16 Places Promote Affiliate Links: Free And Paid Promotion Strategies

Analysts expect the affiliate marketing industry to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.86% between 2023 and 2032, reaching a value of nearly $40 billion by the end. 

Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective ways to earn passive income, but its success heavily depends on where to promote affiliate links. With countless platforms and channels available, choosing the right ones can significantly impact your revenue generation.

Let’s explore the best places to promote your affiliate links, both for free and through paid methods. 

Places to promote affiliate links for free

Promoting affiliate links for free is an excellent way to start monetizing without spending any money on advertising. Many platforms allow you to share links and reach audiences organically. 

1. Pinterest 

Pinterest is a social media platform with 522 million active monthly users and a reach that covers everyone from Gen Z to high-income households. It’s an excellent place for promoting affiliate links because users actively search for inspiration, DIYs, product ideas, and solutions. You can reach a large audience by creating visually appealing pins with embedded affiliate links. 

If you’re promoting a product like kitchenware, create a pin with a step-by-step guide on how to use the item and add an affiliate link in the description. Fashion and beauty boards are some of the most popular pins on this platform. 

Pinterest allows you to track your link clicks through Pinterest Analytics. Use this data to optimize your strategy and create more pins that convert.

2. Reddit 

Reddit is a community-driven platform with niche subreddits for virtually every topic. By participating in discussions and sharing affiliate links in relevant threads, you can promote products in a way that feels organic. However, it’s essential to follow subreddit rules regarding affiliate links, as some communities have strict policies.

Some niche subreddits you can promote: 

• r/Deals: This subreddit is focused on finding and sharing deals, making it an ideal place to share your affiliate links if you have a relevant offer, such as discounts or limited-time sales.
• r/Shopping: A place for discussing shopping trends and products. You can join conversations by recommending products and linking to them using your affiliate link.
• r/TechSupport: If you’re promoting tech products or software, answering questions and linking to relevant solutions using your affiliate links can help you target an interested audience.

3. Medium

Medium is a platform where writers publish articles on a variety of topics, and it’s SEO-friendly, making it easy to drive traffic to your affiliate links. You can write in-depth articles and seamlessly incorporate affiliate links within your content. 

Examples of high-conversion topics on Medium

• Product Reviews: Write reviews on products you’ve used and recommend them, including affiliate links to purchase. For example, reviewing the latest tech gadgets or skincare products and adding your affiliate links to the brands mentioned.
• How-To Guides: For example, “How to Set Up a Home Office on a Budget” could include affiliate links to office furniture, desks, and other essentials.
• Case Studies: Share case studies that involve tools or services you use and recommend, like project management software, including affiliate links to those products.

Medium offers a Partner Program that can help you monetize your content directly. Additionally, it’s crucial to use Medium’s affiliate links sparingly to avoid being flagged as spam.

4. Youtube 

YouTube is one of the largest video platforms, and adding affiliate links to your video descriptions is an effective way to promote products. If you create tutorials, product reviews, or unboxings, including affiliate links can generate revenue when your audience clicks and purchases.

• Unboxing or Product Reviews: Include affiliate links to the product being reviewed in the video description. For example, a tech YouTuber might unbox the latest smartphone and link to it in the description.
• Tutorial Videos: If you’re teaching something like photography, tech tutorials, or cooking, link to products that you’re using and recommend.
• “Top 10” Lists: If you create list-style videos, such as “Top 10 Best Laptops of 2024,” include affiliate links to the products featured in your list.

Always mention in the video that links in the description are affiliate links and provide value to viewers, ensuring you comply with YouTube’s policies and FTC regulations.

5. Product review sites

Product review sites are popular platforms where users go to research products before making a purchase. Many of these sites allow you to include affiliate links in your reviews, which means you can earn commissions when users click on your affiliate link and make a purchase.

Here are some popular product review sites: 

• Trustpilot: You can write in-depth reviews of products or services and add your affiliate links if the site allows it. Trustpilot is a popular site for consumers seeking authentic feedback on products.
• Product review site: Most of product review sites make money by affiliate marketing, so it’s might be a bit difficult to find a site accepting affiliates blogpost. You might want reach out to the site master and ask them for a guest post (or optimally, a long term partnership) which is inserted with your affiliate links. We still suggest affiliate marketer to have a website.

Ensure that your reviews are honest and add value, this will build trust and improve your chances of conversions. Always disclose that you’re using affiliate links as required by law.

6. Coupon sites

Coupon sites attract users looking for deals, and these sites often allow users to share affiliate links, especially when linked to discounts. You can post affiliate links alongside discount offers to attract deal-seekers and encourage them to make a purchase.

