Affiliate math is conservative for a reason
Headline income screenshots rarely show traffic source, refund rates, or seasonality. Before you commit to a niche, model clicks and conversions from your actual audience size — not a creator’s highlight reel.
EPC (earnings per click) separates good programs from empty hype. A high commission with zero conversions is worth less than a modest commission with trust and fit.
Treat estimates as ranges. Improve the inputs you control: CTR via better placement and copy, conversion via honest reviews, commission via program selection — then recalculate monthly.