Two sales a day. That is the whole math behind hitting $100 with the Bluehost affiliate program. Bluehost pays $65 per commission, and every 24 hours roughly 252,000 brand-new websites go live somewhere on the planet. Most of those site owners have no idea how to build a site, which means they are searching for help right now on YouTube, Google, and TikTok. Your job is to be the person who shows up and points them toward hosting.
In this post I am going to walk through exactly how I do it, including the keyword formulas I use, the comparison angle that keeps pulling views months after I publish, and the email-list move that turns a one-time visitor into a buyer on your schedule. Nothing here requires a big audience or an ad budget.
What You’ll Walk Out With
- A clear picture of what Bluehost pays and why the demand for web hosting tutorials is so large
- Step-by-step instructions for joining the program through Impact.com
- Six distinct traffic strategies you can start using this week (YouTube, Google, TikTok, and more)
- The alphabet keyword method that generates dozens of video and article ideas in minutes
- How to do honest competitor comparisons even if you have never used the other hosting companies
- A free keyword research workflow using AnswerThePublic so you do not need a paid tool
- The landing-page strategy that grows your email list while you promote hosting
- A way to figure out which affiliate program fits your own background and audience at finder.platformproof.com
Why Bluehost Pays Well and Who Is Buying
Bluehost starts new affiliates at $65 per qualifying signup. That number can go up as your volume increases, but even at the base rate, two signups covers $130 before you factor in any other income streams you might layer on top.
The demand side is what makes this work. There are slightly more than 252,000 new websites created globally every 24 hours. That is not a made-up stat — search “how many new websites are created every day” and you will see it verified across multiple sources. Those are not all professional developers. A huge portion are first-time bloggers, small business owners, and creators who need someone to hold their hand through the setup process. They are searching for tutorials right now, and whoever creates the most useful tutorial is the one who earns the commission.
I have earned Bluehost commissions personally, so I am not guessing at whether this works. I am showing you the same traffic strategies I use on my own channels.
Step 1: Join Through Impact.com
Bluehost recently moved its affiliate program to Impact.com (also called Impact Radius). The old direct signup links no longer work the same way, so this is where you need to start.
Go to impact.com and create a free publisher account. Once your account is live, search for Bluehost inside the marketplace and submit an application to join their program. The application is simple — they want to know how you plan to promote them. Be honest about whether you run a YouTube channel, a blog, TikTok, or some combination. Approval is generally fast, and once you are in you will get access to your unique affiliate links and any creative assets they provide.
Keep track of your Impact dashboard because that is where your clicks, sales, and commission totals live. Check it weekly, especially when you publish new content, so you can see which pieces are converting.
Traffic Strategy 1: YouTube “How to Start a Blog” Tutorials
This is the strategy I use on my second channel, Web Hosting Rewind, and it works even with small view counts because the audience is highly targeted. People who search “how to start a travel blog” or “how to start a food blog” are not browsing casually — they are one step away from pulling out a credit card to buy hosting.
The keyword formula is simple: go to YouTube and type “how to start a” and then hit the spacebar. Let the autocomplete fill in a blank word, then go through each letter of the alphabet. You will get results like:
- How to start a food blog
- How to start a travel blog
- How to start a fashion blog
- How to start a personal blog
- How to start a lifestyle blog
- How to start a music blog
Each of those is its own video. Walk the viewer through the process step by step. In step one, tell them to grab a domain name and web hosting, and put your Bluehost affiliate link in the description. In step two, walk them through installing WordPress. That structure lets you earn a commission at step one and potentially another at step two if you also promote a WordPress product.
On Web Hosting Rewind, a video I uploaded last month had only 40 views — but 40 highly targeted views from someone searching “how to start a music blog” is worth more than 4,000 random views. Other videos on that channel have hit 265 views, 1,100 views, 4,300 views, just from people searching exactly what the video covers. You do not need viral numbers to earn consistent commissions.
Traffic Strategy 2: Bluehost Review Videos
Go to YouTube and type “Bluehost review” and then hit the spacebar. You will see searches like “Bluehost review 2024,” “is Bluehost worth it,” “Bluehost review honest.” These are buyer-intent searches — people who are already considering Bluehost and want one more opinion before they sign up.
The competition for these terms is low relative to the search volume, which means a new channel can rank. I found channels with only 3,000 to 4,000 subscribers pulling in 19,000 views on a single Bluehost review video. You do not need a large following to get traction here.
Make the review honest. Talk about what Bluehost is great for (entry-level bloggers, first websites, small traffic sites) and where it falls short (if your site is already getting 100,000 monthly visitors, you will probably want a different host). Honest reviews build trust, and trust is what drives someone to actually click your link rather than just close the tab.
Traffic Strategy 3: Bluehost vs. Competitor Comparisons
Comparison content is one of the highest-converting formats in affiliate marketing because the viewer has already narrowed down to two options — they just need help picking. Type “Bluehost vs” into YouTube and go through the alphabet again: Bluehost vs SiteGround, Bluehost vs HostGator, Bluehost vs GreenGeeks, and on down the list.
