Building an online business is no joke. It takes time, energy, money, and persistence—and sometimes it feels like you’re throwing all of that into a black hole, just hoping for something to stick.
I’ve been grinding away at my affiliate marketing business for months, creating TikTok content, building an email list, testing different products, and refining my approach. It’s been frustrating, exhausting, and at times, demoralising. But finally, after all that effort, I saw some real results—four sales in one week!
Three of them came from TikTok, and one was from my affiliate marketing business. It felt like a breakthrough. I was ecstatic, relieved, and motivated like never before. But as I quickly learned, the journey doesn’t stop once you start making sales. There are highs and lows, and some sales aren’t actually sales at all.
The Effort That Goes Into Making Sales
If you’re just starting out in affiliate marketing, let me tell you: this is not a “get rich quick” game. It takes work—real work.
Here’s what I did to reach my first sales:
1. Building a Presence on TikTok
I committed to posting three videos per day about my niche. Consistency was key. I tested different styles—educational content, reviews, funny videos, and personal stories—to see what resonated with my audience. Some flopped. Others went semi-viral. The key was learning from each post and adjusting my strategy.
2. Creating an Email List & Blog
Affiliate marketing is all about having a place where people can find your recommendations. I will be setting up Atif’s Academy, a private area on my blog where I will document my journey and share resources. I also started an email newsletter to build relationships with my audience. This meant investing in:
• A domain and hosting
• An email marketing platform
• Landing pages and funnels
3. Testing Products & Affiliate Offers
Not every product is a winner. Some have high commissions but low conversion rates. Others convert well but have lower payouts. I had to experiment, track results, and refine my offers.
4. Engaging with My Audience
People don’t just buy because you throw links at them. They buy because they trust you. That meant replying to comments, answering questions, and showing up daily.
The Feeling of Making Your First Sales
I won’t lie—seeing those first sales hit my dashboard was an incredible feeling. It was proof that all my hard work wasn’t for nothing.
• Relief: Finally, something was working.
• Validation: The strategies I learnt were paying off.
• Excitement: If I could do it once, I could do it again—and bigger.
It gave me a huge confidence boost, and I started thinking about scaling up.
The Harsh Reality: Not Every Sale is a Sale
Then came the gut punch.
My affiliate marketing sale turned out to be a failed payment. The customer didn’t complete their transaction, which meant my commission was stuck in “pending” indefinitely. No payout. No real sale.
At first, I felt deflated and frustrated. I had already mentally spent that commission! But then I reminded myself:
This happens in every business.
If you had a physical store, you’d deal with:
• Customers who return products
• Credit card declines
• People who browse but never buy
It’s part of the game. Some sales stick, and some don’t. You just have to keep going.
How to Stay Grounded During Success
When you start making sales, it’s easy to get overconfident. But success can be just as dangerous as failure if you’re not careful.
1. Don’t Assume Every Week Will Be Like Your Best Week
I made four sales this week, but that doesn’t mean I’ll make four every week. Growth isn’t always linear. Some weeks will be amazing; others will be slow.
2. Reinvest in Your Business
When you start earning, don’t rush to spend it all. Use that money to:
• Improve your content (better camera, microphone, editing software)
• Run ads to scale your reach
• Invest in tools that make marketing easier
3. Keep Testing & Adapting
Affiliate marketing is always changing. What worked today might not work next month. Stay flexible and open to new strategies.
How to Handle Disappointment & Keep Going
There will be setbacks—guaranteed. But the way you handle them determines your long-term success.
1. Shift Your Perspective
Instead of seeing a failed payment as a loss, see it as proof that people are interested in what you’re promoting. The next sale will go through.
2. Keep Your Eyes on the Bigger Picture
One failed sale doesn’t define your business. Look at trends over months, not days. Are you growing? Are you improving? That’s what matters.
3. Control What You Can, Accept What You Can’t
I can’t control whether every sale goes through. But I can control how often I post, how I engage with my audience, and how I refine my offers. Focus on actions, not outcomes.
4. Talk to Other Entrepreneurs
Every affiliate marketer and content creator experiences this. You’re not alone. Connect with people in the same space—they’ll remind you that setbacks are normal.
Final Thoughts: Keep Pushing Forward
I’ll be honest—this journey isn’t easy. But it’s worth it. Those four sales (even if one wasn’t real) showed me that what I’m doing is working. And if I keep going, I can scale this into something much bigger.
So whether you’re still waiting for your first sale or you’ve already made a few—keep moving forward. Don’t let failures break you, and don’t let success make you lazy.
Affiliate marketing is a long game.
Thank you for reading, I hope it helped you in some way. You are only a few steps behind me!
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Don’t miss the book that started it all for me, it’s FREE, you just pay postage, my mentor’s book, The Iceberg Effect
Until next time, take care.
Atif
#Atif’s Academy
Congrats on making your first set of sales Atif. You lay out some real good points on mindest and staying grounded. As affiliates, we know there are rules such as a 30 day wait before a sale becomes final. And I’ve often cautioned myself to not get too excited until that 30 day period is up. I might add to point number four of the effort that goes into making sales. You’re right that people don’t buy just because you throw links at them. But you do have to hit their pain points because people often buy based on emotion. You’re progressing well my friend. Go get ’em!
