Can You Do Affiliate Marketing with Medium or Substack?
Welcome to my article “Can You Do Affiliate Marketing with Medium or Substack?” If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I’m already writing online… why not make some money while I’m at it?”—welcome to the wonderful world of affiliate marketing. Platforms like Medium and Substack have become the digital playgrounds for writers, thinkers, and keyboard philosophers everywhere. But here’s the million-dollar question (or at least a few extra bucks for coffee): Can you actually do affiliate marketing on these platforms without getting flagged, banned, or buried under a sea of algorithmic indifference?
The short answer? Yes. The long answer? Also yes—but with some fine print. Medium and Substack each have their own quirks, rules, and unspoken “don’t-be-spammy” policies. And while they don’t exactly roll out a red carpet for affiliate marketers, they won’t kick you off the platform either—as long as you play by the rules. Think of it like being invited to a dinner party where you can talk about your favorite blender that earns you a commission, but only if you do it tactfully and without turning into a walking infomercial.
In this post, we’ll break down exactly how affiliate marketing works on both Medium and Substack, what’s allowed, what’s frowned upon, and how to do it in a way that keeps your audience engaged (and clicking). Whether you’re a newsletter newbie or a Medium regular, we’ll help you turn your words into revenue—without selling your soul or your readers’ attention span.
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Of course! Here’s an expanded section on “Understanding Affiliate Marketing Basics” in the same informative with a splash-of-humor style:
Understanding Affiliate Marketing Basics
Let’s start with a quick breakdown of affiliate marketing—because before you start sprinkling links into your beautifully crafted essays, you should know what you’re actually doing (besides hoping for clicks like a digital slot machine).
Affiliate marketing is essentially the online version of recommending your favorite things—except you get paid when someone actually buys them. You join a company’s affiliate program, they give you a unique tracking link, and when someone clicks that link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission. It’s like being a digital matchmaker between products and people—with the added bonus of not having to carry inventory, deal with customer service, or wear pants. (Remote life wins again.)
Here’s a basic formula: You write helpful content + include affiliate links = Potential passive income.
Sounds easy, right? Well, sort of. The trick is making those links feel like a natural part of your content—not like a desperate sales pitch squeezed into an otherwise delightful read. Your audience can smell a hard sell from a mile away (and they’ll bounce faster than you can say “referral commission”).
So, affiliate marketing is all about relevance and trust. The more genuinely helpful your content is—and the more aligned the products are with your topic—the better your chances of converting readers into buyers. Whether you’re writing a thoughtful essay, a how-to guide, or a curated list of your favorite writing tools, affiliate links should complement the content, not hijack it.
In other words: Be helpful, be honest, and don’t be that person who tries to sell hiking boots in an article about indoor plants. Your readers—and your earnings—will thank you.
Let me know if you want help expanding the next section or adding visuals, bullet lists, or real examples!
Absolutely! Here’s a fun and informative expansion of the section “Affiliate Marketing on Medium – What You Need to Know” — keeping that same witty, conversational style:
Affiliate Marketing on Medium – What You Need to Know
Medium: the land of thought-provoking essays, minimalist design, and the occasional “I quit my job and made $10,000 in a month” story. It’s a fantastic place for writers to build an audience and share ideas—but can it also be a place to make money with affiliate links? The answer is yes… but with a healthy dose of “read the fine print.”
First things first—you can include affiliate links on Medium, and no, the platform won’t send a robot to shut down your account the moment you do. However, Medium does have rules. And Medium really likes its rules. The most important one? Disclose your links. If you’re recommending a product and earning a commission from it, you’ve got to be transparent about it. Think of it like telling your friend, “Hey, I love this coffee grinder—and if you buy it using my link, I get a small thank-you from the caffeine gods.”
Medium also doesn’t appreciate spammy, low-effort content created solely to push links. If your post reads like a sales brochure rather than an insightful article, expect it to get buried faster than a bad tweet. Instead, focus on writing valuable, authentic content—like tutorials, reviews, or personal stories—where the affiliate link feels like a natural bonus, not a hard sell.
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Now, here’s the twist: Medium has its own Partner Program, which pays writers based on how much time paying subscribers spend reading your stuff. That means you can potentially double dip—earn from the Partner Program and affiliate sales. Just make sure you’re not turning your story into one giant product pitch. Balance is key. Think “smooth jazz,” not “infomercial at 2AM.”
