How I Used GPT’s ‘Deep Research’ Function to Search for High-Ticket and Low-Commis

byJDenesovych

829 followers

9 months ago

They say “you get what you pay for”—but is that really true in affiliate marketing? Can high-ticket affiliate programs really bring in life-changing commissions, and do low-ticket programs even pay enough to be worth the effort?

With all the talk about high-ticket vs. low-ticket affiliate programs, I wanted to put AI to the test. I used GPT’s Deep Research function to hunt down the biggest-paying affiliate programs and the lowest-commission ones that will leave you wondering why anyone even bothers.

So, if you’ve ever wondered what’s actually worth promoting and what’s a waste of time, you’re in for a ride.

The Experiment: How I Dug Up the Gold (And the Garbage)

I’ve been doing affiliate marketing for almost three years, and while I’ve seen success here and there, I’ve also made my fair share of bad choices when it comes to picking programs. Some programs looked promising but paid next to nothing. Others had great commissions but were impossible to sell.

That’s why I put GPT’s Deep Research to work. My goal was simple:

• Find the highest-paying affiliate products (aka the golden goose of passive income).
• Uncover the lowest-paying programs (aka the ones that make you question life choices).
• Compare the effort vs. reward for both—because let’s be real, some high-ticket programs are harder to sell than an ice cube in Antarctica.

And wow... the results were eye-opening.

The BIG Money Makers: High-Ticket Affiliate Programs

When people say “high-ticket”, they’re talking about programs that pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars per sale. These are the elite affiliate products—ones that could realistically make you a full-time income with just a handful of sales per month.

Here are some of the biggest payouts I found:

💰 1. Augusta Precious Metals (Finance/Gold IRA)

• Commission: ~$4,165 per sale
• Why? Investors put huge amounts into gold IRAs, and affiliates get a cut of those transactions.
• The Catch? You need to target wealthy individuals who are serious about investing.

🛩 2. Villiers Jet Charter (Luxury Travel)

• Commission: Up to $10,000 per private jet booking
• Why? Jet charters are expensive, and affiliates get a portion of the profit.
• The Catch? Finding clients who book private jets isn’t exactly easy.

🏆 3. Liquid Web (Web Hosting for Enterprises)

• Commission: Up to $5,000 per referral
• Why? Businesses need hosting, and enterprise plans cost thousands per year.
• The Catch? Selling high-end hosting is harder than selling standard web hosting.

🎓 4. ClickFunnels Platinum (SaaS & Sales Funnels)

• Commission: 30% recurring (up to $120 per month per customer)
• Why? If you refer 10+ people, this adds up FAST.
• The Catch? Many marketers promote it, making competition fierce.

💻 5. Kinsta (Managed WordPress Hosting)

• Commission: $50–$500 per signup + 10% lifetime recurring commission
• Why? Web hosting is essential, and Kinsta is premium-priced.
• The Catch? Many beginners won’t invest in expensive hosting right away.

🔥 What’s the Verdict?

• If you want BIG money, these programs deliver.
• However—high-ticket programs are harder to convert than low-ticket ones.
• You need trust, authority, and the right audience.

The Pennies and Peanuts: Low-Ticket Affiliate Programs

Now for the opposite end of the spectrum—the lowest commission programs. These are the ones where you need to make hundreds (or thousands) of sales just to make a decent income.

🛒 1. Amazon Associates (Retail & Everything)

• Commission: 1%–3% on many categories
• Why? Everyone shops on Amazon.
• The Problem? If someone buys a $50 product at 3% commission, you earn... $1.50.
• Final Score: 🔥 High traffic? Yes. High profits? No.

🏪 2. Walmart Affiliate Program (General Retail)

• Commission: 1%–4%
• Why? Walmart is popular, and the affiliate program is easy to join.
• The Problem? Low prices + low commissions = low earnings.
• Final Score: 🔥 Not worth the effort.

📦 3. eBay Partner Network (Online Auctions & Shopping)

• Commission: 1%–4%
• Why? eBay has millions of products.
• The Problem? Low commission rates mean very small payouts.
• Final Score: 🔥 Volume game, but still not great.

👕 4. AliExpress (Cheap Products, Cheap Commissions)

• Commission: 3%–9%
• Why? You can sell cheap, trendy products.
• The Problem? The average product price is low, so commissions are tiny.
• Final Score: 🔥 Better for dropshipping, not affiliate marketing.

🎮 5. Video Game & Electronics Affiliate Programs

• Commission: 1%–2%
• Why? Gaming gear and electronics sell well.
• The Problem? Most electronics have razor-thin margins, and so do the commissions.
• Final Score: 🔥 Fun niche, terrible commissions.

🔥 What’s the Verdict?

• Low-ticket programs are easier to sell but pay almost nothing.
• They work ONLY if you generate HUGE amounts of traffic.

Final Thoughts: What’s the Better Play?

High-Ticket Wins—If You Can Sell It

• The biggest high-ticket products can make you thousands per sale.
• The challenge? You need authority & trust to sell expensive items.
• But once you master this? Game changer.

Low-Ticket Is a Traffic Game

• If you can get millions of visitors, Amazon and Walmart can work.
• But most people won’t get enough traffic for this to be profitable.

What’s My Strategy?

1. I use mid-ticket and high-ticket programs when possible.
2. I still use Amazon for quick wins but don’t rely on it.
3. I focus on products people actually NEED (hosting, software, digital services).

How Wealthy Affiliate Helps

You could waste months chasing the wrong programs, or you could learn how to choose wisely from day one.

At Wealthy Affiliate, you learn:
✅ How to find high-converting affiliate programs
✅ How to build an authority site for high-ticket commissions
✅ SEO & traffic strategies to bring in buyers (without relying on social media)

If you’re serious about affiliate marketing, WA gives you the tools to actually succeed.

So, now that you’ve seen how much affiliate programs really pay, are you playing it smart? Or are you promoting the wrong stuff?

Either way, now you know the truth.

👉 Your move.