What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a way to earn a commission by recommending another company’s product or service.

You do this using your own unique affiliate link. If someone clicks your link and makes a purchase that is correctly tracked to you, you could earn a commission.

That’s the basic idea.

What Do You Actually Do?

Your main job as an affiliate is to introduce people to products or services they may be interested in.

You don’t need to:

• Create the product yourself
• Hold stock or inventory
• Arrange shipping
• Employ staff
• Handle customer service for the product

Major Brands Use Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a genuine, established way for businesses to attract customers.

Major brands including Amazon and eBay run official affiliate programs that pay commissions for qualifying referrals.

So this isn’t a new or unusual idea — it is a marketing model used by well-known businesses around the world.

Different Products Pay Different Commissions

There isn’t one fixed commission rate in affiliate marketing.

Some products pay a small percentage of each qualifying sale, while others pay a higher percentage.

That’s why the product you choose can make a difference — and it leads us to the platform we’ll be using in this training.

Why We’ll Be Using ClickBank

Throughout Kickstart Commissions, we’ll mainly use ClickBank to find products to promote.

ClickBank has a section called the Marketplace. Think of it as a searchable list of products that affiliates can choose from.

The company or product owner decides how much commission they will pay affiliates. Some ClickBank products may pay commissions of up to 75%, depending on the product.

In the next lesson, we’ll set up your ClickBank account and show you where to find these products.

How Do We Get People to Click Our Link?

Having an affiliate link is only part of the process. We also need people to visit the product page.

In online marketing, these visitors are often called traffic. Put simply, traffic means people visiting a page.

There are lots of ways to get traffic. Inside Kickstart Commissions, the main method we’ll be using is Solo Ads.

You don’t need to understand Solo Ads yet — we’ll explain them properly later in the training.

Let’s Get Your ClickBank Account Set Up

In Lesson 1, you learned that we’ll be using ClickBank to find products you can promote as an affiliate.

Now we’re going to get your account ready.

There are just three things we need to do:

• Create your ClickBank account
• Complete your profile
• Create your account nickname

We’ll take them one step at a time.

Step 1 — Create Your ClickBank Account

Click here and ClickBank will open in a new tab.

To avoid a lengthy registration process, we're going to ignore ‘Start Here’, and instead click ‘Log In’.

Scroll to the bottom of the sign in form and Click 'Create an account here'.

Enter the information ClickBank asks for, which may include:

• Your country
• Your first and last name
• Your phone number
• Your email address
• A password

Use your real, accurate information. ClickBank may ask you to confirm or verify details during the sign-up process.

Follow the on-screen steps to accept the terms and create your account.

Step 2 — Complete Your Profile

Once you’re logged in, ClickBank will ask you to complete your profile.

Enter the information requested for your country, including your correct address and any other details ClickBank requires.

You may also be taken through a verification process. Just follow the instructions shown on screen.

Step 3 — Create Your Account Nickname

Next, we need to create your account nickname.

This nickname also becomes your affiliate ID — the identifier ClickBank uses for your affiliate activity.

• Open the Accounts section

• Select Create a Nickname

• Select Affiliate (Promote products) as the account type

• Create your account nickname

Create Your Nickname Carefully

Your nickname does not need to be clever. Keep it simple, easy to read and something you’re happy to keep.

• Choose something short and sensible
• Make it easy to read and spell
• Avoid anything confusing or inappropriate
• If your first choice is taken, try a simple variation or add a few numbers

For example, a simple nickname could look like:

Choose carefully: ClickBank does not currently allow you to change an account nickname after it has been created.

• Select Sign Up to complete

One Nickname Is Enough to Start

You may see options to create more ClickBank account nicknames later.

For this training, one is enough.

You can use one affiliate nickname to promote multiple products, which keeps things simpler while you’re learning.

Set Up How ClickBank Will Pay You

In the last lesson, you created your ClickBank account and your account nickname.

There’s one more important setup step before we start looking for products to promote: adding your payment information.

