10 Proven Ways to Make Money by Sharing Links Online

Looking to make some extra cash by sharing links online?

You’re in the right place.

In fact, I’ve tested dozens of link-sharing platforms over the past years. And I can tell you this: Most of them are a complete waste of time.

But some? They can bring in serious money.

(I’m talking about $500+ per month just from sharing links.)

The best part?

You don’t need any special skills or experience to get started.

In this guide, I’ll show you EXACTLY how to make money sharing links online.

No fluff. No outdated tactics.

Just 10 proven ways that actually work in 2025.

I’ll even share how I made my first $100 using Ysense (plus 9 other ways that pay even better). Plus, you’ll learn which platforms to avoid and more.

(trust me, some popular ones are total time-wasters).

So, are you ready to earn extra cash? Let’s start…

1. Share Affiliate Links Online

Want to make money online without creating your own products?

Here’s the thing:

Affiliate marketing is one of the BEST ways to start earning online.

The best part?

You don’t need any special skills to get started. Just share links and earn commissions when people buy.

Let me show you exactly why affiliate marketing works so well for beginners…

First, the basics:

Affiliate marketing means promoting other people’s products and earning a commission for each sale through your unique tracking link. (Think of it like being a digital salesperson, but without the awkward face-to-face pitches.)

The commissions? They can be pretty sweet.

Many affiliate programs pay 30-70% per sale. Some even offer recurring commissions for subscription products.

But here’s what makes affiliate marketing PERFECT for beginners:

• Low startup costs
• You don’t need to create products
• Zero inventory management
• Work from anywhere
• Promote products you actually love
• Learn marketing while earning

Now, where can you start?

Amazon Associates is perfect for beginners. While their commission rates aren’t the highest (usually 1-10%), they’re super easy to join and people trust Amazon.

But that’s just the beginning…

You can also join platforms like:

• ClickBank (digital products)
• ShareASale (variety of products)
• CJ or Commission Junction (big brands)
• Impact (tech and software)

Here’s the secret to affiliate marketing success:

Pick a specific niche you’re interested in. Don’t try to promote everything to everyone.

For example:

• Instead of “fitness,” focus on “yoga for busy moms”
• Instead of “technology,” focus on “smart home gadgets”

This way, you build trust with a specific audience who’ll actually click your links and buy products you recommend.

Remember:

The key is providing genuine value first. Build trust with helpful content, and the sales will follow naturally.

Want to get started today?

Join Wealthy Affiliate community and start learning for free.

Still confused? Check out the below FAQs and answers:

Affiliate Marketing FAQs

What is the Best Way to Find Affiliate Programs?

There are many different ways. But, the best way to find out affiliate programs that you can promote online is to sign up for an affiliate network.

Wondering what an affiliate network is?

An affiliate network acts as an intermediary between affiliate marketers and affiliate programs. It also handles affiliate payments.

Below are some of the most popular ones:

• ClickBank
• ShareASale
• CJ Affiliate
• Impact Radius
• PartnerStack

Read ➔ 11 Best Affiliate Networks for Affiliate Marketers

In order to earn well by sharing affiliate links, you don’t need to join lots of affiliate networks. In fact, it makes you confused about which products to choose.

One of the most popular ones I would love to mention is ClickBank.

ClickBank has more than 3,000 digital products available, and they offer commissions ranging from 25% to 75% per sale. On average, you can earn about $30 in commission. ClickBank mainly deals with digital products.

This is completely free to sign up for ClickBank.

Once you sign up, you can pick a product from over 20 different categories in their marketplace. Generate an affiliate link to share online and earn a commission whenever someone makes a purchase through your link.

I personally like to share Clickbank product links as it offers extremely high commissions compared to any other affiliate networks.

That’s why it makes it highly profitable to share ClickBank links online.

What is the Best Place to Learn Affiliate Marketing?

The best place to learn affiliate marketing is Wealthy Affiliate.

