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While I share money-making strategies, nothing is “typical”, and outcomes are based on each individual. There are no guarantees.
I was getting thousands of views on my videos, but my affiliate income was stuck at a big, fat, frustrating zero. I was putting in the work, publishing all the time, creating what I thought was valuable content… but it felt like I was just spinning my wheels. It was like talking to an empty room, even though the analytics said people were watching. It was soul-crushing. I was so close to quitting, thinking this whole “creator” thing was a scam.
Then, I had a realization: It wasn’t about getting more views. It was about getting the right kind of views. I found 12 specific types of content that completely changed the game, building insane trust with my audience and turning my passive followers into people who were actually happy to buy. In this video, I’m going to share all 12 of them with you, piece by piece.
That painful feeling when your views and likes are going up, but your bank account stays the same? It’s one of the most common frustrations for creators. The problem isn’t your work ethic. It’s not that your audience doesn’t like you. The problem is that your content is likely stopping short. It’s entertaining or informing, but it’s not converting. It’s not building that deep trust someone needs to feel before they pull out their wallet.
For months, I made this exact mistake. I created content that got shares and comments, but I was missing the key ingredients that turn a follower into a customer. I was giving them snacks when they needed a full meal. Once I figured out this 12-part content strategy, everything changed. My income didn’t just grow; it became consistent. Why? Because I stopped chasing views and started building relationships at scale.
And that’s my promise to you in this video. I’m not going to give you vague theories. I’m going to give you the exact 12-piece content arsenal that took me from zero in affiliate sales to a reliable income. These are the formats that build what marketers call the “Know, Like, and Trust” factor—the three pillars of turning any audience into a thriving community of buyers. So if you’ve ever felt that frustration of high views and low conversions, get ready to take notes, because we’re about to rebuild your content strategy from the ground up.
Tutorials and How-To Guides
The first content type, and maybe the most powerful for building initial trust, is the Tutorial or How-To Guide. This is the bedrock of value. When you teach someone how to solve a specific problem, step-by-step, you immediately become an authority and a helper, not just another salesperson.
Think about it. When someone searches for “how to do X,” they have a real problem, and they’re actively looking for a guide. If your video provides that solution, you’re instantly locked in their mind as a credible resource. You’re not just some person talking about a product; you are the person who showed them how to use it to get what they want. This is the “Know” factor in action. They now know you as the person who helped them.
When I started, I’d just mention the software I used. I’d say, “I use Product X for my marketing.” Unsurprisingly, the clicks on my affiliate links were almost zero. The shift happened when I created a video titled, “How to Set Up Your First Email Campaign in 10 Minutes Using Product X.” Instead of just mentioning it, I walked them through the whole process.
I showed them which buttons to click, how to avoid common screw-ups, and the exact template to use. The result? My affiliate commissions for that software went from nothing to over $500 in the first month from that one video alone. I had solved their problem, and the product was just the natural tool for the solution. I didn’t have to “sell” it; the tutorial did all the selling for me.
Here’s how you can do this right away: First, pick an affiliate product you know inside and out. Second, find the single biggest problem that product solves. Don’t try to cover every feature. Focus on one high-value win. Third, script a step-by-step walkthrough. Show the process, and end by showing them the transformation. This format works because it respects the viewer’s goal. They came for a solution, and you gave it to them.
In-Depth Product Reviews
Okay, so once someone knows you can help them, they need to know if the solution you’re recommending is actually right for them. This is where the second content type, the In-depth Product Review, comes in. I’m not talking about those generic, feature-list reviews you see everywhere. I’m talking about a review that tells a story of transformation.
A review that truly converts doesn’t just list pros and cons. It answers the real questions bouncing around in the potential buyer’s head: “Will this actually work for me? What are the hidden problems? Is it worth the money? What does success with this thing feel like?” This is all about building the “Like” and “Trust” factors. They like you for your honesty, and they trust you because you’re giving them the full picture, not a slick sales pitch. With this kind of pre-sell content, it’s not uncommon for top affiliates to see conversion rates hit 5-10% because it just melts away skepticism.
My early reviews were a mistake—they read like a product manual. “It has this feature, and that feature.” It was boring and, honestly, not very trustworthy. My breakthrough came with a review for a camera I was promoting. Instead of listing megapixels, I told a story. I started with the problem: “My old camera made my videos look grainy and unprofessional, and I felt like I was losing credibility.”
Then I walked them through my research, my initial hesitation about the price, and the moment I unboxed it. I showed real “before” and “after” footage. Then, I talked about a feature I didn’t like—the battery life—and showed my workaround. That one act of pointing out a flaw made the entire review ten times more believable.
