5 Steps to Get Started with Affiliate Marketing

Note: This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

What's affiliate marketing?

It's a hassle-free, no-commitment way to partner with your favorite brands to make a passive income while promoting the products you love.

Your favorite brands will provide you with a unique link that allows you to make a commission when promoting their products — at no extra cost to the consumer and at no cost to you as an affiliate.

You can talk about the brands you love authentically and genuinely on your schedule. Market when you want to, how you want to.

Let’s get started.

STEP 1

Identify your favorite brands. Make a list.

STEP 2

Visit their website and find a link to "affiliates" or "affiliate programs."

Hint: it's usually at the bottom of the home page, nestled under "about," FAQ," or "contact us". If they don’t have one readily accessible, reach out and ask!

STEP 3

Fill out their affiliate application form and wait for approval.

STEP 4

Once approved, Update your website, newsletters, social profiles, etc., with your affiliate links.

STEP 5

START MAKING MONEY.


You can also make an account with affiliate marketing platforms that give you access to many brands and categories. These are some that I’ve used in the past:

I hope this helps some of us find a way to ease into affiliate marketing if this is new territory for you!

Support soil and spirit below!

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Support soil and spirit below! 〰️

Caitlin Moakley
Soil and Spirit's Guide to Sunscreen: SPF Made Simple

This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always hated putting sunscreen on. It’s as if claustrophobia was skincare? It makes sense to me…maybe you get what I’m saying. Or, maybe you don’t. Either way I feel like we will either love or hate applying sunscreen. Let’s try to love it.

As I’ve gotten older, I’LL ADMIT: MOM WAS RIGHT. Sunscreen is so important. Did anyone else’s parents try to make sunscreen fun by getting those neon-colored zinc sunscreens when they were kids? My parents did. And yes, they did make it more fun. But as adults, maybe not as practical for every day? Depends on who you ask, I guess!

So, I’m here to tell you: wear your sunscreen. Options are better these days. You’ll find your perfect match!

Can’t decide which sunscreen to use this sunny season? Here’s a little guide to help you break down your options.

PHYSICAL/MINERAL SUNSCREEN:

  • Reflects the sun's UVA + UVB rays off our skin like a mirror.

  • Typically leaves a whitish slick, offering a protective, physical barrier.

  • Active ingredients: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

“CHEMICAL” SUNSCREEN:

  • Absorbs the sun's UVA rays into our skin and reflect UVB rays, bouncing heat off our skin.

  • Typically absorbs into the skin, not offering a protective, physical barrier.

  • Active ingredients (not an exhaustive list): avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octosalate, octinoxate.

  • Did you know: A 2015 study showed approximately ONE DROP of oxybenzone-containing sunscreen in 6.5 Olympic-size swimming pools could cause damage to a coral reef? Hawaii became the first state to ban the sale and distribution of oxybenzone and octinoxate-containing sunscreens. The law went into effect in January 2021.

UVA + UVB Rays:

  • UVA - Think: Aging.

  • UVB - Think: Burning.

  • Broad Spectrum SPF protects against UVA and UVB rays.

Keep in mind: products are not a one size fits all. The market offers tinted options, but these products don’t work for all complexions. Unfortunately, we have a LONG way to go regarding accessibility for all skin. If you’re looking for an option that is a physical/mineral sunscreen but goes on without the white slick, try Badger’s clear zinc line.

My favorite SPF Brands (all mineral/physical!):

Before purchasing your products, check return policies to see if you can make a return or exchange before making your purchase. This is trial and error at its finest, and you want to protect yourself financially!

Searching for products and scouring ingredient lists is no small task, and if we can be a resource for each other, let’s do it. If you want to overhaul your skincare/personal care product routine, I offer consultations to help guide you.
Stay safe in the sun this year!

Caitlin MoakleyComment
2020 Gift Ideas from Soil + Spirit

Thinking about gifts for our friends and loved ones can be daunting. With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of 20 ways you can spend some cash, if that’s the route you’re choosing to go this holiday season. I’ll save you the many reasons why I love these products, and instead, I’ll let you feast your eyes.

FOR THE KITHCHEN CRAFTER

Black creek botanicals — linen apron

FRANCE

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE FACE MASK ENTHUSIAST

brown & coconut — brightening facial polish

BOSTON, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE SEASONALLY-INSPIRED

claire ragozzino’s living ayurveda book

NEW MEXICO

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE PSYCHEDELIC CHAMPION

COSMIC SISTER — DONATE OR SPONSOR IN HONOR OF A LOVED ONE OR FRIEND

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE CBD SHOPPER

THE HEALING ROSE — HANDCRAFTED, SMALL BATCH HEMP CBD PRODUCTS

NEWBURYPORT, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE HERBAL SIPPER

MARY TAYLOR’S GLOW TONIC — INFUSIONS T0 GLOW FROM THE INSIDE OUT

LOS ANGELES, CA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE CLEAN + CONSCIOUS

ORGANIC BATH CO. — HAND SANITIZER

BOSTON, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE CANNABIS CHEF + DABBLER OF EDIBLES

ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE — THE CANNABIS KITCHEN COOKBOOK

