In a previous post, I shared a detailed report of my 5 year AdSense earnings, and one of the Shouters suggested that I do a similar post for affiliate marketing income, and it made sense to me that I should share such a report with my readers.
Prior to earning income from AdSense, my initial earnings came from the affiliate marketing where I earned my first $47 as affiliate income, and that was a considerable amount at that point in time.
The funny thing is that when I started blogging I had no idea what AdSense or affiliate marketing was, but I soon came to realize how blogs are making money.  That is a story for another post, but for now, let’s talk about affiliate earnings.
Since I have used various affiliate programs and networks, it ‘s hard to offer an accurate report here, but I will use the report from my major affiliate program and calculate the earnings using that income.
2022 Update: My first million dollar with single affiliate program:
Here is my income proof of an affiliate program where I have made one million dollars:
Here is another affiliate program where I have made more than $700K in the past 10 years:
I will also share with you the related network names, which will help you to identify some affiliate networks that can work for you. You can also check out my earlier posts on Affiliate Programs for the WordPress Niche which will offer you a great list of affiliate programs.
Note: I last calculated this report in mid-November 2013.
List of working affiliate programs with earnings:
- Hostgator Affiliate Program: $25006
- Infolinks Affiliate Program: $325 (I don’t recommend this anymore)
- Combining other hosting affiliate programs: Â $43591.3
- Elegant Themes Affiliate Program: $3,384
- Aweber Affiliate Program: $550
- Theme Forest Affiliate Program: $454
- E-Junkie Affiliate Program: $193 + 235 + 86 + 26
- KnownHost Affiliate program: $175
- Media Temple Affiliate Program: $180
- Obox Affiliate Program: $45
- Theme-Junkie Affiliate Program: $270
- Sponsored Tweets: $51
- GoDaddy Affiliate Program: $755
- Templatic Themes: $320
- Avangate Affiliate Program: $121
- Warrior Forum: $1177
- Swift Themes: $47
- Amazon: $37
- Magazine3 Theme: $25
- FameThemes: $230
- ThemeFurnace: $12
- PostPlanner: $41
- StealthGenie: $350
- Click Bank: 1550
Total – $79330.3 ( 50 Lakh INR Approx)
For the curious Shouters, I’m attaching a screenshot from the dashboard of three of my most successful affiliate programs. I have taken this screenshot today, so you will see more earnings than you see stated above.
Other blog monetization program earnings:
The following are not direct affiliate programs but are representative of the monetization networks and techniques that have worked relatively well to date. I am adding this to show you other ad networks in addition to AdSense which will allow you to monetize your blog.
One network which I have tried but have not profited from so far is Media.net, a network which is getting mix reviews.
- Infolinks: $3091.24
- Chitika: $82
- Viglink: $590
- Skimlinks: $300
- Sponsored post: $114
- BuySellads: $10,929
Total – $15106.24 (9.25 Lakh INR Approx.)
Where to begin with affiliate marketing:
There are countless numbers of affiliate models that people follow in an effort to earn money online.  I follow the technique of sharing what I use,  and earning income by doing so.
If you are using monetization techniques other than AdSense, I recommend that you make a slow transition to affiliate marketing as well. Add one or two banners of related affiliate products on your blog sidebar, and see how it works out for you.
I strongly suggest that if you are getting into affiliate marketing, you work on creating a sustainable model rather than a hit-and-run model. The affiliate marketing model is very lucrative and well worth your time if you are doing it the right way.
Learn all about Affiliate marketing in one eBook: Buy from ShoutMeLoud store
This year I’m focusing more on turning my ShoutMeLoud monetization techniques into a more product-based model rather than techniques involving affiliate and other contextual ad networks. I will continue to share my education and my discoveries with you.
Subscribe to our Email newsletter for all the updates!
Hi Harsh,
This is very inspiring, and it further corroborate the saying that “Hard work pay off” You are very committed with SML and I believe that anybody that is as committed as you should definitely earn the reward.
Thanks for sharing your earnings with we your readers, it goes a long way in showing that your really care about our success too.