Videos in this format are pulling 3,200 views, 7,600 views, 4,600 views from channels with modest subscriber counts. The keyword difficulty is low and the buyer intent is high.
The question I always get here is: what if I have never used SiteGround? How do I compare them? Simple — look up SiteGround’s own published benchmarks and third-party reviews. SiteGround publishes its Core Web Vitals numbers publicly. You can compare those metrics against Bluehost’s without having a personal account on either platform. Be upfront in your video that you are comparing public data, and viewers will respect the transparency.
End the comparison by making a real recommendation. If someone is a beginner with no traffic yet, Bluehost is a solid choice. If they already have a site doing significant volume, point them to a higher-tier option — and be honest about it. Viewers who trust you buy through your links. Viewers who feel sold to close the window.
Traffic Strategy 4: “Best Web Hosting for [Niche]” List Posts and Videos
Another format that converts well is the “best web hosting for X” angle. Type “best web hosting for” into YouTube or Google and you will see searches like:
- Best web hosting for e-commerce
- Best web hosting for small business
- Best web hosting for WordPress
- Best web hosting for beginners
Create a list of five to ten hosting providers for that category. Put Bluehost at or near the top for the beginner and small business categories because that is where it genuinely excels. In your description, tell viewers your number one recommendation and drop your Bluehost link as the first link. People who watch to the end of a “best of” video are ready to decide — make it easy for them to act.
The competition on these terms is reasonable. You do not need to be a major tech publication to rank a “best web hosting for e-commerce beginners” video on a small channel.
Traffic Strategy 5: “How to Start a [Business Type]” Content
This one is less obvious but works really well. Go to YouTube and type “how to start a” and then add a business type instead of a blog type. How to start an art business. How to start a photography business. How to start an online clothing store. These creators and entrepreneurs almost always need a website, which means hosting is a natural part of your tutorial.
Walk them through a ten-step guide to launching their business, and make step two or three something like “register your domain name and get web hosting.” Your affiliate link lives right there. Because you are teaching a full business launch rather than just a hosting tutorial, your video has a wider appeal and tends to earn more total views over its lifetime.
The same approach works for business name generator content. Tools like businessnamegenerator.com send users over to GoDaddy to check domain availability and earn a commission when someone registers. You can build something similar — or just create tutorial content that serves people in the research phase of starting their business. At that point they need hosting, and you are the one who told them where to get it.
Not sure which affiliate program fits the audience you already have?
Answer a few questions at finder.platformproof.com and get a match built around your specific background and skills.
Traffic Strategy 6: TikTok and Short-Form Video
TikTok is an underused channel for web hosting affiliates. Go to TikTok and search “how to start a blog” — you will find videos with 66,000 views, 54,000 views, 17,000 views just from that one phrase. Search “how to start a website” and you will find videos with nearly 100,000 views and at least one with over 500,000 views.
Short-form tutorials work well here because you can demonstrate the first two or three steps of setting up a blog in 60 seconds. The hook is fast, the viewer sees it is possible, and they click your link in the bio to learn more. Once you hit 1,000 followers on TikTok you can put a clickable link in your bio. Before that, your profile description can still include your website URL, where you can send them to a landing page.
YouTube Shorts works the same way. Clip the most punchy 60 seconds of a longer tutorial, post it as a Short, and put the full video link in the description. People who want to go deeper will find your long-form content and your affiliate links.
Free Keyword Research With AnswerThePublic
You do not need a paid keyword tool to find content ideas. AnswerThePublic.com is free and works well for this. Type in “how to start a website” and it will return a full map of questions people are asking: how to start a website for free, how to start a website and earn money, how to start a coding website. Each of those questions is a video or blog post.
I personally use Ahrefs because the interface is cleaner and it shows competition scores alongside volume numbers. But AnswerThePublic gets you to the same ideas without a monthly fee. If you are just starting out, use the free tool and reinvest your first commissions into a paid tool once you are generating consistent income.
The keyword research process for Bluehost affiliate content comes down to three buckets:
- How-to tutorials (starting a blog, starting a website, starting a business)
- Review and comparison content (Bluehost review, Bluehost vs SiteGround)
- Best-of lists (best web hosting for e-commerce, best web hosting for beginners)
Those three buckets cover nearly every stage of the buyer journey. Someone early in the research phase finds your “how to start a food blog” tutorial. Someone who already knows they want hosting finds your “best web hosting for bloggers” list. Someone who has narrowed it down to two options finds your “Bluehost vs SiteGround” comparison. Each piece of content captures a different buyer and sends them through the same affiliate link.
The Email List Strategy That Multiplies Your Commissions
Instead of sending every viewer directly to Bluehost, send them to a landing page first. Collect their name and email address and offer them a useful bonus in exchange. Good bonus ideas for this audience include:
- 50 ways to get more traffic to a new website
- SEO tips for beginners
- A checklist of everything you need to launch a blog in 30 days
- A beginner’s guide to WordPress setup
Once they are on your list, you can follow up with your Bluehost link in a welcome email, recommend it again when they are ready to launch, and also introduce them to other tools and products you promote. The email list converts at a much higher rate than cold traffic because the relationship is warmer.
