How to Write an Email for Affiliate Marketing

If you’re an affiliate marketer, you might be wondering, “How do I write an affiliate email that reaches the primary inbox of my recipient, gets opened by them, and drives clicks to my affiliate page”.

Well, you’re not alone. It’s a common problem with a surprisingly simple solution. Many affiliates make it complicated.

In this blog post, you’ll learn how to write an email for affiliate marketing that:

• Lands in the primary folder of your subscribers
• Gets opened by a majority of them
• Drives traffic to your affiliate page

Let’s get right into the details.

First, why should you use email marketing to promote your affiliate products? The answer to this one is simple too:

The data supports it.

For every $1 spent on email marketing, marketers generate an impressively high ROI of $40, on average.

Is it the highest ROI you can generate with any marketing strategy? Maybe, maybe not. But, it’s certainly one of the highest.

I think that’s reason enough to use email marketing for affiliate marketing as well.

First, don’t ask ChatGPT “Write me an affiliate email or [Product name]. You might get a good response, but I think it’s not the right way to leverage this powerful tool.

Choose the Right Affiliate Product

Many affiliates make this mistake. If your affiliate product isn’t good enough or relevant to your target audience, even if your emails get opened, you won’t generate any sales.

To me, the most important metric you should look at is its return rate. If more than 7 - 8% of people are returning it, chances are it’s not of high enough quality.

Depending on the platform, look at other metrics like:

• Sales (If more than 100, it means you have enough customers to qualify the product)
• Conversion rate (The affiliate landing page should be converting)
• Average visitor value

Plus, most platforms assign a specific score to each affiliate offer. For instance, WarriorPlus assigns a “Pulse score” to offer.

Let’s talk about writing an affiliate email now.

Write a Strong Subject Line

Your subject line is the gatekeeper of your email. If it doesn’t grab attention, your email won’t get opened—no matter how great the content inside is.

It needs to spark curiosity, create urgency, or promise value.

Here’s what works most of the time:

• Use numbers or stats (e.g., “5 Tips to Double Your Affiliate Commissions”)
• Ask a question (e.g., “Struggling to Boost Your Affiliate Sales?”)
• Create urgency (e.g., “Last Chance to Grab This Exclusive Deal!”)
• Keep it short and sweet—under 50 characters is ideal

And please, avoid spammy words like “Buy Now” or “Act Fast.” They might trigger spam filters, and nobody wants that (More on this later).

Come Up with a Great Hook

Once your email is opened, the first line—your hook—needs to keep the reader engaged. This is your chance to make a strong first impression.

A good hook does one of three things:

Solves a Problem: Address a pain point your audience has (e.g., “Tired of low affiliate commissions?”).

Tells a Story: Share a quick, relatable anecdote (e.g., “I was struggling to make $100/month until I tried this…”).

Offers a Benefit: Highlight what’s in it for them (e.g., “Here’s how you can earn $500 in the next 30 days.”).

Remember, the hook isn’t the place to sell. It’s the place to connect.

Provide Value

Let’s face it. If you want your audience to stick around (and eventually click your affiliate link), you need to engage them.

And the best way to do that? Storytelling and value addition.

Storytelling is your secret weapon. People love stories because they’re relatable, memorable, and emotionally engaging.

For example, instead of saying, “This product is great,” share a personal experience:

• “I was skeptical at first, but after using [Product Name], I doubled my affiliate commissions in just 30 days.”
• “Here’s how [Product Name] helped me solve [specific problem].”

Stories build trust and make your email feel less like an ad and more like a conversation.

Value Addition is equally important. Your email should leave the reader feeling like they’ve gained something—even if they don’t click your link.

Here’s how to do it:

• Share actionable tips or insights related to the product
• Include a quick win or solution to a common problem
• Offer a free resource, like a checklist or guide, to complement the product

For instance, if you’re promoting a course on affiliate marketing, you could include a tip like, “Here’s a simple trick to boost your email open rates by 20%.”

Include a Clear CTA

Your CTA is where the action happens. Tell the reader what you want them to do next, which, in our case, is to send them to an affiliate offer.

Here’s how to nail your CTA:

• Be direct and specific (e.g., “Click here to get started” or “Grab your discount now”)
• Use action-oriented language (e.g., “Download,” “Join,” “Discover”)
• Place it strategically—ideally, above the fold and again at the end of the email

And don’t overdo it. One or two CTAs per email is plenty.

Add a PS Section

The “Post Script” section can be your secret weapon. It often gets a lot of reads - you can boost your CTR by using it wisely.

The goal is to reinforce the main point of the email or simply add a reminder.

Here’s how to make the most of it:

• Reinforce your main offer or CTA (e.g., “P.S. Don’t forget—this deal ends at midnight!”).
• Add a bonus tip or piece of value (e.g., “P.S. Here’s a quick video tutorial to help you get started.”).
• Create urgency or scarcity (e.g., “P.S. Only 10 spots left at this price!”).

