Drive Traffic to Your Affiliate Links

Let’s get real for a second: affiliate marketing doesn’t work if nobody sees your links.

You can have the best product, a killer landing page, and even a great bonus offer—but if you're not getting eyeballs on your content, you won’t make sales.

That’s where traffic comes in.

Traffic simply means people visiting your content—whether it's a blog post, YouTube video, email, or sales page. More traffic means more potential customers. And more customers means more commissions.

So let’s break down the three main types of traffic—free, paid, and shared—and how you can start using each to grow your affiliate marketing business.

1. Free Traffic (a.k.a. Organic Traffic)

Free traffic is exactly what it sounds like: people finding your content without you paying for ads. It usually takes a bit more time and effort up front, but it’s a great way to build long-term, sustainable traffic.

Blogging and SEO

If you enjoy writing, starting a blog is a powerful way to generate traffic. By creating helpful content (like product reviews, tutorials, or “top 10” lists) and using basic SEO (search engine optimization), you can get your blog posts to show up in Google search results.

People search for stuff every day like:

• “Best email marketing tools for beginners”

• “Top productivity apps in 2025”

• “How to start affiliate marketing step by step”

If your blog answers those questions and includes your affiliate links? Boom—free traffic.

YouTube

Video is king right now, and YouTube is a free platform that’s also a search engine. Create how-to videos, product reviews, or even short-form content like YouTube Shorts, and add your affiliate links in the description.

You don’t need to go viral—just rank for helpful keywords your audience is searching for.

Pinterest

Pinterest acts like a visual search engine. You can create pins that link to blog posts, lead magnets, or videos. It’s especially great for niches like lifestyle, health, parenting, food, beauty, and DIY.

Social Media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook)

If you're active on social, create content around the problems your audience faces and offer affiliate products as the solution. You’ll need to use a link-in-bio tool to direct traffic, but this can work well—especially if you’re showing up consistently.

Email Marketing

Building a list may take time, but once you have one, it’s yours forever. You can send traffic to affiliate links as often as you like—no algorithm needed.

Start by offering a free guide or checklist on your website or social page to collect emails, then nurture that list with helpful content and affiliate offers.

2. Paid Traffic (Faster Results, Higher Risk)

If you’re ready to invest some money for quicker results, paid traffic can be a great option. But—be careful. Paid ads can get expensive fast if you’re not tracking your results.

Facebook & Instagram Ads

These platforms allow you to run highly targeted campaigns. For affiliate marketing, it's usually best to send traffic to a lead magnet (free guide, quiz, etc.) so you can collect emails—not directly to an affiliate link, as most platforms don’t allow that.

Once someone’s on your list, you can promote your affiliate offers via email.

Google Search Ads

If you're promoting a product with high intent behind the search, Google Ads can be powerful. For example: “Buy [product name] online” or “Best webinar software for coaches.”

The key is to target buyer-intent keywords and make sure your landing page converts.

YouTube Ads

If you’ve got a good video ad and know your audience, YouTube can drive a ton of traffic—especially for digital products or webinars.

Just keep in mind: with paid ads, you need a funnel. That means a lead magnet, email follow-up, and offer. Otherwise, you’re just throwing money at clicks.

3. Shared Traffic (JV and Solo Ads)

Shared traffic is traffic you “borrow” from someone else’s audience. It’s often overlooked, but it can be incredibly powerful—especially if you don’t yet have a large audience of your own.

Joint Ventures (JVs)

A joint venture is when two people with related audiences team up. For example, a course creator might let you promote their program in exchange for a commission—and give you access to their webinars, email list, or launch.

This works especially well if you have an email list, podcast, or community—even a small one—and want to partner with others who have bigger reach.

Solo Ads

Solo ads are when you pay someone to send an email about your offer to their email list. You don’t need a big audience of your own—just a good landing page.

Solo ads can work well if you’re promoting:

• Make money online offers

• Business tools

• Lead magnets that build your list

Make sure to vet the solo ad provider and check reviews—they’re not all created equal.

Final Thoughts

There’s no “best” traffic method—just the one that fits your strengths, your budget, and your audience.

• If you’re low on money but have time, start with free traffic: blog, YouTube, Pinterest, or social.

• If you have some money to invest and want faster results, try paid ads (but build a funnel first).

• And if you’re open to partnerships, shared traffic through JVs and solo ads can unlock massive exposure.

The key is to pick one or two methods, get good at them, and stay consistent. Don’t try to do everything at once—just start where you are and build from there.