Affiliate vs Product Showdown: What’s Your Best First Money Maker?

by Tommy Janson · July 10, 2025

How to Choose the Right Path (and Why You Might Want Both)

If you’re new to online business, one of the first big decisions you’ll face is this:

Should you start with affiliate marketing or create your own product?

Or maybe… do both?

Let’s break down the pros, cons, and smart strategies so you can launch with confidence, without wasting time or spinning your wheels.

Start with Affiliate Marketing If…

You’re just getting started and don’t have an audience yet.
You want to test a niche or learn the basics of digital marketing – traffic, email, sales – before building a product.
You don’t yet know what your audience truly wants or needs.
You want to make money without creating something from scratch.

Affiliate marketing is low-risk, fast to launch, and perfect for learning how to sell online. You’re promoting someone else’s proven product, earning commissions while you build trust and grow your list. For beginners, it’s a hands-on education in persuasion, content creation, and conversions—without the pressure of fulfillment, refunds, or product development.

Start with Your Own Product If…

You already have a skill, framework, or unique approach to solving a problem.
You’ve built even a small community – 100 engaged subscribers is enough.
You want full control over the pricing, messaging, and customer journey.
You’re in it for the long haul and want to build a real brand asset.

Creating your own product gives you the highest profit margins and positions you as the go-to expert. It also opens the door to future offers – like coaching, bundles, or a product suite – and makes it easier to build customer loyalty.

Or… Do Both (The Smart Hybrid Strategy)

Many savvy marketers start with affiliate marketing to build an audience and test their messaging, then create their own product based on what people ask for or struggle with.

Here’s a smart roadmap:

Promote a few high-value affiliate tools or offers.
Grow your email list by offering content or bonuses.
Listen to your audience. What are they stuck on?
Create a simple product that solves one specific problem.
Bundle your product with affiliate tools for a high-value offer.

You learn while you earn—and by the time you launch your own product, you’ll already know what your audience wants to buy.

90 Day Plans for Affiliate Marketing and Creating Your Own Product

Now that you’ve got the big picture, let’s break it down into action.

Whether you’re leaning toward affiliate marketing, creating your own product, or both, the next 90 days can be a game-changer—if you focus. Below are two realistic, step-by-step 90-day roadmaps. Pick one based on where you are now (or run them in parallel if you’re ready).

90-Day Affiliate Marketing Plan

Start earning while you build trust, traffic, and a list.

Days 1–30: Foundation + Content Creation

Choose a Niche – Focus on one specific audience and outcome (e.g., productivity for solopreneurs, gut health for women over 40).
Research Affiliate Programs – Pick 2–3 aligned products or tools that solve real problems. Prioritize ones that offer recurring commissions or high payouts.
Create a Free Lead Magnet – A checklist, guide, or 5-day email course related to the affiliate product’s topic.
Set Up Your Email Funnel – Use ConvertKit, Systeme, or another beginner-friendly tool. Sequence: Opt-in → welcome → value emails → soft pitch.
Launch a Simple Website or Landing Page – Use Carrd, Leadpages, or WordPress. Include your opt-in and affiliate links.

Days 31–60: Build Audience + Drive Traffic

Create Consistent Content – Post 2–3x per week: blog posts, YouTube videos, Reels, or TikToks—whatever suits your niche.
Join Niche Communities – Be helpful in forums, Facebook groups, Reddit, etc. Don’t spam—offer value and link to your freebie.
Email Your List Weekly – Share tips, stories, and behind-the-scenes insights that naturally segue into affiliate promotions.

Days 61–90: Scale + Optimize

Test Affiliate Offers – Use UTM links or PrettyLinks to track what gets clicks and converts.
Run a Mini Campaign – Choose one affiliate product, then build a 5-day “challenge” or limited-time offer with bonuses.
Refine Your Funnel – Based on open rates, clicks, and conversions, tweak your headlines, CTAs, and sequence.

By Day 90:
You’ll have a working system: Traffic, leads, and commissions coming in. Now you can double down—or start building your own product on top.

90-Day Product Creation Plan

Turn your expertise into a sellable offer, even if you’re starting from scratch.

Days 1–30: Validate + Outline

Pick a Pain Point to Solve – Think “urgent, specific, and painful.” Examples: “How to write your first sales page,” “Meal prep for busy vegans.”
Validate the Idea – Post in groups, survey your audience, or run a poll. Ask what they’re stuck on.
Choose a Format – PDF guide, video course, workshop, templates, or toolkit.
Map Your Offer – Break the transformation into 3–5 steps or modules. Outline content in bullet points, not scripts (yet).
Create a Waitlist Page – Build interest while you build the product.

Days 31–60: Create + Build Funnel

Build the Product – Record lessons or write content using Loom, Canva, Google Docs, etc. Keep it simple.
Create a Sales Page – Focus on benefits, outcomes, and testimonials (or pre-sale feedback).
Set Up Checkout + Delivery – Use Gumroad, Thrivecart, Podia, or Stripe with Google Drive for simple delivery.
Launch to Your List – If you have subscribers, offer an early-bird bonus or discount. No list? Start with beta pricing and social shares.

Days 61–90: Promote + Improve

Gather Testimonials – Ask your first customers for feedback and reviews.
Create Promo Content – Turn your modules into tips for Reels, blog posts, and emails.
Run a Launch Campaign – Build urgency with a 3–5 day sequence: story → value → results → CTA → final call.
Upsell or Bundle – Add a coaching call, template, or affiliate tool to increase your offer’s value.

By Day 90:
You’ve built a digital product, created your first sales funnel, and (if you’ve promoted it) made your first sales. Now it’s time to scale or add new offers.

Final Thought: There’s No “Right” First Step—Only Forward Motion

Affiliate marketing and product creation both work. Choose the path that excites you most—or run both in parallel with focus. The only wrong move? Waiting until it’s perfect.

The goal is to ship something in the next 90 days. From there, you can tweak, grow, and win.

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