Thanks Harsh Sir for sharing this inspirational article and trust me it’s a dream of every blogger and I hope it will come true for me too. Feeling very glad after reading another inspirational article @shoutmeloud. Thanks again.
Wow, simply amazing. No one around me could have even imagined earning this much just from a blog before you came to mentor us. Thanks a lot Harsh, really appreciate it.
Hi Harsh,
It is really inspiring, and thanks for sharing such a wonderful information, which will inspire each and every one who is very much new to blogging.
Just wondering, you gave your infolinks earning, but, i could not see infolink ads in your page and goodle adsense ad as well.
I guess, you use those ads in few pages/posts only, not on entire site, Am i correct?
Wow.. Dats a great achievement . I also wish to earn like that . I am a blogger and trying my best to earn online but even after trying a lot am not able to earn anything . I regularly visit your site to learn to earn money online . I wish if I could personally get your help to earn online or through ur site
But I have seen a huge traffic drop as soon as i start earning handsomly from affiliate income. Does it mean Google does not like affiliate links. Is it true or is there something else that is totally responsible for huge traffic drop on my site. Your opinion on this matter is highly appreciable Harsh.
Harsh, congratulations — and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
I started as a writer for eHow around 2007. I don’t know if you were part of that group back in those days, but eHow allowed us to publish articles for some ad revenue and the results were fantastic back in those days (prior to Google’s recent changes, etc.)
These days I run my own blog which I am growing every single day; it is a diverse community similar to HubPages or Squidoo, and I can only hope to achieve half of the success YOU have achieved. You are an inspiration, and I commend you for your hard work.
– Elvis
Harsh that’s really an inspiring and motivating factor for everyone who is or has to get started with blogging journey. I did start with Google Adsense on my blogs, however I am trying my luck with Affiliate Marketing these days.
Thank you for sharing the valuable insights and best wishes from cross border fan of yours!! 🙂 Good luck!
Hi Harsh, thanks for sharing your income reports. I’m glad to see that we can earn this much of income and you are my inspiration behind blogging.
Hey Harsh
WOW
that’s insane. These kind of posts are really amazing and really inspiring. 5 Years income really awesome. My favorite blogger 😀 😀
Hey What kind of Affiliates should I use for a gadgets site ( Android, iOS ) ? ? ?
Wonderful and congratulations Harsh. You have really made people aware that it is possible to make money online through blogging. And I see your main earning is from Hostgator and Blue, which is really amazing. Best of luck for the future.
Awesome Harsh really earnings are really awesome and you have worked very hard to earn these amount hats off to you and Best of Luck for your future 🙂
That’s great stats..! tHanX for sharing with us…)
That’s really awesome and I think everyone will be inspired with you by the way you don’t have any detailed post about sponsored tweet ?
Man oh Man, this is why he is in the top 5 best bloggers in India. Inspiration for all bloggers (newbies or pro alike). This figure early in the morning is a great confidence booster always.
Hi Harsh, I am regular visitor of your blog since 4 years.This post will answer thousand questions related to affiliate market and earning through blog. Thanks for sharing in such a beautiful manner. Best of luck 🙂
my first online earning ever was 421$ 😀
@Alan
Atleast you started, and once you are in the field, I’m sure it won’t take much time to add couple or more zeros after that number.. Best of luck!!
Actually dude,when I was 16 (10th standard) one of my classmate sold me an adsense account to make money clicking (for 500 rupees) ,,that was the turning point of my life..he would sell me the account making trick @5000 ,So I started my research on internet..but found nothing..so after learning many things and applying my brain-I cracked the trick ,and then I made over 20 adsense account,as every account was being banned by google at the end of the month…SO this was my starting….to the( blogging aff marketing,seo,hacking, ,blogger,wordpress(much later) )world..I used to devote 8-9 hours on my researching when I was in 12th standard-pretending to be studying..
to be continued
its really your hardwork+smartwork .. this awesome report is like a proof for nebie bloggers. and congrats to you Harsh. ):
Dear Harsh, Nice report, thanks for sharing. You earning and income report is always big inspiration for newbies. From this report all can get know the paid affliate programs in online.
What an awesome report. You are really making cool money and I’m motivated never to stop blogging but keeping moving forward. Thanks Harsh