This tells ClickBank how you want to receive any commission payments that become due to you.

Step 1 — Open Your Payment Settings

Log in to ClickBank and open the Accounts section.

Select the account nickname you created in Lesson 2.

In the account-specific screen, open Account Settings.

Find the Payment Information section and select Edit.

Step 2 — Choose Your Payment Settings

Inside Payment Information, there are three settings worth understanding.

1. Payment Threshold

Your payment threshold is the account balance you need to reach before ClickBank can issue an eligible payment.

ClickBank currently sets a default threshold, and you can choose another amount from the options available in your account.

You don’t need to overthink this. Choose a level you’re comfortable with — you can change it later.

2. Payment Frequency

ClickBank may also let you choose how frequently eligible payments are issued.

Available frequencies can depend on the payment method you select. Standard options can include weekly or every two weeks.

Choose the option that suits you from those available in your account.

3. Payment Method

Next, choose how you would like ClickBank to send your payments.

The methods available can depend on your country and account. ClickBank may show options such as:

• Direct deposit
• Paper check
• Wire transfer
• Payoneer

Choose from the options ClickBank makes available to you and enter the requested details carefully.

Step 3 — Save Your Payment Information

Check the details you’ve entered, then select Save Changes.

If ClickBank sends you a confirmation email for the payment-method change, open the email and select the confirmation link to finish the update.

When Are Payments Sent?

ClickBank currently issues eligible payments on Fridays after the relevant pay period has ended.

Your bank or payment provider may then take additional time to process the payment, so the money may not appear immediately on the day ClickBank sends it.

Let’s Find a Product to Promote

Now that your ClickBank account and payment settings are in place, it’s time to look at the products you could promote.

ClickBank has an Affiliate Marketplace — a searchable area where you can browse products that are available to affiliates.

You’ll also see ClickBank use the word offer. Put simply, an offer is a product or promotion that an affiliate can choose to promote.

Step 1 — Open the Affiliate Marketplace

Log in to ClickBank and select Affiliate Marketplace from the navigation.

From here, you can search for products, browse categories or use ClickBank’s filters to narrow down the results.

Step 2 — Start With Top Offers

If you’re completely new, Top Offers is a useful place to begin.

ClickBank uses this section to highlight offers that are currently trending or performing well on the platform.

That does not mean every Top Offer will be right for you. Think of it as a shortlist worth exploring rather than a list of guaranteed winners.

• Select Top Offers to view the current Top Offers list

You’re also not limited to the products shown in Top Offers.

If you want to explore a particular niche — which simply means a specific topic or market — select All in the Marketplace navigation.

This will show the different product categories available. You can then explore the subcategories inside each one to find products related to the type of niche you want to promote.

For example, you may decide to explore areas such as health, business, relationships, hobbies or another topic that interests you.

• Select All to browse the available categories and subcategories

You can also use the Marketplace search bar if you already know what type of product you’re looking for.

Step 3 — Understand the Main Marketplace Numbers

Each Marketplace listing contains information that can help you compare one offer with another.

You do not need to become an expert in these numbers. For now, just understand what the main ones are telling you.

Step 4 — Check for Approval and Commission Type

Before choosing an offer, look for any extra requirements shown in its listing.

Some product owners require affiliates to be approved before they can promote their products. If you see Approval Required, the product owner must approve you before you can create your affiliate link for that offer.

You may also see CPA mentioned in a Marketplace listing. CPA means the affiliate can receive a fixed amount for a qualifying conversion rather than a percentage of the sale. CPA arrangements normally require you to contact the product owner about your specific rate.

Step 5 — Make a Sensible First Choice

It can be tempting to choose whichever product shows the biggest commission number. That is not necessarily the best way to choose.

For your first product, look for something where:

• You can quickly understand what the product is and who it is for
• The sales page looks clear, credible and easy to follow
• The Marketplace statistics show that affiliates have been generating activity
• You do not need additional approval, if you want the simplest route to get started
• The product owner’s affiliate tools or instructions do not restrict the way you plan to promote it

Most importantly, think about the person who will eventually see the product. A strong Marketplace listing is not much use if the people you send to it have no interest in what is being sold.