This is not complicated to set up. Tools like MailerLite or ConvertKit have free plans that work well for a beginner. The landing page can be a simple one-page site with a headline, a bullet list of what they get, and an opt-in form. Point your YouTube description link or TikTok bio link there instead of directly to Bluehost, and you will build an asset that pays you for years.
Your 7-Step Launch Plan
Here is a practical sequence to go from zero to your first Bluehost commission:
- Step 1: Create a free account at impact.com and apply to the Bluehost affiliate program
- Step 2: Open AnswerThePublic.com and type “how to start a website” — screenshot the question map and pick your first five content ideas
- Step 3: Choose your primary platform: YouTube long-form, TikTok short-form, or a blog. You can expand later — start on one.
- Step 4: Create your first piece of content using the how-to tutorial format. Walk viewers through starting a blog from scratch and include your Bluehost link in step one of the tutorial.
- Step 5: Build a simple landing page with a free bonus to collect emails. Redirect your bio or description link there.
- Step 6: Set up a basic email welcome sequence (three emails is enough to start) that delivers the bonus, mentions Bluehost, and introduces you as a resource for website help.
- Step 7: Publish consistently. Check your Impact dashboard weekly. Double down on the content formats that are generating clicks.
Find Your X
Bluehost works well if you enjoy teaching people how to build websites or start online businesses. But it is not the right fit for everyone. Some audiences respond better to software tools, online courses, or physical products. If you are not sure which affiliate program matches your background and the audience you already have, go to finder.platformproof.com. Answer a few questions about your skills and interests and get a specific recommendation rather than a generic list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Bluehost pay affiliates per sale?
Bluehost starts affiliates at $65 per qualifying sale. That rate can increase as you drive more volume, but even at the base level, two sales per day equals $130 per day before any other income you layer in.
Where do I sign up for the Bluehost affiliate program?
Through impact.com (Impact Radius). Create a free publisher account there, then search for Bluehost in the marketplace and submit an application. The program moved to Impact from its previous direct-signup setup about a year ago, so older instructions pointing elsewhere may be out of date.
Do I need a big YouTube channel to make money with Bluehost?
No. Because the audience is highly targeted — people actively searching for how to start a blog or website — even small view counts convert. A video with 265 views on a niche how-to tutorial can earn a commission the same week it goes live. You need a small but relevant audience, not a large general one.
What if I have never used Bluehost myself?
You can start a Bluehost account for a few dollars per month to get hands-on experience, which makes your tutorials more credible. For comparison videos, you can use publicly available benchmark data and third-party reviews of the competing hosts. Be transparent about your experience level and viewers will respect your honesty.
Is TikTok a good platform for promoting web hosting?
Yes, surprisingly well. Searches for “how to start a blog” and “how to start a website” on TikTok pull view counts in the tens of thousands and sometimes hundreds of thousands. Once you hit 1,000 followers you get a clickable link in your bio. Before that, direct people to your username and mention a landing page in your video so they can find you.
What is the alphabet keyword method?
Type “how to start a” into YouTube or Google search and add one letter at a time after it, watching the autocomplete suggestions. “How to start a f…” shows food blog, fashion blog, finance blog. “How to start a t…” shows travel blog, tech blog. Each suggestion is a real search people are making, which means it is a valid content idea. You can generate dozens of video topics in minutes this way.
Should I send people directly to Bluehost or to a landing page first?
Landing page first. When you send traffic directly to Bluehost, you get one shot to convert that visitor. When you send them to a landing page and collect their email in exchange for a bonus guide, you get the chance to follow up with them multiple times. Your Bluehost link can go out in the welcome email, again when they are ready to launch their site, and you can also introduce other helpful tools later. An email list turns a one-time click into a long-term revenue relationship.
What free keyword tool can I use instead of Ahrefs?
AnswerThePublic.com is free and gives you a full map of the questions people ask around any seed topic. Type in “how to start a website” and it will show you 76 or more related questions organized by category. That is more content ideas than most people will ever get around to creating, and it costs nothing to use.
Read Next
If you found this useful and want to keep building your affiliate marketing knowledge, the next step is understanding what platform and strategy to pair with whatever program you pick.
Start here: I Tried Making Money Online for 10 Years — Here’s What Actually Worked
Sources
- Bluehost Affiliate Program via impact.com
- Website creation statistics: approximately 252,000 new websites created globally per day (widely cited across hosting research sources)
- AnswerThePublic.com — free keyword research tool
- Ahrefs — paid keyword and competitor research tool
- SiteGround Core Web Vitals benchmarks (published on siteground.com)
- businessnamegenerator.com — example of an affiliate-integrated tool
Helping 1 million working adults make their first $3,000 online with the skills they already have. Alston Godbolt, Platform Proof.