Sometime in the mid-2000s (around 2005-2008), there was a concept called “bum marketing”. This concept worked really well and made beginner affiliate marketers a lot of money.
The whole idea behind “bum marketing” was that a bum on the street who didn’t have any money could go to the library to get internet access, and make money with totally free strategies using affiliate marketing.
So could this same concept work in 2025? Can you make money online with affiliate marketing with no money to get started?
In this article, we’ll look at how anyone could get started online in 2025 with affiliate marketing with no money. Here are 7 steps to follow if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on affiliate marketing startup right now.
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Using Free Affiliate Marketing Strategies
The concept of affiliate marketing involves creating content to help an audience to do something or solve a problem and then referring them to a product that’s either the solution or what they’re looking for.
You partner with the product owner and they send you commissions when you make a sale. Partnering with a product owner does not cost you anything so the entire process theoretically does not involve spending any money.
However, because of a number of factors like competition, audience trust and even educating yourself on what’s working now, spending money can help you earn faster and more substantially.
Typical items you’ll need to spend on include a domain name, web hosting, training, paid ads and subscriptions to marketing tools.
But not everyone has this extra money to spend when starting out. Free strategies using free platforms are totally doable and can work in the beginning. You can (and should) try to spend money on essential affiliate marketing needs when you start making enough money.
Below, you’ll find 7 steps you can take to start earning money with affiliate marketing without spending money in the beginning.
Step 1: Choose Your Niche
First things first – you need to pick your niche. Choosing your niche is the starting point for any business, even offline businesses.
Your niche is like your favorite flavor of ice cream. It’s what you’ll be dishing out day after day, so it should be something you love!
Why is picking a niche so crucial?
Well, imagine trying to be everyone’s best friend. Exhausting, right? It’s the same in affiliate marketing. When you zero in on a specific topic or audience, you become the go-to person for that crowd. You’re not just another voice in the crowd; you’re the one they trust.
So, how do you find a niche that’s both fun for you and ripe for profit? Here’s a quick trick:
- List your passions and interests.
- Research if people are buying stuff related to these topics.
- Check out the competition – you want some, but not an overcrowded field.
For example, let’s say you’re a fitness nut who loves trying out new workout gear. That could be your golden ticket! People are always looking for the next best thing to help them get fit.
Remember, the sweet spot is where your interests meet market demand. You don’t have to be the world’s top expert, but you should be excited to learn more and share what you discover.
In 2025, where AI is already commonplace in most business applications, it is even easier to find a niche and get the AI tool to do all the research.
With the right AI prompts, a tool like ChatGPT (it’s free) can help you find the right niche and topics that you can easily write about to reach the right audience.
Step 2: Create a Free Platform
Alright, you’ve got your niche. It’s probably something you love or maybe something you have specialized knowledge about.
You now need a place online where you can create content and reach an audience interested in the same things you’re talking about.
With the old “bum marketing” concept, beginners could use free websites that allowed you to create content for them. This included video-sharing sites, classified ad sites, revenue-sharing websites, free blog sites and even forums.
Let’s take a look at what’s available in 2025.
YouTube
If you’re comfortable in front of a camera (or even if you’re not – you can do faceless videos), YouTube can be your best friend. It’s free to start, and people love video content. You could do product reviews, how-to guides, or even funny skits related to your niche.
You also don’t need fancy equipment. Most smartphones these days shoot great video. Just make sure you’ve got good lighting and clear audio.
Social Media Sites
Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are goldmines for affiliate marketers. Each has its own flavor:
- Instagram: Perfect for visual niches like fashion or food.
- TikTok: Great for quick, catchy content that can go viral.
- Facebook: Ideal for niches where passionate groups gather for discussion.
Pick one or two that fit your style and niche, and start building your presence. This could be a Facebook page or group or catchy TikTok videos exploiting trends.
Free Blogs
If writing is more your thing, consider starting a free blog. A platforms like Medium offers a way for you to get started. A blog gives you more space to dive deep into topics and showcase your expertise.
You can also join an affiliate training website like Wealthy Affiliate for free and start your website on the free Starter membership.
Remember, whichever platform you choose, consistency is key. It’s better to post regularly on one platform than to spread yourself thin across many. Also, make sure too read the rules so that you don’t get yourself in trouble and get banned.
Blogging is my preferred method and what I recommend new affiliates start with. YouTube is also great too as you can make money not only from affiliate marketing but from ad monetization after you get to a certain point.
Social media sites are my least favorite because it’s notoriously tough to adapt them to affiliate marketing and algorithms have too much control but they can work especially if you use them alongside another method.
Step 3: Find The Best Affiliate Programs
OK so, you’ve got your niche, and you’ve decided on how you’re going to reach your audience. The next thing you want to do is to find something to promote. This is where affiliate programs come in. Think of them as your business partners – they provide the goods, and you bring in the customers.
There are two main types of affiliate programs:
- Pay-per-sale: You get a cut when someone buys through your link.
