In this article, we will talk about the best ways to get traffic for affiliate marketing, split into organic and paid options.
Whether you’re new to affiliate marketing or an experienced marketer looking for new traffic sources, this article will give you the information you need.
Free vs. Paid Traffic
Before we look at the best traffic sources, let’s quickly go over the differences between organic and paid traffic.
Paid traffic involves paying for ads to bring people to your website or landing page. This method can be effective since you’re paying for guaranteed viewers, but it can also be expensive, so you need to consider your budget.
Organic traffic, on the other hand, is free and comes from natural search engine rankings or referrals from other websites. It might take longer to see results compared to paid traffic, but with the right strategies, it can be just as effective.
Free Traffic Sources
First, let’s look at free traffic.
With “free” traffic, you have to put time and effort into content creation to reach an audience, because you’re not directly paying to get your message in front of people.
Below are the top 5 traffic sources for organic or “free” affiliate marketing.
1) Social Media
Utilizing social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok, etc., can effectively drive organic traffic to your pages and build relationships with potential customers.
The type of content you post will depend on the platform, but almost any kind of content can be used to reach potential customers and build relationships. Focusing on value-driven content and engaging with followers can lead to better conversion rates.
Check out how to get free traffic using social media in the following videos:
2) Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search engine optimization (SEO) involves making your website and blog content rank higher in search engine results. When your site ranks high on Google, Bing, or other search engines, you get more organic traffic.
SEO takes time to show the best results, but by optimizing for relevant keywords and creating quality content, you can gradually increase your organic traffic. As an affiliate, using the right keyword research tools helps you find the best keywords for product reviews, how-to guides, listicles, and more. You can then create content based on those keywords to improve your ranking.
If you don’t want to write the content yourself, there are various SEO content writing services available. These services can help you create content that appeals to your audience and meets search engine requirements.
Check out how to get free search traffic in the following videos:
3) Email Marketing
Email marketing is one of the oldest forms of online marketing, yet it remains one of the most effective traffic sources for affiliate marketing.
As you build up your list, you can send personalized emails to potential customers with valuable content and affiliate offers. You can also use email campaigns to nurture leads until they’re ready to buy or retarget them after a sale.
Check out how to get free traffic from email marketing in the following videos:
4) Video Marketing
Video content has become increasingly popular in recent years, so it’s no surprise that video marketing on YouTube and other social platforms is an effective way to drive organic traffic to an affiliate offer.
Creating engaging videos that contain valuable information or helpful demonstrations related to your chosen product will give potential customers a better understanding of what they’re buying, while also showing them why they should choose your recommended product or service over someone else’s.
Watch time is the most important factor for successful video marketing. As an affiliate, you need to make videos that are engaging and contain helpful information that viewers actively want to know. If you can address their needs and solve their pain points, your audience is more likely to buy whatever you want to sell.
5) Guest Posting
Guest posting is a highly effective way to drive organic traffic from other websites. When permitted by editorial guidelines, you can include affiliate links directly in your guest posts to lead readers to an affiliate offer, even if they aren’t familiar with you or the product yet!
Guest posts also help you build relationships with other bloggers and websites in your niche, which can generate referral traffic. One of the main benefits is that you can link to specific posts on your site that complement the guest post topic.
For example, if your guest post offers advice on choosing designer lighting, you can showcase your expertise by sharing your best tips on lighting trends.
By embracing guest posting and securing placements across various websites in your niche, you can increase your organic traffic and boost conversions from affiliate links.
Paid Traffic Sources
Now, let’s turn our attention to paid traffic.
Paid traffic sources involve paying for digital ad impressions or clicks, typically on websites, search engines, and social media sites. Your ads can be in various formats, including text, images, videos, or a combination of these.
Watch how you can generate traffic with paid methods in the following video:
6) PPC Advertising Platforms (Google Ads and Bing Ads)
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising platforms such as Google Ads and Bing Ads are great ways to get your affiliate links in front of potential customers. You can target specific keywords or geographic locations with PPC campaigns and only pay when someone clicks on your ad.
Getting started with affiliate marketing through Google Ads in particular can be a great way to get high-quality leads and drive sales quickly!
7) Display Advertising
Display advertising involves using banner ads to promote your product or service. This type of advertising is usually done on websites that have a lot of traffic, but it can also be used as part of retargeting campaigns!
By placing ads on relevant sites, you’ll be able to get more exposure for your affiliate links and increase conversions. Plus, if your product is more on the visual side, using display ads is a great way to reach potential customers’ interest.
For example, promoting a collection of dresses as an affiliate might be best served by using display ads that show off the dresses in an eye-catching and creative way, rather than just using text ads or links.
8) Native Advertising
Native advertising is a great way to get your affiliate links in front of potential customers without being too intrusive. This type of advertising involves posting content on websites or platforms related to your product or service.
The key with native ads is to create content that blends in with the other content on the page. This will make it less intrusive and more likely to be clicked on, which can drive more organic traffic to your pages.
9) Facebook Ads
Facebook Ads remain one of the most popular ways to promote affiliate products and services. Using Facebook Ads, you’ll be able to reach potential customers in a very targeted way based on age, gender, location, and interests.
You can also use retargeting campaigns to show ads to people who have already visited your site or interacted with your content in some way. This will help increase conversions from affiliate links, as these people are already somewhat familiar with your product or service.
Plus, you can also use the “lookalike audience” feature of this platform to reach potential customers who have similar interests and demographics as your existing customers.
10) Twitter Ads
While not as common, Twitter ads can be another great way to promote your affiliate links. Because Twitter is a very fast-paced platform, it’s ideal for promoting products and services related to trending topics.
Being short and concise with your copy is critical when creating ads for Twitter, as you only have 140 characters or a recommended 15 seconds to work with.
Best Traffic Sources for Affiliate Marketing Wrap-up
Affiliate marketing is a great way to make passive income, and picking the right traffic sources is crucial for success.
Do your research, test different methods, and optimize your campaigns. Focus on finding the right traffic sources to reach your target audience.
Don’t be afraid to try different traffic sources until you find the combination that works best for your audience, niche, and affiliate offer!