Wealthy Affiliate is an online platform that helps people learn how to create successful affiliate marketing businesses.

The program offers step-by-step guidance on topics like choosing a niche, building a website, improving search engine visibility (SEO), creating content, using social media for marketing, and more.

They also offer various tools and services to help members build and manage their online businesses, including web hosting, tools for finding keywords, active community, AI-powered article writer, and a website builder.

I like the fact that it has a supportive community of like-minded entrepreneurs who are there to provide guidance and support to one another. Members can participate in forums, live chat, and private messaging to connect with others and get help with any questions or challenges they may encounter.

Wealthy Affiliate provides a free starter membership. This gives you access to excellent affiliate training, tools, and a supportive community.

Ready to get started with affiliate marketing?

Here’s exactly what you need to do…

First, launch your affiliate blog. (Trust me, it’s easier than you think!)

But here’s the REALLY exciting part:

You can actually turn this into a full-time income.

How?

It’s pretty simple:

1. Join affiliate programs in your niche
2. Get your unique referral links
3. Create helpful content your audience will love

Pro tip: Join the Wealthy Affiliate Community. These folks are CRUSHING IT with affiliate marketing, and they love sharing their secrets.

(I’ve learned some of my best strategies from their community.)

Or read: 10 Best Affiliate Marketing Courses

But wait… there’s another way to make money sharing links:

URL shorteners that pay you for shares.

Want to learn how that works?

Let’s dive into that next…

2. Use URL Shorteners that Pay

Want to make money from EVERY link you share online?

Here’s something most people don’t know: URL shortening services like Za.gl will actually PAY you to share links.

Pretty cool, right?

Let me show you exactly how this works…

What’s URL shortening?

It’s Simple: You take a long, ugly link and turn it into a short, clean one. (Plus, you get paid when people click it!)

Here’s where the money comes from:

• When someone clicks your shortened link, they see a quick ad.
• You earn money from each of these ad views.

The best part?

You can make up to $160 for every 10,000 clicks!

Here are some of the best platforms that pay you for sharing short links:

• Zagl
• Adf.ly
• Shorte.st
• Linkvertise

I recommend you start with Zagl. It’s an amazing platform to shorten long links and get paid by sharing them online.

Getting started is SUPER simple with any of these platforms.

1. Sign up (100% free)
2. Paste a long link you want to share online.
3. Get your shortened link
4. Share it anywhere online

Where can you share these links so that you can earn?

• Your social media accounts
• Blog posts
• Email lists
• Facebook groups
• Online forums

But here’s a pro tip: Combine this with affiliate marketing.

Why? Because you’ll earn TWICE:

1. From the ad views
2. From affiliate commissions

Want to maximize your earnings?

Here’s the secret: Test different URL shorteners to find the highest-paying ones.
(They all pay different rates!)

The bottom line?

URL shortening is perfect for beginners because:

• Zero startup costs
• Easy to get started
• Works with any type of link
• Instant payments
• Perfect for social media

Ready to start earning?

Pick one of the platforms above and create your first shortened link today!

Read ➔ 71 Legit Ways to Make Money Online from Home

Want to know another KILLER way to make money sharing links?

Let’s dive into my next method…

3. Utilize Referral Programs

Let me tell you about making money with referral programs…

Here’s the thing:

While they might LOOK like affiliate marketing, referral programs are actually different. (And they might be even BETTER for beginners!)

Let me break this down for you…

What’s a referral program?

It’s when companies PAY YOU to bring them new customers. Simple as that.

But here’s what makes referral programs special:

• You don’t need to be a marketing pro
• Companies trust existing customers more
• Rewards can be instant
• Your friends actually thank you for the referrals

Check out these INSANE examples:

• Dropbox gives you up to 16GB of free storage
• Rakuten pays $30 for EACH friend who joins
• Swagbucks shares 10% of your referrals’ earnings FOR LIFE

(Yes, you read that right – FOR LIFE!)

