Why I Shared So Many Emails Recently (Sorry, not Sorry!)
If you've been following along with me over the last couple of weeks, you probably noticed my name popping up in your inbox quite a bit. Like... a lot a lot.
We just wrapped up the promotion for Bonnie Christine's Immersion program, and I'll be the first to admit — I sent a lot of emails about it. Today I want to pull back the curtain and talk openly about why I do this, and how affiliate marketing is an important part of my creative business.
Because here's the thing. I don't just "promote" things. I have to have experience with them and truly believe that you should check them out.
When I was 58, freshly laid off from my fancy corporate VP job and wondering what on earth was next, I discovered surface pattern design. Even back then, Bonnie Christine was at the center of educational programs that teach it. At the time, I didn't know what surface pattern design was. I definitely didn't know it would become my next chapter. But something about the way she taught — with so much generosity and heart — made me think, maybe this could be my thing.
That was eight years ago. Eight years of learning, building, creating, failing, trying again, and eventually building a multi-six-figure creative business that I'm deeply proud of. Bonnie didn't just teach me surface pattern design. She showed me what was possible when you combine creativity with real business savvy. So when I share her with you, it comes from a deeply personal place.
And that brings me to a topic I'm asked about all the time: How does affiliate marketing actually work? And should I be doing it too?
Let's talk about it.
What is Affiliate Marketing?
Affiliate marketing is simply this: you recommend a product, tool, or program you genuinely use and love, and if someone purchases through your unique link, you earn a commission. That's it. No inventory. No customer service headaches. No creating a product from scratch.
For me, affiliate income currently makes up about 15% of my total business revenue. That didn't happen overnight and it’s very important to be judicious and intentional about what you decide to promote. It's become a meaningful part of my business that allows me to serve you while also providing a bit of extra money that supports the business.
But here's what matters most to me: I will never, ever recommend something I don't personally use and believe in. My name is on every recommendation I make. My reputation matters more than any commission.
So how do I think about the different types of affiliate partnerships I have? I break them into three buckets.
Bucket #1: Transformational Educational Programs
When I find a program that has fundamentally changed the way I work, think, or build my business, I want you to know about it. It's that simple. Bonnie is one of, if not the best, teachers of surface pattern design so when she created an affiliate program, I wanted in! I’ve watched her teaching transform not only my own creative career but the careers of thousands of women of all age ranges including women who were told they were "too old" or "too late" to start something new.
So yes, when Immersion opens once a year, I show up for it. I send emails. I share my story. I answer questions. Because I remember what it felt like to be standing at that crossroads at 58, wondering if I had what it took. Bonnie's program gave me the answer.
The key with this bucket is alignment. I only partner with educators whose values match mine. If I wouldn't recommend it to my best friend, I'm not recommending it to you. It’s important to note that often, becoming an affiliate requires an application. This provides important vetting and ensures affiliates are following required rules and regulations.
Bucket #2: The Software Essentials
You cannot build a modern creative business without the right tech stack. And this is actually where affiliate marketing gets really practical — because you're already paying for these tools. When someone discovers them through your recommendation, everybody wins.
Here are the three tools I recommend most often:
Adobe Illustrator is the gold standard for surface pattern design. It's the tool I teach in From Doodles to Dollars® and Pattern Design Academy®, and it's the tool that took me from hand-drawn doodles to professional, sellable patterns. If you've been curious about trying it, Adobe offers a free trial so you can take it for a spin before committing.
Kajabi is the brain of my entire business. My courses, my email list, my podcast, my membership — it all lives on Kajabi. I often call it my digital headquarters because everything is in one place. When someone joins Kajabi through my affiliate link, I provide my Freebie Funnel Guide as a bonus — a beautiful, 26-page full-color PDF and video training that walks you through the exact steps to create your very first lead magnet funnel. I don't just want you to have the tool. I want you to know how to use it to grow your business.
Ecamm Live is the tool I use for all my live streaming, workshops, recorded videos, interviews and my podcast. If you're creating any kind of video content — and in 2026, you really should be — Ecamm makes it surprisingly doable.
Here's a little secret about this bucket: this is where the power of the bonus comes in. When you can offer something extra — like my Freebie Funnel Guide with Kajabi — you're not just sharing a link. You're adding your own value and expertise on top of the recommendation. That makes it even more special.
Bucket #3: Physical Tools and Art Supplies
And finally, my favorite bucket: art supplies!
From the favorite black pens I use to the sketchbooks I fill with my drawings, sharing the tools that fuel my creative process is one of my favorite things. And people ask me about them all the time. “Anne, what are you using?” There's something special about knowing we're drawing with the same pen or sketching in the same type of notebook. It creates a little thread of connection between us, even if we’re miles apart.
These aren't big-ticket items. They're the small, joyful investments that make your creative practice feel intentional and personal. And for many of my students, getting their studio set up with the right supplies is one of the very first steps on their pattern design journey. I love being able to say, "Here — start with this. This is what I use, and it works beautifully."
You can browse everything on my Tools & Resources page anytime you're curious about what I use in my studio and my business.
The Full Circle Moment: Why Your Email List Makes It All Possible
Now, if you're a creative entrepreneur thinking about dipping your toes into affiliate marketing, here's the piece that ties it all together: you need an audience to talk to. And that audience starts with your email list.
I cannot overstate this. You could have the best affiliate lineup in the world, but if you don't have a community of people who know, like, and trust you, none of it works. The email list is the foundation.
Think about it as a beautiful, full-circle ecosystem.
Your freebie — whether it's a guide, a mini-course, or a PDF — gets people into your world. Your email list allows you to build a genuine relationship by sharing a newsletter or other valuable content with them over time. And your affiliate recommendations allow you to serve that list by pointing them toward tools, programs, and resources that you know will help them on their journey.
That's not selling. That's being a trusted guide.
I started building my email list from literally zero. No audience, no following, no name recognition. Just a woman in her late 50s with a new set of skills and a desire to help others discover what I'd discovered. Every single subscriber is a real person. And over time, as I showed up consistently — through my blog, my podcast, my freebies, my workshops — that list grew into a real community of creative women who trust me to point them in the right direction.
And that trust? It's everything. It's why I'll never recommend something just because the commission is nice. It's why I'll always tell you when I'm an affiliate. And it's why, even after a heavy email season like the one we just had, I'd do it all again — because I know the programs and tools I share are the best ones out there.
Your Turn
If affiliate marketing has piqued your curiosity — whether you want to start incorporating it into your own creative business or you're simply wondering what tools and resources I swear by — head over to my Tools & Resources page to explore everything I use and love. You might just find your next favorite pen, a business tool you need, or the book that will spark your next big idea.
And if you got a lot of emails from me lately? Now you know why.
Xo,
Anne
It’s Never Too Late to Create®
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
