The fastest way to get to $3k per month in affiliate sales and ad revenue is through a simple content website.
This should be your plan:
1/ Select a niche that is not too competitive but still could be profitable.
Reverse engineer content websites that sell on Flippa. Look for the right balance of profitability and competitiveness. Remember that your competitive advantage is your knowledge and experience in the field.
2/ Conduct keyword research
You can do it for free using Google autocomplete, people also ask, or by using a free tool like AnswerThePublic. Another option is to use a paid tool like Ahrefs, Semrush, or LowFruits.
Without proper keyword research, you won't get too far.
3/ Create a simple but efficient site
Create a simple WordPress website with a fast theme like GeneratePress or Kadence. Use only a few plugins. Make it quick and with a good user experience. Don't focus too much on things like design and logo for now.
4/ Write good content ( obviously )
Check what's already ranking on positions 1-3 and write better, more detailed blog posts. Use more data, tables, sources, and statistics. If possible, use your own images to stand out.
Start with informational articles, and switch to round-up reviews once you have 30-40 blog posts. Write as much as possible and keep publishing. Be consistent!
5/ Start building links
Start with guest postings on relevant websites and resource pages and HARO outreach. Only create a few backlinks per month at first. It should look natural.
Publish more content and progress with your link building efforts simultaneously and increase the velocity of your link building.
6/ Monetize your website
Now is the time to monetize your website and make some cash flow.
Start with affiliate marketing ( Amazon Associates, AvantLink, etc. ). Once you get to 50k page views add Mediavine for display ads. Eventually, add some digital products or sponsorships into the mix.
7/ Collect emails ASAP
Start collecting emails as soon as possible. Add a popup or inline signup form and provide a freebie to get more emails. Use a free email marketing tool like Mailerlite ( free for up to 1k subs ). Build simple automation with a welcome email sequence.
8/ Post free content on social media
Find out where your target audience hangs out and start posting free content there. It could be Facebook, Twitter ( X ), Reddit, Pinterest, etc. Focus on providing value and not on getting traffic back to your site. Add a call-to-action at the end of your content so people can jump into your email list.
That's it! Yes, this is a lot of hard work, but it's a quite simple road map to follow.