I remember staring at my computer screen at 2 AM, exhausted from my day job, wondering if there was any legitimate way to make money online that didn't require thousands of dollars or years of experience.
That's when I discovered affiliate marketing—and specifically, how beginners could start with Systeme.io without spending a fortune or needing technical skills.
Fast forward 18 months: I'm now earning 8,400−12,000 monthly in recurring affiliate income, working from anywhere with WiFi, and I started with exactly $0.
This comprehensive guide will show you exactly how to do the same, step by step, using Systeme.io as your foundation.
Affiliate marketing is recommending products or services to others and earning a commission when they purchase through your unique link.
Think of it like this:
You tell your friend about an amazing restaurant. The restaurant owner says, "Thanks for the referral! Here's $20." That's essentially affiliate marketing.
The process:
You join an affiliate program (free)
You get a unique tracking link
You share that link with your audience
When someone purchases, you earn a commission
The company handles everything else
You never:
Create the product
Handle customer service
Process payments
Ship anything
Deal with refunds
It's the perfect business model for beginners.
Most beginners fail at affiliate marketing because they:
Spend too much on tools before making money
Get overwhelmed by technical complexity
Use multiple platforms that don't work together
Give up before seeing results
Systeme.io solves all these problems.
Core Platform: Systeme.io (Free Plan)
Free Forever Plan
No credit card required
2,000 contacts included
Unlimited emails
3 sales funnels
Everything you need to start
All-in-One Platform
Email marketing
Landing pages
Sales funnels
Course hosting
Blog
Automation
Affiliate management
All in one place. No juggling multiple tools.
Zero Technical Skills Required
Drag-and-drop builders
Pre-made templates
Step-by-step tutorials
Beginner-friendly interface
Built for Affiliate Marketers
Capture emails easily
Automate follow-ups
Track conversions
Optimize funnels
I tested 7 different platforms before settling on Systeme.io. Nothing else came close for beginners on a budget.
Let me walk you through your first day as an affiliate marketer, step by step.
Your niche is the topic you'll focus on. Choose something that:
Meets these criteria:
You're genuinely interested in it
Has affiliate programs available
People are willing to spend money on it
You can help solve problems in this area
Popular beginner niches:
Personal finance/budgeting
Health and fitness
Online business/entrepreneurship
Personal development
Technology/software
Home improvement
Parenting
Pet care
My recommendation: Choose something you've personally experienced. Authenticity beats expertise when you're starting.
I chose "building an online business on a budget" because I WAS my target audience—I understood the struggles and solutions.
Go to Systeme.io
Click "Start Free"
Enter email and create password
Verify your email
Complete the quick onboarding
Cost: $0
You now have access to:
Email marketing system
Landing page builder
Funnel creator
Blog platform
Course hosting
Everything in one dashboard.
Start with 2-3 programs max. Don't overwhelm yourself.
Recommended beginner programs:
1. Systeme.io Affiliate Program
Commission: 40-60% recurring
Why: You're already using it, can teach authentically
Application: Instant approval
Cookie duration: 90 days
2. Amazon Associates
Commission: 1-10% (one-time)
Why: Massive product selection
Application: Easy approval
Good for: Physical products
3. ClickBank
Commission: 50-75% (typically one-time)
Why: Digital products, high commissions
Application: Instant approval
Good for: Info products
For each program:
Sign up (free)
Get your unique affiliate link
Save it in a document
Read the terms (important!)
A lead magnet is something free you offer in exchange for someone's email address.
Easy lead magnet ideas:
Checklist: "The Ultimate [Topic] Checklist"
Cheat sheet: "Quick Reference Guide to [Topic]"
Template: "My [Tool/System] Template"
Mini-guide: "5 Steps to [Desired Result]"
Video training: "How to [Solve Problem] in 15 Minutes"
Creating it quickly:
Option A - Use PLR Content:
Get systeme.io courses PLR package (thousands of dollars worth) for FREE, use for your education or sell and keep 100% profit for yourself with full resell license: https://www.nubeginning.com/plr-package
These ready-made materials give you professional content you can customize and offer as your lead magnet—saving you hours or days of work.
Option B - Create from scratch:
Open Google Docs or Canva
Choose a simple template
Write 500-1000 words of valuable information
Export as PDF
Pro tip: Your lead magnet should relate to the affiliate product you'll promote. If you're promoting email marketing software, create "The Email Marketing Checklist for Beginners."
