Do you want to know the best ways to drive traffic to your affiliate links?
In this guide, you'll find out how.
Recent data shows that affiliate links get over five billion clicks annually, highlighting that these links can generate a significant amount of traffic.
The more targeted traffic you generate, the more potential sales you can close—leading to higher commission payouts.
The challenge is knowing the strategic and effective methods to direct traffic to your affiliate links.
That's why we've put together this comprehensive guide.
Use the tips, steps, tools, and techniques below to help you drive more traffic to your affiliate links and take your affiliate marketing game to the next level.
How to drive traffic to affiliate links
Here are eight proven ways to bring more traffic to your affiliate links and earn more commission:
1. Create informative content on your affiliate site
Create valuable content to generate organic traffic and maximise the exposure of your affiliate links.
Done right, content development is the best marketing method to reach your online audience and promote affiliate products.
Here’s how to build a content strategy for generating traffic:
Target the right topics and keywords
Use keyword research tools to find potential keywords for SEO and discover relevant topics for content writing.
Ideally, cover topics related to the problems your affiliate products try to solve. This enables you to naturally weave affiliate links in your content.
For example, travel blogger Emily published an informative guide on travel photography equipment, wherein she promoted Amazon affiliate products like a DSLR tripod and camera remote.
Just ensure to include a disclaimer that informs readers about your affiliate links.
Use keyword research tools like Keyword Magic Tool from Semrush to research content ideas and keywords.
Enter any relevant keyword or topic, pick your target location, and click ‘Search.’
Once the results are in, use filters and metrics to find keywords and topics for your affiliate site.
Click ‘Questions’ to look for question-based keywords, which make excellent content topics.
Use action-oriented writing
Make your content more actionable to encourage readers to buy affiliate products.
Create tutorials, “how-to” guides, and online reviews that increase demand and put readers in a buying mode. Consider inserting screenshots, videos, actual product photos, and other visuals to make your content more compelling.
You can also write listicles to mention multiple affiliate products in a single post.
Just use clear Calls-To-Action (CTAs) to boost your affiliate link’s visibility and clicks:
Polish and optimise your content
Use automated proofreading tools like Grammarly to detect writing mistakes and get one-click correction recommendations.
Spelling, grammatical, and punctuation mistakes make your content sound unprofessional and untrustworthy. As such, readers may become reluctant to purchase your product recommendations.
While they don’t directly affect search engine rankings, mistakes may also prevent other website owners from linking to your content.
To further increase your content’s SEO performance, use Surfer to get on-page optimisation suggestions—from keyword ideas to word count recommendations.
Install the Surfer browser extension to get on-page SEO recommendations as you create content with Google Docs.
Below are additional tips for creating content that can attract heaps of site visitors:
- Use a well-written meta description.
- Build backlinks by submitting guest posts on high-authority websites.
- Write honest and unbiased reviews—mention a few disadvantages of your affiliate product along with the workarounds.
- Connect related posts with internal links to distribute traffic.
- Promote similar affiliate products with comparison posts.
2. Promote on your social media accounts
Promote affiliate links on social media platforms to monetise your follower base. You may also share content to bring traffic back to your site and build brand authority.
Sharing affiliate links directly with your followers is one way how to start affiliate marketing with no money.
You don’t need to invest in tools or services to build your social media presence, generate followers, and share affiliate links. All you need is an affiliate product, a camera, and a little creativity.
Below are proven social media promotion tips for affiliate links:
Publish eye-catching product photos on Instagram
Capture captivating photos of your affiliate product and promote them, along with your affiliate link, on Instagram.
Although Instagram prohibits affiliate links in post descriptions, the platform allows links in profile bios. That’s why affiliate marketers include a CTA that invites their target audience to use links in their profiles.
Share affiliate links on your business pages
Spread posts with your affiliate links on social media to get quick, targeted traffic.
A straightforward approach is to write a mini-review, paste your affiliate link, and attach media (photos and videos) proving that you have firsthand experience with the product.
If possible, include affiliate offers or CTAs to spur action. It can be a discount code, limited-time offer, or scarcity (i.e. “while supplies last”).
Bring back traffic from social media groups
Establish a presence in social media groups to bring traffic to your affiliate website.
Populous social media groups have strict rules when it comes to affiliate links. While some groups allow members to share affiliate links, most prohibit sharing anything promotional.
As such, focus on building your authority and sharing educational content to bring traffic back to your affiliate website. That’s where you can promote affiliate marketing offers and earn juicy commissions.
3. Submit quality content to websites
Generate referral traffic by submitting content to other blogs that allow guest posting (articles written by contributors).
Nearly all websites prohibit the inclusion of affiliate links in a guest post. However, they should allow links back to your homepage or any relevant content that may include your affiliate offers.
Look for websites that accept guest contributions using guest blogging footprints. These are queries containing your target keyword along with phrases like “write for us,” “guest post by,” and “contributor guidelines.”
