Web Developers Discussing Affiliate Sites as a Side Hustle

[digital-marketing-engineer]

So, I just came across on Reddit and found this discussion.

I have read the discussion, and then I would like to share the summary with this community.

If you have more experience, feel free to comment/discuss it here or on Reddit.

Disclaimer: I'm not the thread starter of that Reddit, but I replied to the thread with one comment.

1. Motivations for Starting Affiliate Sites

• Many web developers started affiliate sites for extra income or to explore a passion outside of their full-time job.

2. Transitioning from Full-Time Employment to Self-Employed

• Some developers took 2.5 years or more to transition from a full-time job to focusing on their online ventures.
• The decision often involved weighing the benefits of a stable salary against the potential of higher earnings from affiliate marketing.

3. Handling the Shift Mentally and Financially

• Walking away from a secure job required mental preparation, especially for those already established in their careers.
• The financial aspect, including issues like health insurance in the USA, played a significant role in the decision-making process.

4. Content Creation and Outsourcing

• Creating high-quality content was a major time commitment, leading some to outsource content writing.
• Balancing the time investment against the potential income was a common challenge.

5. SEO and Website Optimization

• Developers utilized their skills in SEO and website optimization to enhance their affiliate sites.
• However, the technical aspect was only part of the success, with content quality being crucial.

6. Advice on Starting Affiliate Sites

• Experienced developers advised starting with small, achievable goals and scaling up.
• Many suggested avoiding the temptation to over-engineer websites, focusing instead on content and user experience.

7. Considerations for Buying Existing Sites

• Some recommended buying established sites to avoid the slow process of building from scratch.
• The importance of due diligence in purchasing and improving sites was highlighted.

8. Alternative Approaches: Micro SaaS and Niche Markets

• Some developers found success by creating niche micro SaaS products or focusing on specific markets.
• This approach leveraged their technical skills and offered the potential for higher income.

9. Realities of Passive Income and Time Management

• Many developers found that affiliate marketing was not entirely passive and required substantial upfront work.
• Balancing a full-time job with affiliate site development was a common hurdle.

10. Financial Expectations and Reality Checks

• It was advised to have realistic financial expectations and not to expect affiliate marketing to immediately replace a senior developer's salary.
• The journey involved trial and error, learning, and adapting strategies for success.