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So many women in business want more freedom.
More space.
More income that doesn’t rely on 1:1 calls or the constant content hamster wheel.
In fact, we all do.
And yet… the words “affiliate marketing” or “funnels” make our brains go:
“I’m not techy enough.”
“There are too many programs.”
“It’s too much to figure out.”
In this podcast episode, I sat down with Conny Twomey, digital marketing strategist and lean systems expert, to unpack how affiliate marketing and digital products actually work and how you can start monetizing what you already know, use, and love… without burning out or blowing your budget.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
If you can notice on the note above, it says, “the following may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through any of these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.”
That sums up what Affiliate Marketing is.
By definition, Affiliate Marketing is earning commissions by promoting others’ products or businesses (like a referral fee).
Affiliate marketing is not a gimmick. It’s just another word for:
Recommending something you love + getting paid when someone buys through your link.
According to Conny, “It’s not new, it’s a 40-year-old referral fee system dressed for the digital age.”
With right system in place, you can earn through:
- Low-ticket like Amazon links (2-5%)
- High-ticket like programs and software (up to 40% commissions)
You can start doing this by turning everyday recommendations into affiliate links. No sleaze. No selling your soul.
Mindset: The #1 Thing that Stops Most People from Starting
You don’t need a massive audience.
You don’t need fancy tech.
You don’t even need a perfect plan.
What you do need?
A decision.
According to Conny, mindset is the quiet killer of momentum; the thing no one wants to admit is holding them back, yet it shows up everywhere.
Procrastination and Comparison.
Those are the biggest blocks Conny sees. People are waiting for the perfect time, the perfect offer, the perfect audience, and it never comes.
We trick ourselves into thinking, “Once I get better at this… once I have more time… once I hit 10k followers…”
But that day doesn’t magically arrive. And in the meantime, our best ideas stay stuck in our heads—or worse, in our Google Drive.
Conny’s advice: Start with what you already have.
Not what you think you should have. Not what someone else has.
That topic you could talk about for hours? The tool you always recommend to clients? The unique way you solve problems, coach, teach, or show up?
That’s your gold mine.
You don’t need to be the loudest voice in your industry. You just need to be the clearest voice for the right people.
And when you stop comparing your step 1 to someone else’s step 10, you give yourself permission to start—messy, small, and imperfect.
Because messy momentum beats perfect paralysis, every single time.
How to Start: Conny’s “No-Overwhelm” Method
If the idea of affiliate marketing or digital product creation makes you want to hide under your desk, Conny gets it. Most people don’t get started because they’re drowning in too many ideas, platforms, or tech tutorials that assume you already have a team, a six-figure business, and five hours a day to spare.
Her approach: Start lean. Start light. Start with what makes sense for where you are.
1. For Coaches with Existing Clients: Keep it Organic
You don’t need a big new launch to integrate affiliate income, you just need to look at what you’re already sharing.
- Email your clients a list of recommended tools
Think: “Here’s the mic I use for calls,” “This is the planner I swear by,” or “Here’s the calendar tool I use to run my biz.” Each of those can be an affiliate link you earn from, without sounding salesy.
- Turn your raving fans into referrers
If you have a digital product, group program, or course, offer 10–15% commission to past clients or superfans. You’ll expand your reach and reward those who believe in your work.
Conny’s golden rule: Don’t overcomplicate it. Start with 1–2 links that naturally fit your client experience like onboarding kits, PDF guides, or email follow-ups.
2. For Beginners: Monetize What You Know
Conny lights up when she talks about people turning their hobbies into profit.
One client of Conny, an everyday fly-fishing enthusiast named Ryan, created a $37 digital guide with his best fishing tips. No big audience. No fancy setup.
He sold over 5,000 copies in one summer.
Even better? He embedded affiliate links for his favorite gear—reels, rods, bait—and made even more money after the guide sold.
You don’t have to be “in business” to start. You just have to be willing to share what you know.
3. Use Free, No-Excuse Tools
Tech shouldn’t be a barrier to entry. That’s why Conny recommends Systeme.io for:
- Funnels
- Lead magnets
- Email marketing
- Affiliate programs
…all in one place, with a free tier to start.
Her clients don’t waste time piecing together five platforms. They get the essentials set up once and let automation handle the rest.
Pro Tip: Start with one affiliate offer that makes sense for your niche.
- If you’re a health coach, maybe it’s a meal plan app.
- If you’re a brand designer, maybe it’s your favorite logo design tool.
- If you’re a mindset coach, maybe it’s a journaling app or book.
Don’t get caught in the trap of promoting everything.
