How writers earn with affiliate marketing — plus a guest-post plan for WIRED-style outlets
You will build a clean affiliate-writing system: pick offers, write honest product-led content, place CTAs the right way, track clicks and conversions, and then use guest posts on high-authority sites (WIRED-style) to build credibility and unlock better-paying opportunities — without breaking editorial rules.
Two ways writers earn using affiliate marketing (and where guest posts fit)
Affiliate income is simple: your writing sends a reader to a product or service, and if the reader buys, you earn a commission. But the *writer strategy* has two common tracks:
| Track | How you earn | Best for | Where WIRED-style guest posts fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track A: Your own platform | Commissions from your blog / newsletter / social + product-led pages | Long-term compounding income | Guest posts build credibility and send reputation traffic (usually not affiliate links) |
| Track B: Affiliate publications | You get a writing fee (the outlet earns commissions) | Fast cash + portfolio | Guest posts can help you get assignments from editors and affiliate desks |
Your 7-step affiliate writing system (simple + repeatable)
You will use this workflow whether you publish on your own site or write for a product-review desk. It keeps your content useful, your tracking clean, and your income scalable.
Pick products/services you can explain clearly. Prefer offers with real value, not gimmicks.
Write for intent: “best for X”, “X vs Y”, “under budget”, “for beginners”.
Lead with clarity, show tradeoffs, add tables, then CTAs.
Add disclosures, avoid misleading claims, follow outlet link rules.
CTAs near decisions: after comparisons, after “who it’s for”, near pricing.
Know what’s working: clicks, EPC, conversion, top pages, top links.
Refresh winners, fix losers, build clusters, reuse best patterns.
Affiliate article types that convert (and what to write first)
| Type | When it works best | What to include | CTA pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Best X for Y” list | Readers already want to buy, just need best choice | Short picks, key specs, who it’s for, who should skip | CTA after each pick + summary table CTA |
| X vs Y comparison | Two products are top contenders | Decision criteria, side-by-side table, verdict by use-case | CTA near “Verdict” + “Where to buy” section |
| Hands-on review | High price / high trust categories | Real testing notes, cons, alternatives, photos/screens | CTA after pros/cons + pricing note |
| How-to + tool recommendations | Problem-first topics (“How to…”) | Steps, mistakes, tool stack, why each tool fits | CTA inside the step where tool is needed |
- 1 “Best X for Y”
- 1 “X vs Y”
- 1 “How to do the thing + tools”
Ethics + disclosure rules (affiliate writing that editors approve)
Affiliate income is fragile if readers feel tricked. Your protection is simple: transparency, accuracy, and balance. Use this checklist before publishing any affiliate content.
Copy-paste disclosure line templates
Option 1 Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Option 2 Affiliate note: Some links in this guide are affiliate links. I only recommend products I believe are genuinely useful.
Option 3 Transparency: I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the links below. My opinions are my own.
Guest posting for WIRED-style sites: how it helps your affiliate income (without affiliate links)
What guest posts do for you
- Authority: Strong bylines increase trust when you negotiate fees or pitch affiliate desks.
- Portfolio proof: One respected outlet can unlock 10 smaller paid gigs.
- Network: Editors remember writers who deliver clean drafts and clean sourcing.
- Opportunity flow: More assignments, higher rates, repeat work.
How to do it safely
| Do | Don’t |
|---|---|
| Pitch a story angle that fits the publication’s readers. | Pitch “best products” lists to a newsroom that doesn’t publish them. |
| Use credible sources + expert quotes where relevant. | Use affiliate pages as “sources.” |
| Keep your bio clean (portfolio link, newsletter, or homepage). | Stuff your bio with affiliate offers or salesy links. |
| Ask about link policy politely. | Sneak commercial links into a guest post. |
A WIRED-style pitch SOP (so editors take you seriously)
Read 10 recent pieces. Note tone, typical sources, and what “wins” there.
One clear promise. One audience. One reason it matters now.