Now Let’s Create Your Affiliate Link

In the last lesson, you learned how to find and compare products in the ClickBank Affiliate Marketplace.

We also recommended Kickstart Commissions as a simple first product to promote because it’s one you’re already familiar with.

Now we’re going to use Kickstart Commissions as our example and create your affiliate link step by step.

The same basic process can then be used when you choose other suitable ClickBank products to promote.

What we need now is the unique link that connects your promotion to your ClickBank affiliate account.

This is called an affiliate link. ClickBank calls its affiliate tracking links HopLinks.

Why Your HopLink Matters

When someone clicks your HopLink, ClickBank uses the link to track the referral back to your affiliate account.

If that person later makes a qualifying purchase that ClickBank correctly attributes to your referral, you may earn the commission offered for that sale.

ClickBank currently uses a 60-day HopLink tracking window. That means a purchase can still be attributed to the referring affiliate for up to 60 days after the customer clicks the HopLink, provided ClickBank can correctly track and attribute the referral.

Step 1 — Find Kickstart Commissions

Open the ClickBank Affiliate Marketplace and use the search bar to search for Kickstart Commissions.

Find the Kickstart Commissions listing and locate the Get Affiliate Link button.

Step 2 — My Tracking Link

Select the account nickname you created in Lesson 2 and click Continue.

Step 3 — Configure Your HopLink

ClickBank may show a few tracking link options that need configuring before you copy your link.

• Affiliate Nickname — First, check that the correct account nickname is selected.
• Landing Page — Leave this set to Default for the Kickstart Commissions example.
• Link Type — Select HopLink.
• Tracking Parameters — Leave the optional tracking parameters alone for now. They can be useful later for more detailed tracking, but you do not need them to create your first HopLink.
• My Link — This is your encrypted affiliate link. Because the link is encrypted, your nickname will not be displayed in the URL. Select Copy.

That copied URL is your affiliate link for Kickstart Commissions.

Step 4 — Check That Your HopLink Opens Correctly

Open a new browser tab, paste your HopLink into the address bar and press Enter.

You should be taken to the Kickstart Commissions product page.

This confirms that the link opens and sends the visitor to the intended page.

Step 5 — Check That ClickBank Recorded Your Hop

The test click you just made also gives us a useful way to become familiar with ClickBank Reporting.

ClickBank calls a visit through an affiliate link a Hop.

Go back to your ClickBank dashboard, select Reporting and choose View as Affiliate.

From the Reports menu, select Analytics.

Select your account nickname and open Traffic.

Look for the Unique Hops data in the Traffic report. Your test visit should be recorded there once ClickBank has processed the click.

This confirms that your HopLink is tracking correctly. Any future clicks sent through your HopLink will also be recorded in ClickBank Reporting, along with the sales and commission data generated from your affiliate activity.

The Whole Process Is Pretty Simple

There are a few new terms here, but the basic process is only five steps:

1 Find Kickstart Commissions — Search for the offer in the Affiliate Marketplace.

2 My Tracking Link — Select your account nickname and continue.

3 Configure Your HopLink — Check the link options and copy the encrypted link.

4 Open the Link — Check that it reaches the Kickstart Commissions page.

5 Check Reporting — Look for your test Hop in the Traffic report.

Once you have done this once with Kickstart Commissions, the same process will feel much more familiar when you create affiliate links for other products.

Now Let’s Get People to Your Affiliate Link

At this point, you have a ClickBank account, a product to promote and a working HopLink for Kickstart Commissions.

The final part of the basic process is getting people to click that link.

In online marketing, those visitors are often called traffic. For this training, we’re going to use a paid traffic method called Solo Ads.

What Is a Solo Ad?

A Solo Ad is a paid email promotion.

You pay someone who already has an email audience to send an email promoting your link to people on that list.

