How to Make Money with Affiliate Marketing and Email Automations

Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to make money online. But most beginners struggle with one thing—getting consistent sales. That’s where email automation comes in.

Imagine this: you wake up in the morning, check your phone, and see a notification on your screen reminding you “you just received a $50 commission!” Sounds incredible, right? That is the power of email marketing in affiliate marketing versus social media, which will disappear after a few hours, or paid ads, which stop after the budget runs out. Email marketing can work for you 24/7.

Affiliate marketing itself is easy; you promote other people’s products and earn a commission when someone buys off your unique link. However, this is where the majority of beginners fail. They fail to build an audience of people who actually want to buy their product. Instead, they only have random posts on social media, hoping with optimism that a sale will come—and then they wonder why no one is buying.

This is where email automation dramatically changes everything. Instead of chasing after customers to buy your product, you build an email list of subscribers who have an interest in either what you offer or a complimentary product or service. Then, when they receive your emails, the emails educate, engage, and drip sell them into a buying customer automatically. With the right strategy, you could turn email marketing into your number one sales machine that results in commission every day without you having to lift a finger.

Now, you might be wondering…

• Do I need a big budget? Nope! You can start with free email marketing tools.
• Do I need a website? It helps, but even a simple landing page works.
• Do I have to be tech-savvy? Not at all! Tools like Moosend make automation easy.

In this guide, we’ll break everything down step-by-step:

• How to build an email list from scratch
• How to set up an automated email funnel that drives sales
• The best free & low-budget tools to get started
• How to avoid common mistakes (like ending up in spam)

Whether you’re a total beginner or someone who’s tried affiliate marketing before but struggled with sales, this guide will give you a clear action plan. Ready to start making passive income with email marketing? Let’s dive in!

This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase through our links. We only recommend tools and services we genuinely trust and believe will help you succeed in affiliate marketing and email automation.

Why Email Marketing is a Game-Changer for Affiliate Marketers

Many affiliate marketers rely on social media or blogs to drive traffic. But here’s the problem—these platforms control your audience. If an algorithm changes, your traffic can disappear overnight.

With email marketing, you own your audience. You can build long-term relationships, promote offers at any time, and increase conversions with automated email sequences.

One of the biggest advantages of email marketing is that it helps build trust. When someone joins your email list, they are giving you permission to reach out to them directly. Unlike social media, where your content can get lost in a crowded feed, an email lands directly in their inbox.

Another major benefit is cost-effectiveness. Unlike paid ads, email marketing is cheap. Many email marketing tools offer free plans, making it easy to start without spending a dime. One great option is Moosend, which provides free automation features perfect for affiliate marketers.

Affiliate Sales Funnel for Email Marketing

To make affiliate sales through email marketing, you need a structured process. This is where an affiliate sales funnel comes in.

Step 1: Drive Traffic to Your Landing Page

First, you need people to sign up for your email list. Here are some traffic sources:

• SEO – Write blog posts targeting affiliate keywords
• YouTube – Add your landing page link in video descriptions
• Social Media – Use Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok
• Paid Ads – Run Facebook and Google Ads

Step 2: Create a High-Converting Landing Page

A landing page is where people sign up for your email list in exchange for a lead magnet (freebie).

Step 3: Capture Emails & Deliver a Welcome Email

Once someone signs up, they receive a welcome email with their freebie and an introduction to your brand.

Step 4: Automate an Email Sequence

A pre-written email sequence nurtures leads and introduces affiliate offers naturally.

Step 5: Convert Subscribers into Buyers

Once your audience trusts you, they are more likely to buy from your recommendations.

Setting Up an Email Marketing Platform

Step 1: Choose an Email Marketing Tool

To automate your emails, you need an email marketing platform. I recommend Moosend because:

• It has a free plan
• It offers easy automation workflows
• You can track email performance

🔹 Sign up for Moosend here

Step 2: Set Up a Professional Email

A professional email increases trust. Instead of using @gmail.com, get a business email like yourname@yourdomain.com.

Step 3: Create an Email List in Moosend

Inside Moosend, go to Lists → Create New List and name it “Affiliate Marketing Leads”.

Step 4: Offer a Lead Magnet

A lead magnet is a freebie you offer in exchange for an email. Here are some high-converting lead magnet ideas:

• Free eBooks
• Checklists
• Templates
• Mini-Courses
• Need ideas?

Creating a Landing Page for Affiliate Offers

Your landing page is where potential subscribers will enter their email addresses. This page needs to be clear, compelling, and focused on conversion.

Moosend has an easy-to-use landing page builder with pre-designed templates. Simply choose a template, customize it with your branding, and add your lead magnet offer.

A high-converting landing page should include:

• A strong headline (Example: “Free Guide: How to Make $1,000/Month with Affiliate Marketing”)
• Bullet points explaining what’s inside the freebie
• A clear call-to-action (CTA) like “Download Now”

Setting Up Email Automation for Affiliate Sales

Email automation is a game-changer for affiliate marketers. It allows you to build relationships with potential buyers, increase conversions, and generate passive income.

Instead of manually sending emails to every new subscriber, you can set up an automated email sequence that nurtures leads.

Before we dive into the steps, let’s quickly go over why email automation is crucial for affiliate marketing:

• Saves Time & Effort – Set it up once, and it works for you 24/7.
• Builds Trust & Authority – Helps you nurture leads before pitching offers.
• Increases Conversions – Well-timed emails guide subscribers toward buying decisions.
• Reduces Spam Risks – A structured sequence prevents emails from looking like spam.
• Scales Your Earnings – The more people you nurture, the more commissions you earn.

Now, let’s set up your email automation sequence step by step.