Robert, Thank you so much—I appreciate the support! Mindset is everything in this business, and staying grounded helps navigate both the highs and the waiting periods, like the 30-day rule you mentioned. It’s smart to stay cautiously optimistic until sales are confirmed, but I also try to celebrate progress because every step forward is a win.
I love your addition to point number four—hitting pain points is absolutely key because people buy based on emotion first and logic second. Simply throwing links out doesn’t work; instead, we need to connect, engage, and show how a product solves a real problem. I’m grateful for your insight and encouragement—let’s keep pushing forward together!
What an incredible journey you’re on, Atif! I love how you’ve shared the real ups and downs of affiliate marketing—it’s not all smooth sailing, but the lessons along the way are so valuable. Your honesty about the challenges, especially the “failed” sale, is really refreshing. It’s a reminder that even when things seem tough, we’re all just learning, testing, and adapting.
Keep pushing forward, you’ve got this! Looking forward to seeing more of your journey and how your business scales. Thanks for sharing!
Alison, Thank you so much for your support—it truly means a lot to have people like you following along on this journey! Affiliate marketing is definitely a wild ride, and I’ve learned that sharing both the wins and the struggles makes the experience more relatable and valuable for everyone. The “failed” sales are just lessons in disguise, and I appreciate that you see them as part of the bigger learning process.
I’ll definitely keep pushing forward, and your encouragement makes the tough moments easier to handle! I’m excited to keep sharing my progress, strategies, and lessons as I work toward scaling the business. Thanks again for your kind words and for being part of this journey—I appreciate you!
Hi, Atif!
I hope I reach you on the high of the roller coaster, but if not, there’s always another hill! Thanks for pointing out that this business is like a roller coaster. It is an excellent image because there is no need to get too discouraged by the drop. That’s one of the most fun parts of an actual roller coaster. While I wouldn’t call it fun in business, it’s good to realize there will be another high, possibly in just a moment.
I’d also apply this image to the daily, tedious business routine. Sometimes, I’m just not in the mood. This image helps me to see if I persist, it will be fun again in a moment. That’s enough to change my perspective for the better.
Nakina
Nakina, What a fantastic way to look at it—I love the roller coaster analogy too, because it reminds us that the lows aren’t permanent and the highs will always come back around! While the drops in business aren’t always “fun,” they do build resilience and prepare us to enjoy the next peak even more. The key is to hold on, push through the tough moments, and trust the process.
I completely agree that this perspective applies to the daily grind as well. Some days, motivation just isn’t there, but recognising that persistence leads to momentum (and eventually another exciting high) makes all the difference. I’m so glad this image helped shift your perspective—keep going, the next thrill is just ahead!
As usual, Atif, a very insightful and helpful post. I’m familiar with the demoralizing, but I get such inspiration from your posts and success. I look forward to seeing more of your successes so I can continue to learn from you.
Jordan, Thank you so much for your kind words—I truly appreciate your support! I completely understand how demoralizing setbacks can be, but knowing that my posts inspire you makes all the challenges worth it. I’m committed to sharing both the wins and the lessons learned, and I look forward to continuing this journey together with you!
Hi Atif – I am a big fan of yours and have been following your journey for a very long time now. It is so amazing to see how much you have grown and how much you have learned through this process. Your willingness to demonstrate to us what you have learned and your transparency is truly appreciated. I have always found value in your posts and this one is no different. I especially appreciated your thoughts on handling disappointment. Disappointment is something that we all will have and choosing the right attitude and right mindset will get us through. Thank you, my friend and have a great week!
Ernie, Wow, your kind words truly made my day—thank you for being such a loyal supporter of my journey! Growth is a never-ending process, and sharing what I learn along the way helps me reflect while hopefully providing value to others like you. Transparency has always been important to me because I know how helpful it is to see the real ups and downs, not just the highlights.
I’m so glad you found this post valuable, especially the part on handling disappointment. You’re absolutely right—disappointment is inevitable, but how we respond to it defines our progress, and having the right mindset makes all the difference. It means a lot to know that this resonated with you, and I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts.
Wishing you an amazing week as well, my friend! 🚀💪
Congratulations on reaching your first sales milestone, Atif! 🚀 Your journey in affiliate marketing truly resonates with so many of us who are navigating the ups and downs of building an online business. It’s inspiring to see your persistence and the valuable insights you shared about handling both successes and setbacks. Thank you for reminding us that the journey is a marathon, not a sprint. I’m excited to follow your progress with Atif’s Academy and see where this leads you! Keep pushing forward!
Thank you so much Ezequiel, Hitting that first milestone was a big moment, and it’s encouraging to know that my journey resonates with others navigating the same challenges. Affiliate marketing is definitely a long game, and I’m learning to embrace both the wins and the lessons along the way. I appreciate your support and excitement for Atif’s Academy—big things ahead, and I can’t wait to share more!