We’ve always heard that one of the best ways to start an online business is to do something that you like. That’s true because when you really indulge in a passion, you can carve a niche for yourself and sometimes, the more unique your interest, the better. To prove my point, here are 5 cool hobbies that can make money online through affiliate marketing.
What’s Affiliate Marketing?
For those of you who don’t know, affiliate marketing is a monetizing technique where you profit a small commission by recommending good products/services to other people.
There’s no inventory to manage and no customer service to follow through so it really makes starting a business much easier than other options. The good news is, most hobbies are now capitalizing on affiliate programs to ‘spread the word around’ so the opportunities are endless.
Niche #1 – Stargazing
Firstly, I do know for a fact that there are people out there who would spend the entire night searching for stars in the dark skies. You might think this is boring, but anyone with an entrepreneurial mind would see this as a profitable niche.
For example, just look at the amount of scopes/binoculars that are listed on Amazon. There are more than 1000 products to choose from. That’s potentially thousands of product reviews that you can write about.
Also, take a look at how much they are selling for and the amount of customer reviews that they garner.
Amazon pays 4% commission for this product category, so if you do the math, that’s about $2.5 to $15 profit range you can expect from any of the brands above. Of course, in order to earn, you need to get people to read your product reviews and here are some low competition keywords that I’ve come up for you (using the Jaaxy Keyword Tool).
Niche Keywords
- The best telescopes for beginners
- Celestron Nexstar 130 SLT review
- Pictures of the moon through a telescope
- What kind of telescope should I buy
- Celestron vs Orion telescopes
Niche #2 – Cake Decorating
Have you seen a cake that’s so beautiful, you wouldn’t want to eat it? Well, that’s what this niche is all about. Cake decoration wasn’t as wild 10 years ago, but YouTube certainly changes things around.
A quick search on this topic reveal more than 200,000 videos! That goes to show just how popular this niche is on the internet.
If you are thinking of starting a baking blog, these affiliate programs can help you monetize like a pro.
- Learn Cake Decorating Online – 40% in sales commission
- Cake Stackers Affiliate Program – 10%
- SugarBliss – 5%
- Hobbycraft – 5% to 10%
- Craftsy Online Classes – 10% to 75%
Niche #3 Glamping
I first heard of this niche through a Groupon promotion and thought to myself, why modify a tent to look like 5 Stars when you can book for concrete and comfortable hotels?
And then I stayed in one and it totally changed my perception. Well, why stay in hotels when you can sleep under the stars, surrounded 360 degrees by picture perfect scene?
Glamping isn’t just glamorous; it gives camping a whole new definition minus the dirt and the tedious task of setting up a camping tent. Judging from the trend, I am not the only one who thinks like that.
So if you are thinking of creating an outdoor blog, whether it’s for the guys, girls or families, make sure to take advantage of this niche through these long tail keywords.
Niche keywords
- How to turn camping into glamping
- Luxury tent camping in Montana
- Dog friendly glamping in Scotland
- How to make a glamping tent
- What to take for glamping
Niche #4 – Scuba Diving
Another hobby for the outdoor enthusiast, except that this time, it’s all about going underwater. Scuba diving is not for the faint hearted, but it’s definitely an enjoyable activity for those who love it.
Another ongoing trend, this sport is popular among the young and it’s becoming more engaged as people go down with their Go-Pros and cameras to document their journeys. Well, if you want to encourage more people to get involved in this extraordinary experience, then consider creating a diving blog and integrate these affiliate programs.
- Leisure Pro – 5% in sales commission
- House of Scuba – 7%
- Deep Blue Dive – 10%
- Simply Scuba – 5%
- Bamboo Reef Scuba Diving Centers and Online Store – 5%
Niche #5 – Tattoo
This niche doesn’t need a lot of introduction. Whenever I see someone with a tattoo, the first thing that comes across my mind is that they are really cool. While I might not be getting one anytime soon, I do like to see their artwork displayed on men and women alike.
Pinterest has a vast collection of these designs shared by bloggers who are obviously passionate about this topic and will share anything they know about creating, maintaining or even removing a tattoo.
This niche is actually very popular worldwide and people keep searching the internet for all sorts of ideas. Here are some low competition keywords (thanks to Jaaxy Keyword Tool) that can potentially attract a new set of audience.