Step 1: Create an Email Automation Workflow

First, log into your Moosend account. If you don’t have one yet, you can sign up for free on Moosend (Moosend.com).

Once inside, follow these steps:

• Go to the “Automations” tab – This is where you create and manage automated email sequences.
• Click on “Create New Workflow” – This will open a new automation setup.
• Choose a Trigger – Triggers are what start the automation.

• For affiliate marketing, select “When someone subscribes to a list” as your trigger.
• This means that every new subscriber will enter your automation.

Step 2: Name Your Automation

Naming your automation properly will help you keep things organized.

Example: “Affiliate Sales Email Sequence”

Example: “Passive Income Funnel – Affiliate Marketing”

A good name makes it easy to track which automation is running and helps you optimize later.

Step 3: Select Your Email List

At this point, you need to connect your automation to the right email list.

Choose the List of Subscribers from Your Landing Page

• When visitors opt-in via your landing page, they get added to an email list.
• Inside Moosend, select the specific list you created for this affiliate campaign.

If you haven’t created a list yet:

• Go to “Audience” → “Email Lists”
• Click “Create New List”
• Name it something relevant (e.g., “Affiliate Marketing Subscribers”)
• Now, connect this list to your landing page opt-in form.

Once this is set up, every new subscriber will automatically be added to this list and will start receiving your automated emails.

Step 4: Set Up Your Email Sequence

Now comes the most important part—crafting a high-converting email sequence. This is where you nurture your leads, provide value, and introduce affiliate products.

A good email automation for affiliate sales follows this sequence:

Email 1: Welcome Email (Day 0 – Immediately After Signup)

✔ Subject Line: “Welcome! Here’s Your Free Gift ”

✔ Goal: Introduce yourself, deliver a lead magnet (if applicable), and set expectations.

✔ Content:

• Thank the subscriber for signing up.
• Reaffirm the benefits of staying on your email list.
• Deliver the freebie (e.g., an ebook, checklist, or guide).
• Give them a quick win (e.g., a simple tip or strategy).
• Tell them to watch out for your next email.

Example CTA: “Click here to download your free guide!”

Email 2: Educate & Build Trust (Day 1 – 24 Hours Later)

✔ Subject Line: “The #1 Mistake Beginners Make (And How to Avoid It)”

✔ Goal: Provide valuable insights related to your niche.

✔ Content:

• Share a common problem and how to solve it.
• Give a personal story or experience related to the niche.
• Tease an affiliate product but don’t pitch yet.
• End with a curiosity-driven CTA.

Example CTA: “Tomorrow, I’ll show you the exact tool I use to get results!”

Email 3: Soft Introduction to Affiliate Product (Day 3)

✔ Subject Line: “The Secret Tool That Changed Everything”

✔ Goal: Introduce your affiliate product as a solution.

✔ Content:

• Explain how this product helped YOU or others.
• Share testimonials or success stories.
• Provide a mini case study or example.
• Include a soft CTA (not hard-selling).

Example CTA: “Check it out here and see if it’s right for you!”

Email 4: Social Proof & Urgency (Day 5)

✔ Subject Line: “Still on the Fence? Here’s What Others Are Saying”

✔ Goal: Add credibility and create urgency.

✔ Content:

• Share reviews, testimonials, or case studies.
• Address common objections (e.g., price, effectiveness).
• Include limited-time bonuses or discounts.
• Use an urgency-driven CTA.

Example CTA: “This special deal expires in 48 hours—don’t miss out!”

Email 5: Last Chance & Strong CTA (Day 7)

✔ Subject Line: “Final Reminder: This Offer Ends Soon”

✔ Goal: Get people to take action.

✔ Content:

• Quick recap of the product’s benefits.
• Reminder of bonuses/limited-time offer.
• Clear call to action with a deadline.
• Final push to click the link and purchase.

Example CTA: “Click here before the offer expires!”

Step 5: Activate & Monitor Your Automation

Once your email sequence is ready, the final step is to activate your automation:

• Double-check your emails – Ensure links work, and there are no typos.
• Turn on the automation – Inside Moosend, click “Activate”.
• Monitor performance – Track open rates, click rates, and conversions.
• Make adjustments – If an email has a low open rate, tweak the subject line. If people aren’t clicking, improve the CTA.

Sending Automated Emails That Convert

Your first email is the most important because it sets the foundation for your relationship with the subscriber. Make sure to thank them, deliver the freebie, and introduce yourself.

Next, space out your email sequence to provide value before promoting an affiliate offer. A good sequence might look like this:

• Email #1: Welcome email + freebie
• Email #2: Share a helpful tip related to the affiliate product
• Email #3: Introduce an affiliate product using a personal story
• Email #4: Provide social proof (case studies, testimonials)
• Email #5: Urgency email with a limited-time offer

When writing your email copy, focus on helping rather than selling. Use curiosity-driven subject lines like “Your Free Guide + Bonus Inside!” to increase open rates.

conclusion

Affiliate marketing and email automation are a powerful combination for making consistent, passive income online. Instead of chasing traffic every day, you can build an email list, nurture relationships, and promote affiliate offers automatically.

The best part? Once your email sequence is set up, it works for you 24/7—sending valuable content, building trust, and converting subscribers into buyers.

If you’re serious about growing your affiliate income, start by:

• Choosing an email marketing platform (Moosend is a great option!)
• Creating a high-converting landing page
• Setting up an automated email sequence
• Providing value before pitching affiliate products

Your next step? Take action today! Set up your first email automation and start turning subscribers into sales. 🚀

Want more strategies? Check out our Affiliate Marketing Guide for step-by-step tutorials!

Got questions? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to help!