It’s a small addition, but it can make a big difference.

Subject Line: “I Tried This for 30 Days—Here’s What Happened to My Energy Levels”

Hook:

“Hey [First Name],

Remember when I told you I was struggling with afternoon crashes? I’d hit 3 PM and feel like I needed a nap just to survive the day.

Sound familiar? Well, I finally found something that changed everything…”

Storytelling & Value Addition:

“I decided to test [Product Name], a natural energy supplement, for 30 days. No caffeine, no jitters—just clean energy.

By week two, I was powering through deadlines without reaching for my third coffee. Here’s what worked for me:

• Tip #1: Take it with breakfast for all-day stamina
• Tip #2: Pair it with a quick 10-minute walk to boost absorption

Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend this if I hadn’t seen results myself. And right now, they’re offering a [discount/bonus] for first-time buyers.”

CTA:

“Want to ditch the 3 PM slump? → [Click here to grab your bottle before the deal ends].”

PS:

“P.S. I’ve attached a free “Energy-Boosting Routine” cheat sheet with your purchase. You’ll love it!”

Subject Line: “How I Went from $0 to $1000/m in Affiliate Sales

Hook:

“Hey [First Name],

Two years ago, I had ZERO idea how affiliate marketing worked. I wasted hours promoting random products, made $3.50 in 6 months, and almost quit. Then I discovered [Course Name]…”

Storytelling & Value Addition:

“This course taught me the exact system I use today to earn consistent affiliate income. Here’s the best part: You don’t need a big audience or tech skills.

Quick Win: Use their “5-Minute Audience Research” trick to find high-converting products.

My Results: After implementing their strategies, I hit $1,000/month in 90 days.

The course is open for enrollment until [Date], and they’re throwing in a bonus [tool/guide] if you sign up this week.”

CTA:

“Stop guessing—start earning. → [Enroll now and claim your bonus].”

PS:

“P.S. Reply to this email if you want my personal checklist for picking winning affiliate products. I’ll send it over!”

Important note: If you’re using personal anecdotes or stories in your emails, they need to be reality-based. Don’t come up with stuff just for the sake of storytelling.

Let’s cut to the chase: Writing affiliate emails isn’t about throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping it sticks. It’s about strategy. Here are the rules I live by to make sure my emails actually work:

Test and Optimize Your Subject Lines

Your subject line is the make-or-break moment. I don’t care how good your email is—if your subject line flops, nobody will read it.

Here’s how I do it:

A/B test like your commissions depend on it (because they do). Send two versions of the same email to small segments of your list. For example:

• Version A: “5 Mistakes Killing Your Affiliate Sales”
• Version B: “How I Fixed These 5 Mistakes and 3X’d My Commissions”

See which one gets more opens, then roll with the winner.

Avoid guesswork. Tools like SubjectLine.com or CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer can save you time.

Keep it human. If it sounds like a robot wrote it, trash it.

Monitor Your KPIs (Open rates, CTR, Conversions)

Data doesn’t lie. If your open rate is stuck at 10%, your subject lines need work. If your CTR is low, your CTA or content isn’t hitting home.

Here’s what to track:

• Open rate: Aim for 20%+ (health/niche audiences often hit 30-40%)
• Click-through rate (CTR): 2-5% is decent, but 5%+ means you’re crushing it
• Conversions: This is the holy grail. If you’re getting clicks but no sales, your offer or landing page might be the problem

Pro tip: Check these metrics 24-48 hours after sending an email. If something underperforms, tweak it and retest.

Use Storytelling to Engage and Convert

Let’s be real: People buy from humans, not sales bots. Storytelling is how you turn a bland pitch into a relatable conversation.

Here’s how I weave stories into affiliate emails:

• Start with a struggle (yours or your audience’s).

Example: “I wasted $500 on crappy supplements before finding [Product].”

• Share a ‘lightbulb moment’.

Example: “Then I discovered [Product’s unique feature], and everything changed.”

• End with results (bonus points for specifics).

Example: “Now I wake up at 6 AM without hating my life—and my energy stays steady all day.”

But keep it short. Nobody wants to read your autobiography.

Let me ask you: Why waste hours crafting an email just to shoot yourself in the foot with rookie mistakes? Here are the three big blunders I see affiliates make (and how to dodge them):

Using Salesy Language

I’m not sure how to put it but your email service provider doesn’t like it when you try to sell something to your list.

If you use a word like “Limited-time offer”, or even “Money”, there’s a strong chance your email will land in the promotions tab or worse, be marked as spam.

So, what’s the solution? I often use an AI chatbot like DeepSeek to help my identify and replace words that could trigger spam triggers.