So yes, affiliate marketing on Medium is possible—and even powerful—if you play it smart, keep it ethical, and write like you care more about your reader than your commission (because you should).
Let me know if you’d like the next section on Substack done in the same style!
Sure! Here’s an expanded section on “Doing Affiliate Marketing on Substack – Is It Allowed?” keeping the same fun and informative tone:
Doing Affiliate Marketing on Substack – Is It Allowed?
Ah, Substack—the modern-day newsletter utopia for writers who want to share their thoughts directly with an engaged audience. Whether you’re crafting in-depth essays, sharing personal anecdotes, or curating weekly lists of your favorite niche products (ahem, affiliate links), Substack seems like an obvious place to ask, “Can I make money while doing this?” Spoiler alert: You can—and it’s pretty straightforward.
Substack is definitely more lenient than some platforms when it comes to affiliate marketing. Unlike Medium, which tends to side-eye affiliate links like a suspicious neighbor, Substack actively encourages writers to monetize their newsletters—affiliate links included. In fact, many successful Substack creators use affiliate marketing as a revenue stream alongside their paid subscription model. So yes, it’s absolutely allowed. But before you dive in like a kid in a candy store, let’s unpack a few key points.
First, transparency is your friend. Substack doesn’t have strict rules against affiliate links, but they do require that you disclose them to your readers. This isn’t just a courtesy; it’s also in line with FTC guidelines. You don’t want to be that sneaky marketer who pretends the link to a product is “just a helpful suggestion” when you’re really raking in a commission. So, a simple “This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you purchase through them” at the top of your newsletter will keep you on the right side of the law—and your readers’ good graces.
The beauty of Substack, though, is that you have more freedom to integrate affiliate links seamlessly into your content. Whether you’re recommending your favorite writing tools in a monthly newsletter or curating a list of must-have books for your niche, affiliate links can be naturally woven into your articles. It’s not just about selling—it’s about offering something of value. For instance, a newsletter about travel might feature affiliate links for gear or experiences, while a tech-focused newsletter could highlight the latest gadgets with referral links.
And hey, while Substack isn’t exactly like a traditional blog where you’d slap affiliate links on every corner, its structure—directly connecting you with subscribers—creates a unique opportunity. You can grow a loyal audience who trusts your recommendations, and those trusted recommendations can lead to affiliate sales that don’t come off as salesy at all.
So, is affiliate marketing allowed on Substack? Absolutely. But do yourself (and your readers) a favor: Keep it relevant, keep it transparent, and above all, keep it useful. The more value you add, the more those affiliate links will seem like a natural part of your content rather than a blatant cash grab.
Let me know if you need more sections or if you want to expand further on any points!
Absolutely! Here’s your expanded section for “Tips for Success – Writing Content That Converts” in the same engaging, informative, and slightly cheeky style:
Tips for Success – Writing Content That Converts
So you’ve got your affiliate links ready, your platform picked (Medium, Substack, or both—because you’re ambitious like that), and now you’re staring at a blinking cursor thinking, “How do I actually get people to click and buy?” Well, my friend, welcome to the art of writing content that converts—without sounding like a late-night infomercial host.
Here’s the first golden rule: Don’t just sell—serve. Readers are smart. If they get even the faintest whiff of a sales pitch disguised as a “helpful guide,” they’ll hit the back button faster than you can say “commission.” Instead, focus on solving a problem, answering a question, or making their lives easier. For example, writing “My Favorite Budget-Friendly Tools for Freelancers” sounds a whole lot more trustworthy than “15 Affiliate Links You Should Definitely Click Because I Said So.”
Next up: storytelling sells. People connect with stories, not specs. So instead of listing the features of that fancy new productivity app, tell them how it saved your Monday morning from total collapse. Personal anecdotes, real-life examples, and genuine enthusiasm can go a long way in building trust—and trust is what makes readers click.
Also, be clear and confident. Don’t hide your affiliate links like they’re shameful secrets. If you believe in the product, stand by it! Say something like, “I use this tool myself, and it’s made a huge difference in my workflow. Here’s my affiliate link if you want to check it out.” Readers appreciate honesty—and hey, some will click just to support you.
