So, you want to make money with affiliate marketing, but there’s just one tiny problem—you don’t have an audience. No website traffic, no email list, no social media following. Sounds impossible, right? Wrong!
The truth is, many successful affiliate marketers started without an audience. They just knew where to place their links and how to get targeted buyers without waiting months (or years) to build a following. And today, I’m going to show you how you can do it too—step by step.
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1. Leverage Other People’s Traffic (Legally & Smartly!)
You may not have an audience, but guess what? Others do! Instead of struggling to build your own, you can tap into existing traffic sources and get your affiliate links in front of the right people.
Answer Questions on Quora & Reddit
- People ask buying-related questions daily: “What’s the best laptop under $1000?” or “Which AI writing tool is worth it?”
- Find questions related to your affiliate product and give a helpful, detailed answer.
- Drop your affiliate link naturally, like: “I tried X, and it works great. Here’s the link if you want to check it out.”
Pro Tip: Don’t spam! Provide genuine advice, and only add links where relevant.
Guest Blogging on Niche Websites
- Many websites allow guest posts—and they already have traffic!
- Find blogs in your niche (Google: “Write for us + [niche]”) and pitch a helpful article.
- Include your affiliate link naturally in the content.
Example: If you’re promoting a fitness supplement, write a post on “5 Must-Have Supplements for Weight Loss” and insert your affiliate link under a relevant section.
2. Use Pinterest (Even If You Hate Social Media)
Unlike Instagram or TikTok, Pinterest isn’t a social platform—it’s a search engine with millions of daily visitors looking for solutions.
Steps to Get Affiliate Sales on Pinterest
- Create an account and choose a niche (e.g., personal finance, fitness, tech).
- Design eye-catching pins using Canva (free!).
- Write a compelling description with keywords (e.g., “Best laptops for students under $500”).
Example: If you’re promoting a blogging tool, create a pin titled “The Best Free Tool for Bloggers (I Wish I Knew This Sooner!)” and link to your affiliate product.
Pro Tip: Join Pinterest group boards in your niche to get instant traffic!
3. Find Ready-to-Buy Customers with Facebook Groups
Most Facebook groups hate affiliate links. But there’s a way around it—by being genuinely helpful first!
How to Do It:
- Join niche groups (e.g., “Best Budget Laptops”, “Work From Home Moms”, “Fitness Tips”, etc.).
- Answer questions and provide real recommendations.
- Once people start trusting your advice, they’ll ask for recommendations—this is when you drop your affiliate link!
Example: If someone in a work-from-home group asks, “What’s the best microphone for Zoom calls?”, you can reply:
“I’ve tested a few, but [X microphone] has the clearest sound and is affordable. Here’s where I got mine: [affiliate link].”
Pro Tip: Don’t be spammy. Provide value first, and the sales will follow!
4. Flip Free Traffic from Medium & LinkedIn
If you don’t want to create your own blog, you can use free publishing platforms like Medium or LinkedIn Articles.
The Strategy:
- Write product reviews or “Best of” lists (e.g., “Best Online Courses for Beginners in 2025”)
- Include your affiliate links inside the article
- Share your post on forums, Facebook groups, and Pinterest for free traffic
Example: If you’re promoting an online course platform, write “Why This Course Platform is a Game-Changer for Beginners” and link to your affiliate product inside the post.
Pro Tip: Articles on Medium & LinkedIn can rank on Google, bringing in long-term traffic!
5. Use Free Classified Ads & Online Marketplaces
Some people never think of this, but free ad websites can drive instant affiliate sales—especially for digital products.
Where to Post:
- Craigslist
- Facebook Marketplace
- Gumtree
- Classified ad sites in your country
Example: If you’re promoting an AI copywriting tool, post an ad titled:
“Tired of Writing? This AI Tool Writes for You in Seconds! Try It Free Here: [affiliate link]”
Pro Tip: Keep your ad simple, use curiosity-driven headlines, and post in different categories to reach more people.
6. Run Free Giveaways with Affiliate Products
People love freebies. You can use this psychology to generate affiliate sales without an audience!
How to Do It:
- Find an affiliate product with a free trial or freebie option
- Offer it as a “limited-time giveaway” on Facebook groups, Reddit, or forums
- When people sign up, you earn a commission once they upgrade
Example: If you promote a website builder that offers a free trial, create a post:
” Free Website Builder Trial – No Credit Card Required! Try It Here: [affiliate link]”
Pro Tip: People are more likely to sign up if they feel they’re getting something exclusive for free!
Start Small, Stay Consistent
You don’t need a massive audience to make affiliate sales—you just need the right strategy. The key is placing your links where buyers already exist instead of waiting for traffic to come to you.
- Pick one or two methods from above and start today.
- Focus on helping people first—sales will follow naturally.
- Keep testing different platforms to see what works best for your niche.
Affiliate marketing without an audience is possible—you just have to be smart about where you put your links. So, what method are you going to try first? Let me know!