Adding too Many Affiliate Links

I get it. You’re excited about the product, and you want to plaster links everywhere. But here’s the thing: More links ≠ more sales.

It’s like handing someone a buffet menu and saying “Pick something!”—they’ll get overwhelmed and leave.

Why this backfires:

• More links inside email make them appear promotional, potentially sending them to the promotions tab

My rule: 1-2 links max per email. Place your primary CTA above the fold and maybe one more at the end. That’s it.

Ignoring Mobile Optimization

Raise your hand if you’ve ever checked email on your phone. Exactly. If your email looks like a scrambled mess on mobile, you’re losing sales. Period.

Quick mobile checks:

• Subject lines: Keep them under 50 characters. Anything longer gets cut off
• Font size: 16px+ for body text. No one’s squinting to read your genius advice
• CTA buttons: Big, bold, and thumb-friendly. Text links? Forget it—they’re a nightmare to click

Let’s be honest: Writing affiliate emails isn’t just about talent—it’s about having the right tools. Here’s my go-to toolkit (and why they’re worth your time):

Systeme.io for Email List Management

If you’re still juggling spreadsheets or paying for 10 different tools, stop. Systeme.io is my all-in-one workhorse for:

• Automations: Set up drip campaigns for new subscribers (e.g., send a welcome series when someone joins your list)
• A/B Testing: Test subject lines or CTAs without needing a PhD in tech
• Affiliate Integration: Track clicks and sales directly in the dashboard

Why I use it: It’s cheaper than a Starbucks habit and does 90% of what pricier tools like ConvertKit or ActiveCampaign offer.

Pro tip: Use their “tagging” feature to segment your list. Example: Tag readers who clicked your “weight loss supplement” link—then send them a follow-up email with a case study.

Deepseek for Content Ideation and Creation

Staring at a blank screen? Deepseek is like having a brainstorming buddy who never sleeps. I use it to:

• Break writer’s block: Ask, “Give me 10 email hooks for a fitness supplement.”
• Polish CTAs: Dump your rough draft into it and say, “Make this CTA less salesy.”
• Generate templates: “Write a 200-word affiliate email for [Product]” → tweak the output to sound like you.

Why I use it: It’s faster than Googling “how to write affiliate emails” for the 100th time.

Example prompt I’d use:

“Act as an affiliate marketer. Write a subject line for an email promoting a course on freelance writing. Use curiosity and urgency.”

Gmail’s “Promotions” tab is where emails go to die. To dodge it, follow these rules:

Avoid salesy language like “Discount,” “Buy Now,” or “Limited Offer.” Write like a human, not an infomercial.

• Bad: “HURRY! 50% OFF TODAY ONLY!”
• Good: “Here’s how I saved money on [Product] (without feeling ripped off).”

Segment your list and personalize it. Use merge tags like [First Name] and send targeted emails (e.g., “Hey [Name], I noticed you liked my post about [topic]…”).

Keep links to 1-2 max. Gmail sniffs out affiliate spam by counting links.

Authenticate your domain (SPF/DKIM records). Tools like Systeme.io make this idiot-proof.

Warm up your IP by sending small batches to engaged subscribers first. Spam filters track your “reputation”—don’t blast cold lists.

Use a real “From” name (e.g., “John from Health Hacks” vs. “Top Supplement Deals”).

Pro tip: If your email looks like a promo, it’ll land in Promotions. Prioritize value over pitches.

Let me address some frequently asked questions about using email marketing for affiliate promotions.

What is an Affiliate Email?

An affiliate email is a message you send to your list to promote a product or service you’re partnered with. You earn a commission if readers buy through your unique link. Think of it as a personal recommendation, not a billboard ad.

How to Set Up an Affiliate Email?

• Pick a product you’ve tested or trust (no garbage)
• Write a hook that solves a problem or sparks curiosity
• Add value—tips, stories, or results (not just “Buy this!”)
• Include 1-2 affiliate links with clear CTAs
• Test it on mobile, then hit send

How Many Affiliate Links Should I Add to an Email?

One. Maybe two if you’re repeating the same link. More than that, and you’ll look desperate or spammy. Focus on ONE action you want readers to take.

How Do I Avoid My Emails Going to Spam?

• Ditch spammy words: “Free,” “Guaranteed,” “Act Now!”
• Warm up your email account: Send regularly to engaged subscribers first
• Authenticate your domain: Use SPF/DKIM records (ask your email provider how)
• Clean your list: Remove inactive subscribers every 3 months

Writing affiliate emails that convert isn’t about magic tricks or sleazy tactics. It’s about trust, value, and a little strategy. Nail your subject lines, hook readers with stories, and make your CTA impossible to ignore.

Avoid spammy traps like a cluttered inbox plague. Tools help, but authenticity wins. Test relentlessly, track your metrics, and remember—every email should solve a problem, not just shill a product. Keep it simple, human, and focused.