Whacky Wednesday—With or Without Whiskey #2: Why Your Affiliate Links Are Like That One Friend
Welcome back to Whacky Wednesday—With or Without Whiskey!
If you’re new here, grab a seat, because every Wednesday, we take a completely unfiltered look at online business, affiliate marketing, and why some of us are still waiting for our first big payday like it’s a lost Amazon package.
(And if you’re sipping whiskey while reading this, cheers to responsible business ownership—just don’t let your "add to cart" button get too reckless.)
Today’s topic? Your affiliate links.
You know, those little blue hyperlinks that are supposed to make you rich? The ones you’ve scattered across your blog like confetti at a New Year’s Eve party, only to never see a single sale.
It’s time to talk about why your links are ghosting you—and why they’re just like that one friend who always promises to pay you back but never does.
Your Affiliate Links Are Mooching Off Your Effort
Imagine this:
You go out for drinks with a friend. The bill comes. They pat their pockets, sigh dramatically, and say:
"Oh man, I left my wallet at home. I’ll get you next time!"
Next time comes. Same excuse.
Now replace "your friend" with your affiliate links.
- You do all the hard work—writing content, optimizing for SEO, driving traffic.
- Visitors click on your links.
- They browse the website.
- And then? Instead of buying, they disappear into the abyss.
They’ve window shopped on your dime, and now you’re standing there like, “Excuse me, where’s my commission?”
Why People Click but Never Buy
Here’s the kicker: Just because someone clicks your link doesn’t mean they’re going to buy anything.
- Maybe they got distracted—like when you go on Amazon for toothpaste and end up researching “best apocalypse survival gear.”
- Maybe they opened too many tabs—and your link got lost in the Bermuda Triangle of their browser.
- Maybe they decided to wait—and buy the product later… but through someone else’s link.
That last one stings.
Because let me introduce you to the “Last Click Bandit.”
The "Last Click Bandit" Is Stealing Your Commissions
Let’s say you convince someone that they NEED that new tent for their next camping trip.
They click your affiliate link, browse for a bit, but don’t buy.
A week later, they decide, “Yeah, I do need that tent.”
They Google it, click a random ad, and buy it.
Guess who gets the commission?
Not you.
That Google ad just swooped in like a vulture and stole your sale at the last second. This is why your links ghost you. They set the stage, do all the hard work, and then some other marketer swoops in and takes the commission because they got the last click.
It’s like when you introduce two friends, and next thing you know, they’re hanging out without you.
How to Make Your Links More “Loyal”
So, how do you stop your affiliate links from flaking on you?
✅ Use Strong CTAs – Instead of just dropping a link, tell people why they need to buy NOW.
✅ Offer Bonuses – Give them an incentive to purchase through YOUR link. (Bonus guides, PDF downloads, etc.)
✅ Capture Emails – If they don’t buy today, follow up later.
✅ Use Multiple Touchpoints – Promote your affiliate link across blogs, emails, and social media so they keep seeing it.
Basically, you need to make your links hard to ignore.
Because if you don’t, your commissions will keep ghosting you like a bad Tinder date.
Final Thoughts: Who’s Really to Blame?
Your links aren’t totally innocent, but neither are you.
👉 If you don’t remind people why they need to buy, someone else will.
👉 If you don’t create urgency, they’ll take their sweet time and forget about you.
👉 If you don’t capture their email, they’ll wander off and never return.
Affiliate marketing is a numbers game.
But it’s also a strategy game.
The good news? If you’re reading this, you’re already ahead of most beginners. Because you’re learning what works, what doesn’t, and how to fix it.
So next time your commissions ghost you?
Take a deep breath. Then go tweak your strategy.
Next Week on Whacky Wednesday…
We’re diving into something BIG:
👉 "The Art of Hype: Why Some Products Go Viral While Yours Collects Dust"
Ever wonder why some products blow up overnight while others (including your own affiliate offers) just… sit there? Next week, we’ll dissect the psychology of hype, how brands engineer viral success, and how YOU can create buzz around your affiliate links—without selling your soul.
See you next Wednesday.
Recent Comments
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We are on the same wavelength when it comes to whiskey. I scheduled a post this morning about bourbon and whiskey. I logged on and saw the image of your post. lol