Affiliate marketing is one of the ways bloggers make money on the internet. You practically get paid for promoting other people’s products and services.
But what if you’re not a blogger, and what if you are not planning to start a blog any time soon? can you still promote affiliate links and earn a commission?
Well, while having a blog for affiliate marketing is recommended, you can still promote your affiliate links on other platforms, including social media, YouTube channels, email campaigns, etc.
You don’t necessarily need a blog.
Promoting affiliate links without a blog can offer surprising flexibility, lower costs, and a much easier entry point into earning online. And today, we are looking at the 7 best ways to achieve just that.
What you will need…
Since blogging is not your thing, and you can’t spam the whole internet with affiliate links, you definitely need to start somewhere.
For the sake of this guide, you need two things to truly succeed in affiliate marketing.
- Traffic source
- Landing page
Okay, to truly make money with affiliate marketing, you need to send traffic to an offer. This traffic can come from anywhere – social media, YouTube, etc.
But does it look professional to share your affiliate links just like that? Of course not. you need to build a landing page where you send your traffic first and collect information about your prospects in other to build trust and relationships.
This is how I do it:
- Drive traffic to a landing page
- Capture email leads
- Redirect to affiliate offer upon lead submission
- Follow up with emails and text messages
This way, even if you feel like you do not want to promote that offer anymore, you already have a list of customers who you can promote a different offer to.
A landing page builder and email automation software you might want to check is systeme.io. This tool is free to use, plus you get set up free automation and let the system work for you on autopilot.
So, let’s now look at different ways you can promote affiliate links using this principle.
1. Social Media Platforms
One of the criteria to qualify to promote affiliate offers is valid traffic, and you can easily get this on social media.
Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter offer a massive audience and endless ways to connect with followers. Just create engaging social media posts and send people to your affiliate links.
This is exactly what Jason Stone did, and according to reports, his strategy generated over $7 million in affiliate sales.
However, for beginners, this strategy is going to be a bit tricky because no one will want to click on spammy-looking links. You will have to find a way to build trust with your followers first.
Provide a lot of value at first. Use Eye-catching images and videos to help grab attention.
If they finally start engaging with your content, you may start creating promotional content to sell your affiliate offers. But don’t post direct affiliate links on social media; no one likes that. Instead, send your traffic to a landing page, and then redirect them to the affiliate offer upon lead capture.
2. Create a YouTube Channel
I like to call YouTube a digital real estate because it’s one of the best ways to earn a living online. Even if you don’t have a blog, YouTube is even more effective for affiliate marketing.
People love watching videos more than they read blogs. In fact, video content is expected to make up 82% of all global internet traffic by 2025.
What do you expect? videos are the best way to demonstrate products in action, showcase results, and share personal experiences in a way that written content simply can’t achieve. And that is why it is preferable for affiliate marketing.
Plus, YouTube videos have an incredibly long lifespan. They can still appear on search several years after you publish them.
And if you are shy of the camera, no problem. since you are going to be showcasing products, you don’t need to appear anywhere in the video. you can even use AI video editors to produce these videos.
Once your videos start getting views, you can monetize your channel by placing an affiliate link to any product you are reviewing in the description of the video.
Apart from promoting affiliate links on YouTube, there are other ways you can also make money on the platform. Like display ads and sponsorships.
3. Utilize Email Marketing
I’m sure you saw that coming! Email marketing is a highly effective channel for promoting affiliate links without relying on a blog.
Remember I mentioned capturing email leads in the “what you’ll need” section? This is because email marketing is still one of the most effective marketing channels for affiliates.
Did you know that every $1 you spend on an email campaign is expected to return at least $38 In profit?
That’s because you’re communicating directly with people who’ve already shown interest in what you have to say.
Email marketing’s targeted approach has been incredibly profitable for affiliates. Marketer Ian Fernando, for instance, used a combination of email marketing and Facebook ads to increase his daily affiliate income from $100 to over $1,000.
To get started with email marketing, you will an email automation tool capable of capturing and storing leads, and writing and sending out personalized emails without restrictions.
One such tool I recommend is Systeme.io. They let you build high-converting landing pages, capture leads, and send automated emails to your subscribers.
Email marketing allows you to build a strong connection with your audience while promoting affiliate products that add value to their lives.
4. Participate in Online Forums
They might seem not active, but online forums are an excellent way to promote affiliate links without owning a blog.
