One of the core principles of the Niche Super-Site project was income diversification. Rather than relying solely on AdSense, I wanted multiple revenue streams flowing through HistoryOfElvis.com. The first affiliate program I added was eBay, using a WordPress plugin called phpBay Pro.
How eBay Affiliate Marketing Worked in 2008
phpBay Pro was a $49 WordPress plugin that automatically pulled live eBay auction listings into your site based on keywords. For an Elvis niche site, this meant pages full of Elvis memorabilia, collectibles, and autographs — all with my affiliate tracking code embedded. If a visitor clicked through and bought something (or even just bid), I earned a commission through the eBay Partner Network via Commission Junction.
The setup was genuinely simple:
- Sign up with Commission Junction (now CJ Affiliate)
- Apply to the eBay affiliate program
- Install the phpBay Pro plugin
- Configure your affiliate ID
- Insert a shortcode on any WordPress page to display live auction listings
The results were immediate. Within minutes of installation, HistoryOfElvis.com had pages displaying real Elvis Presley auction items. The plugin was smart enough to cloak affiliate links for SEO, and the dynamically generated content was indexed by Google, adding keyword-rich pages to the site.
phpBay Pro's developer, Wade, provided outstanding same-day support. For $49 with unlimited site usage, it was one of the best values in the WordPress plugin ecosystem at the time.
eBay Affiliate Marketing in 2026
The eBay Partner Network still exists, but the landscape has changed significantly. phpBay Pro and similar auto-generated auction listing plugins are no longer effective for several reasons.
What Changed
- Google's Panda and Helpful Content updates killed sites built on auto-generated affiliate content. Pages that were nothing more than embedded eBay listings with minimal original content are now penalized.
- Commission rates have dropped. eBay's affiliate program pays less than it did in 2008, and the cookie window (how long after a click you can earn commission) has shortened.
- The eBay Partner Network moved away from CJ. It now runs its own direct affiliate platform.
How to Use eBay Affiliates Effectively Today
eBay affiliate marketing can still work in the right niche, but the approach must be content-first:
- Write genuine buying guides — “Best Vintage Elvis Memorabilia Worth Collecting” with hand-curated eBay links to specific items, not auto-generated listings.
- Add editorial value — Explain why specific items are worth buying, what to look for, and what to avoid. Your expertise is the product; the affiliate link is just the monetization layer.
- Compare marketplaces — Include eBay alongside Amazon, Etsy, and specialty retailers. Readers trust recommendations more when you are not pushing a single platform.
- Use proper disclosure — FTC guidelines require clear affiliate disclosure. Include a statement at the top of any page containing affiliate links.
Better Alternatives for Niche Affiliate Revenue
While eBay still has its place, most niche site builders in 2026 earn more from:
- Amazon Associates — Broader product selection, higher brand trust, though commissions are modest (1-10% depending on category)
- Specialty affiliate programs — Many niche products have their own affiliate programs with higher commissions than marketplaces. Check ShareASale, Impact, and individual brand websites.
- Digital products — Online courses, software, and subscriptions often pay 20-50% commissions, dwarfing what any physical product marketplace offers.
The Lesson from 2008
The idea behind phpBay was excellent: meet visitors with relevant products they might want to buy. The execution — auto-generating pages of auction listings with minimal original content — is what made it fragile. In 2026, the principle still holds. If someone visits your Elvis site, they might want to buy Elvis stuff. The difference is that you need to earn that click with genuine expertise and helpful content rather than simply embedding a product feed.
Interesting reading, this sounds like something worth investigating. It certainly looks good on your site!
HI _ I am really enjoying your series 😀 – Thanks for taking the time to post about what you are doing. Just one thing, when I went to HistoryofElvis.com and clicked on any of the auction links instead of going to the auction I got a 404 file not found – thought you would want to know ~megan
@Chris — thank you very much. I am really sold on phpBay. People have told me they are making a lot of money with this product (which depends a lot on traffic). So, we’ll be working on driving traffic to the Elvis site later this month.
@megan — You are very kind. I am a little embarrassed about the 404. I was moving some files around and I made a small error. I am embarrassed because I neglected to check my work. Sorry about that. The links should work for you now. Check it out. It’s really neat — takes you straight to eBay. Thank you so much for letting me know.
David — thanks for your comments.
As far as phpBay goes, the WP Plugin is still $49. Also, phpBay appears to support eBay through four affiliate managers (not just Commission Junction or CJ as I call them). In addition to CJ, affiliate managers Mediaflex, TradeDoubler and Afflinet are listed in the interface as supported. I personally use CJ and have not tried the other three.
With regard to people having trouble getting approved at CJ, I have never really heard that before. All I can tell you is that I had no trouble getting approved.
I am not sure what you mean when you say “Commission Junction’s affiliate number only works on phpBay” — the CJ affiliate ID you get when you sign up and are approved with CJ works with many things including phpBay, PopShops, and all the links CJ itself offers.
You are correct that you cannot sell your license to a third party (as far as I can tell). I can tell you that WiredStudios customer service is excellent — you should contact them or CJ directly for advice on dealing with CJ.
Thanks again for your comment.
Regards,
Mark
Commission Junction is STRICT with their subscribers. If you have a website with no or very little content, you will NOT get approved. Then your phpBay purchase was useless because Commission Junction’s affiliate number only works on phpBay, which you cannot resale if you decide you don’t or can’t use phpBay anymore. phpBay is lmore expensive now — $79 if you want to be able to use both wordpress and your own website. So make sure you make a website first then get a Commission Junction accout before buying these plugins!
Great info…I see you have all to success
I just checked your Elvis site. Your Alexa Rating is up to 1,600,000, and your home page is carrying a google rank of two. Might be time to add some more pages.
Good Job with that site.
Rick
Thanks Rick — yep. Elvis is page one for a couple of great keywords. Definitely need to work on that site. Part-time IM is tough. Hard to find time for everything.
Mark
I found your post really interesting. I found Internet marketing a really a great way of promoting a website. I found good results when I started internet marketing my website.