Run guest blogging footprints on Google to quickly find these sites.
4. Jump into conversations in online communities
Participate in online communities and Q&A websites to promote affiliate products to people who need them.
Communities like Reddit have smaller networks or “subreddits” for anything, including hobbies, jobs, products, and services. Use the built-in search bar to find the right subreddit for promoting affiliate links.
Remember these tips when promoting on communities and Q&A sites:
- Create content related to queries. Tap into Q&A websites for content research and create related content that mentions your affiliate links. Share related content whenever you answer questions to pull traffic back to your site.
- Write answers that stand on their own. Write answers that have enough information so users don’t feel forced to click your links. Some Q&A sites like Quora enforce strict policies on links and the overall quality of answers.
- Don’t link to affiliate links directly. Unless the community or Q&A site expressly allows promotional links, don’t include affiliate links to avoid getting banned. Only link to helpful content that adds value to your answer.
5. Publish short-form affiliate content on TikTok and Instagram
Create short-form videos (Instagram Reels, TikTok videos, etc.) that contain affiliate links to lure in potential customers.
Videos are now the most popular social media content format. They also hold the key on how to become famous on social media.
Instagram Reels, for example, are discoverable via the dedicated “Reels” tab on the app. Add video elements like sounds, effects, filters, and trending hashtags to make your videos even more searchable (your videos will appear to users who want to use the same elements).
Thanks to the prevalence of social media apps, creating short-form videos is a highly effective content strategy for mobile marketing.
Short-form videos are also incredibly easy to create.
Just use your smartphone and the built-in video editing tools on TikTok and Instagram to create authentic videos that feature your affiliate product.
Here are a few short-form video ideas you can use:
- Product reveal
- Product unboxing
- Mini-review
- Tutorial
- Durability test (drop, scratch, etc.)
- Quick comparison
6. Repurpose affiliate content into visuals
Repurpose information from existing affiliate marketing content to create visuals for social media.
Convert steps, tips, stats, and other information into infographics, slideshows, or animated clips. Promote repurposed content (including your affiliate link) on visual sharing platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Drag-and-drop design tools like Canva can help you repurpose anything into professional-quality visuals.
Use templates to speed up content creation, be it an Instagram Story, Pinterest infographic, TikTok video, and so on.
7. Create lead magnets and build an email list
Offer lead magnets such as eBooks, online courses, industry reports, and templates that contain affiliate product recommendations.
A lead magnet is a step up from regular content that any affiliate marketer can create. Unlike blog content that’s publicly available, lead magnets require users to provide their email addresses to gain access.
It should focus on a particular skill, solution, or strategy that helps readers solve their problems. More importantly, it should be packaged with visual content along with unique information that can’t be found anywhere else.
Use graphic design tools or hire services like Kimp for your visual needs.
Kimp is an unlimited design service that lets you create eBooks, white papers, videos, presentation decks, and more. They can supply your design needs through every step of creating lead magnets—from designing your landing page to producing promotional materials.
Strategically insert your affiliate links in your lead magnet. Once you have your audience’s email address, create an audience segment in your email marketing platform.
After building an email list with your lead magnet, include affiliate offers in your email marketing strategy.
Add links to automated emails during sales Holidays (Cyber Monday, Black Friday, etc.). Use platforms like Mailchimp to create automated email workflows using templates.
8. Launch paid campaigns
Invest in paid advertising campaigns to increase traffic to your affiliate links short-term.
Apart from free traffic sources, paid traffic is also essential in successful SME marketing.
Some websites offer banner placements and native ads with direct affiliate links. Paid social media and search ads, on the other hand, only allow links to your own site or web page that contains affiliate promotions.
Do your research and look for ad platforms that suit your goals.
Some of the platforms you should consider are:
- TrafficStars
- Facebook Ads
- MediaVine
- Adsterra
- Google AdSense
Customers Also Ask
How do I promote affiliate links without spamming?
Promote affiliate links while providing useful, relevant content to your target audience. Never force affiliate links where they don’t fit and ensure you prioritise solving your audience’s problems.
What is the best paid traffic for affiliate marketing?
Launching paid search ads, banner placements, native ads, and social media ads are among the best ways to generate traffic to your affiliate marketing site. Avoid advertising affiliate links directly and use ad placements to promote your website instead.
Can I start affiliate marketing without traffic?
You can sign up for an affiliate program without verifying your traffic stats. However, affiliate marketing is only profitable if you have a steady stream of traffic to your promotion channels or your own website.
Supercharge your affiliate marketing like a pro
Making money as an affiliate marketer isn’t easy.
In such a competitive space, you need proven, cutting-edge strategies that put your brand on the map.
A popular and well-trusted brand image will, in turn, help you garner more traffic, build buyer confidence, and close more affiliate sales.
Cut through the competition with a team of digital marketing experts.
Book a free digital marketing consultation here and let’s draw up an affiliate marketing plan that works for you.
