New to SEO & Affiliate Marketing – Looking for advice on where to start!

[FreeGifts-Eric]

Welcome! The fact that you're asking about building a real asset rather than "how do I make money fast" already puts you ahead of 90% of beginners.

A few practical first steps, from someone who started in a similar spot:

**Resources that aren't fake guru content:**
- Ahrefs' free "Blogging for Business" course on YouTube — solid SEO fundamentals, no upsells
- Backlinko (Brian Dean's blog) for SEO tactics — but focus on his older foundational posts, not the AI-generated stuff
- This forum's follow-along threads — real people posting real numbers, way more educational than any course

**Tools to start with (free or near-free):**
- Google Search Console (free) — this is your first and most important tool. Tells you exactly what queries your site ranks for
- Google Keyword Planner (free with a Google Ads account) — basic but enough for your first 6 months
- A static site builder (Astro, Hugo, or just WordPress if you want simpler) — don't overthink the tech stack

**The sequence that actually works:**
1. Pick ONE niche you're genuinely interested in. Not "what makes money" — what you can write about for 6 months without quitting
2. Publish 20 articles before checking traffic. The first 10 will feel like shouting into the void. Keep going.
3. Apply to affiliate networks at the same time you're building content. Getting approved takes weeks.
4. Don't touch paid ads until organic traffic proves your content converts.

The hardest part isn't learning SEO — it's continuing to publish when nobody is reading. That's the real filter.

 

[john rejo]

Welcome! The fact that you're asking about building a real asset rather than "how do I make money fast" already puts you ahead of 90% of beginners.

A few practical first steps, from someone who started in a similar spot:

**Resources that aren't fake guru content:**
- Ahrefs' free "Blogging for Business" course on YouTube — solid SEO fundamentals, no upsells
- Backlinko (Brian Dean's blog) for SEO tactics — but focus on his older foundational posts, not the AI-generated stuff
- This forum's follow-along threads — real people posting real numbers, way more educational than any course

**Tools to start with (free or near-free):**
- Google Search Console (free) — this is your first and most important tool. Tells you exactly what queries your site ranks for
- Google Keyword Planner (free with a Google Ads account) — basic but enough for your first 6 months
- A static site builder (Astro, Hugo, or just WordPress if you want simpler) — don't overthink the tech stack

**The sequence that actually works:**
1. Pick ONE niche you're genuinely interested in. Not "what makes money" — what you can write about for 6 months without quitting
2. Publish 20 articles before checking traffic. The first 10 will feel like shouting into the void. Keep going.
3. Apply to affiliate networks at the same time you're building content. Getting approved takes weeks.
4. Don't touch paid ads until organic traffic proves your content converts.

The hardest part isn't learning SEO — it's continuing to publish when nobody is reading. That's the real filter.

Thanks for the warm welcome and the solid roadmap, Eric

I really appreciate you breaking down the sequence and recommending free tools like Google Keyword Planner to get started.

Focusing on building a real asset through consistency makes total sense. Ill definitely check out those Ahrefs and Backlinko resources.

 

[FreeGifts-Eric]

Glad it was helpful, John! The fact that you're already asking the right questions means you're on the right track.

One thing I'd add to that list: when you pick your niche and start publishing, spend the first month being genuinely helpful in forum threads related to your niche. Half the SEO game in the early days is just being a real person who other real people recognize and link to naturally. Google notices that pattern.

Feel free to start a follow-along thread when you get going — those are gold for both accountability and getting feedback from experienced affiliates here. What niche are you leaning toward?

 

[john rejo]

Glad it was helpful, John! The fact that you're already asking the right questions means you're on the right track.

One thing I'd add to that list: when you pick your niche and start publishing, spend the first month being genuinely helpful in forum threads related to your niche. Half the SEO game in the early days is just being a real person who other real people recognize and link to naturally. Google notices that pattern.

Feel free to start a follow-along thread when you get going — those are gold for both accountability and getting feedback from experienced affiliates here. What niche are you leaning toward?

Thanks Eric, I really appreciate the extra tips

That forum strategy makes a lot of sense.

Honestly, Im still in the super early research phase right now. Trying to find that sweet spot between a topic I actually enjoy writing about and something that’s beginner friendly, so everything is still up in the air.

Since you've been doing this for a while and know how it works, are there any interesting areas or angles you'd suggest a newcomer look into these days? Would love to know your thoughts.

 

[john rejo]

Welcome aboard! If you still have any questions about SEO, I'd be happy to help

Hey Czaq,

I actually do have a question for you if you don't mind. When it comes to picking a direction, what's the best way to find a niche that isn't completely flooded with heavy competition?

Also, are there any specific areas you guys would suggest looking into right now that are a bit easier to get a foothold in? Would love to hear your thoughts!

 

[fitfuture]

Start by learning the basics of SEO like keyword research, on-page optimization, and content writing, while building a simple blog or website to practice.


For affiliate marketing, choose a niche you understand, join beginner-friendly affiliate programs, and focus on creating helpful content that naturally includes your affiliate links.

 

[FreeGifts-Eric]

Happy to share what I've seen work, John.

A few angles that are beginner-friendly and have room for new sites right now:

**1. "Best X for Y" product comparisons with affiliate monetization**
This is the classic model that still works. Pick a sub-niche of consumer products — phone accessories, budget standing desks, entry-level espresso gear, home office setups — and write genuine comparison content. The key is going narrow: not "best phones" but "best budget Android phones under $300 for battery life."

Why it's beginner-friendly: buying intent keywords convert well even with lower traffic. You don't need 10,000 visitors/month if 500 of them are ready to buy.