Niche keywords
- How to make a temporary tattoo last longer
- Tattoo designs for men with meaning
- Least painful places to get tattoos
- How to clean tattoo equipment
- Best white tattoo ink brand
Niche #6 Bonsai
Bonsai is an ornamental tree that is grown in a pot and is constantly pruned to only reach a certain height or size throughout its lifetime. It is a hobby that requires a lot of care and people who loves bonsai are usually committed for life. Hence, they will always be needing tools or learning ways to propagate their collections.
Not everyone will have bonsai in their gardens, but there’s certainly an ongoing trend for those who fancy them.
And if you are one of these cool people, here are some merchants that you could consider affiliating with.
- Bonsai Boy (Trees and Accessories) – 20% in sales commission
- FTD (Trees) – 8%
- Eastern Leaf (Trees/Tools/Accessories/Books) – 5%
- Bonsai Empire (Online Course and Books) – No affiliate program just yet, but you could email to propose the idea 🙂 Who knows, right?
Do You Have a Cool Business Idea?
Then I think it’s time to search for some affiliate programs and turn those cool hobbies that make money into an online business, while keeping your inventory low. There are thousands of opportunities to explore and through some Google Search/Trend insights and the revelations of long tail keywords, you have more than enough to turn an interested audience into buyers.
So, if you like to know how to get started, get in touch with me at my recommended training platform and I’ll guide you through every bit of the process. Hope to hear from you soon.
You may also be interested in;
How to Start a Chocolate Business Online
Creating a Coffee Business on a Budget? Here’s How You Do It
Is Cratejoy a Good Place to Start a Subscription Service Business?
Hannah says
Great niche ideas. There’s a lot of money to be made in these types of niches because they involve expensive equipment.
The one problem I have is that it can be hard to find a decent affiliate program sometimes, other than Amazon. I’ve found a few on Rakuten though.
Keep up the good work. Your time looks like it’s doing really well.
Cathy says
I totally understand what you mean, Hannah. Becoming an Amazon Associate can seem like the only way, but it really isn’t. For the past 3 years, I’ve been researching all types of niche and everyday, I keep discovering new affiliate programs that offer great opportunities. Not many people may know about the smaller brands and that’s where your blog play a vital role in featuring new products as compared to the masses in the Amazon marketplace.
Here’s a training video about becoming a non-Amazon affiliate that may be helpful for you.
Carthik says
Hi Cathy,
Thanks a lot for sharing these tips on how to make money online through exploring your hobbies. It definitely makes sense, as anybody working on their hobbies will not get bored creating content for their site while earning a passive income online.
I am particularly amazed by the first hobby mentioned here – Stargazing. I remember during my childhood days, gazing the stars in the skies for long period of time with wonder and joy. Now I see that we can actually make a profitable business online through this hobby. Will definitely take this into my radar when building my next business online.
Helen says
Hi Cathy. I love these business ideas.
I’ve been pretty skeptical of glamping too. You miss the whole point of camping! The dirt, struggle, and bonding that make it all worth it. But I think that’s the point. Glamping is a great alternative to staying in that musty hotel room without all the hassle of getting supplies and setting up your own shelter.
Thanks for the good read.
Weston says
Awesome post! I appreciate how well you described each hobby and how you can use affiliate marketing for each. Listing examples of some keywords really helps too.
It always surprises me how many niches are out there. I’m so focused on my own and the popular niches that I don’t even consider some of the niches you’ve listed. I’ve never even heard of the term glamping. It’s encouraging to know that it’s pretty much impossible to run out of ideas for niches.
How has your experience been with the Amazon affiliate program? Thanks!
Cathy says
Hi Weston, once you dig more into keyword research, you’ll find a ton of exciting search terms that never came across your mind.
Having said that, I don’t partner with Amazon because my focus is more on recommending digital products. It’s something that I can try there and then after making a purchase without having to wait for shipping. It just helps to speed up my product review writing.
DorcasW says
This article is super interesting. You have helped me to understand some new things that can be considered as a niche. Things I never thought about actually.
Cathy, what would you say if I tell you that you are an idea opener? From start to end, this information is eye opening and helpful.
I can now give advice to some people who are just gazing in the sky at nights with all these helpful gazettes that you have listed.
Cathy says
I’m humbled by your compliment, Dorcas 🙂
Yulia says
Good read! Gave me a few ideas how I can break down my niche to actual products that people are searching for. If I’m working as an affiliate with Amazon, will I only get paid for the specific product that I promote or on any purchases made by a costumer coming through my link?
Cathy says
Hi Yulia, you’ll earn commissions from ALL the products that a customer buy through your link as long as it’s within that 24 hour cookie window.