DIGITAL NOMAD. CURRENTLY IN COLORADO

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE ART COLLECTOR

STEPHANIE JO — ILLUSTRATIONS + MORE

SOMERVILLE, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE ADMIRER OF CRAFT + CURIOSITY

craftwork somerville — handmade jewelry + oracle readings

SOMERVILLE, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE INGREDIENT-CONSCIOUS SKINCARE DEVOTEE

HEART GROWN WILD — HANDCRAFTED SKIN + BODY CARE

WARDSBORO, VT

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE HOT + STEAMY

MOON BEAM STEAMS — PELvIC HERBAL STEAMING BY JULIA MOORE

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE HERBAL SMOKER

PUFF HERBAL SMOKES — HERBAL SMOKING BLENDS + PRE-ROLLS

SOMERVILLE, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THOSE IN NEED OF A RECHARGE

SABRINA’S GARDEN — REIKI HEALING + MORE

BOSTON, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE HERBALLY-INSPIRED CHEF

THYME HERBAL — RECIPES FROM THE HERBALIST’S KITCHEN COOKBOOK

CONWAY, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE BOOK WORM

frugal books — boston-based, black-owned bookstore

ROXBURY, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE CONSCIOUS CANNABIS CONSUMER

THE MAJOR BLOOM — A CANNABIS LIFESTYLE BRAND WITH A MISSION

BOSTON, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE SEEKER OF A SPA ESCAPE

NOEL HERBALS — HOLISTIC ESTHETICIAN + SHOP CURATOR

SOMERVILLE, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE fashion forward

RARE BIRD AESTHETICS — HANDMADE JEWELRY + WARES

SOMERVILLE, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

FOR THE SEEKER OF PASSION, PROTECTION + PURPOSE

SEED OF OSUN — AMULETS + CAREFULLY CRAFTED GOODS

BOSTON, MA

INSTAGRAM | WEBSITE

Caitlin MoakleyComment
Soup Season is Here. Celebrate with Four of my Favorites.

I’ve put together some of my favorite recipes to get through the chillier months. What I love about soup is that you can whip up a massive batch and freeze it for later. Pop it right into a pot, warm it up, and you’re good to go for your next meal. I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I did!

spicy peanut, cilantro, and lime soup

cream of spinach, celery, and anise soup

curried squash and pear soup

 

herbed potato and leek soup

 
Caitlin Moakley Comment
Switching to Safer: Resources to Navigate Personal Care and Home Cleaning Products

This post comes days after California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the “Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act” into law. This law makes California the FIRST state in the United States to ban the use of 24 toxic chemicals. This act bans the following chemicals:

  • Asbestos

  • Dibutyl phthalate

  • Diethylhexyl phthalate

  • Formaldehyde

  • Paraformaldehyde

  • Methylene glycol

  • Quaternium-15

  • Isobutylparaben

  • Isopropylparaben

  • Lead

  • Long chain PFAS chemicals banned in the EU

  • Mercury

  • M- and O- Phenylenediamine

With our favorite celebrities endorsing products and marketing materials via print, television, and electronic ads inundating us with enticing lifestyles and a hollow promise of being something that is most likely unattainable, it may be hard to know where to turn to when making your next purchase.

The good news: the industry has come a long way in recent years. The not-so-good news: we still have a long way to go (this new law doesn’t go in effect until 2025). The silver lining: YOU can play a massive part in this movement by educating yourself, educating your family and friends, and by making more informed choices as a consumer - if we stop buying certain products, there will be no need to continue to produce them. Remember: none of this is our fault as consumers, this responsibility lies on the shoulders of producers and legislators to do better for us and to protect us. Never feel guilty or ashamed for using toxic products, this is a journey and a learning process. My personal journey started almost 9 years ago at 22 years old, and it won’t stop. I am always learning.

I’ve compiled a list of my favorite resources to get you started. Want to book a consultation with me to re-evaluate your personal and home care routine? Check out my services section.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry by Stacy Malkan

Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry by Stacy Malkan

A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth S. Winter

A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients by Ruth S. Winter

No More Dirty Looks: The Truth About Your Beauty Products and the Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics by Siobhan O’Connor & Alexandra Spunt

No More Dirty Looks: The Truth About Your Beauty Products and the Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics by Siobhan O’Connor & Alexandra Spunt

RECOMMENDED FILMS

The Human Experiment

The Human Experiment

Toxic Beauty

Toxic Beauty

The Devil We Know

The Devil We Know

OTHER RESOURCES

  • Environmental Working Group (EWG)

    please note: while this website does give numerical ratings for products and ingredients, a low number does not always necessarily mean the ingredient is “good” or “safe”. An ingredient with little to no research done on it will appear with a low rating, but that does not indicate that it is safe, it just indicates that there is not enough information to deem it to be not safe.

  • Think Dirty

    This app created by lily tse can be installed on your phone and will help you identify ingredients in its system, along with a numerical rating. SImply scan a product’s barcode, and if it’s in the think dirty system, an ingredient list will pop up. if it’s not in the system, you can upload the product yourself. again, these ratings are provided based on data that’s been made publicly available and may not always be accurate.

  • PubChem

    pubchem is the world’s largest collection of freely accessible chemical information. you might want to grab a dictionary.

  • PubMed

    pubmed is a free resource supporting the search and retrieval of biomedical and life sciences literature with the aim of improving health–both globally and personally. again, you might want to grab a dictionary.

  • BLK + GRN

    Women of color are disproportinately exposed to toxic chemicals in beauty products. blk+grn is an all natural marketplace made by black artisans.

  • The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

    Since 2004, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has used smarts and sass to pressure the cosmetics industry to make safer products. this site is filled with many resources.

  • The Story of Cosmetics

    This seven-minute film reveals the implications for consumer and worker health and the environment, and outlines ways we can move the industry away from hazardous chemicals and towards safer alternatives.

Caitlin MoakleyComment