**2. Software/tool reviews with CPL twists**
SaaS and software niches are competitive, but the long tail is wide open. Things like "best invoicing software for freelancers under 5 employees" or "easiest email marketing tool for bloggers who hate tech." Software companies run affiliate programs aggressively, and many have free trials — easier to convert than physical products.

**3. "How to start X" content with resource monetization**
Beginners in almost any hobby or skill need roadmaps. "How to start home brewing on a $100 budget," "How to start running after 40," etc. These attract links naturally (other sites reference your guide as a resource), which builds domain authority for your money pages.

**The filter I'd use if I were starting today:**
- Can I write 30 articles about this without getting bored? (If not, skip it — consistency beats everything)
- Does the niche have affiliate programs with real commissions? (Check CPAlead, ShareASale, or Impact for programs before committing)
- Are there active forums or communities around it? (That's your early traffic and link building channel)

If you want to bounce specific niche ideas around, this thread is a good place for it — there are people here who've been through the same decision and can tell you what they wish they'd picked.

 

[john rejo]

Start by learning the basics of SEO like keyword research, on-page optimization, and content writing, while building a simple blog or website to practice.


For affiliate marketing, choose a niche you understand, join beginner-friendly affiliate programs, and focus on creating helpful content that naturally includes your affiliate links.

Thanks for the solid advice!

I completely agree with you on mastering the SEO basics first while practicing on a site.

On the affiliate side I really want to focus on SaaS and digital products since I love that space.

But during my research the competition looks huge. Plus the software updates so fast that Im worried about having to constantly edit and reupload content so it doesn't get outdated.

Thats exactly where I'm getting stuck and a bit confused right now.

How do you deal with that constant tech update cycle, or would you suggest a different angle for a newcomer?

 

[Czaq]

Hey Czaq,

I actually do have a question for you if you don't mind. When it comes to picking a direction, what's the best way to find a niche that isn't completely flooded with heavy competition?

Also, are there any specific areas you guys would suggest looking into right now that are a bit easier to get a foothold in? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Hello John! Sure, feel free to ask me antything

Choosing a niche is one of the key elements. I agree with you that the best way to start is to identify keywords without competition. Personally, I use Semrush and Ahrefs, then after checking competitor keywords in a given niche, I use the "also rank" or "ideas" tools. Based on these, I determine if there's room for me and my website without a large budget.

 

[john rejo]

Happy to share what I've seen work, John.

A few angles that are beginner-friendly and have room for new sites right now:

**1. "Best X for Y" product comparisons with affiliate monetization**
This is the classic model that still works. Pick a sub-niche of consumer products — phone accessories, budget standing desks, entry-level espresso gear, home office setups — and write genuine comparison content. The key is going narrow: not "best phones" but "best budget Android phones under $300 for battery life."

Why it's beginner-friendly: buying intent keywords convert well even with lower traffic. You don't need 10,000 visitors/month if 500 of them are ready to buy.

**2. Software/tool reviews with CPL twists**
SaaS and software niches are competitive, but the long tail is wide open. Things like "best invoicing software for freelancers under 5 employees" or "easiest email marketing tool for bloggers who hate tech." Software companies run affiliate programs aggressively, and many have free trials — easier to convert than physical products.

**3. "How to start X" content with resource monetization**
Beginners in almost any hobby or skill need roadmaps. "How to start home brewing on a $100 budget," "How to start running after 40," etc. These attract links naturally (other sites reference your guide as a resource), which builds domain authority for your money pages.

**The filter I'd use if I were starting today:**
- Can I write 30 articles about this without getting bored? (If not, skip it — consistency beats everything)
- Does the niche have affiliate programs with real commissions? (Check CPAlead, ShareASale, or Impact for programs before committing)
- Are there active forums or communities around it? (That's your early traffic and link building channel)

If you want to bounce specific niche ideas around, this thread is a good place for it — there are people here who've been through the same decision and can tell you what they wish they'd picked.

Thanks Eric, this breakdown is incredibly helpful

Those filters are exactly what I need to narrow things down.

The "Best X for Y" sub-niches and the "How to start X" guide ideas both sound great, and I’m definitely going to look into them.

I love the idea of SaaS, but like you said, it's competitive. Plus, software changes so fast that I worry the content will get outdated quickly. If you were reviewing SaaS products today, how would you manage those constant updates without spending all your time rewriting old blogs?

Everyone on this forum has been so supportive, and I really appreciate you offering this thread as a place to brainstorm

 

[john rejo]

Hello John! Sure, feel free to ask me antything

Choosing a niche is one of the key elements. I agree with you that the best way to start is to identify keywords without competition. Personally, I use Semrush and Ahrefs, then after checking competitor keywords in a given niche, I use the "also rank" or "ideas" tools. Based on these, I determine if there's room for me and my website without a large budget.

Thanks Czaq, that is super helpful

I actually just heard about Semrush and Ahrefs recently and have been playing around with them to learn the ropes.

Using the "also rank" and "ideas" features to spot low-budget opportunities makes total sense. I'm going to jump back into those tools right now and try that out. Really appreciate the great tip

 

[john rejo]

Hey everyone, I have a quick question about your actual workflow.

When you pick a topic, do you mostly learn about it and write the blog yourself based on your understanding, or do you use AI tools to help write it?

If you do use AI, what tools do you recommend for a newbie?

Also, I have a quick doubt about keywords. I was reading on Google Search Central that stuffing a bunch of keywords into a post won't push a blog to the top.

Because of that, how many different keywords do you target for a single blog post? And when you pick your main keyword, how many times do you actually repeat it throughout the article so it stays natural?

Would love to hear how you guys handle this.