Examples:

• Dealspotr: A platform where you can post your affiliate links along with coupons and deals for various products. Dealspotr has an active community of deal hunters that can drive high traffic to your links.It’s one of the few platforms where affiliate marketers can directly promote their links.
• Slickdeals: You can post deals and reviews, including affiliate links, as long as they follow the community guidelines. They allow affiliates to post deals, though approval from the site moderators may be needed. It is best for affiliate marketers who want to share deals on physical products, electronics, or software.

Promotions with limited-time offers or unique deals tend to attract more clicks.

7. Use the link-in-bio page

Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook often limit the number of clickable links you can add. Using a link-in-bio page allows you to place all your affiliate links in one convenient location.

Use Koji, Linktree, and Beacons to create a bio page where followers can click on various affiliate links. For example, if you’re an influencer, you could have links to your favorite products, courses, or special deals.

Make sure the link-in-bio page is visually appealing and easy to navigate, so your followers can easily find and click on your affiliate links

8. Telegram

Telegram is a messaging platform that offers groups and channels where people share updates and information. If you’re promoting niche products like crypto, NFTs, or specialized software, Telegram can be a great tool for sharing affiliate links within these communities.

Examples:

• Crypto Channels: Many Telegram channels discuss cryptocurrency trading, and you can share affiliate links to crypto platforms, exchanges, or trading tools.
• NFT Groups: Promote NFT-related products or tools that your audience might find useful.
• Productivity Groups: Share affiliate links for software tools like task management apps, CRM systems, or other productivity-enhancing services.

You can create your own Telegram channel or group if you’re targeting a specific niche to directly promote affiliate links to your followers. 

Best places to promote affiliate pink by posting on your accounts

Your personal or business accounts, including your website and social media, are powerful platforms for promoting affiliate links. Since you have control over the content and audience, it’s easier to integrate affiliate links naturally into your posts or product recommendations.

9. Share directly with friends

Sharing affiliate links with friends and family is one of the easiest ways to start promoting. This method can be very effective because people are more likely to trust recommendations from someone they know. You don’t have to be overly pushy, just share when relevant, and let your friends know how it might benefit them.

If a friend is asking for product recommendations (e.g., the best kitchen blender), you can share your affiliate link to the one you use and recommend. If an online store offers a special promotion or discount through an affiliate program, you can share this with friends who may be interested in the deal.

10. Your website (recommended) 

Having your own website or blog gives you full control over the content and how you integrate affiliate links. Websites are highly effective for affiliate marketing because you can create valuable, evergreen content that drives traffic and encourages conversions. A well-optimized website can generate passive income through affiliate links over time.

Some examples for your website, and blog posts: 

• Product reviews and comparison posts: Create blog posts comparing different products in a specific category, such as “Best Laptops for Students” or “Top 5 Skincare Products for Dry Skin,” and include affiliate links for each recommended item.
• Tutorials or how-to guides: Write informative articles like “How to Build a Home Gym on a Budget” and include affiliate links to the equipment you recommend.
• Dedicated landing pages: Create specific landing pages for affiliate products, where users can learn more and make purchases through your affiliate links.

Remember to optimize your website for SEO to attract organic traffic. This will increase the visibility of your content and ultimately boost affiliate conversions.

11. On your social media account

Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn offer huge audiences where you can promote affiliate links. These platforms allow you to share both organic content and paid ads, providing multiple ways to reach potential customers.

Examples:

• Instagram stories and posts: Post images, videos, or carousel posts of products you love, and include your affiliate link in your bio or story swipe-up links (if available). For example, you can post a story showing your morning routine using a specific skincare product and link to it via your affiliate link.
• Twitter threads: Share tips, resources, or product recommendations related to your niche on X (Twitter) and embed affiliate links in the posts. For example, a thread about travel hacks might include affiliate links to booking services or travel gear.
• LinkedIn articles: If your niche is professional or B2B-related, writing articles or posts on LinkedIn about useful tools or resources and adding affiliate links can help you reach a business-focused audience.

Use appropriate hashtags and tag brands to increase the visibility of your posts and encourage interaction from your audience.

12. Add in Instagram reels 

Instagram Reels are short, engaging video clips that are widely shared and viewed, making them an excellent tool for affiliate marketing. Reels allow you to showcase products or services in a fun, dynamic way and encourage users to click on your affiliate links.

Create a short, engaging unboxing reel of a product you’re promoting. For example, you can film yourself opening a new tech gadget and add a call-to-action to click the link in your bio to purchase the item.

Be creative and authentic in your Reels, and make sure the affiliate link is easily accessible either in your bio or through the direct link feature in Stories.

13. Your newsletter

If you have an email list, promoting affiliate links through a newsletter is one of the most direct and effective methods. People who subscribe to your newsletter already trust your opinions, which makes them more likely to click through your affiliate links. Newsletters also allow you to provide more personalized recommendations and build a stronger relationship with your audience.

