$100 in 30 Days Challenge – Finding the Right Audience for My Affiliate Product
Now we’re getting to the real meat of affiliate marketing—the part where everything either connects up or falls apart.
I’ve picked my affiliate product (chess-themed t-shirts from Zero Blunders), but now comes the critical question: Who is going to buy this?
Affiliate marketing only works if you can connect the right product to a real need, pain point, or want. If that connection is weak, no one buys, and you make nothing.
So, I did what I always recommend at this stage—I had a chat with ChatGPT. (I set out my thoughts about who could be potential audiences and asked for help/opinions! What follows was as a result of that chat!)
Who Actually Buys Chess T-Shirts?
At first glance, chess t-shirts seem like a fun but optional purchase. No one needs them like they need a chess set or a course on openings. That means I need to find the emotional or practical hook that makes people want to buy.
Potential Audiences:
1️⃣ Chess Players Buying for Themselves
- They love chess and want to express it
- Would appreciate inside jokes that non-players wouldn’t understand
- Might wear them to clubs, tournaments, or even chess streams
2️⃣ Friends & Family Buying Gifts for Chess Players
- Birthdays, Christmas, Father’s Day, etc.
- Might not understand chess jokes, so they need help picking the right design
- Strong potential angle: Many chess players are hard to buy for!
3️⃣ Tournament Organizers & Chess Clubs
- Could buy them as prizes for competitions
- Might order in bulk for club members
The Strongest Affiliate Angle?
💡 “Birthday Gifts for Chess Players” is the most promising angle.
Why?
✔ People searching for chess gifts are in a buying mindset – They want something now
✔ There’s less competition – Chess sites usually push books and courses, not apparel
✔ Non-chess players need help – A well-written gift guide could help them pick the perfect shirt
This means I can create content like:
📌 “The 10 Best Chess Gifts for Players Who Have Everything”
📌 “Funny Chess T-Shirts That Only Real Chess Players Will Get”
📌 “Struggling to Find a Chess Gift? Here Are Some Unique Ideas”
What’s Next?
1️⃣ Keyword Research – I’ll check if people are actually searching for terms like “chess gifts for dad” or “funny chess t-shirts”.
2️⃣ Competition Check – If there aren’t many strong sites targeting this niche, that’s a green light.
This is the exact process I’m following to validate my strategy before creating content. Stay tuned for the next update! 🚀