The key is radical transparency. You have to review the product as a user, not a marketer. Here’s your framework: Start with the problem it solved for you. Unbox it, share your genuine first impressions. Show the key features in action. Crucially, have a section called “What I Don’t Like About It.” This is trust-building gold. Finally, wrap up by saying who the product is perfect for and, just as importantly, who it is not for. This honest filtering doesn’t lose you sales; it makes sure the people who do click your link are serious, qualified buyers.
Videos (Short-Form and Long-Form)
The third content type isn’t just a format, it’s the medium itself: Video. In 2025, if you’re not using video, you are leaving a crazy amount of trust and money on the table. Video is the ultimate “Like” and “Trust” accelerator because it’s the closest you can get to talking with someone face-to-face. People see your expressions, hear your tone, and feel your energy. This creates what’s called a parasocial relationship, where the viewer feels like they know you personally.
The data is pretty clear on this. Short-form video is considered among the formats with the highest ROI for marketers, and a huge percentage of consumers say they’ve made a purchase after watching a brand’s video. It works because video combines demonstration with a personal touch. It makes your content feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation.
I was a writer first. I thought I could build my whole business with blog posts. And while I got traffic, the connection was weak. My first awkward, poorly lit YouTube video, where I just talked through a concept I’d written about, got a comment that changed everything. Someone wrote, “Hearing you explain this made it finally click. It feels like I’m learning from a real person.” That was the lightbulb moment. My text was informative, but my video presence was building a relationship.
Your strategy should be twofold. First, use long-form video (like this one) for your main content—your deep tutorials and reviews. This is where you build authority and rank for keywords your audience is searching for. Second, use short-form video (Reels, Shorts, TikTok) to promote that content. Take the best 60-second clip from your in-depth review and turn it into a Reel. Make a quick video showing one cool trick using an affiliate product. Short-form content is your hook; it brings new people in. Long-form content is your anchor; it builds the deep trust that leads to a sale. Don’t just write about it. Show up. Let them see you. The trust you build will show up in your affiliate dashboard.
Testimonials and Case Studies
If you tell someone you’re great, it’s marketing. If someone else tells them you’re great, it’s social proof. The fourth content type, Testimonials and Case Studies, is all about using social proof to smash through doubt and build unshakable trust.
When a potential buyer is on the fence, their brain is screaming, “What if it doesn’t work for me? My situation is different!” A case study or testimonial works by showing them someone just like them who has already won. It gives them hard evidence, making the purchase feel safe and smart. It’s the ultimate antidote to skepticism. This is why user-generated content, a form of testimonial, often leads to significantly higher click-through rates than branded ads—it feels real and unbiased.
For a long time, I thought I had to be the only hero of my story. I was promoting an online course and only talked about my own results. My conversions were just okay. The turning point was when I interviewed a student from the course. She was a total beginner who was struggling with the exact same things as my audience. She walked us through her journey: her hesitation to join, what the first module felt like, the “aha” moment in week three, and the real result she got at the end (she landed her first client!). I just guided the conversation. My affiliate sales for that course more than doubled the next month. It wasn’t my story that sold them; it was hers. They saw themselves in her.
You can apply this even without a long list of clients. Start by collecting testimonials. When someone DMs or emails you saying your advice helped, ask for permission to share it! For a more powerful approach, create a case study. Frame it as a “before and after.” Start with the problem, introduce the product as the turning point, detail the process, and—most importantly—showcase a specific, measurable result. Numbers are your best friend. “Jane increased her website traffic by 150%” is way more powerful than “Jane got more website traffic.” Find your customers’ success stories and make them the hero. Your trust, and your conversions, will skyrocket.
Blog Posts and Comparison Articles
In a video-first world, you might think the classic blog post is dead. That could not be further from the truth. The fifth content type, the Blog Post and especially the Comparison Article, is your silent, 24/7 salesperson. Long-form blog content is an SEO powerhouse that can bring you traffic and establish you as an expert for years to come.
Here’s why it’s so important: When people are in the final stages of a buying decision, they often go to Google. They want to read and compare things at their own pace. And comparison articles—”Product A vs. Product B”—are conversion gold. They attract buyers who are at the very bottom of the funnel. They’ve already decided they need a solution; they just need help choosing the right one. From my experience, these articles can generate way more affiliate clicks than single product reviews because they intercept that final decision.
