Affiliate marketing has been gaining in popularity over the years, and for good reason. However, driving to your offers can be a challenge. Traffic is the lifeblood of any online business, without you needing it to generate sales and revenue.
This blog post shares the top 12 free traffic sources for affiliate marketing in 2024. These platforms are the best places to promote your affiliate offers and generate quality traffic consistently.
You will also learn how to select the best organic traffic source for your niche and avoid common mistakes that can ruin your efforts.
Let’s dive in!
Top 12 Free Traffic Sources for Affiliate Marketing in 2024
SEO website/blog
- Audience Size: 4.3 billion monthly active users
- Audience Type: Everyone
- Types of Content: Text and Video
- Location of Affiliate Links: Anywhere
When your website/ landing page appears higher in the SERPs, it is more likely to reach user clicks and visitors. Those searching for information or solutions related to your affiliate business or industry.
According to Authority Hacker, 78.3% of affiliate marketers use SEO as their primary traffic source. With 3.5 billion daily searches and 53.3% of all website traffic from Organic Search, they make it great for marketers.
Regarding the buyer’s behaviors, up to 72% of people looking to purchase start by opening Google Search.
Organic search traffic should be your primary focus to grow your niche website, but getting targeted traffic requires much work and time. Ranking valuable content on Google takes time, especially if your website is new.
The bad news is only 25% of users see the first page of Google. Only a few well-established, high-quality affiliate websites can compete for the most profitable keywords in some competitive markets and niches.
Even when you get traffic, you could lose it to a competitor or due to Google’s constant changes and algorithm updates.
Nevertheless, SEO is still the number one free traffic for affiliate marketing. The reason is simple. People turn to search engines when they’re looking for specific information.
Helpful advice for you is building link-attracting content hubs! Google’s PageRank algorithm passes on link authority to other pages on your site when you link them internally. If you strategically link your “money pages” in your content, all related content can also benefit.
- Audience Size: Close to 3 billion monthly active users
- Audience Type: Users of all ages. The audience demographics vary greatly depending on the country.
- Types of Content: Text, Videos, Photos, Reels, Stories
- Location of Affiliate Links: Posts
When Facebook first launched, it quickly became the go-to social network for marketers. Its massive user base made it an attractive platform for affiliate marketing, and it still is today. Creating a “Facebook Business Page” or “Group” and growing your audience is a common way!
So why we can say Facebook is free traffic? Facebook at its core is still a social media that favors conversational interactions, and they really pushing toward group posts for the past few years.
Everyone knows this platform pushes everyone toward having a page and then running ads for exposure; building your own group on Facebook is the perfect counter-attack. And it’s free!
Like SEO, building a community of person takes time!
Advice tips: Following the 80/20 rule can be helpful! 80% of the posts should contain valuable or entertaining information, and the remaining 20% can contain affiliate links.
- Audience Size: Over 2.35 billion monthly active
- Audience Type: A young audience between 18 and 34 years old
- Types of Content: Photos, Reels, Stories
- Location of Affiliate Links: In the bio or stories
It became a hit with Millennials and Gen Z. Over time, Instagram has evolved to prioritize videos, stories, and reels, and it has become one of the largest social networks in the world.
For affiliate marketers, Instagram can be a goldmine of high quality traffic. While most users come to the platform for entertainment, it’s also an excellent place to discover new products and get recommendations from users you admire and follow.
Establishing an authentic rapport with your audience is critical to driving traffic and conversions. The Instagram algorithm accurately shows users what they want to see, making it an ideal platform to reach your target audience.
The best thing about Instagram that makes it a source of free traffic is its visual-focused nature. It’s in-your-face; it’s instant. And you have multiple ways to get your affiliate links to the potential customers’ radar.
The downside is that with so many users and brands on the platform, it can be challenging to stand out.
Helpful tips: Repurpose your affiliate content into feed posts, stories, reels, and IGTVs! Repeat your message across multiple content types.
Consistency is vital because it takes an average of 6 to 8 touchpoints before users make a purchase. While you can’t add affiliate links to individual/ guest posts, you can include them in your bio and use promotional codes to drive traffic.
This for you:
TikTok
- Audience Size: 1.1 billion monthly active users
- Audience Type: All ages
- Types of Content: Short vertical videos
- Location of Affiliate Links: In the bio or TikTok Shop.
If you are an affiliate marketer looking to gain free traffic, TikTok can be a great source, provided you understand how to leverage it.
The best thing that makes TikTok such a great free traffic source is its algorithm. It does not take much to have a “viral” post on this platform. It combines the best of each social media channel above and amplifies them.
