✅ Intro: More Than Just Classroom Kit
When Sam — our UK geography teacher — first got curious about affiliate marketing, he made the classic teacher assumption:
“Isn’t it just flogging pens and folders? I don’t want to run an online stationery shop.”
Fair point.
But as we sat down and talked, Sam realised he’s been surrounded by useful, practical, recommendable things every time he plans a lesson, runs a field trip, or even explores places for his own interest.
So let’s open your eyes to the possibilities — because if you’re a teacher, especially a geography teacher, you’re not stuck recommending pencils. Your real experiences give you so much more to share.
✅ 1️⃣ Let’s Start With the Obvious: Tools & Gear
✅ Yes — the obvious stuff counts:
- Fieldwork clipboards (Sam’s soggy fiasco proved that!).
- Waterproof notebooks.
- Ordnance Survey maps.
- Compasses, weather trackers, tide charts.
But that’s just the start.
If all you ever did was write lists of gear, you’d quickly run out of ideas and your site would sound like an office supply catalogue.
✅ 2️⃣ What About Local Guidebooks and Digital Resources?
As we chatted, Sam realised:
- He buys local guidebooks to plan trips to places like Spurn Point or the Holderness Coast.
- He uses apps and digital subscriptions for weather tracking, mapping, and interactive lessons.
These are all:
✔️ Legitimately useful.
✔️ Often have affiliate programs — even Amazon sells niche guidebooks.
✔️ Genuinely help other teachers plan trips or create lesson content.
✅ 3️⃣ Now Look Bigger: Local Businesses & Experiences
Here’s the “lightbulb moment” for Sam:
- His Year 10 class stayed in a small seaside B&B for their coastal erosion study trip.
- They visited a local heritage centre with a brilliant geography display and visitor shop.
What if:
✔️ That accommodation has an affiliate scheme (many small hotels and B&Bs list on booking sites with commission structures).
✔️ The visitor centre sells tickets online or has a gift shop with local books or maps.
Suddenly, one great experience on a trip can be turned into a recommendation for:
- Other schools planning a similar field trip.
- Families visiting the same coastal spot on holiday.
- Teachers looking for personal getaway ideas on their own summer break!
One post. Multiple audiences. More chances to earn.
✅ 4️⃣ Souvenirs, Courses & Hidden Angles
We even brainstormed a few more:
- Unique local souvenirs linked to geography topics.
- Short online courses for teachers to brush up on fieldwork skills.
- Travel gear teachers might use for personal adventures — hiking boots, jackets, or camera accessories.
It’s all about broadening your view:
✔️ If you’d recommend it to a fellow teacher in the staffroom — it’s probably a fit.
✔️ If you’d tell your family about it when planning a day out — same idea.
✅ 5️⃣ Your Unique Personal Moat
Here’s why this works, even when AI can summarise generic “top 10 lists” all day long:
You, as a real teacher, have your own personal moat.
- No one else has your trip photos.
- No one else has your funny disaster stories.
- No one else stayed at that exact B&B on that exact coastal trip with 30 teenagers asking where the nearest chippy is.
Your unique experience + your local knowledge = your moat.
Done well, your site becomes the go-to for other teachers (and families!) wanting real recommendations — not bland reviews from someone who’s never actually been.
✅ 6️⃣ Imagine a Whole Blog of Geography Trips
Sam’s next idea blew his mind a bit:
“What if I built a blog about exciting UK places with interesting geographical features — trips that teachers could take students to, or even visit themselves?”
Exactly.
Each post:
- Tells a real story.
- Shows your unique photos.
- Breaks down how to get there, what to look for, where to stay.
- Recommends helpful kit, guidebooks, apps, or places to eat.
Teachers love it because it saves them time and gives them ideas.
Other visitors love it because they trust your first-hand experience.
And you earn commissions from multiple angles — not just “pencils and pens.”
✅ 7️⃣ A Win-Win: Funding Your Next Trip
One of the best parts?
Done well, the income from these recommendations can help cover:
- Your next field trip.
- More local research visits.
- Better gear for students (or yourself).
It’s a virtuous circle: you visit more places, write more personal stories, share more helpful tips, and earn a bit more each time.
✅ Key Takeaway: Open Your Eyes to What’s Already Around You
Teachers — especially UK geography teachers — are in a brilliant position:
✔️ You naturally explore real places.
✔️ You’re trusted to tell others what works.
✔️ You’re already a clear communicator — so your stories will stand out.
Next time you think, “I’m not selling pencils,” just remember:
You’re selling helpfulness, practical knowledge, and real-world recommendations.
That’s worth far more than a list of stationery.
✅ Want to See How It Fits Together?
If you’d like to see how Sam and I plan posts like this — testing ideas, checking if people search for them, and finding ethical ways to share real recommendations — check out Wealthy Affiliate.
It’s the same tool we use to spot cracks, build trust, and find affiliate angles beyond the obvious.