For influencers, this is an easy way to make money out of affiliates. Their brand name and reputation is the one that will be trusted by their signees or referrals. But if you're an ordinary guy and try to see your future in here, you should be doing other things as well while you're building your presence through different means like in articles/blogs, vlogs and any other ways you're building your community because trust and influence is what will make you a lot of money out of it.
You really don't need to be an influencer to start affiliate marketing all you need is good communication skill and marketing a good product when you have a good communication skill people will listen to you and buy the product and they will refer there friends that is how you grow.
In affiliate marketing you will surely grow and become successful but you need time to grow.
Yes I know that but the bigger advantage is with the influencers that have already their own community and can ask them to sign up for them if ever they need that service they're advertising or the products that they endorse with their affiliate links. This is easier for the girly influencers where simps are going to sign them all they long and going to avail products and services where they're going to get a lot of commissions and this isn't a secret to all.