My journey in affiliate marketing started with one simple problem — I couldn’t sleep. I built a small website about sleep to share what I learned and review products like mattresses and weighted blankets. One review started earning while I slept. That small win became the spark that built TrafficFamily — now 10 Dutch affiliate sites, 15 people, and over €150,000 a month in commissions.
I recently shared this story on James Oliver’s podcast, where we talked about building affiliate businesses that actually last and the mindset it takes to scale them.
What you'll learn
Start with What You Love
If you’re starting out, choose a niche you actually care about. You’ll stick with it longer, and your content will feel more real. Begin with half informational and half commercial content — teach first, sell later.
Pick the Right Niche
Look for three things:
- Size – Start small but think long-term.
- Monetization – Pick topics with products or services that actually pay.
- Language – Don’t limit yourself to your local market.
Avoid competing with big media sites like Forbes or CNN. Win where you can actually win.
Build a Small but Smart Team
I work with 15 people — writers, editors, virtual assistants, and a partnership team. Everyone’s remote. I don’t care when they work, only that they deliver.
Travel and Connect
I travel across Asia but stay longer in each place. The key isn’t the location — it’s the people. Surround yourself with others building cool things. Conferences are worth it. The best ideas and deals happen over casual chats, not formal meetings.
Build or Buy?
If you’re new, build your first site. You’ll learn everything by doing.
Once you understand the game, buy a site and scale faster.
Affiliate marketing takes patience, but once it clicks, it becomes a real passive income machine — working even while you sleep.
👉 Watch the full Q&A interview with James Oliver here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGMyma0s1eg