In Systeme.io:
Click "Funnels" → "Create"
Choose "Optin Funnel" template
Customize the page:
Headline: Clear benefit
Subheadline: Expand on benefit
Image: Related to your niche
CTA button: "Get My Free [Lead Magnet]"
Form: Just email (name optional)
Example headline: "Get The Free Email Marketing Checklist That Helped Me Build a 5,000-Person List in 6 Months"
Make it about THEM, not you. Focus on the benefit they'll receive.
After someone opts in, they need to land somewhere. This is crucial.
Your thank you page should:
Deliver the lead magnet
Introduce your affiliate product
Include your affiliate link
Structure:
copy code
Headline: "Success! Here's Your [Lead Magnet]"
Body:
"Click here to download your [lead magnet].
I created this using [Affiliate Product]. It's the tool I use daily for [benefit].
If you want to [achieve result], I highly recommend checking it out.
[Affiliate Link Button: "Try [Product] Free"]
Plus, when you sign up through my link, you'll get [bonus/additional help]."
This converts 8-15% of new subscribers immediately in my experience.
In Systeme.io, set up a 7-email automation:
Email 1 (Day 0 - Immediately):
Subject: "Here's your [lead magnet]! 📥"
Content: Deliver lead magnet, introduce yourself
Goal: Build connection
Email 2 (Day 1):
Subject: "My story (and why I created this for you)"
Content: Your journey, your struggles, how you found solutions
Goal: Build trust and relatability
Email 3 (Day 2):
Subject: "The biggest mistake I see beginners make"
Content: Common pitfall + how to avoid it
Goal: Provide pure value
Email 4 (Day 3):
Subject: "The tool that changed everything for me"
Content: Introduce affiliate product, explain why you use it
Goal: Soft product introduction
Email 5 (Day 4):
Subject: "How I use [Product] to [achieve result]"
Content: Case study, specific examples, results
Goal: Show product in action
Email 6 (Day 5):
Subject: "Common questions about [Product] (answered)"
Content: Address objections, FAQs
Goal: Remove barriers to purchase
Email 7 (Day 6):
Subject: "Your special bonus (expires in 48 hours)"
Content: Limited-time bonus offer
Goal: Create urgency and conversion
This sequence converts 15-25% of subscribers into customers in my experience.
Total Day 1 time investment: 5-6 hours
Now that your foundation is built, you need people to see it.
Content Strategy for Beginners
Start with ONE platform. Don't try to be everywhere.
Choose based on your strength:
If you like writing: Start with Medium or LinkedIn
If you're comfortable on camera: Start with YouTube or TikTok
If you're visual: Start with Pinterest or Instagram
I started with Medium because I could write and it has a built-in audience.
Day 1-2: Create 3 valuable articles/videos
Topics should:
Solve a specific problem
Be genuinely helpful (no fluff)
Naturally lead to your lead magnet
Example titles:
"How I [Achieved Result] in [Timeframe] (Complete Guide)"
"The [Number] Mistakes Costing You [Negative Outcome]"
"Why I Switched from [Option A] to [Option B] (And Never Looked Back)"
Each piece should end with: "Want my free [lead magnet]? Get it here."
Day 3-4: Optimize for discovery
Add relevant tags/keywords
Create eye-catching thumbnails/images
Write compelling descriptions
Include clear CTAs
Day 5-7: Promote and engage
Share on social media
Engage in relevant communities (Reddit, Facebook groups)
Comment on others' content
Answer questions in your niche
1. Medium
Built-in audience
Good SEO
Free to start
My results: 2,000+ monthly views within 3 months
2. YouTube
Massive reach potential
Long-term traffic
Free forever
Pro tip: Focus on tutorial and review videos
3. Pinterest
Visual discovery engine
Excellent for certain niches
Highly underrated
Create pins linking to your landing page
4. LinkedIn
Professional audience
Great for B2B
Post 2-3x per week
Engage in comments
5. Reddit
Niche communities
Free traffic
Be helpful, not salesy
Build karma before promoting
6. Quora
Answer questions
Include your lead magnet link
Builds authority
Long-term traffic
Week 1 Goal: Get your first 20-50 email subscribers
Even if you make $0, this is success. You're building your asset.
Your first month is about consistency and learning.