- Pay-per-lead: You earn when someone signs up or fills out a form.
In more advanced cases, there are also pay-per-install (which would be for mobile apps) and pay-per-call (if you can get people to call a business). These are more advanced techniques so let’s stick with pay-per-sale and pay-per-lead for now.
To find programs in your niche, start with a good old Google search. Type in your niche + “affiliate program” and see what pops up. You can also check out popular affiliate networks like Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or ClickBank.
When selecting a program to promote, ask yourself these questions:
- How much can I earn per sale or action?
- How long do cookies last? (This is how long you’ll get credit for a sale after someone clicks your link.)
- What’s the reputation of the company?
- Do they provide good support and marketing materials?
Don’t just chase the highest commission rates. Sometimes, a lower commission on a product that sells like hotcakes is better than a high commission on something nobody wants.
I’ve done some research and came up with some affiliate programs you can check out in a few niches.
Here are a few of the lists which I made and I included information like commission per sale, cookie length, a review of the companies and what they offer in terms of support and marketing materials. In other words, a shortcut for the questions you should ask about each program.
Step 4: Create Helpful Content
Content is king in the affiliate marketing game. It’s how you’ll attract an audience, build trust, and eventually convince people to check out your affiliate products.
But here’s the thing – your content needs to be more than just a sales pitch. It needs to solve problems, answer questions, or entertain your audience. Think of it as the free samples at the grocery store – give people a taste of your expertise, and they’ll come back for more.
So whether you’re doing a video for YouTube or writing a blog post, you need to produce helpful content that provides value for the audience consuming it.
Understanding Your Audience
Before you start creating, put yourself in your audience’s shoes. What questions do they have? What problems are they trying to solve?
Search for queries within your niche and check out Google’s “People also asked” section on the search engine results page. Or check out YouTube’s search suggestions to find common queries in your niche.
Types of Content That Convert
You’re probably asking what types of content should you create if you want to make money with affiliate marketing. You should have a mix of informative content and content lends itself to posting affiliate links.
Here is a list of the best types of content you can create for earning with affiliate marketing.
- Product Reviews: Give honest, detailed reviews of products in your niche. Share the good, the bad, and the ugly.
- How-To Guides: Show people how to do something related to your niche. Sneak in affiliate product recommendations where they fit naturally.
- Comparison Posts: Pit similar products against each other. This helps your audience make informed decisions.
- Personal Stories: Share your own experiences with products or in your niche. People love authentic, relatable content.
Some types of content – like product reviews and comparison posts easily lend themselves to more sales because people are already looking to buy a product. If someone is searching for Product A vs. Product B, they just want to know which one they should spend the money on. Your content should provide the value they need to make that decision.
Creating Content with Free Tools
You don’t need expensive software to create great content. Here are some free tools that I use myself to get you started:
- Canva: For creating eye-catching graphics and thumbnails.
- Greenshot: For taking screenshots on your computer.
- Free Cam 8: For recording your screen. No watermarks or time limits.
- GIMP: A free alternative to Photoshop for image editing.
- Canva: They have a free video editing tool. No download necessary.
- Grammarly: To help polish your writing.
Remember, the goal is to provide value first. The sales will follow naturally when your audience trusts your recommendations.
Step 5: Build Your Audience
Now that you’re creating awesome content, it’s time to get some eyeballs on it. Building an audience from scratch takes time and patience, but with the right approach, you’ll see those numbers grow.
Consistency is Key
Remember how I mentioned consistency earlier? It’s worth repeating. Your audience needs to know when to expect new content from you. Whether it’s daily, weekly, or monthly, stick to a schedule. It’s better to post less frequently but regularly than to have bursts of activity followed by long silences.
For example, many successful YouTubers make it a habit of letting their subscribers know when they can expect new videos. Maybe it’s every Tuesday at 6pm or every Monday and Friday at 5pm. Then they deliver on that promised schedule.
You can try for no less than two blog posts per week if you’re writing content but it can be more if you can manage. A consistent effort will grow your traffic numbers (and your earnings) over time.
Engage, Engage, Engage!
Building an audience is a two-way street. Don’t just post and ghost. Respond to comments, ask questions, and encourage discussions. The more you interact, the more your audience will feel connected to you.
Try this: End each piece of content with a question or call to action. It could be as simple as “What’s your experience with this product?” or “Let me know in the comments what topic you’d like me to cover next!”
SEO: Your Secret Weapon
Search Engine Optimization isn’t just for big businesses. By using the right keywords and optimizing your content, you can attract organic traffic from search engines. Here are some basic SEO tips:
- Create each article targeting one new keyword.
- Use your main keyword in your titles and throughout your content.
- Write descriptive meta descriptions for your blog posts or video descriptions.
- Use alt text for images.
- Create content that answers specific questions people are searching for.
Remember, these are just the basics and SEO can get even more complicated than this. The above 5 tips should be enough to attract traffic to your content.