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And finally: format like a pro. Big walls of text? No, thank you. Use headings, bullet points, images (when you can), and plenty of white space to make your content skimmable and inviting. People should want to read your post—not feel like they’ve accidentally opened a college textbook.
In short: write with heart, be helpful, and treat your readers like humans, not walking wallets. If your content delivers value, the conversions will follow—maybe not overnight, but definitely over time. And hey, even if they don’t buy today, they’ll come back tomorrow. And that’s how relationships (and revenue) are built.
Let me know if you’d like a conclusion for the post or even a call-to-action paragraph to wrap it all up!
Of course! Here’s the expanded section for “Legal and Ethical Considerations” in the same informative style with a touch of humor:
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Let’s talk about the less glamorous—but extremely important—side of affiliate marketing: the rules. Yep, before you ride off into the sunset with dreams of passive income, it’s time to make friends with the legal and ethical side of the game. Think of this as the seatbelt of your affiliate marketing journey. Not the most exciting part of the ride, but you’ll be glad it’s there when things get bumpy.
First up: Disclosure is not optional.
Whether you’re writing on Medium, Substack, your own blog, or shouting affiliate links from a rooftop (bold strategy, but hey), you must disclose when you’re using affiliate links. It’s not just good manners—it’s the law. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that you clearly and conspicuously inform your readers that you may earn a commission if they click and make a purchase. That means no hiding your disclosure in tiny gray font at the bottom of your post like it’s the secret ending of a Marvel movie.
Keep it simple and upfront. Something like:
“Heads up! This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you buy through them—at no extra cost to you.”
Boom. You’re covered, and your readers won’t feel duped.
Next: Don’t sell your soul.
Look, promoting products you genuinely like and use? Awesome. Pushing random junk just because it has a high commission rate? Not so much. Your audience isn’t a vending machine, and if they sense you’re recommending stuff just for the payout, their trust (and your reputation) will vanish faster than free Wi-Fi at a coffee shop.
Stick to affiliate products that align with your values and your content. If you’re writing about minimalist living, maybe don’t promote a 30-piece kitchen gadget set with 18 attachments no one asked for. Your audience will thank you—and so will your long-term earnings.
And lastly: Check platform rules.
Platforms like Medium and Substack are cool with affiliate links, but they also have their own terms of service, and those can change faster than TikTok trends. Always double-check the latest rules so you don’t accidentally get booted for violating some fine print. When in doubt, follow the golden rule: be honest, be transparent, and don’t get shady.
Because at the end of the day, affiliate marketing isn’t just about clicks—it’s about building trust. And when you stay legal and ethical, you’re not just doing the right thing—you’re setting yourself up for sustainable success.
Let me know if you’d like me to help with a conclusion or a strong call-to-action to wrap up the article!
Absolutely! Here’s your “Conclusion” in the same informative and slightly cheeky tone to wrap up the article on a high note:
Conclusion
So, can you do affiliate marketing with Medium or Substack? Heck yes, you can. And not only can you do it—you can do it well, if you approach it with the right mindset, the right content, and a sprinkle of common sense.
Medium gives you a clean, built-in audience and the chance to double dip with the Partner Program—just remember to play nice with the rules and disclose your links like a responsible digital citizen. Substack, on the other hand, offers you the VIP lounge of audience connection: email inboxes. If people are letting you into that sacred space where coupons, baby pictures, and weird spam emails live, you owe it to them to be helpful, honest, and at least a little entertaining.
The bottom line? Whether you’re writing think-pieces on Medium or crafting charming newsletters on Substack, affiliate marketing can be a solid income stream—as long as you’re not being pushy, shady, or robotic. Focus on building trust, offering value, and writing content that actually helps people. The clicks and commissions will come as a side effect of doing things the right way.
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So grab your keyboard, choose your platform, and go forth with confidence. Just don’t forget to disclose, stay ethical, and maybe—just maybe—keep a little coffee nearby. You’re officially in the affiliate game now. Let the conversions begin!
Let me know if you’d like me to format the full article together, help with SEO keywords, or even whip up a catchy blog title!
Thanks a lot for reading my article on “Can You Do Affiliate Marketing with Medium or Substack?” till the end. Hope you’ve helped. See you with another article.
Source : Can You Do Affiliate Marketing with Medium or Substack?
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