My YouTube channel was growing, but my income was still stuck. I realized I was only serving people who prefer video. I was ignoring the readers. So, for every major video review I did, I created a matching blog post. The post would have the video embedded right at the top, but then it would go deeper with more details, photos, and a comparison table. My most successful post ever was “Canva Pro vs. Visme: Which is Better for Infographics?” I broke it down by Ease of Use, Templates, Pricing, and Unique Features. I gave a clear winner for each category and an overall verdict. That single post, which took a day to write, has earned me affiliate commissions every single week for over two years. It just sits there on Google, serving a specific, high-intent audience on autopilot.
Your action plan is to create a “hub and spoke” model. Your video is the hub; the blog post is a spoke. After you publish a big video, create a blog post on the same topic. Embed the video, then use the post to go deeper. And definitely create those “vs” posts for the products in your niche. Use clear tables, bold your verdicts, and make it incredibly easy for a confused buyer to make a confident choice. Your affiliate links will be the obvious next step.
User-Generated Content (UGC)
The sixth content type is about stepping out of the spotlight and turning the camera onto your audience. This is User-Generated Content (UGC). UGC is any content—photos, videos, reviews—created by your followers instead of you. Its power comes down to one word: authenticity. When a brand posts a polished photo, we see an ad. When a real person posts a photo of them using and loving a product, we see a genuine recommendation.
This is social proof on steroids. It’s not just a quote; it’s a living, breathing endorsement from someone relatable. The results are incredible; an industry report once showed that UGC can lead to dramatic lifts in conversion rates compared to professional content because it’s just so real. It builds community, fosters trust, and shows potential customers that your recommendations actually work in the real world for real people. It makes your audience feel seen, turning them from passive viewers into active advocates for your brand.
I used to run my Instagram like it was all about me. My engagement was flat. The shift happened when I was promoting a set of camera presets. I started a simple campaign with the hashtag #MyPresetStory and asked my audience to post their before-and-after photos. I promised to feature the best ones on my page. At first, it was a trickle. But then, a few people posted amazing images. I shared them, celebrating their work. Suddenly, it became a wave. My DMs were flooded with people asking, “Which preset pack is that?” because they saw what other regular people were creating. My sales for those presets tripled. I wasn’t the salesperson anymore; my community was.
Here’s how to get started: First, create a simple, branded hashtag related to your niche. Second, actively encourage your audience to use it. Run a contest, create a challenge, or just ask them to share their results. Third, and this is the most important part, celebrate the content they create. Share it, praise their work, and make them feel like a star. This creates a powerful feedback loop: they get recognized, which encourages others to post, which creates more social proof, which drives more sales. Your job is to become the curator of your community’s success.
Storytelling and Brand Stories
The seventh content type is the invisible thread you should weave through everything else: Storytelling. Facts tell, but stories sell. You can list all the features and benefits in the world, but nothing connects with a human being like a good story. It bypasses the logical, skeptical part of the brain and connects directly with the emotional core where decisions are actually made.
A story lets the viewer see themselves in your journey. My personal story of struggling with zero income that I shared at the beginning of this video? That’s a strategic brand story. It’s designed to create an instant emotional connection and set a theme: “I was where you are now, and I found the way out.” This makes your brand human and makes your recommendations feel less like affiliate links and more like sharing a secret with a friend.
For the longest time, my content was dry. It was correct, but it had no soul. I was promoting a productivity tool, and my videos were just feature walkthroughs. They performed terribly. Then, I tried something different. I made a video called, “How I Overcame Chronic Procrastination and Wrote My First Book.” The video was a story. It detailed my frustrating nights staring at a blank page and the guilt of making zero progress. Then, I introduced the productivity tool not as software, but as my “accountability partner.” I told the story of how I used its features to break my huge goal into tiny habits. The video was a narrative of struggle and triumph. That one video sold more of that tool than all my previous “how-to” videos combined. People didn’t buy the tool; they bought the possibility of their own victory over procrastination.
You don’t need to be a Hollywood screenwriter to do this. Just use the simple “Before-After-Bridge” framework. Before: Describe the world of struggle. What did it feel like? After: Paint a picture of the new, better world. What does success look and feel like? Bridge: Introduce the product or strategy as the thing that got you from “before” to “after.” Weave these mini-stories into everything you do. Your brand isn’t your logo; it’s the story people tell themselves about you. Make it a good one.
Infographics, GIFs, and Memes
Not all your content needs to be a 20-minute magnum opus. The eighth content type is all about quick, shareable, and visual pieces: Infographics, GIFs, and Memes. This is your toolkit for getting people to like you. This content is designed for quick hits and high shares, making it perfect for platforms like Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.
An infographic can take a complex topic—like the 12 points in this video—and distill it into a beautiful, easy-to-understand visual. This makes you look helpful and creates an asset that other people will want to share. On the other hand, memes and GIFs tap into internet culture and humor. When you use a popular meme to share a relatable struggle in your niche, you’re signaling to your audience, “I get you. We’re in the same club.” It’s a powerful way to build community and make your brand more human.