Now, here’s how referral programs are different from affiliate marketing:

Want to start earning with referrals TODAY?

Here’s your action plan:

1. Pick products you actually use and love
2. Get your unique referral link
3. Share it with friends who’d benefit
4. Track which links perform best
5. Build an email list for bigger rewards

Pro tip: Offer something FREE to get more people using your links. (This could be advice, tips, or exclusive content!)

The best part?

Almost EVERY business has a referral program now.

Ready to start earning?

Pick ONE product you love and start sharing your referral link today!

4. Make Money from Blogging

Here’s another way to share links and make money online:

Start a blog.

(In fact, you’re reading a blog post right now!)

Here’s why blogging is CRUSHING IT in this year:

• You own your platform
• Your earning potential is unlimited
• You can make money while you sleep

And, the best part of blogging is that it works with ALL the methods I just talked about. Also, you can mix and match different ways to earn:

• Affiliate marketing links
• Referral program links
• Links to your own products
• Sponsored post links
• Ad revenue

But here’s what makes blogging really special:

Every article you write keeps working for you 24/7, 365 days a year.

Think about it:

While you’re sleeping, people around the world are:

• Clicking your affiliate links
• Using your referral codes
• Buying your digital products

(That’s the power of passive income!)

Want some REAL numbers?

• Even new bloggers can earn $500-$1,000 monthly
• Top bloggers make $10,000+ monthly from their blogs
• Some niches pay $100+ per affiliate sale

Ready to start your own blog? It’s easier than you think. The cost is less than $3 a month for beginners on hosting and a domain name.

Read: How Much Does Blogging Cost?

Here’s what you need to do in 5 simple steps:

1. Pick your blog topic (niche)
2. Get a domain name
3. Choose a hosting provider
4. Install WordPress
5. Start creating helpful content

But, it’s not going to be easy just like any business online.

Pro tip if you want to create a successful blog: Don’t try to write about EVERYTHING. Pick one specific topic and become the go-to expert.

The secret sauce?

Create content that actually helps people. When you do that, sharing links feels natural – not spammy.

Want to learn exactly how to get started?

I’ve got a complete step-by-step guide for you…

Read: How to Start a Blog Step by Step?

5. Sell Online Courses

Do you want to make money sharing your knowledge?

Then, this is Something EXCITING? You can create and sell online courses from anywhere in the world and build an income.

The best part?

Once you create your course, it keeps making money while you sleep.

Let me show you EXACTLY how this works…

Some mind-blowing facts:

• Top course creators make $10,000+ monthly
• Online learning market hit $400 billion in 2024
• Some courses sell for $500-2,000 each
• You only need to create the content ONCE

To begin with courses, you have the flexibility to create your course content using your preferred medium – whether it’s video, audio, or written material.

Here’s why selling courses is HOT right now:

• Zero inventory costs
• Teach what you already know
• Work from anywhere
• Unlimited earning potential
• Growing demand for online education

Once you have your content ready, you can use a course platform like Udemy, Teachable, or Skillshare to host and sell your course.

Top platforms to sell online courses include:

• Teachable (great for beginners)
• Thinkific (super customizable)
• Udemy (huge built-in audience)
• Kajabi (all-in-one solution)

Want to maximize your sales? Try these proven strategies:

• Offer preview lessons
• Use email marketing
• Create an engaging landing page
• Run targeted ads
• Get student testimonials

The bottom line?

Creating online courses isn’t just about making money… It’s about sharing your knowledge and helping others succeed.

Ready to create your first course?

Start by picking ONE topic you know inside and out. Then, validate it with your target audience before diving in! Money will follow.

6. Share Links to Sell eBooks

Want to know one of the most overlooked ways to earn passive income online?

Selling eBooks as an affiliate marketer.

The best part?

You don’t need to write ANYTHING. Just share links and watch the commissions roll in.

Let me show you EXACTLY how this works…

First things first: Sign up for an Amazon Associates account. Amazon pays up to 8.5% commission if you refer and get sales for Kindle eBooks!

