My First $100 Affiliate Commission: A 3-Month Case Study Using Wix and Google Ads Expertise
By Abdirisak Feysal, Google Ads Certified Consultant
Hello! I'm Abdirisak Feysal, the founder of Ogaltech. When I graduated with my degree in Computer Science, the dream wasn't just a job—it was earning consistent, scalable income online. My first goal was simple: **make $100 through affiliate marketing.** This wasn't easy; after two months of scattered effort, I was stuck at zero.
This is not a general guide. This is a highly specific, transparent case study detailing the **exact steps, the core mistakes, and the Google Ads strategy** I deployed over a focused **3-month period** to hit that first milestone, recommending the **Wix E-commerce platform**. If you're struggling with affiliate sales, this article provides the actionable advice you need to pivot from zero to sales.
Phase 1: The Strategic Setup (Month 1)
1.1 Why Wix and E-commerce? (Niche Selection)
My background is in digital marketing, specifically **Web Design and Google Ads**. I realized my competitive edge wasn't writing about general topics; it was recommending tools that solved technical problems. I chose **Wix** because its E-commerce platform is popular among beginners who are often looking for the easiest solution to start an online store.
- Expert Opinion: Wix offers high commissions and high conversion rates for the right audience—those who prioritize ease of use over complex technical setups.
- Actionable Advice: Always choose an affiliate product that aligns with your verifiable expertise (e.g., my Google Ads skills).
1.2 Creating High-Value Content Pillars
I knew a simple review wouldn't work. I focused on creating two long-form content pieces (1,500+ words each) that showcased my expertise and offered genuine value:
- Tutorial: "How to Set Up a Fully Automated E-commerce Store on Wix in 1 Hour."
- Comparison: "Wix vs. Shopify: A Professional Web Designer’s Honest Review on Which Builds Trust." (This established Authority).
Phase 2: The Google Ads Strategy (Month 2)
This is where my **Google Ads Certification** came into play, saving me months of waiting for organic SEO traffic. I used paid traffic to test conversions rapidly.
2.1 The PPC Targeting Formula
I ran a small budget ($5/day) Google Search campaign targeting highly specific, low-competition keywords. I avoided general keywords like "Wix review."
- Target Keywords (Examples): "Wix vs Shopify for Small Business Nigeria," "Best way to build a dropshipping website in Kenya," "Wix e-commerce pricing comparison."
- Landing Page: The traffic was directed to the **Comparison Article** (item 2 in the content list above). This article provided genuine pros and cons, which built trust before the user clicked the affiliate link.
2.2 The Initial Setback (The Biggest Mistake)
My first two weeks were a disaster. I spent **$70 on clicks** with **zero conversions**. My biggest mistake was being too broad with my ads. I quickly analyzed the data in the Google Ads dashboard:
- Data Insight: Many clicks came from users searching for "Wix login" or "Wix customer support." These users were already customers and were not going to buy.
- Actionable Fix: I immediately implemented a **Negative Keyword List** to filter out non-buyers and redirected 100% of my budget to users who were in the **'Decision-Making' phase** (e.g., searches containing "alternatives," "vs," or "pricing").
Phase 3: Breaking the $100 Barrier (Month 3)
The keyword refinement and the strength of the comparison article finally paid off in the third month.
3.1 The Sales Breakdown
It took **3 total sales** over the 3-month period to reach $100, thanks to Wix's generous commission structure for premium e-commerce plans.
- **Sale 1 (Day 68):** A user from the Comparison Article converted after searching for a high-end E-commerce feature. **(Commission: ~$35)**.
- **Sale 2 (Day 75):** A user who clicked the ad then signed up for my Email List (which I built into the blog post) converted a week later through an email sequence. **(Commission: ~$35)**.
- **Sale 3 (Day 92):** This was an organic sale (no ad click) from someone who found the tutorial article on Google. **(Commission: ~$30)**.
Total Revenue Reached: $100 (in 3 Months)
3.2 The Key Insight: PPC Feeds SEO
The PPC campaign did more than just bring in the first sales; it helped me quickly find the highly converting keywords, which I then optimized my SEO content for. The third sale being organic proved that the strategy had long-term potential.
Conclusion & Call to Action: Your Next Step
The journey from zero to $100 requires discipline, not luck. My experience taught me that **expertise (like my Google Ads skills) is the shortcut.** Stop wasting time on low-value content and focus on providing deep, personal value around a specific tool like Wix.
Are you ready to build a high-converting E-commerce site?
If you need expert guidance on setting up your Wix E-commerce store or managing your Google Ads campaigns to drive affiliate sales, don't hesitate to reach out.