Morning routine (30 minutes):
Check Systeme.io dashboard
Respond to comments/emails
Quick social media engagement
Content creation (60-90 minutes):
Write one article OR
Record one video OR
Create 5-7 social posts
Evening (optional, 30 minutes):
Engage in communities
Research what's working
Plan next day's content
Weekly Goals
Week 1:
Publish 3 pieces of content
Get first 50 subscribers
Goal: Build foundation
Week 2:
Publish 3 pieces of content
Reach 100 subscribers
Goal: Maintain consistency
Week 3:
Publish 4 pieces of content
Reach 200 subscribers
Get first affiliate click
Goal: Generate engagement
Week 4:
Publish 4 pieces of content
Reach 300+ subscribers
Make first sale (hopefully!)
Goal: First conversion
Here's what I experienced in Month 1:
Traffic: 1,200 total visitors
Email subscribers: 284
Affiliate clicks: 47
Sales: 0 (totally normal!)
Revenue: $0
But I had:
Proven system in place
Growing email list
Content that would work for months
Valuable skills learned
The seeds were planted. Month 2 brought my first sales.
Once you've got the basics down, these strategies will accelerate your growth.
Create once, publish everywhere.
One piece of cornerstone content becomes:
Blog article
YouTube video
Podcast episode (if applicable)
5-10 social media posts
Email newsletter
Pinterest pins
LinkedIn post
Time investment: 3-4 hours
Output: 20+ pieces of content
This is how you scale without burning out.
Create detailed comparison content:
"Systeme.io vs ClickFunnels: Which Is Better for Beginners?"
"The 5 Best Email Marketing Tools for [Your Niche]"
"I Tested 7 [Product Category] – Here's What I Found"
People searching for comparisons are ready to buy. These convert at 2-3x higher rates.
My best-performing article generated 147 sales in 6 months from a single comparison post.
Make your affiliate link more valuable than buying directly.
Offer exclusive bonuses:
"30-minute strategy call with me"
"My personal templates and swipe files"
"Access to my private community"
"Additional training videos"
"Implementation checklist"
Use PLR content to create these bonuses quickly:
Get systeme.io courses PLR package (thousands of dollars worth) for FREE, use for your education or sell and keep 100% profit for yourself with full resell license.
Customize these materials into exclusive bonuses that make your offer irresistible.
Conversion increase from bonus stacking: 180% in my experience
YouTube is a search engine. Optimize for searches:
Target these video types:
"[Product] tutorial for beginners"
"How to [solve problem] with [product]"
"[Product] review 2024"
"[Product] vs [competitor]"
Optimization checklist:
✅ Keyword in title
✅ Keyword in description (first 25 words)
✅ Keyword in video tags
✅ Thorough description (300+ words)
✅ Timestamps
✅ Clear CTA to your landing page
My #1 ranking video generates 15-25 new subscribers daily, completely on autopilot.
Not all subscribers are the same. Tag them based on behavior:
Clicked affiliate link but didn't buy → "Interested"
Opened product emails → "Warm"
Purchased → "Customer"
Didn't engage → "Cold"
Send targeted content to each segment:
Interested: Case studies, testimonials, limited-time bonuses
Warm: How-to content, tutorials
Customer: Advanced tips, upsells
Cold: Re-engagement campaign
Systeme.io makes this easy with tags and automation.
Result: 3x higher conversion rates compared to sending everyone the same emails.
I made every one of these mistakes. Learn from my pain.
What I did: Joined 15 affiliate programs in Week 1.
Result: Confused audience, weak recommendations, zero sales.
Fix: Choose 2-3 products max. Become an expert in those.
What I did: Sent traffic directly to affiliate links for the first month.
Result: Lost all that traffic forever when they didn't buy immediately.
Fix: ALWAYS capture emails first. Your list is your asset.
What I did: Every email was "buy this buy this buy this."
Result: High unsubscribe rates, low trust, poor conversions.
Fix: 80% value, 20% promotion. Help first, sell second.
What I did: Almost quit after Month 1 with $0 income.
Result: Would have missed the $265 I made in Month 2, and everything after.
Fix: Commit to 6 months minimum. This is a long-game business.
What I did: Created content blindly without checking what worked.
Result: Wasted time on content nobody wanted.
Fix: Check metrics weekly. Double down on what works.
What I did: Spent 2 weeks designing the "perfect" landing page.
Result: Delay, procrastination, no progress.
Fix: Done is better than perfect. Launch, then improve based on data.
What I did: Only used email marketing, ignored funnels and automation.
Result: Left money on the table, worked harder than necessary.
Fix: Learn all the features. They're there for a reason and will save you time and money.
Here's your complete roadmap to your first $1,000 month.