Find Your Money-Making eBooks and refer online.

Here’s the secret:

Don’t just pick random books. Choose eBooks that:

• Match your audience’s interests
• Have solid reviews (4+ stars)
• Solve specific problems
• Are reasonably priced ($9.99-$29.99 usually converts best)

Once you have your affiliate link, share your links online. But here’s the thing: You can’t just spam links everywhere. Instead, try these PROVEN strategies:

• Create in-depth book reviews
• Share specific quotes or insights
• Post before/after results
• Make comparison posts (“Book A vs Book B”)
• Create Pinterest-worthy graphics
• Write “Top 10” list posts featuring multiple books

Pro Tip: Use link tracking tools to see which sharing methods work best. (I use Pretty Links, and it’s a game-changer!)

It’s kind of building Your Money-Making Machine.

Want to know what separates successful eBook affiliates from everyone else?

Two words: Targeted Following.

Here’s how to build yours:

• Focus on ONE specific niche
• Post consistent, valuable content
• Engage with your followers daily
• Use relevant hashtags
• Collaborate with other creators

The Secret Sauce: Quality Over Quantity

Listen:

Having 1,000 engaged followers beats having 100,000 ghost followers any day. (I learned this the hard way!)

Focus on building a community that TRUSTS your recommendations.

Because here’s the truth:

When people trust you, they buy what you recommend.

Ready to Start?

Here’s your action plan:

1. Sign up for Amazon Associates TODAY
2. Pick your first 5 eBooks to promote
3. Create your first piece of content on any social platforms
4. Start sharing and be consistent!

Remember: This isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme.

But with consistency and the right strategy? You could be earning passive income from eBook sales within your first month only.

7. Use Email Marketing

Want to know what STILL generates a mind-blowing 4,200% ROI?

Email marketing.

That’s right: For every $1 spent, businesses are making $42 back.

It’s true—you can really Make SERIOUS Money with email marketing this year (Even If You’re Starting From Zero!)

The best part?

You can tap into this goldmine using affiliate marketing – without creating ANY products yourself.

Let me show you EXACTLY how this works…

Here’s the deal:

Most people check their emails multiple times daily.

(Some people do it way more than they check social media!)

And guess what? When someone trusts your emails, they’re 7x more likely to click your links and buy what you recommend.

Getting started is easier Than You Think!

First, you need two things:

1. An email marketing platform, like Moosend
2. Affiliate products to promote

Here’s my PROVEN tech stack for email marketing:

• Moosend (They offer a FREE trial for 30 days)
• Top affiliate networks like: Amazon Associates (Perfect for beginners) ClickBank (Higher commissions) ShareASale (Tons of products)

Now, here’s something most “gurus” won’t tell you:

List quality beats list size EVERY time.

I’ve seen people make $10,000+ per month with just 1,000 subscribers. (Because they built the RIGHT kind of list.)

Here’s how to do it:

• Create valuable lead magnets
• Set up targeted landing pages
• Use social media to drive traffic
• Run strategic ad campaigns—use Udimi.
• Network in your niche

The Secret Sauce is in your email marketing strategy? Listen: You can’t just blast affiliate links to your list and expect getting sales.

Instead, try this proven formula:

• 80% valuable content
• 20% promotional emails
• Regular engagement emails
• Strategic affiliate promotions

Pro Tip:

Use email automation to scale your earnings. (Moosend makes this super easy!) If you really want to boost your conversions,

Try these:

• Segment your list by interests
• A/B test your subject lines
• Send emails at optimal times
• Create targeted campaigns
• Use behavior-based automation

Here’s something most people don’t know:

Top email marketers aren’t just making a little money…

They’re building full-time businesses.

But remember: This isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme.

