Is affiliate marketing worth it?

I disagree slightly with the "low start-up cost" claim. While you don't need inventory, you do need to invest in a few things to be successful today: 1. Professional Website/Domain: Essential for building authority and ranking on Google. (Cost: ~$100/year). 2. Email Marketing Software: You need to capture leads and market to them repeatedly, as most people don't buy on the first click. (Cost: ~$20-$50/month). 3. High-Quality Content: Whether you write it yourself (time cost) or outsource it (money cost), you can't just slap up a generic review. So, it's worth it for the long-term passive potential and the ability to operate globally, but it's hard work initially. You're essentially building a media company that sells other people's products. My advice is to pick a micro-niche you genuinely know and love, and stick to it religiously.

Absolutely, affiliate marketing is worth it, but only if you approach it as a real business and not a get-rich-quick scheme. It's one of the best models for a beginner because it involves low start-up cost and low risk. You don't have to create a product, handle inventory, or deal with customer service—you just focus on marketing the product. The reality check: * It takes time: You won't see significant income in the first few months. You need to build trust and authority in a niche (e.g., specific gear reviews, unique dieting strategies). * You need traffic: Whether it's a blog, a YouTube channel, or a big social media following, you need people to click your links. Organic traffic from SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the gold standard for long-term passive income in this space. So, is it worth it? Yes, if you are patient, consistent, and treat it like building a content-driven asset. It becomes a form of "passive income" once your content is ranking and attracting traffic automatically.