figuring out what to say in your emails is often the hardest part of the whole process. Thankfully for you, it doesn't have to be so complicated. Here are some of my favourite templates. Simply edit to suit your needs!

Affiliate Welcome Email Template

Subject Line: Welcome to the [Your Newsletter Name] Family! 🎉

Body:

Hi [First Name],

I’m [Your Name], and I’m thrilled you’ve joined the [newsletter name] community! As promised, here’s your free [lead magnet/resource], designed to help you [solve a problem or achieve a goal].

Expect emails from me with tips on [main niche topic], exclusive deals, and products I personally love. Speaking of which, if you’re ready to [get started on a goal], check out [affiliate product or link].

Thanks for trusting me to be part of your journey. Let’s crush it together!

CTA: [Download Your Guide] or [Discover More Here].

Product Promotion Email Template

Subject Line: The Secret to [Achieving a Specific Goal] Faster

Body:

Hi [First Name],

Have you ever felt stuck trying to [overcome a pain point]? I know I did—until I discovered the [product name].

This [product description] made a huge difference in [specific outcome]. For example, after I started using it, I was able to [personal result or benefit].

Here are some reasons why I’m such a fan:

• [Key Benefit #1]: How it saves time, money, or effort.

• [Key Benefit #2]: Unique feature or result it guarantees.

• [Key Benefit #3]: Why it’s better than alternatives.

This isn’t just marketing fluff—I personally tested it, and it truly works. Right now, you can get access to [product name] through this special link: [Affiliate Link].

Take the first step toward [achieving their goal]!

CTA: [Check It Out Now].

Re-Engagement Email Template

Subject Line: We Miss You, [Name]! Here’s a Special Gift 🎁

Body:

Hi [First Name],

It’s been a while since we’ve heard from you, and I want to make sure you don’t miss out on some of the exciting things happening here at [Your Brand/Newsletter Name].

To welcome you back, I’ve got something special just for you—a free [resource, discount, product trial, etc.] that’ll help you [solve a problem or achieve a goal]!

I’d hate for you to miss out because, honestly, this might be exactly what you need to [achieve desired outcome].

Click below to grab your gift and start seeing results right away!

CTA: [Claim Your Gift Here].

Looking forward to reconnecting with you!

Best regards,
[Your Name]

You can also find more awesome templates here to help your email affiliate marketing promotions.

How To Avoid Rookie Errors In Affiliate Email Marketing

Starting out in affiliate email marketing can be exciting, but it’s also easy to make a few common mistakes that can hurt your results or, worse, damage your sender's reputation. 

Here are two critical pitfalls beginners should avoid:

1. Email Spam Traps and Compliance Issues

If your emails are being marked as spam or end up in junk folders, chances are you’ve either violated some email rules or didn’t set things up correctly. 

Here are some tips to avoid this:

• DO NOT buy email lists. Always collect emails through legitimate opt-in methods.

• Familiarize yourself with the Email Marketing law globally and in your country. Always include an unsubscribe link and your business address in every email.

• Don’t use phrases like “Buy Now!” or “You Won!” in subject lines. These can trigger spam filters.

2. Overloading Subscribers With Promotions

One of the quickest ways to lose trust (and subscribers) is to constantly bombard people with sales emails. 

Stick to the 80/20 rule: 80% valuable content, 20% promotional, and space out promotional emails. 

Treat your email list like a relationship. If you only talk when you want something, people will tune out. 

How To Succeed With Affiliate Email Marketing

Affiliate email marketing can seem daunting at first, but with these simple steps and some dedication, you can start making money in no time.

In summary:

• Start with a clear niche and audience. 

• Create a simple but effective lead magnet..

• Focus on building relationships first. 

• Use sequences and automation. 

• Segment your list. 

• Keep your emails simple and valuable. 

• Track your results.

Why beehiiv Is a Great Choice for Affiliates

If you're serious about affiliate email marketing, beehiiv is one of the best platforms to get started. 

Here’s why:

• Built for Affiliate Marketers – Unlike other email platforms that restrict affiliate promotions, beehiiv encourages them. In fact, they have one of the highest-paying affiliate programs in the industry, offering 60% recurring commissions for a full year just for referring users.

• Free to Start – You can grow your first 2,500 subscribers for free, making it perfect for beginners who don’t want to invest upfront.

• Earn Beyond Affiliate Links – As your list grows, you can earn further with paid subscriptions, sponsorships, and ads—all within beehiiv.

Don’t waste time contemplating, you can start growing your list today. Just sign up for beehiiv’s free plan here and launch your first campaign in minutes!