Initially, I dismissed this stuff as “fluff.” I was focused on serious, long-form content, and my social media growth was painfully slow. I decided to experiment. I took the key points from a popular blog post and hired someone on Fiverr to turn them into an infographic. I posted it on Pinterest. Within a month, that one infographic had been pinned thousands of times and was driving more traffic to my blog than my other social channels combined. I also started making simple memes about creator frustrations—like spending hours on a video that gets 10 views. My DMs filled with people saying, “This is so me!” My engagement shot up because I wasn’t just teaching anymore; I was laughing with them.
Here’s your action plan: First, find a complex or list-based piece of content you’ve already made and turn it into an infographic using a tool like Canva. Second, pay attention to the inside jokes and struggles in your niche. Find a trending meme format and adapt it. Don’t overthink it; the goal is relatable humor, not a masterpiece. This “snackable” content keeps your audience engaged between your bigger “meal” content and makes your brand way more likable.
Podcasts
The ninth content type uses the most intimate medium we have: the Podcast. While video is face-to-face, podcasting creates a totally unique connection. When someone listens to your podcast, you are literally in their head—on their commute, at the gym, while they’re doing chores. This kind of sustained, intimate access builds a level of trust and loyalty that’s hard to get anywhere else.
Listeners feel like they’re eavesdropping on a private conversation or getting direct mentorship from you. This makes your affiliate recommendations sound less like a pitch and more like a genuine suggestion from a trusted friend. A podcast is the ultimate tool for nurturing that “Like” and “Trust” factor over a long time, making your audience incredibly receptive to your offers.
I hesitated to start a podcast for years. I thought, “Who has the time?” and “Isn’t it a ton of work?” I finally took the plunge by starting simple: I just took the audio from my YouTube videos and released it as a podcast. The feedback was immediate. People messaged me saying, “I can’t always watch YouTube, but I listen to your podcast every day on my way to work.” It was reaching a whole segment of my audience I was completely missing. For my affiliate promos, I’d add a brief, personal endorsement at the start of the episode. Something like, “This episode is brought to you by the email software I’ve used to build my entire business… I’ve got a special 30-day trial for my listeners at…” The conversion rates from those podcast mentions were consistently higher than almost any other channel because the trust was already baked right in.
You don’t need a fancy studio. Your smartphone mic is good enough to start. You can begin by simply repurposing your video content. Just strip the audio and upload it. Or, create a podcast-first show where you chat with other experts. The key is consistency and value. When it comes time to mention a product, you’re not an advertiser; you’re a trusted guide.
E-books, Playbooks, and Webinars (Gated Content)
The tenth content type is where we go from converting a follower to a buyer, to converting a follower into a long-term lead. This is Gated Content—things like E-books, Playbooks, and Webinars. “Gated” just means the user has to give you their email address to get it. This is, without a doubt, one of the most important steps in building a real, sustainable business.
Why is an email list so critical? Because you don’t own your social media followers. An algorithm change can wipe out your reach overnight. Your email list is an asset you own and control. It lets you build a direct relationship away from the noise of social media. By offering a high-value piece of gated content, you’re filtering for your most dedicated followers. Someone willing to trade their email address is way more interested than someone who just passively watches a video. Once they’re on your list, you can nurture that relationship and present affiliate offers in a strategic way.
For my first year, my entire business was built on public content, and my income was a rollercoaster. The game changed when I created my first e-book. It was a simple, 20-page PDF called “The 7-Day Content Repurposing Playbook.” I offered it for free in exchange for an email. The content was just an expansion of one of my popular videos. Suddenly, I wasn’t just a YouTuber; I was building a list of hundreds, then thousands, of my biggest fans. I then created a simple email follow-up sequence. The first few emails gave more value. The fourth email told a story about how I struggled with design and then introduced a user-friendly graphic design tool—with my affiliate link. The conversion rate from that email was off the charts compared to a public post, because I was talking to a qualified audience in a private, trusted space.
Here’s your action plan: Find your single most popular piece of content. Then, create a “content upgrade” for it—a checklist, a playbook, an e-book, or a free workshop that goes deeper. Offer this “lead magnet” to get people onto your email list. This one strategy can transform your brand from a house of cards built on rented land to a fortress with a direct line to your most loyal supporters.
Coupons and Discounts
Sometimes, even the most trusting follower needs a little nudge. The eleventh content type is the Coupon or Time-Sensitive Discount. This is a powerful psychological trigger that uses urgency and scarcity to push a potential buyer from “I’ll think about it” to “I’m buying it now.”
