Podcast Episode: Affiliate Marketing Isn’t Dead…It’s Just Been Hijacked by Sleazy Bro Marketers

Let’s be honest – when you hear “affiliate marketing,” what comes to mind? Probably some dude in his garage promising you can make $10K in 30 days by copying and pasting links into your DMs, right?

Yeah, that’s exactly the problem.

Affiliate marketing has been hijacked by sleazy bro marketers who’ve turned what should be a simple, integrity-based business model into a gross “get rich quick” scheme. And I’m here to set the record straight because affiliate marketing – when done right – is actually the least sleazy thing you could ever do.

What Affiliate Marketing Actually Is (Spoiler: It’s Not Complicated)

Let me strip this back to the basics for you: Affiliate marketing is simply promoting someone else’s offer and earning a cut when it sells.

That’s it. That’s the whole thing.

I’ve been in some version of affiliate marketing for 12 years now, starting with network marketing. And here’s what most people don’t realize – at the core of network marketing is affiliate commissions. Companies sell products and give distributors a commission percentage on each sale. Same concept, different wrapper.

But somewhere along the way, affiliate marketing got this reputation as a quick fix, passive income miracle that requires zero work. And that messaging? That’s what’s making it sleazy.

The Three Myths That Are Killing Your Success

Before we talk about how to do this right, let’s bust the biggest lies being spread about affiliate marketing:

Myth #1: You Need a Huge Following

Bullshit. You need trust, not followers. I’d rather have 500 people who trust my recommendations than 50,000 people who think I’m just another commission-grabbing affiliate.

Myth #2: It’s Passive From Day One

Hell no. This is the lie that pisses me off the most. People are being lured into affiliate marketing courses with promises of “passive income from day one.” If you ever see that messaging, please hear my New York accent in your ear telling you it’s a complete and total lie.

Myth #3: You Have to Be Salesy

Wrong again. If you’re being sleazy or salesy, it’s because you suck at trust building. In 2025, trust building is the actual skill you need, not being a weird copy-and-paste robot.

High-Integrity vs. Sleazy: The Difference That Changes Everything

There’s high-integrity affiliate marketing, and then there’s the BS that’s giving everyone a bad taste in their mouth. Let me break down the difference:

Sleazy Affiliate Marketing:

• DMing 50 people with copy-and-paste scripts
• Not disclosing affiliate links
• Promoting anything and everything for a quick buck
• Making income claims about “19 streams of passive income”
• Casting affiliate links everywhere without strategy

High-Integrity Affiliate Marketing:

• Only promoting products you’ve actually used
• Clearly disclosing all affiliate relationships
• Focusing on solving real problems for your audience
• Building trust first, promoting second
• Being selective about what you recommend

The “Best Friend Test” That Changes Everything

Here’s my rule that I live and die by: If you wouldn’t recommend it to your best friend, don’t promote it for a commission.

This one filter will save you from 90% of the sleazy affiliate mistakes people make. Because when you think about recommending something to your best friend, you automatically consider:

• Is this actually worth their money?
• Will this solve a real problem for them?
• Do I trust this company to take care of them?
• Would I feel good about them spending their hard-earned money on this?

If the answer to any of those is no, then you have no business promoting it to your audience either.

What to Look for When Choosing What to Promote

Step 1: What Have You Actually Used?

I know, what a concept. Look for products or services that you’ve personally used and that solved a real problem for you. This isn’t just about integrity – it’s about credibility. When you can speak from experience, people feel it.

Step 2: Does It Fit Your Audience’s Needs?

I have brands reaching out all the time asking me to promote leggings or sneakers for $2,000. And while that sounds tempting, how weird would it be for me to go from talking about affiliate marketing and digital products to suddenly pushing athletic wear?

That’s money-grabby bullshit, and your audience will see right through it.

My audience trusts me for business advice. They should trust me when I recommend business tools. They should NOT trust me with legging recommendations because I don’t know shit about leggings.

Step 3: Solid Reputation and Support

Remember, you’re a liaison. When you refer people to a company with terrible customer support, your reputation takes the hit. Always research:

• Company reputation in the market
• Quality of customer support
• How they handle complaints and refunds
• What other affiliates are saying about working with them

Red Flags to Avoid at All Costs

Get Rich Quick Courses

Any course promising you’ll make $10K in 30 days or any specific timeframe and money combination should send you running. As Anik Singhal says, results-based testimonials are problematic because there are a million variables that went into that person’s success – none of which will be the same for you.

Sketchy Software with No Support

Those flashy new AI tools and software popping up everywhere? Slow your roll. Where’s the longevity? What are the creators’ track records? If there’s no solid backend support, you’ll have angry customers real quick.

Anything That Makes You Cringe

If that little voice in your head is saying “this doesn’t feel right,” listen to it. Don’t fight your instincts just because you’re desperate for money.

How to Promote With Purpose (Not Like a Human Pop-Up Ad)

Weave Links Into Your Content Strategically

Instead of randomly dropping affiliate links everywhere, integrate them naturally into your content where they actually make sense. If you’re teaching how to create a lead magnet, teach the process first, then share the tool you used with your affiliate link.

Always include this disclaimer: “This is my affiliate link. If you choose to purchase through this link, I will receive a small commission percentage on that sale.”

Use Email Marketing Like a Pro

Create email sequences around specific topics where your affiliate recommendations naturally fit. For example:

• Software recommendation emails with your affiliate links to the tools you actually use
• Add affiliate links to your welcome sequences
• Include them in your nurture campaigns where relevant

Create a “Tools I Love” Page

Have one central location where people can find all your recommended tools and resources. This makes it easy for people who are specifically looking for recommendations.

Turn FAQs Into Affiliate Content

When people ask “What email platform do you use?” in your Instagram stories, that’s a perfect opportunity to share your affiliate link – because you’re answering a genuine question with a tool you actually use and love.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

People are looking for extra income streams without selling their soul or working three part-time jobs. Affiliate marketing, done right, can be that solution.

The real win? You’re helping your audience get unstuck with products and tools that you already use and love. You’re being helpful and honest, not pushy and gross.

The Bottom Line

Affiliate marketing isn’t dead – it’s just been contaminated by people who care more about quick commissions than building trust. But here’s the thing: the sleazy approach doesn’t work long-term anyway.

You might make some quick money promoting garbage, but you’ll destroy your reputation in the process. And in the online world, your reputation is literally everything.

The real money is in the long game: Building trust, being selective about what you promote, and always putting your audience’s needs before your commission potential.

So yes, affiliate marketing is brilliant. It’s the best hands-down model for someone looking to break into online money-making without creating their own products. You just have to do it right.

Remember: You don’t need to create your own product to start making money online. You need to learn how to promote other people’s products and services with integrity.

Stop trying to be everything to everyone. Stop promoting random shit for a quick buck. Start being the person your audience can trust to only recommend things that are actually worth their money.

That’s how you build a sustainable affiliate business that doesn’t make you want to shower after every promotion.

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