It takes:

• Consistent effort
• Quality content
• Strategic planning
• Regular testing
• Genuine relationship building

Ready to Start? Here’s your action plan in 5 steps:

1. Sign up for Moosend (FREE to start)
2. Choose your first affiliate products
3. Create your lead magnet
4. Start building your list
5. Begin sending valuable emails

Keep your emails clear and to the point. Long, confusing emails might make readers lose interest. Also, don’t overdo it with too many links.

Because balance is important.

Provide valuable content, and sprinkle in affiliate links when they fit naturally.

That’s how you get paid to share links with your email list!

8. Create an Online Store

You can make $500-$5000+ per month just by strategically sharing your store’s links.(And yes, that’s without spending a fortune on ads.)

Let me show you EXACTLY how this works…

First, What’s an Online Store?

Think of it as your 24/7 digital storefront.

The best part? While brick-and-mortar stores reach people within driving distance, your online store can reach customers WORLDWIDE.

But here’s something most people don’t tell you:

89% of successful online stores make their first $1,000 through strategic link sharing, not paid advertising.

Here’s Your Step-by-Step Game Plan:

Step 1: Pick Your Money-Making Niche.

Don’t just choose randomly. Look for niches with:

• High demand (use Google Trends to verify)
• Good profit margins (aim for 40%+ markup)
• Low shipping costs
• Year-round demand

Step 2: Find Hot Products That Actually Sell.

Here’s the secret: Focus on products with proven demand.

You can use tools like:

• Amazon Best Sellers
• AliExpress trending items
• Social media trending products

Step 3: Build Your Store (Without Breaking a Sweat)

Here’s where it gets REALLY interesting…

You don’t need ANY coding skills. Just pick one of these platforms:

• Shopify (starts at $29/month, best for scaling)
• Weebly (from $12/month, great for beginners)
• Squarespace (from $23/month, beautiful templates)

Once your store is set up, share the link strategically for marketing. This is where MOST people mess up. Don’t just spam your links everywhere. Instead:

• Use Instagram story swipe-ups
• Share on Facebook Buy/Sell groups
• Post on relevant subreddits
• Use Pinterest rich pins

Pro Tip: Use link shorteners like Bitly or TinyURL to track clicks and optimize your sharing strategy.

Once you’ve got your foundation, it’s time to scale your traffic:

• Run retargeting ads (they convert 70% better than cold traffic)
• Build an email list (average ROI: $42 per $1 spent)
• Partner with micro-influencers (10x more cost-effective than celebs)

The Bottom Line?

Creating an online store isn’t just about building a website. It’s about building a system that turns shared links into actual sales.

And the best time to start? Right now.

Because here’s the truth:

Every day you wait is another day someone else is capturing your future customers.

9. CPA Marketing Techniques

You can go from $0 to $1,000+ per day sharing simple links online. (And no, you don’t need a huge following to get started.)

What’s CPA Marketing, Anyway?

Think of it as getting paid for introducing people to products and services.

The best part? You get paid when someone takes a specific action – like signing up for a free trial or filling out a survey.

(Way easier than waiting for someone to buy something expensive!)

Here’s the CRAZY part: The average CPA payout ranges from $1-$80 per action. Some offers even pay up to $150!

Let’s Break Down The Numbers:

• Average email submit offer: $1-3 per lead
• Free trial sign-ups: $15-45 each
• Mobile app installs: $2-8 per install
• Survey completions: $5-20 per survey

The Top CPA Networks for finding offers to promote:

But here’s what nobody tells you…

The REAL Secret to CPA Success:

It’s not about spamming links everywhere. (That stopped working back in 2020.)

Instead, here’s what actually works in 3 simple steps:

1. Pick Your Perfect Niche: Dating offers (avg. payout: $6-12), Finance (avg. payout: $30-80), Health & Wellness (avg. payout: $20-50), Gaming (avg. payout: $3-15)
2. Create Content That Converts: YouTube tutorials (1.9B monthly users), TikTok videos (engagement rates up to 18%), Instagram Stories (500M daily users), Blog posts (still work great for SEO)
3. Generate Traffic Strategically: Pinterest (perfect for lifestyle offers), Facebook Groups (target specific interests), Reddit (huge untapped potential), Email marketing I already discussed (40x more effective than social media)

Pro Tip:

Use link tracking tools like ClickMagick or Voluum to see which traffic sources convert best. Tracking what works and what does is critical for success.

