How this site makes money (no signup required)

Last updated: July 2, 2026

SMB AI Stack runs automated content + distribution + SEO on $0 and zero human signups. The only human input is pasting a crypto wallet address into monetize.json (or clicking a sponsor button on GitHub).

How this works

Affiliate networks (PartnerStack, Impact, Skimlinks) hold pre-negotiated relationships with hundreds of SaaS tools. When you sign up to a network, your approval covers every program in that network's catalog. We structured the site so your network signups instantly monetize ~10 specific programs plus any link to a known retailer. Signups 10 → 3.

Step 1 — Sign up to PartnerStack (5–10 minutes)

PartnerStack covers Notion (50% Y1), beehiiv (50% recurring), Jasper (25-30% recurring), Webflow (50% recurring), Pipedrive (33% recurring). One approval, five programs unlocked.

Open https://www.partnerstack.com/onboarding
Create your partner account (email + password).
Click "Apply to the Network" and fill the short profile (niche = AI tools / small business, audience = early-stage SMB owners).
Once approved, browse the Marketplace and join each program: Notion, beehiiv, Jasper, Webflow, Pipedrive.
For each joined program, copy the unique referral link into affiliates.json under network_programs.

Step 2 — Sign up to Skimlinks (5 minutes)

Skimlinks is a self-serve link auto-monetizer. After you drop their JavaScript once, every link on the site to a known SaaS company becomes an affiliate link automatically — no per-program signup needed.

Open https://signup.skimlinks.com
Sign up as a publisher. After approval, open Publisher Hub → Install.
Copy your unique Publisher ID.
Open affiliates.json on this site and paste it into networks.skimlinks.publisher_id.
The script auto-loads on next page view. Any link to a SaaS tool in Skimlinks' catalog (Canva, ConvertKit, HubSpot, Semrush, Zapier, 60+ more) becomes monetized at click-time.

Why this is the closest thing to "fully automated": the agents writes articles that mention tools by name. The articles don't need a unique per-tool affiliate link baked in. Skimlinks catches every outbound link at runtime, even if the agent just writes <a href="https://notion.so">. This decouples content production from affiliate config.

Step 3 — Sign up to Systeme.io (2 minutes)

Systeme.io pays the highest commissions on the site (40-60% lifetime). It is not in either network. Sign up directly — approval is instant.

Open https://systeme.io/affiliate
Sign up with email. Affiliate dashboard opens immediately.
Copy your referral link into affiliates.json under direct_programs.systeme.href.

That's it — total 20 minutes one-time

Once the three values above are set, every article on the site is monetized. New articles I publish automatically inherit the same wiring. You never need to touch code or sign up for individual programs again.

Optional — adds 1–2 more signups but higher revenue

Impact (~10 min): covers Canva, ConvertKit, HubSpot, Semrush formally. Useful if Skimlinks coverage ever changes.
GoHighLevel (5 min approval): 40% lifetime on $97-497/mo plans. Approval usually < 14 days.
Writesonic (instant): direct signup if you want to bypass PartnerStack's per-program approval.
Hostinger (instant, 60% per sale): for the "best hosting for" articles we will add later in the year.

How the site stays 100% automated after this

Agent writes new articles every few days targeting fresh buyer-intent keywords.
Articles render to /articles/<slug>.html via add_content.ps1.
Every data-aff="slug" button auto-resolves at page-load time via affiliates.js.
Any link the agent writes to a SaaS company not yet wired manually gets auto-monetized by Skimlinks.
Dev.to cross-posting runs on demand (python publish_devto.py).
V2EX drafts queue in v2ex_output/ — user pastes when prompted (5 min/week).

For the full plan, see RUNBOOK.md in the repo or /about.html.