Podcast affiliate marketing: how podcasters earn from links

You recommend a product you use, give listeners a link or code, and earn a commission when someone buys through it. Unlike sponsorship, nobody pays up front and you don't need download numbers to start, which is why it suits small shows. The catch: listeners can't click audio, so the link has to be easy to remember or easy to find.

Start with what you already mention: the books you cite, the tools you use, the gear on your desk. Large marketplaces such as Amazon Associates and Bookshop.org pay small percentages but cover almost anything. Software and course programs often pay more per sale and sometimes recurring commission. Check a program's terms before reading it on air; some don't allow audio promotion or coupon sites.

Tell a short story about using the thing, then give one memorable path: "It's linked in the show notes, or go to yourshow.com/mic." Vanity URLs on your own domain that redirect to the affiliate link are easier to say than codes, and they survive if the program changes.

Most clicks come from show notes and the episode page, so put the link in the first two lines of the description, before the long summary. Hilite's show notes are drafted from your transcript, so you only add the links. More on structure in our show notes guide.

In the US the FTC expects clear disclosure of material connections, and similar rules apply elsewhere. Say it out loud near the mention ("I earn a small commission if you buy through this link") and write it in the show notes. It costs you nothing with listeners; hiding it costs trust.

Use a different vanity URL per product, and per episode if you can, so you know which mention worked. Clicks that turn into sales are also your proof when you later pitch sponsors. For the full menu of income options, see how to monetize a podcast.