Let’s suppose you had this choice for promoting the same affiliate product:
- Earn $50 one-time
- Earn $10 monthly
Which would you choose?
If you’ve ever wanted to make money while you sleep, then recurring commissions are the answer. It’s one of the best commissions options in affiliate marketing.
Most affiliate programs pay you just once when someone buys something. But recurring commission programs pay you over and over for the same customer.
For example, if you were to get paid $10 per month, after a year, you’d have earned $120 from the same customer. Compare that to getting paid $50 just once, and never again.
This post may contain affiliate links. ThriversHub earns commissions at no extra cost to you when purchases are made through links on this page. For more info, visit the disclosure page.
Why Recurring Commissions Are Perfect for Beginners
When you’re just starting out, recurring commissions are super helpful because:
- You get paid month after month without doing extra work
- Your income becomes more steady and predictable
- You don’t have to always promote to get new customers
- Your earnings can grow bigger over time
Let’s revisit our scenario. If you got 10 new customers every month who bring you $10 in monthly commissions, after 1 year, you’d be making $1440 in monthly income. And that’s if you never add another customer.
This is how affiliate marketing can get to be true passive income.
Types of Recurring Commission Products You Can Promote
Many products and services charge people monthly or even yearly fees. These are good opportunities to make recurring commissions.
Think about all the subscriptions that you pay on a monthly business yourself.
For example, I pay for Netflix (movie streaming), Canva (to create graphics for my business), and Wealthy Affiliate (an affiliate marketing training site). These are just a few examples of subscriptions that I’ve been paying for years.
If I was referred to any of these through an affiliate, that person would still be getting paid every time I paid my monthly subscription.
Here are some types of recurring commission products you can promote and earn from.
Subscription Boxes
These are physical boxes of goodies that get mailed to customers every month. They might contain snacks, makeup, clothes, or hobby supplies.
Subscription boxes exist in all types of niches so if you’re choosing a niche, do a search for subscription boxes in your niche that you can promote.
Software Tools
These are programs people use online for work or fun. They pay monthly to keep using them.
One place you can find SaaS or Software as a Service affiliate programs is an affiliate network called PartnerStack. But you’ll also find them in many other networks too.
Many artificial intelligence software tools also run their own affiliate program and they usually pay recurring commissions.
Membership Websites
These are special websites that teach skills or provide valuable information. Members pay every month to keep learning.
The Wealthy Affiliate membership website I mentioned above is a great example. I’ve been a member since 2007 and they have an affiliate program that pays about 50% recurring commission on monthly and annual renewals. I’ve made six figures promoting this affiliate program over the years and most of those commissions were recurring.
Online Services
These are things people need for their daily life or business that they pay for regularly, like storage for their files, or tools to send emails.
Some people end up using these for years. Examples that have affiliate programs include: Kit, Aweber, and GetResponse.
5 Best Recurring Commission Programs for Beginners
When you’re new to affiliate marketing, it helps to start with programs that are easy to promote and that lots of people need.
Web Hosting Companies
These businesses keep websites running. Every website needs hosting, so there are lots of potential customers.
Be sure to read the terms of commission payment first as many hosts pay a flat fee. Web hosts like Kinsta and Cloudways pay recurring commissions.
Email Marketing Tools
Businesses use email marketing tools to send emails to their customers. Companies like Getresponse and Kit offer good commissions.
You’ll find that almost every email marketing service with an affiliate program offers a recurring commission structure.
AI Tools
Artificial intelligence is hot right now. A lot of tools use AI to deliver results that would have took a lot of expertise and special tools to do a long time ago.
These tools usually operate as SaaS (software-as-a-service) so customers would have to pay each month. The affiliate programs pay recurring commissions as a result.
Online Learning Platforms
Many of these learning platforms have a monthly membership. People pay to learn through courses on these platforms.
Membership Sites for Marketing
These sites teach people how to make money online and would have a community. Some, like Wealthy Affiliate, offer training and also have their own affiliate programs where you can earn when you refer new members.
These work better if you’re also a member too but it’s not always required.
How to Start Promoting Recurring Commission Products
Starting to promote recurring commission products doesn’t have to be complicated. You can use any of a number of strategies to reach potential customers.
Here are some steps for you to get started.
1. Pick something you already use and like
This is a very important step. I you’re going to tell people to use a particular product or tool, then you should have also used the product yourself.
When you use the product yourself, you can speak more confidently about the features and how to use the product.
It’s always easier to promote something that you already know and trust.
2. Learn all about your product
Whenever I start promoting a product, I try to learn everything I can about it. I use all the features, check out the knowledge-base, and do research to see how other people might be using the product.
If you want to communicate effectively about the product then you need to know everything about it.
3. Create helpful content
For this step, you create blog posts or written content, videos, or social media posts that show how your product solves problems.
Look for frequently asked questions and expand on the answer. Or, check Reddit and other community sites to see what people want to know concerning your product.
4. Be honest
Talk about the good parts and also the not-so-good parts. People trust reviews that have a balanced tone that a glowing, one-sided review that doesn’t acknowledge the short-comings of the product.
5. Share your links in smart ways
Don’t just spam your affiliate links everywhere hoping that someone will click and buy. Instead put them in content that actually helps people.
6. Take the time to expand your knowledge
Always keep learning about affiliate marketing. It’s a fast-changing space where you need to keep up on techniques and strategy.
Some platforms offer excellent train for beginners. My recommendation, because I’m also a member, is Wealthy Affiliate.
Common Questions About Recurring Commissions
Here are some questions that beginners regularly ask (or think) when they hear about recurring commissions.
If your question hasn’t been answered above, then surely you’ll find the answer here.
You’ll keep earning as long as your referred customers keep paying for the service. This could be months or even years!
You’ll stop earning from that customer, but that’s why you want to keep adding new customers each month.
It helps, but you don’t absolutely need one. You can start with YouTube or social media if you prefer. Just check the terms of the affiliate program you’re signing up to.
This is all up to you. Some people make their first commission within a few weeks, but it often takes 3-6 months of consistent effort to see regular results.
Next Steps To Your First Recurring Commission
If you’re ready to start getting your first recurring commission, then you’ll need a plan of action.
Here’s a 3-step action plan that you can use to get started.
- Choose one product – Just pick one recurring commission product that you’ve used and liked to get things started. Don’t try to promote a bunch of these all at once.
- Get affiliate marketing training – Use free resources, communities, and training platforms to learn the basics.
- Create your first piece of content – Write a helpful article or create a video about one problem your product solves.
The best time to take action is now. Every little step can learn to commissions flowing in a few months from now. The sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll see results.
Quick Recap
Now you know why recurring commissions are so powerful.
- They pay you over and over from the same customer
- Your income can grow month after month
- You can start with very little experience
- There are many different products to promote
- Even beginners can succeed with the right approach
The most important thing is to take that first step. Choose a product, learn the basics, and create your first piece of content. Your future self will thank you!