The psychology is simple: Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). When an offer is limited by time or quantity, it forces a decision. A huge majority of consumers report using coupons, which shows you just how powerful this is. But for us, it’s not just about offering a discount. It’s about securing an exclusive discount for your audience. When you can say, “The company gave me a special 20% off code just for my viewers,” it does two things. First, it makes your audience feel special. Second, it gives them a damn good reason to buy through your link instead of someone else’s.
I was promoting a piece of editing software, and my sales were okay. I reached out to the company’s affiliate manager, showed them my sales numbers and audience size, and asked for two things: a bump in my commission rate and a unique 15% discount code for my audience. They agreed. I then made a video titled, “Is [Software Name] Worth It? (Honest Review & 15% Discount).” I did my normal in-depth review, and at the end, I presented the discount as a special gift to my community with a deadline: “This code is only good for the next 7 days.” That week, I generated more sales for that software than I had in the previous three months combined. The discount didn’t just encourage buying; it encouraged buying now and through me.
Your action plan is this: once you’re generating consistent sales for a product, don’t be afraid to negotiate with the affiliate manager. They want you to succeed. Ask for an exclusive discount code. It doesn’t have to be huge; even 10% makes a difference. Then, build a promotion around it. Announce it to your email list, create short-form videos, and make it the clear call-to-action in your reviews. This turns your promotion from a passive suggestion into an active, can’t-miss event.
Live Q&A, Polls, and Quizzes
The final content type is all about real-time engagement: Live Q&A Sessions, Polls, and Quizzes. This interactive content makes your audience feel involved and heard, breaking down the wall between creator and consumer. It’s the ultimate way to build the “Like” and “Trust” factors because it’s a real, two-way conversation.
A Live Q&A on YouTube or Instagram lets you tackle your audience’s specific questions and doubts in real time. When you can answer a detailed, tricky question about an affiliate product on the spot, you show an incredible depth of knowledge and build massive trust. Polls and quizzes are simpler but just as good. A poll asking, “Which of these are you struggling with most?” gives you priceless data. A quiz like “What’s Your Content Creator ‘Type’?” can be fun and lead to personalized affiliate recommendations based on the results.
Early on, I’d get lots of comments with very specific questions that were hard to answer in text. I decided to host my first live “Ask Me Anything” on YouTube. I was terrified no one would show up. But they did, and they came with amazing, detailed questions. I spent an hour just answering them, live and unscripted. During the session, someone asked for a direct comparison between two marketing tools. I pulled them both up on my screen and walked through the differences right there. After that live stream, I saw a spike in sales for the tool I recommended. Why? Because the audience saw me handle a real-world question with total confidence. The interaction was raw, unedited, and incredibly trustworthy.
Here’s how to do this: Schedule a monthly or quarterly live Q&A. Announce it ahead of time and collect questions. Use the poll features on YouTube and Instagram to ask your audience simple questions to guide your content strategy. And maybe create a simple quiz. This isn’t just content creation; it’s community management. By engaging directly, you show that you’re not just a broadcaster, but a leader who actually listens.
So, there they are. The 12 types of content that completely changed my business. We’ve covered the foundational value of Tutorials, the trust-building power of In-Depth Reviews, the personal connection of Video, and the undeniable proof of Testimonials. We talked about the quiet power of Blog Posts, the magic of User-Generated Content, and the emotional pull of Storytelling. We saw how Infographics and Memes build likability, how the intimacy of a Podcast builds loyalty, and how Gated Content turns followers into leads. And finally, we covered the push of Coupons and the power of Live Q&As.
The core message is this: moving from a creator who gets views to an entrepreneur who gets paid isn’t about creating more content. It’s about creating more strategic content. It’s about understanding that every single thing you create should serve a purpose, guiding someone from knowing you, to liking you, to trusting you enough to take your recommendation.
Now, it’s your turn. The best next step isn’t just to re-watch this, but to put this framework into action. To make that as easy as possible, I want you to download my free “Converter’s Checklist.” It’s that one-page PDF I mentioned that lists all 12 of these content types, the psychological trigger each one pulls, and an idea to get you started for each one. Click the first link in the description below to get it right now.
And before you go, do me a favor. Drop a comment and let me know which of these 12 content types you’re most excited to try first. I read every single comment, and I’d love to hear your plan. In my next video, I’m going to do a deep dive into my exact script for a product review that has a 10% conversion rate, so if you want to see that, make sure you’re subscribed with notifications on. Thank you so much for watching, and let’s go turn those followers into buyers.