Social Media Magic
Don’t just post your content and hope for the best. Share it where people are already gathering. Join Facebook communities or subreddits related to your niche. Share your expertise, answer questions, and become a valuable member of these communities. Just be sure to follow the rules – nobody likes a spammer!
Remember, building an audience is like growing a garden. It takes time, care, and patience. But with consistent effort, you’ll see your community flourish.
Step 6: Promote Affiliate Products
Alright, you’ve got your content rolling and an audience growing. Now it’s time to start weaving in those affiliate promotions. This step is usually referred to as monetization.
But here’s the golden rule: always put your audience first. Your recommendations should genuinely help them, not just fill your bank account.
If you genuinely do not believe a product helps, don’t promote it just because they pay a huge commission. You can damage your reputation this way and it can affect your future income.
The Art of the Soft Sell
Nobody likes to feel like they’re being sold to all the time. The key is to incorporate affiliate links naturally into your content. Here’s how:
- Mention products as solutions to problems you’re discussing.
- Use personal anecdotes about how a product helped you.
- Include a “resources” section in your content with recommended tools.
For example, if you’re talking about home workouts, you might say, “I love using resistance bands for at-home strength training. They’re versatile and don’t take up much space. I’ve been using [affiliate product] for months, and they’ve held up great.”
You’ll include your affiliate link where you put [affiliate product] above as it appears natural and unforced. Your personal recommendation comes across as genuine and maybe that is what someone needs to see to make a purchase decision. Easy commissions!
Crafting Killer Reviews
Product reviews are the bread and butter of many affiliate marketers. But a good review is more than just listing features. Here’s a formula for reviews that convert:
- Share your personal experience with the product.
- Discuss both pros and cons honestly.
- Explain who the product is best for (and who should avoid it).
- Compare it to alternatives.
- Provide clear calls to action.
Remember, your credibility is on the line with every recommendation. It’s better to miss out on a commission than to lose your audience’s trust.
The Importance of Disclosure
Here’s a biggie: always disclose your affiliate relationships. It’s not just the right thing to do – in fact, it’s the law. A simple statement at the beginning of your content saying “This post contains affiliate links” usually does the trick.
Being upfront about this can actually boost your credibility and inspire trust in your audience.
Step 7: Analyze & Optimize
You’re creating content, building an audience, and promoting products. Great job! But the work doesn’t stop there. To really succeed in affiliate marketing, you need to keep an eye on what’s working and what isn’t.
Tracking Your Performance
Start by keeping tabs on a few key things:
- Click-through rate (CTR): How many people are clicking on your affiliate links?
- Conversion rate: Of those who click, how many are making purchases?
- Earnings per click (EPC): On average, how much are you earning for each click?
- Top-performing content: Which of your posts or videos are driving the most affiliate sales?
Free Analytics Tools
You don’t need fancy paid tools to get started. Here are some free options:
- Google Analytics: Great for tracking website traffic and user behavior.
- YouTube Analytics: If you’re creating videos, this is a must-use tool.
- Pretty Links: For tracking clicks on your affiliate links (if you’re using WordPress on a free Wealthy Affiliate Starter account).
- Your affiliate program’s dashboard: Most programs provide basic stats on your performance.
Adjusting Your Strategy
Once you have some data, it’s time to put it to use. Here’s what to look for:
- Content topics that perform well: Create more content similar to your top performers.
- Under-performing affiliate products: Consider swapping these out for alternatives.
- Traffic sources: See what’s bringing in the most engaged audience and do more of that.
- Conversion bottlenecks: Are people clicking but not buying? You might need to tweak your review style or choose different products.
Remember, affiliate marketing is a game of continuous improvement. What works today might not work tomorrow, so always be ready to adapt.
Conclusion
And there you have it, folks! Your roadmap to starting affiliate marketing without spending a dime. Let’s do a quick recap of our 7 steps:
- Choose Your Niche: Find that sweet spot between your passions and market demand.
- Create a Free Platform: Set up shop on YouTube, social media or get a free blog.
- Find Great Affiliate Programs: Scout out the best partners for your budding business.
- Create Helpful Content: Give your audience a reason to stick around and trust you.
- Build an Audience: Grow your audience through consistency, engagement, and smart tactics.
- Promote Affiliate Products: Add in those affiliate links naturally and ethically.
- Analyze and Optimize: Keep an eye on what’s working and always be improving.
Starting affiliate marketing with no money may not seem like the ideal thing to do, but it’s absolutely doable. Especially when everyone else seems to have a domain name and hosting, running paid ads or shooting YouTube videos with high quality equipment and cinematic effects.
Remember, every big success story started somewhere. Your journey might begin with a single YouTube video or blog post, but with persistence and smart strategy, it could lead to a thriving online business.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results overnight. Affiliate marketing is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep learning, keep adapting, and most importantly, keep providing value to your audience.
The internet is full of opportunities for those willing to put in the work. So roll up your sleeves, fire up that computer, and let’s make some magic happen. Your future affiliate marketing empire awaits!