What the perfect goldmine for social selling!
To be successful on TikTok, it is essential to focus on engagement. You have only a few seconds to capture users’ attention and must keep it high throughout each video, whether entertaining your audience or promoting affiliate products.
While TikTok can be profitable for affiliate marketers, it has some limitations. You only include one link in your bio; no links are allowed on individual posts.
Unfortunately, most users won’t try to check your profile and links, especially if you don’t tell them to do so. To activate the link in the bio, you’ll need to switch to a Business Account, which is free and straightforward.
Learn more:
YouTube
- Audience Size: Over 2.70 billion monthly active users
- Audience Type: All ages depending on the country
- Types of Content: Videos/ Short video/ Reels
- Location of Affiliate Links: Video descriptions
Unlike other social media platforms, users often turn to YouTube when they want to buy something and seek more detailed information and reviews. It is the perfect time to reach your target audience as an affiliate marketer.
However, creating engaging content on YouTube can be intimidating. It would help to have a good camera and mic, the proper lighting, video editing skills, and a powerful script to keep your audience engaged.
It’s a natural extension of your affiliate website and SEO strategy. You can publish detailed video reviews, compare products, answer people’s most common questions, unbox exciting products, etc.
One of the best things about YouTube is that it’s friendly when sharing affiliate links. Almost every video has some in the description. You can even add them as an overlay on your videos.
Read more:
- Audience Size: 528.3 million monthly active users
- Audience Type: 38.5% belongs to the 25 to 34 age group
- Types of Content: Short messages (with photos, videos, gifs)
- Location of Affiliate Links: In the bio or tweet
Although Twitter was initially designed for short updates, it has since evolved to support longer-form content, images, gifs, and videos. It has opened the door to affiliate marketing. But you need to remember that success on Twitter depends on more than just firing off a barrage of affiliate links.
Tweets are limited to 280 characters. If you want to provide more context to the information you share, you can use Twitter threads, a series of connected tweets posted in succession.
You just remember not to start your thread with a link, as this may appear spammy and result in less visibility for your tweets.
Although Twitter’s algorithms are designed to keep users inside the app, you can still use the platform to drive affiliate marketing traffic to your online properties. However, tweets have a short lifespan, so it’s important to tweet frequently to remain relevant.
Learn more: Maximizing Twitter Affiliate Marketing Success In 2024
- Audience Size: 310 million monthly active users
- Audience Type: 80% of the 900 million members of this audience have high incomes and are well-educated!
- Types of Content: Text/ Images/ Videos
- Location of Affiliate Links: Posts/ Blogs/ Newsletter
However, it’s important to note that not all niches will perform well on LinkedIn. The ones that do, such as B2B, marketing, or tech, offer an excellent opportunity to establish yourself as an expert and provide product recommendations.
To unlock LinkedIn’s true power as a free traffic source, focus on building your personal brand. Sharing articles, tips, and case studies is a good idea.
Like all platforms, being perceived as an authority may take time and effort. The LinkedIn algorithm is arguably easier to master and use to your advantage than other social media sites.
You will surprised! LinkedIn has more potential buyers than content creators.
While it’s true that users only scroll for an average of 7 or 8 minutes per day, this number is expected to grow as LinkedIn continues to encourage posts with initiatives like Top Sales Influencers of the Year.
Maybe you interesting: Ultimate Guide To Affiliate Marketing On LinkedIn 2024
- Audience Size: 463 million monthly active users
- Audience Type: 60% of users are women and have high income
- Types of Content: Photos/ Videos
- Location of Affiliate Links: In the bio or every pin
Unlike other social networks where users go to be entertained, Pinterest is all about finding inspiration and saving it in Pins.
Millions of people come to Pinterest to plan new projects and discover products, using it as a search engine. In fact, Pinterest is the primary traffic source for Etsy, representing 35.61% of all social traffic.
Each Pin on Pinterest can be linked to an article on your affiliate niche site or directly to the advertiser’s website. And unlike many other social platforms, Pinterest doesn’t bury pins that take traffic off-site.
However, users on Pinterest are usually not ready to buy. To engage your audience on the platform and convince them to take the next step, you’ll have to offer more than standard product images downloaded from the advertiser’s website.
See more: Pinterest Affiliate Marketing: Make Money From Visual Promotion
Quora
- Audience Size: 300 million monthly active users
- Audience Type: Over 60% between 18 – 34 years old
- Types of Content: Questions/ Answers/ Posts
- Location of Affiliate Links: Bio/ Answers/ Posts
On Quora, users ask questions, and experts provide answers. You can gain traffic and exposure by answering questions and helping others, regardless of whether people follow you. It means even accounts with few followers can get visibility.
