The Affiliate Trap: Why Chasing High Commissions Isn’t Always Smart

byNickNachkov

202 followers

6 months ago

When I first heard about affiliate marketing, one of the first things I looked at was… the payout. I mean, why would I promote something that pays $5 when there’s another option dangling $100 per sale? It felt like there is no sense.

But here’s what I learned: chasing the biggest commissions is one of the fastest ways to kill trust with your audience - and your momentum.

Let’s break it down.

Relevance matters more than payout

Just because a product offers a fat commission doesn’t mean it fits your content. Promoting luxury mattresses on a blog about budget backpacking? Not gonna land. Relevance is what makes people click, read, and buy.

When the product actually makes sense for your audience, conversions go up. A $15 commission on a $30 product your audience actually wants is going to perform way better than a $100 commission on something they’ll scroll past.

This thing happen again and again. People chase that “big fish” thinking it’ll turn into big money - but if it doesn’t resonate, it doesn’t sell.

People feel when you don’t believe in what you’re promoting

This one’s big. I’ve landed on plenty of blogs or YouTube videos where it’s obvious someone’s just reading off a sales script. No real experience. No enthusiasm. No honesty.

And guess what? It doesn’t convert.

Affiliate marketing only works when there’s trust. If you’re pushing something random just because it pays well, people can smell it a mile away. It comes off as fake, and once that trust breaks, good luck getting it back.

Stick to stuff you’d genuinely recommend to a friend. Even better if you’ve used it yourself. People respond to authenticity - and authenticity converts way better than hype ever will.

High commission doesn’t always equal high earnings

Here’s the reality: some of those high-ticket affiliate programs look amazing on the surface… until you realize they barely convert.

Let’s say Program A pays $10 and converts at 10%. Program B pays $100 but converts at 0.5%. Do the math. You’re often better off with the “small” payout that consistently brings in results than hoping for a unicorn sale that might never come.

I’m not saying ignore high-paying offers. Just don’t make that your only filter. Always look at the full picture: does it fit your content? Do people actually want it? Can you write about it naturally? Is the sales page even good?

Final thought: Play the long game

It’s tempting to chase the quick wins. But if your goal is to build something that lasts - something that keeps growing - you’ve got to think beyond the payout. Relevance, trust, consistency… those are what turn affiliate marketing into something sustainable.

Promote what fits. Be honest. And don’t let a big number blind you to what really works.

Got thoughts on this? Or maybe you’ve chased a high-paying program that totally flopped? Drop a comment below – I’d love to hear how it went.