Pick something you genuinely use and trust and just start there.
The Secret Weapon: Sales Funnels on Autopilot
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the idea of funnels, relax. Funnels get a bad rap because they sound complicated, tech-heavy, and salesy. But in reality, a simple, well-built funnel can quietly do the heavy lifting in your business, without you having to show up live every day.
How a Simple Funnel Works
At its core, a sales funnel is just a journey you take your audience on from discovery to decision. Conny breaks it down into three easy steps:
- Lead Magnet (Freebie)
Offer something of value upfront—like a checklist, cheat sheet, or quick-start guide. It solves a small but specific problem and earns you a spot in their inbox. - Email Nurture Sequence
Once someone opts in, a series of emails builds trust, shares your story, and deepens the relationship. - Offer + Affiliate Upsells
When your audience is warmed up, you introduce your offer (e.g. a mini digital product, coaching session, or toolkit) and suggest helpful tools through affiliate links. That’s where the magic happens.
The “Done-For-You” Funnel That Runs Itself
Conny created a plug-and-play funnel template designed for non-techy solopreneurs and new coaches. You don’t need to code. You don’t need to design. You just:
- Plug in your branding (colors, logo, etc.)
- Add your lead magnet + digital product
- Embed affiliate links
- Hit publish, and start earning while you sleep
Bonus: Her funnel also includes a thank-you page that features an upsell offer and affiliate recommendations, turning one download into multiple streams of income.
Conny doesn’t just teach this, she uses it.
Her own funnel earns 40% affiliate commissions through offers she believes in and promotes organically.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing doesn’t have to feel pushy, salesy, or sleazy.
In fact, when done right, it feels like you’re simply pointing your audience toward tools that make their lives easier (and getting paid for it).
Here’s Conny Twomey’s aligned approach to doing affiliate marketing with integrity, simplicity, and impact:
✅ DO recommend what you actually use and love
When you promote a product you’ve personally benefited from, your audience feels that authenticity.
Whether it’s your go-to email platform, your favorite productivity planner, or the course that changed your business, stick to the things you’d recommend even if you weren’t getting paid.
❌ DON’T grab random affiliate links just because they’re trending
Promoting tools you’ve never used (just because someone on Instagram made $10K from them) is the fastest way to lose trust. If it’s not aligned with your brand or audience, it’s not worth it.
✅ DO integrate affiliate links into your client workflows
Make affiliate marketing a natural part of the value you already provide:
- Include links in onboarding kits
- Mention tools during client calls
- Add them to templates, resources, or “What I Use” lists
❌ DON’T spam your audience with links
Pushing products in every email or post can start to feel transactional. Instead, lead with value and let the affiliate link be the bonus, not the focus.
✅ DO use systems to automate your links and commissions
Conny recommends tools like Systeme.io or ThriveCart to track clicks and handle payments.
Automation means you’re not chasing people, manually updating links, or trying to figure out who bought what.
❌ DON’T try to do it all manually or wait until it’s “perfect”
If you’re holding back from affiliate marketing because the tech seems too much, start simple. One link. One tool. One page. You can build as you go.
✅ DO think long-term trust over short-term commission
A single affiliate payout is nice. But becoming the go-to voice for trusted recommendations?
That’s brand equity. That’s the kind of influence that compounds.
❌ DON’T force it
If it feels off, it probably is.
Your audience doesn’t need more noise, they need clarity. Only promote what aligns with your values and their needs.
If you’ve ever thought affiliate marketing was only for influencers, tech bros, or people with massive email lists, think again. As Conny so beautifully laid out in this episode, the real secret to building passive income isn’t about size or perfection, it’s about starting, simply and authentically, with what you already know and use. When done with integrity, affiliate marketing becomes an extension of your service, not a departure from it. So whether you’re a seasoned coach or just starting out, the opportunity to earn while you serve is already within reach. You don’t need to hustle harder, you just need the right systems, a mindset shift, and the courage to share what works.
About Conny Twomey
Conny Twomey is a digital strategist, passive income coach, and the founder of Work With Conny. With a background in online marketing and a passion for helping women create income without burnout, she teaches service providers, coaches, and creatives how to build sustainable revenue through affiliate marketing, digital products, and simple funnels. You can follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Freebie
Ready to create your first income-generating funnel… without tech overwhelm?
Conny invites you to join her free Passive Income Bootcamp, where you’ll:
- Learn the exact steps to launch a lean affiliate funnel
- Get access to her plug-and-play funnel templates
- Discover the easiest tools to start earning commissions even with a small audience