Your answers on Quora and your profile bio may contain links to your website, newsletter, or direct affiliate links!
To get more visibility on Quora, you must establish yourself as a trustworthy authority by replying to questions. When users upvote your answer or comment, it signals that they found it helpful and liked it.
For you: Complete Instructions For Affiliate Marketing On Quora 2024
- Audience Size: 1.660 billion monthly active users
- Audience Type: Males between 18 – 29 years old. A significant percentage of users aged 30-49 with an income of $50K also use the platform.
- Types of Content: Posts/ Comments
- Location of Affiliate Links: Comments
However, many businesses overlook Reddit as a traffic source because of its reputation for trolling and making fun of each other. Winning the trust of Reddit users can be challenging, but it is not impossible.
One way to succeed on Reddit is to become a valuable member of any subreddit you join. Follow the rules and contribute genuinely to the community.
However, Reddit has some restrictions. You can’t share affiliate links directly, and linking to an external site will be inappropriate in many of the comments you’ll post. So, your best chance is to take advantage of Reddit indirectly.
Moreover, Reddit users tend to be very skeptical. Your posting history is visible to everyone! So, if you repeatedly promote the same link of affiliate programs, you may be removed from specific threads.
Helpful advice to avoid this: Focus on providing valuable answers and include relevant links at the bottom as a citation type. Be sure to include other reputable links in addition to your own.
See more: The Definitive Guide On How To Do Affiliate Marketing On Reddit
Snapchat
- Audience Size: 186 million daily active users.
- Audience Type: 1/3 of US Snapchat users are between 13 and 34.
- Types of Content: Snaps/ Stories/ Behind-the-scenes content
- Location of Affiliate Links: In snaps sent to your followers/ Stories/ Public profile.
But it’s not just about the numbers; Snapchat users also report a positive experience on the platform, with descriptions like “silly,” “creative,” and “adventurous.” It translates into higher engagement rates & more successful marketing campaigns.
Additionally, Snapchat users are 60% more likely to make impulse purchases than the average person, indicating a high purchase intent among this audience.
Snapchat is also an easy platform to include affiliate links in various ways, such as in snaps sent to followers, in Snapchat Stories, and on public profiles.
See article: Experiment Affiliate Marketing On Snapchat With Video Content
Email list
Last but not least, email remains one of the oldest ways to reach potential customers. In fact, there are over 4 billion daily email users & 99% of them check their email daily, some even up to 20 times a day.
However, people will only subscribe to your list if they believe the content you share!
But the most significant upside to email marketing is that you own your email list.
Never buy an email list to get the most out of your emails. Customers are also amenable to brand communications via email, with 70% of consumers preferring email to other brand communication methods.
Some tips include:
- Start by attracting an audience on a different platform first, such as social media or blogs
- Convert them to an email list with a freebie or premium content.
- Offer real value to your readers, or they’ll unsubscribe quickly. Share a few commercial emails, and ensure they’re in target with your audience.
- Track your email campaign metrics and KPIs. It helps you better understand your subscribers and how your list performs.
What Are Free Traffic Sources for Affiliate Marketing?
Regarding affiliate marketing, free traffic sources play a vital role in attracting visitors to the website without paying for ads. These sources include organic search, social media, email, and community forums.
By leveraging these platforms, you can send visitors to a page you control, where you can educate them about the products you promote and their benefits. This affiliate marketing strategy can help you boost your conversion rate and drive more affiliate sales.
But “free” is not “easy.” While they don’t require you to spend money on ads, they need your time and attention!
Most platforms generate revenue by showing ads to people, so they try to keep users inside them as much as possible. It means they may restrict the sharing of external links or reduce the visibility of posts containing them.
Why Are Free Traffic Sources for Affiliate Marketing Necessary?
We will give you the best three reasons why free traffic sources are necessary for affiliate marketing!
Cost-Effectiveness
The financial burden of paid advertising can be a significant obstacle for affiliate marketers, especially those starting out. Paid advertising models often charge per click or impression, quickly depleting marketing budgets and potentially hindering profitability.
On the other hand, free traffic sources offer a cost-effective alternative. It requires only time and consistency but no advertising budget. This way allows affiliate marketers to reach a wider audience without incurring substantial expenses.
Sustainable
Unlike paid advertising, which requires continuous investment to maintain visibility, free traffic sources are sustainable!