People selling Solo ad traffic are called sellers. In simple terms, a seller is someone with a large email list who can send your promotion to their subscribers.

Why We’ll Use Udimi

For this course, we’ll use Udimi to buy Solo Ad traffic.

Udimi is a marketplace where you can browse Solo Ad sellers, review their ratings and traffic information, place an order and track the visitors delivered.

Udimi also filters the clicks it receives before counting them in your order statistics.

Step 1 — Create Your Free Udimi Account

Create your Udimi account here

Follow the on-screen instructions to enter the details requested and confirm your account if required.

Step 2 — Find Sellers for Kickstart Commissions

Once you are logged in, the first thing you’ll see is your main Udimi dashboard.

This is where Udimi gives you quick access to your Solo Ad orders, messages and traffic activity. You may also see options for selling traffic, building an audience and other Udimi features, but you can ignore those for now.

For this training, we only need the Buy Solo Ads section.

Select Buy Solo Ads to start looking for sellers who can send visitors to your Kickstart Commissions affiliate link.

Because we’re using Kickstart Commissions for this example, look for sellers whose audience is relevant to topics such as affiliate marketing, making money online or online business.

To do this, select By Keywords and select Affiliate Marketing.

All sellers that provide solo ad traffic in the affiliate marketing niche will be displayed.

Step 3 — Review a Seller Before Ordering

Open a seller profile before placing an order.

Look at the information Udimi provides, including the seller’s ratings, price per visitor, recent traffic statistics and the niches they say their audience is interested in.

If you’re unsure whether the seller’s audience is suitable for Kickstart Commissions, you can message them before ordering.

Step 4 — Set Up Your First Solo Ad Order

When you’re happy with the seller, use the order form on their profile.

For your first test, keep the order at a level where you are comfortable with the full cost. The goal is to learn from the data — not to assume one order will produce a sale.

• Choose the number of clicks you want to order

• If you want traffic from top-tier countries only (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore), select Only top tier (recommended).

Add Your Kickstart Commissions HopLink

Next, add the Kickstart Commissions HopLink you created and tested in Lesson 5.

Udimi gives you two simple options for the email that will be sent:

• Only link — paste your HopLink and the Solo Ad seller will write the email for you. This is the easiest option, but you are relying on the seller to decide how the product is introduced to their subscribers.
• Ad text — provide your own email copy with your HopLink included. This gives you more control over the message being sent. You can write your own email or, if you have our Email Swipes Pack, use one of the ready-to-use Kickstart Commissions emails provided there.

Choose the Start Date and Place Your Order

Select the date you want the Solo Ad to start.

Udimi may also give you the option to allow the seller to begin delivery earlier than the selected date.

Review the order details and total cost carefully. When you’re happy with everything, select Continue.

After payment, the seller receives the order and can accept or reject it. Udimi will notify you when the order status changes.

Step 5 — Track What Happens

Once the order starts, Udimi records the visitors delivered and provides statistics about the traffic.

You can use this to see information such as how many visitors were delivered and where those visitors came from.

You can then return to ClickBank Reporting, which you used in Lesson 5, and check the traffic recorded through your HopLink.

If ClickBank records a qualifying sale, the related sales and commission information will appear in your ClickBank reporting as well.

You’ve now worked through the complete beginner process from setting up ClickBank to sending traffic to your affiliate link.

More importantly, you now understand how the different pieces fit together.

The Process You’ve Learned

• Set up your ClickBank account and account nickname
• Configure how you receive ClickBank payments
• Find a suitable product in the Affiliate Marketplace
• Create and test your HopLink
• Use Udimi to send Solo Ad traffic to your link
• Check your traffic and activity inside ClickBank Reporting

What's Next?... Build Your Kickstart System

The Core Training has given you the foundation — now it’s time to start building your affiliate marketing empire.

Strengthen the individual parts of the system, unlock the complete Growth Add-On stack, or take the premium route and have the lead-generation setup built for you.