Ever wondered if affiliate marketing could work for you—even if you have a small (or even nonexistent) audience?

Or maybe you’re exploring new ways to diversify your income in the ever-evolving world of entrepreneurship?

In today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders Podcast, I’m chatting with Whitney Bonds, who built a multi-six-figure business and grew a thriving YouTube channel with over 140,000 subscribers all from scratch using affiliate marketing.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

How the birth of her second child pushed Whitney to find ways to work from home, leading her to start a blog and jump into affiliate marketing.

Why affiliate marketing is a powerful income stream, especially for those who aren’t ready to create their own products just yet.

A simple content hack using already-performing content that can take your YouTube strategy to the next level.

**I’ve included the main points below, but I encourage you to dive into the full episode via audio or video!

For the full content, and all the insider tips, listen to Episode 133 or watch it on YouTube here.

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Getting Started with Affiliate Marketing

Whitney's journey into entrepreneurship began with her desire to be at home with her children.

She explored how to make money from home and stumbled upon the idea of creating a blog that shared successful moms' stories and how they accomplished their goals.

Whitney discovered that affiliate marketing provided an opportunity to earn commission by referring products or services via a unique referral link. This method allowed her to earn her first income online through her blog before she developed her own products.

Whitney emphasizes that you don't have to have your own product to get started. You can promote something that helps other people and earn a commission from it.

This strategy not only worked for her but led to a significant boost in her income over time. This strategy, while including links to online products she uses, also prioritizes sharing courses and programs with a higher affiliate payout.

The Importance of Diversifying Your Income

One of the key takeaways from our conversation is the importance of diversifying your income streams.

Whitney experienced firsthand the impact of algorithm changes on platforms like Pinterest, which was initially a significant driver of traffic to her blog. When that traffic diminished, Whitney had to pivot and adapt, ultimately leading her to prioritize diverse income streams.

Creating sustainable businesses is crucial. This is why affiliate marketing, memberships, YouTube payouts, selling courses, etc… is key to building sustainability.

We can’t control the fluctuations in the market, or changes to our marketing platforms which is why this diversification is key.

Prioritizing YouTube as a Marketing Strategy

Whitney and I also discussed our expansion into YouTube, a platform that has significantly contributed to her income and mine.

She shared how important it is to identify what is working for others in your niche and find ways to do it better through your content. This hack falls in line with utilizing what’s already on the internet, similar to my SEO content tips here.

Whitney shares that with YouTube, the key is focusing on your title and thumbnail first, and then ensuring your content delivers.

YouTube stands as an amazing platform for marketing in 2025 and beyond thanks to its powerful search engine, consumers need to move away from short-form content and desire to look for more in-depth solutions.

I recently shared my entire recording and editing process in this YouTube training video.

Building a Reliable Email List

Another crucial income driver that Whitney and I both advocate for is building an engaged email list.

Whitney credits her remarkable open rate thanks to effective strategy and consistency. She prioritizes working smarter, by reusing the same subject line format. Building trust with your audience is where email lists come in. By giving them a way to hear from you consistently and invite them into your authentic journey, you build trust.

This trust can pay off when you’re utilizing affiliate marketing or looking for sponsorships as additional income streams.

Remember, you're on rented land on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, but you own your email list, and it’s a vital fallback for any entrepreneur says Whitney.

Mindset and Long-Term Success

Whitney emphasizes the direct correlation between value and income. She shared that more value equals more income and emphasized both learning and sharing experiences, even from mistakes, as a way to provide value to others.

Sometimes, it can feel like we don’t have anything to share, especially when we’re just getting started, but these simple lessons or mistakes can prove to be rather valuable content.

Just think of all the things you’ve learned in the last six months and how valuable that information could be for someone else.

Whitney provided a new free resource for listeners, The Wealth Blueprint, where she shares the Secret to Building Wealth. Get your free download here.

CONNECT WITH WHITNEY

Whitney Bonds is a YouTuber with over 140K subscribers who is known for empowering her audience to build sustainable online businesses from home. Bonds shares step-by-step guides, tips, and resources to help her audience succeed in affiliate marketing, build online businesses, and achieve financial freedom.

https://www.youtube.com/@WhitneyBonds

https://www.instagram.com/whitneybonds101

https://www.facebook.com/triedandtruemomjobs

Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Podcasts to hear the full episode and all the tips.

P.S. Ready to build a revenue-generating brand? One that not only stands out online but also makes it easier than ever to create high-value content? Tune in to my free brand class and learn my Build a Better Brand Method. Watch now at brandmerry.com/class.

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