Ready to Start? Here’s your action plan:

1. Apply to 2-3 CPA networks
2. Pick 5 offers in your niche
3. Create content around those offers
4. Test different traffic sources
5. Scale what works

The Bottom Line?

CPA marketing isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme.

But…

With the right strategy and consistent effort, hitting $100-$1000 per day is totally doable. Remember: The best time to start is Right Now.

Read: How to make $1000 a day?

10. Share Sponsored Posts

Want to know how top influencers make $500-$10,000 PER POST? (And no, you don’t need millions of followers to get started.)

Let me show you exactly how sponsored posts work…

What Are Sponsored Posts, Anyway?

Think of them as digital billboards for brands. But instead of paying for ad space, companies pay YOU to share their message.

Here’s the crazy part:

The influencer marketing industry already hit $16.4 billion in 2024.

(And it’s growing FAST.)

Let’s Break Down The Numbers:

• Nano-influencers (1K-10K followers): $100-$500 per post
• Micro-influencers (10K-50K): $500-$2,000 per post
• Mid-tier influencers (50K-500K): $2,000-$10,000 per post
• Macro-influencers (500K+): $10,000+ per post

Your Step-by-Step Roadmap to Sponsored Success:

Start by picking your perfect niche. The secret? Look for these factors:

• High engagement rates
• Active brand presence
• Strong monetization potential
• Year-round demand

Choose any one or more social platforms to build your engaged audience. Know that it will take time to build a large following. To speed up, you can:

• Post consistently (3-5 times per week)
• Respond to comments within 24 hours
• Share behind-the-scenes content
• Create platform-specific content

Read: Top Blogging Platforms

Expert Tip for Success: Focus on engagement rate over follower count. Brands pay 3x more for highly engaged audiences.

You also need to connect with brands. Use these platforms to find sponsors:

• AspireIQ
• Upfluence
• #paid

Finally, I recommend that you follow the rules:

• Always use #ad or #sponsored
• Disclose partnerships clearly
• Keep proof of disclosure
• Maintain authenticity

Followers trust influencers who are transparent about sponsorships.

The Bottom Line?

Sponsored posts aren’t just about having lots of followers. It’s about building TRUST with your audience. Because here’s the truth:

• Brands don’t pay for followers.
• They pay for INFLUENCE.

Related Reading:

• How to Make Money Blogging? [$0 to $100K+/Month]
• Beginner’s Guide: Making Money with Affiliate Marketing
• From Zero to Hero: 21 Best Ways to Make Your First Dollar Online
• 71 Ways to Make Money Online from Home

Final Words and Thoughts

Let me wrap this up with some mind-blowing facts…

Did you know?

The average person who consistently shares links following the above-mentioned ideas makes between $500-$10000 per month.

(And some make WAY more than that.)

Read: 70+ Ways to Make Money Online

ALWAYS: Focus on just ONE strategy when starting out.

The Numbers Don’t Lie:

• Social media link sharing: $1-$50 per click
• Affiliate marketing: Up to 75% commission
• CPA offers: $1-$150 per action
• Sponsored posts: $100-$10,000 per share

But here’s the CRAZY part… It’s not just about the money.

By sharing valuable links, you’re actually:

• Building a trusted personal brand
• Growing your network (which compounds your earnings)
• Helping others succeed
• Creating passive income streams

The Bottom Line? Link sharing isn’t just another way to make money online. It’s a COMPLETE business model that can:

• Generate passive income
• Build your personal brand
• Help others succeed
• Create financial freedom

But here’s the thing…

You need to start NOW.

If this guide helped you, why not share it with someone who needs it? (After all, the best way to succeed is to help others succeed too!)