Apart from blogs and YouTube videos, forums are the next place to seek advice and actually get one. People open forum topics on pressing issues so that other people can contribute in solving them.
You already know, solving a problem is a way to promote affiliate links.
Platforms like Reddit, yahoo answers and Quora cater to all kinds of interests and offer a unique opportunity to share affiliate links in an authentic, conversational way. Start by sharing helpful information, and only mention affiliate products when they add real value.
But again, don’t share your direct affiliate link on any of these forum platforms because you will be seen as spam, and you might get blocked. Instead, rediret your traffic to a landing page, just as we’ve been saying it here.
To participate in online forums, look for topics that align with the products or services you’re promoting. Respond thoughtfully to questions or concerns, and offer solutions where your affiliate links make sense.
5. Guest Post on Established Blogs
Another way to promote affiliate links without owning your own blog is by writing for other established blogs. This is called guest posting.
And when done wright, it is a fantastic way to reach a wider audience.
Guest blogging allows you to collaborate with established blogs within your niche. You can share valuable insights and, with permission, include affiliate links in a way that feels natural and useful.
But the problem most times is that most blogs will not allow you to add affiliate links in your posts. Some will eve rewrite the link and add their own affiliate ID to earn commission from any affiliate sales that occurs through your post on their blog.
So, you need to spend time looking for blogs that accepts guest posts with at least one link.
Oh, my bad… this strategy might not be ideal for some users. But don’t worry, the next strategy will show you how to add affiliate links on established article publishing platforms.
To be a guest in any blog, look for blogs that cover topics related to the products you’re promoting. Reach out to the owners and ask if they accept guest posts.
If they do, provide them a sample of blog post you’ve written and let them decide whether or not to accept your proposal. but then, only write posts that educate, inform, or solve a common problem in that niche.
6. Create Content on Publishing Platforms
Instead of setting up a blog for affiliate marketing, you can actually set up a space on content publishing platforms like medium and LinkedIn.
These platforms are excellent alternatives for promoting affiliate links without needing a personal blog or website. You can share in-depth articles, tutorials, and personal stories that engage readers and naturally incorporate affiliate links within them.
And to me, this is even better that starting a blog from scratch. These platforms has established audiences and high domain authority. This means that, it easier for your content to reach a larger audience and perform well in search engines.
However, there are some drawbacks too. These platforms can be extremely competitive, and also, they are a little bit strict regarding the kind of link you share. So again, don’t always share your direct affiliate link. Redirect traffic to a landing page instead.
7. Use Paid Advertising
While all the strategies mentioned above works, even for beginners, paid advertising is the fastest way to get real results.
Come on, If you want to get quick results, get ready to pay for it.
Paid advertising offers a direct and fast way to promote affiliate links. This approach allows you to reach specific audience based on interests, demographics, and behaviors. And you an combine it with #1 to #3 strategies above.
For example, if you are promoting affiliate links on social media, you can run a targeted social media paid campaign and have platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest promote your posts to reach your target audience.
Although it requires an upfront investment, but paid ads can yield impressive results when targeted correctly.
For example, I’ve mentioned how Ian Fernando leveraged targeted Facebook ads to scale his affiliate earnings from $100 all the way up to $1,000.
All you need to do is write ad copy that speaks directly to your audience’s needs or pain points. Highlight product benefits, and consider adding a limited-time offer or discount to drive urgency.
Wrapping it up…
While starting affiliate marketing as a side hustle seems interesting, it always has its challenging side. Most affiliate programs won’t accept you if you don’t have a website, And this is already a big challenge.
However, you can create a simple landing page with software like systeme.io and use it to apply.
If you finally have some affiliate products to sell, the next step is choosing a platform to promote your affiliate links. For most beginners, social media, especially Pinterest is an ideal platform.
For those looking for an instant way to make money online with affiliate marketing, paid advertising might be the best solution. However, there’s no guarantee that your campaign will convert. It is advisable to test things out first before investing a huge amount into it.
While promoting affiliate links without a blog can be an excellent starting point, consider the possibility of creating a website as a long-term goal. A personal blog provides a stable foundation for your affiliate marketing efforts, giving you more control, consistent traffic, and a chance to establish greater authority in your niche.
It’s over to you! What’s your favorite way of promoting affiliate links? As for me, I spend a lot of time on Pinterest and my blog.
Let me hear your thoughts in the comment section.