This traffic is not a result of an advertising campaign, and for this reason, it will last for a longer time. It may take a while to see results using free traffic, but it’s usually there to stay when it finally kicks in. The global affiliate industry is growing at a rate of 10% year-over-year, indicating the sustainability of these traffic sources.
Builds Trust and Authority
Perhaps most importantly, free traffic sources can support you in building trust and authority with your audience.
By consistently producing valuable and informative content, you can position yourself as experts in your respective fields, fostering trust and credibility with your audience.
It will increase your visibility and authority and, ultimately, your brand. And as your authority grows, so does your audience, which usually means more conversions.
In a nutshell,
Free traffic sources for affiliate marketing are necessary because they offer numerous advantages, including cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Building trust and authority with your audience included!
They provide a viable and profitable method for promoting affiliate links and driving conversions.
However, it’s important to remember that success requires a solid strategy, commitment, and understanding of your audience. So, invest your time and effort into free traffic sources, and you’ll see the benefits in the long run.
How to Select the Best Free Traffic Source for Affiliate Marketing?
Three tips for choosing the best free traffic source for affiliate marketing!
Identify your niche to select a suitable platform
Researching your niche is the first step in identifying your target audience. You need to understand
- What your audience wants & needs?
- What challenges did they face?
- What solutions are they looking for?
This information will support you in creating content that resonates with your audience! Not only that, it positions you as an authority in your niche.
The next step is to research where your audience hangs out online. For example:
- If your niche is fitness, your target audience spends much time on Instagram and YouTube. In this case, create visual content like videos and images that showcase your fitness products!
- On the other hand, if your niche is business coaching, your target audience spends more time on LinkedIn and industry forums.
Choose a free traffic source based on the criteria
First, evaluate the audience size of the traffic source: You should consider how large the audience reached by the traffic source is and assess it against your goals. Plus, consider the demographics of this audience and whether they are a good fit for your target audience.
Second, consider user intent: You must ask yourself why people use this traffic source and what they expect. It will help you determine if the audience on the platform aligns with your content and offer.
Third, explore content requirements: You need to spend time investigating what content works best on the platform and whether you can create this content effectively.
Fourth, read the rules and guidelines carefully: Some platforms ban adding direct affiliate links in posts!
Considering these criteria, you can pick the best free traffic source for your affiliate marketing campaign, drive traffic, and increase your earnings without breaking the bank.
Explore the algorithm (or algorithm changes) that affect your business
You must understand the algorithms of each platform and how they can affect your business.
For example, with search engines, Google uses complicated algorithms to determine the relevance & quality of websites. You consider optimizing your website with relevant keywords, high quality content, and authoritative backlinks to rank high in the search results.
Understanding these algorithms can help you create content that is more likely to be seen and shared. But it’s important to remember that these platforms are run by companies concerned about their bottom line.
Algorithm changes are common and can significantly impact your traffic and sales.
For instance, Google’s algorithm updates can cause websites to drop in rankings overnight, resulting in a significant decrease in traffic. Social media platforms have also been known to make changes that favor paid advertising over organic reach.
To select the best free traffic source for affiliate marketing, you must stay up-to-date on algorithm changes and adjust your strategy accordingly. Diversify your traffic sources & focus on building a solid brand and audience that can withstand algorithm changes.
FAQs
How can I measure the effectiveness of the free traffic sources?
One of the most popular options out there is Google Analytics. This powerful tool provides detailed data on everything from website performance to user behavior and traffic sources.
With Google Analytics, you can analyze metrics like page views, unique visitors, bounce, and conversion rates with Google Analytics.
All of which can help you better understand how your website is performing. Google Analytics is essential for any website looking to grow its online presence.
Is it correct that some free traffic sources are better for certain niches?
Yes, that’s correct. Different free traffic sources can be more effective for particular niches. Here are some examples:
Email Marketing: Suitable for niches such as e-commerce and online retail, fitness and wellness, travel, and real estate
Quora: Quora is a social question-and-answer website. It can be suitable for life advice, personal development, and entrepreneurship.
Content Marketing: Appropriate examples include remodeling companies, online course creators, coaches & consultants, authors & speakers, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, workshop leaders, etc.
Social Media: Some niches seem proper, including online education, e-commerce, nonprofit organizations, fitness, and travel.
Wrapping Up
That’s all! We hope the blog post will give you worthy information about free traffic sources for affiliate marketing! Some of the best sources in the market with detailed analytics can help you choose one that fits your needs more easily!
Even if you are still confused between paid and free traffic, we also offer the most extensive three reasons you should believe in this business decision!
Thank you for reading!
