I still remember the moment I discovered affiliate marketing. I was scrolling through forums, desperately looking for a way to make extra money without a big investment. With zero budget and a laptop, I dove in headfirst and within three months I made my first $600 promoting my favorite software tools. If I was able to get started in affiliate marketing with no money, so can you. In this guide, I’ll talk about how to get started in affiliate marketing using free tools and platforms designed for newbies from the US, UK and beyond.
What is affiliate marketing and why start with no money?
Affiliate marketing is simple: you advertise products or services, and when someone buys from your unique link, you get a commission. It’s a $12 billion industry worldwide, and 80% of brands offer affiliate programs. Starting affiliate marketing with no money, you have to be creative by utilizing free resources to build trust and attract clicks.
Step 1: Choose a niche you love
Your niche is your playground, whether it’s fitness gadgets, personal finance apps, or travel gear. A focused niche will help you connect with your audience and stand out.
How to do it for free:
- List topics you are passionate about. Do you like to budget? Try finance. Obsessed with traveling? Get into travel gear.
- Use Google Trends (free) to identify trending niches. For example, searches for “budgeting apps” are up 15% in 2024.
- Browse free affiliate networks like JV Zoo to find high-paying programs. Financial niches often pay $50 to $200 per sale.
My experience: I chose productivity tools because I was constantly customizing my workflow. Promoting Insightful brought me 30% for each signup, which quickly increased.
Step 2: Join free affiliate programs
You don’t need money to join the best programs. Here are beginner-friendly options:
- JV Zoo: High commissions (up to 75%) on digital products like courses. Free membership.
- Amazon Associates: Promote anything on Amazon, earning 1-10%. Ideal for physical goods.
- ShareASale: Thousands of programs, from SaaS to fashion. Free registration.
- CJ Affiliate: Programs in technology and finance with high payouts. No cost.
Actions: Sign up for two programs and choose 5-10 products you would recommend. Save their links in a Google Doc.
Step 3: Create content on free platforms
No website? No problem. You can start your affiliate marketing with no money by simply sharing affiliate links on these free platforms:
- Medium: Write 500-1000 word posts. For example, “5 apps to save $1,000 this year” with links to budgeting tools. Medium’s audience loves practical advice.
- YouTube: Record videos with your phone. A “5 Top Tips for Affiliate Marketing” video can rank high and attract clicks. Add links in the description.
- X: Share daily tips, such as “Struggling to save money? Try this budgeting app!” with your link. Use hashtags (#MakeMoneyOnline, #AffiliateMarketing).
- Reddit: Join subreddits like r/Frugal or r/Entrepreneur. Share tips (like “How I track my side income for free”) with subtle links. Be helpful, not spammy.
My story: My first post on Medium about productivity apps garnered 300 views. Two readers subscribed to Insightful, earning me $40. That was proof that it works.
Step 4: Attract traffic for free
Traffic is your currency. Here’s how to get it without spending a fortune:
- SEO on Medium: Use AnswerThePublic (free) to find questions like “how to start affiliate marketing for free.” Add them to your post titles.
- Social media: Share your posts on Medium on X and Pinterest. Join LinkedIn groups like “Affiliate Marketing Beginners” and post weekly.
- Forums: Answer questions on Quora or Reddit. For example, answer the question “How do I make money online?” with a short story and a link.
- Email list: Use Aweber (free for 1,000 subscribers) to collect emails. Offer a free PDF such as “7 Hacks of Affiliate Marketing” via Google Forms.
Quick win: A Quora answer about budgeting apps got me 400 views and $25 in commissions in a week. Small efforts compound.
Step 5: Track and improve
Free tools like Bitly track link clicks, and Google Analytics (for Medium) shows you which posts are performing best. Focus on what’s working.
Example: My post on Medium about financial apps was getting clicks but no sales. I switched to promoting YNAB, a higher paying program, and made $75 the next month.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Over-promotion: No one likes a hard sell. Offer value first, then share links.
- Low-paying programs: A 2% commission on a $10 product isn’t worth it. Aim for $20+ per sale.
- Inconsistent: It took me 8 weeks to get my first commission. Keep going.
Your 30-day plan to start affiliate marketing with no money
- Week 1: Pick a niche, join 2 affiliate programs, write 1 Medium post.
- Week 2: Publish daily posts on X and Reddit, create a YouTube video, start an email list.
- Week 3: Write 2 posts on Medium, answer 5 questions on Quora.
- Week 4: Track clicks, optimize a top post, create a free PDF.
Starting affiliate marketing with no money takes effort, but it’s a proven path to income. I went from $0 to $600 a month in 90 days, and you can too. Join JV Zoo now and write your first post.