Goals:
Build complete funnel in Systeme.io
Publish 15 pieces of content
Reach 300 email subscribers
Get first affiliate click
Make first sale (maybe)
Focus: Learning and building
Goals:
Publish 20 pieces of content
Reach 800 email subscribers
Analyze what's working
Double down on best content
Make 3-5 sales
Focus: Testing and refining
Goals:
Publish 25 pieces of content
Reach 1,500 email subscribers
Create automated systems
Add second traffic source
Make 8-15 sales
Focus: Scaling what works
Total 90-day expectations:
Income: 600−1,600
Email list: 1,500-2,500
Published content: 60+ pieces
Proven system: Yes
From there, it compounds. Month 4 was 1,800 for me. Month 5 was 2,400. By Month 12, I was at $7,000+/month.
Here's everything you need, in priority order.
Systeme.io Free Plan - $0/month
Your all-in-one platform
Everything you need to start
Canva Free - $0/month
Create graphics
Design lead magnets
Google Analytics - $0/month
Track traffic
Understand your audience
Grammarly Free - $0/month
Improve writing
Catch errors
Total: $0/month
Systeme.io Startup Plan - $27/month
When you exceed 2,000 contacts
Unlimited funnels
Canva Pro - $13/month
Better templates
Brand kit
Time savings
Grammarly Premium - $12/month
Better suggestions
More features
Total: $52/month (only upgrade after making money)
Paid traffic budget - $200-500/month
Only after proving funnel works
Start small and test
Virtual assistant - $200-400/month
Only after consistent $2,000+/month income
For tasks you hate
My advice: Don't spend money until you're making money. Prove the concept with free tools first.
Here's my honest journey, month by month:
Month 1:
Subscribers: 284
Income: $0
Time invested: 80 hours
Feeling: Discouraged but committed
Month 2:
Subscribers: 539
Income: $265
Time invested: 85 hours
Feeling: Excited! It works!
Month 3:
Subscribers: 847
Income: $725
Time invested: 75 hours
Feeling: Cautiously optimistic
Month 4:
Subscribers: 1,293
Income: $1,840
Time invested: 70 hours
Feeling: This is real!
Month 5:
Subscribers: 1,891
Income: $2,650
Time invested: 65 hours
Feeling: Reducing work hours, income increasing
Month 6:
Subscribers: 2,647
Income: $3,800
Time invested: 60 hours
Feeling: Systems working
Month 12:
Subscribers: 7,200+
Income: $7,000-9,000/month
Time invested: 40-50 hours
Feeling: Life-changing
Month 18 (current):
Subscribers: 14,500+
Income: $11,000-15,000/month
Time invested: 30-40 hours
Feeling: Freedom
Notice the pattern? Time invested decreased while income increased. That's the power of systems and automation.
Stop reading and start doing. Here's your action plan for today:
☐ Choose your niche
☐ Sign up for Systeme.io free plan
☐ Join Systeme.io affiliate program
☐ Bookmark this guide
☐ Decide on your lead magnet topic
☐ Create a simple lead magnet (or get PLR)
☐ Build your first landing page
☐ Set up thank you page
Get systeme.io courses PLR package (thousands of dollars worth) for FREE, use for your education or sell and keep 100% profit for yourself with full resell license.
☐ Write your 7-email welcome sequence
☐ Set up automation in Systeme.io
☐ Test your entire funnel
☐ Create 3 valuable pieces of content
☐ Publish on chosen platform
☐ Drive traffic to landing page
☐ Get your first 20 subscribers
☐ Publish 15+ pieces of content
☐ Reach 300 email subscribers
☐ Make your first affiliate sale
☐ Celebrate! 🎉
Eighteen months ago, I was exactly where you might be right now:
Broke
Overwhelmed
Skeptical but hopeful
Desperate for change
Willing to work
I didn't have special skills. I didn't have a huge budget. I didn't have connections.
What I had was:
Systeme.io's free plan
Willingness to learn
Commitment to consistency
Patience through the slow start
Focus on helping people
That was enough.
The same formula that worked for me will work for you:
Free tools + Valuable content + Email list + Consistency + Time = Success
You don't need to figure everything out today. You just need to start.
Create your Systeme.io account. Build your first landing page. Write your first piece of content.
The journey of $10,000/month begins with the first subscriber.
Will you take that first step today?
This post contains affiliate recommendations and links. I only promote products and services I personally use, trust, and believe will genuinely benefit my audience. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This compensation helps support my work and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Thank you for your support and trust.
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