Sources, data, experts, and what you will verify.
Submit on time. Clean structure. Accurate links. Zero drama.
Pitch templates (copy, customize, send)
Template 1 — Feature pitch (non-commercial, WIRED-style)
Subject: Pitch: [ONE CLEAR PROMISE] — [WHY NOW] (reported feature)
Hi [Editor Name],
I’m pitching [Working Title], a reported piece for [Section] that explains [the core idea] for [target reader].
Why it matters now: [1–2 lines: news hook, trend, policy, product shift, new data].
What the story will cover:
- [Point 1: the main claim]
- [Point 2: the human impact / reader value]
- [Point 3: what’s misunderstood / what’s changing]
Reporting plan / sources: [2–5 sources: studies, official docs, experts, companies, users].
Why me: [1–2 lines: relevant background + 1–2 portfolio links].
If this is a fit, I can deliver a draft by [date]. Happy to adjust angle, length, or framing.
Thanks,
[Your Name]
[Portfolio link]
Template 2 — Affiliate desk pitch (you write, outlet monetizes)
Subject: Pitch: [Best / Review / Comparison] — [keyword intent] (publish-ready)
Hi [Editor Name],
I’m pitching [Working Title] for your shopping/gear desk. The angle targets [buyer intent] and is designed to be publish-ready with clear structure, a comparison table, and honest pros/cons.
Format: [Best-of list / X vs Y / Review / How-to + tools]
Why this will perform: [1–2 lines: seasonal timing, product releases, search intent, reader demand]
Draft structure:
- Quick picks + who each is for
- Comparison table (specs + verdict)
- Testing notes / research-backed rationale
- Alternatives + “who should skip” section
Delivery: I can deliver in [X] days and include clean sources + image notes if needed.
Thanks,
[Your Name]
[Portfolio link]
Affiliate offer + angle builder (fills your article brief in 60 seconds)
Use this to create a clean, editor-safe mini-brief for any affiliate article. Then you can write faster and avoid random CTAs.
Tracking metrics writers actually need (simple + practical)
| Metric | What it tells you | What you do next |
|---|---|---|
| Clicks | Is your CTA getting attention? | If low: move CTA closer to decision points, improve button/link text. |
| Conversion rate | Do buyers actually purchase after clicking? | If low: improve “who it’s for”, add alternatives, reduce hype, clarify specs. |
| EPC (earnings per click) | How valuable each click is | Scale pages with high EPC. Update and re-promote them. |
| Top pages | Which articles pay you | Build clusters around winners: comparisons, alternatives, updates. |
- Find top 3 pages by earnings.
- Update one winner (fresh info, better table, improved CTA).
- Write one supporting page (“X vs Y” or “Best under budget”).
Practice sprint: publish your first affiliate page + one guest post pitch
Choose a product category you can explain. Decide “best for”, “comparison”, or “how-to”.
Intro, who it’s for, pros/cons, comparison table, alternatives, CTA placements.
Disclosure at top. Links where decisions happen. Avoid spam density.
Use Template 1. One clean angle. One reporting plan. One strong reason why now.
Quick answers (so you don’t get stuck)
Can I put affiliate links in a guest post for a big magazine?
Often, no — many publications restrict or forbid contributor affiliate links. Treat guest posts as a credibility asset, then earn via paid assignments or your own affiliate pages where allowed.
Do I need to buy every product I recommend?
Not always, but you must be honest about what you tested and what you didn’t. Use reliable sources, spec sheets, and expert input. If you didn’t test, don’t imply you did.
What if readers think affiliate content is “spam”?
That’s solved by structure and honesty: “who it’s for”, “who should skip”, real cons, and clear disclosures. Your content should still help even without links.
You now have a clean affiliate + guest-post income framework
Use affiliate pages to build compounding income and use WIRED-style guest posts to build authority and unlock bigger opportunities. Keep your writing honest, your disclosures clear, and your pitches professional — and you’ll grow a career that lasts.