Examples:

• Product recommendations: Share curated lists of products you recommend and include affiliate links. For instance, if you run a fitness-focused newsletter, you could recommend gym equipment, supplements, or workout apps with your affiliate links.
• Exclusive offers: Send out newsletters that contain special promotions or discounts available through affiliate links. This can create a sense of urgency and encourage readers to make a purchase.
• Seasonal guides: Create themed newsletters for holidays or special occasions, like “Best Holiday Gift Ideas,” and add affiliate links for the products you recommend.

You should segment your email list to target the right people with the most relevant affiliate products and tailor your newsletter content to your audience’s interests for better engagement.

Paid channel to promote your affiliate links

While promoting affiliate links organically through free methods can be effective, sometimes it may not be enough to drive the amount of traffic and conversions you want. This is where paid methods come in. Paid promotion allows you to reach a broader audience more quickly, target specific demographics, and track the performance of your campaigns. 

14. Ads

Paid ads are one of the fastest ways to drive targeted traffic to your affiliate links. Platforms like Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and LinkedIn Ads allow you to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors, making your campaigns more efficient and cost-effective.

• Google Ads: You can run search ads targeting users who are actively searching for a specific product. For example, if you’re promoting a weight loss supplement, you could create a Google ad targeting terms like “best weight loss supplements” and direct users to a product page with your affiliate link.
• Facebook Ads: Facebook’s detailed targeting options allow you to reach specific audiences based on interests, location, and behavior. For instance, if you’re promoting a fashion brand, you can target users who are interested in fashion and clothing and direct them to the brand’s website using your affiliate link.
• LinkedIn Ads: If your niche is more business-focused, LinkedIn Ads are a great way to target professionals. For example, if you’re promoting a software tool for project management, you could create LinkedIn ads targeting professionals in industries like marketing, IT, or finance who are likely to need such tools.

Always test different ad formats, such as video, carousel, or single-image ads, to see what works best for your target audience. Tracking performance is essential to optimize ad spend.

15. Post on a niche community/ forum

Some niche communities and forums offer paid promotional opportunities where you can share affiliate links with a highly targeted audience. These forums are often more engaged and can result in better conversions since users are interested in a specific topic or industry.

Examples:

• Digital Point: A popular forum for digital marketers and tech enthusiasts, where you can pay to post your affiliate links in relevant threads. For example, if you’re promoting a hosting service, you can post in threads discussing web hosting options or affiliate marketing.
• Warrior Forum: A forum that’s highly popular among internet marketers. You can purchase a banner ad or post in the forum sections to promote affiliate products related to digital marketing, e-commerce tools, or online business services.
• Quora: Although it’s typically a free Q&A platform, Quora allows you to promote your products or services through paid ads. For example, if you answer a question about the best online project management tools, you can include an affiliate link to a tool you’re promoting.

Be sure to follow the rules of each community regarding affiliate links. Over-promotion or spamming can result in your account being banned or removed.

16. Sponsored content in newsletters

Some well-established newsletters allow for sponsored content, where your affiliate links can be included in a relevant, targeted email sent to a subscriber list. This is a great way to tap into an engaged audience that already trusts the newsletter publisher.

Examples:

• Industry-specific newsletters: Pay to have your affiliate product featured in a newsletter dedicated to specific topics like health, technology, or business. For instance, if you’re promoting a digital tool for online marketing, you could sponsor a section of a digital marketing newsletter that goes out to thousands of subscribers.
• Deal newsletters: Many deal-focused newsletters allow affiliate promotions, particularly around special sales or discounts. You can pay to have your affiliate link added to a list of curated deals, ensuring you’re targeting deal-seekers.

Choose newsletters with a similar target audience to your affiliate products to maximize the effectiveness of your campaign. You can also negotiate for a longer feature or exclusive promotion to get more value from your investment.

Where to promote affiliate links: The road to passive income

Promoting affiliate links effectively requires a well-rounded strategy that combines both free and paid methods. Whether you’re sharing affiliate links on your own website or social media accounts, or investing in paid ads and sponsored content, the key to success lies in providing value and reaching the right audience. 

By carefully selecting platforms like Pinterest, Reddit, or Medium for organic promotion, or leveraging paid tools such as Google Ads, Instagram, or niche communities, you can significantly increase your chances of driving traffic and generating sales.

Remember to always be transparent with your audience by disclosing affiliate relationships, and stay mindful of the rules and best practices for each platform to avoid penalties. Lastly, consistently track and measure the performance of your campaigns to refine your approach and improve your results over time.

With the right combination of strategies and a commitment to creating helpful, engaging content, affiliate marketing can become a sustainable income stream that benefits both you and your audience.