Affiliate Marketing for Firearm Instructors: A Step-by-Step Guide
Whether you teach concealed carry classes, run defensive shooting courses, or train new gun owners, you’ve likely recommended gear countless times. From holsters and gun safes to ear protection and trauma kits, your students trust your advice. Affiliate marketing allows you to monetize those recommendations — ethically and passively.
This guide walks you through how to start affiliate marketing as a firearm instructor.
Table of Contents
Step 1: Sign Up for Affiliate Networks and Programs
Start by getting set up with affiliate platforms that serve the firearm and tactical gear community:
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AvantLink – Hosts dozens of relevant brands like Guns.com, Brownells, Palmetto State Armory, Optics Planet, etc.
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GunAffiliates.com – A dedicated network for firearm-friendly companies including ConcealedCarry.com and KSG Armory.
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Amazon Associates – While the worst in terms of commission rate, its a good catch all for stuff that isn't part of any other affiliate network.
Once you’re accepted into the AvantLink network, you must apply individually to each brand or company whose products you want to promote.
Take time to familiarize yourself with how each network works — including how to generate affiliate links and add tracking tags (such as campaign names or source parameters) when available.
Step 2: Rebrand Ugly Affiliate Links
Affiliate links are often long and messy, filled with random characters. That’s fine in an email or blog post where the link is hidden behind a clickable word. But when you share a link in a video, podcast, handout, or verbally in class, you need something clean and easy to remember.
Option 1: Use a Shortener (like Bit.ly)
Services like Bit.ly let you create a shortened version of your link, such as bit.ly/favoriteholster. This is fast and functional.
Option 2 (Recommended): Create Branded Links Using Your Website
A more professional option is to use your own domain. For example: jacobspaulsen.com/holster → redirects to your favorite holster affiliate link.
If you use WordPress, the Pretty Links plugin makes it easy to create and manage these branded redirects. It also helps track link clicks. Whatever you use, this is a critical step. Don't ignore it.
Step 3: Build a Recommendations Page on Your Website
Create a page called “Recommended Gear,” “Partners,” or “Instructor Picks.” This page should list the products, services, and brands you fully endorse.
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Use your branded affiliate links for each listing.
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Include a short personal note or reason why you recommend the item.
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Don’t be afraid to list products you love that don’t have affiliate programs — credibility is more important than commission.
You can link to this page in emails, course material, and social bios. It becomes your central hub for monetized referrals.
Step 4: Update Your Student Resources
Take a look at the collateral you already use:
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Email follow-ups after class
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Printable handouts
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Class slide decks
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Website thank-you pages
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Social posts
Where appropriate, insert a relevant branded affiliate link. For example:
“Need a gun safe for your car? I recommend this one: mydomain.com/gunsafe”
You can also point people to your full recommendations page:
“Visit mydomain.com/partners to see all the products and companies I recommend.”
Over time, these mentions build traffic and conversions with no additional effort.
Step 5: Deepen Your Knowledge
If you’re serious about earning more through affiliate marketing, take time to study proven strategies. I recommend reading this full guide:
👉 The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Affiliate Marketing
This article goes deeper into:
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Tools and plugins
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Audience-building tactics
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Email automation
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Using coupon codes
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Understanding commission structures
Final Thought
Affiliate marketing isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme — but for firearm instructors who are already recommending products in good faith, it’s a powerful way to earn extra income and help students with the right gear.
Start small. Focus on gear you actually use. And be transparent. Your reputation is worth more than any commission check.