Step-by-Step Guide to Affiliate Marketing Without a Website

Did you know you can start affiliate marketing today, without spending a dime on building a website? While it is a recommended step when building any online business, it is not required. There are many tools that offer alternatives, helping you achieve the same—or even better—results than having a dedicated website. A lot of that success depends on your efforts and strategies that you implement and help you stand apart from the competition.

Some of the challenges newcomers face in this industry include an overwhelming amount of information, which can lead people astray and often result in expenses that don't need to be spent. With websites, there are many technical hurdles inherent to the process, leading to roadblocks that may cause self-doubt or make you question your choices.

Part of our mission is paving the way with actionable, evergreen insights into the technologies and tools that will help you invest wisely and build your personal business and brand online so that you can more easily navigate those roadblocks. Within this post, we'll uncover strategies for affiliate marketing without a website, based on current trends.

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based business model where you earn commissions by promoting products or services for established brands and companies. To earn a commission, potential customers must click your affiliate link and complete a purchase within a set time frame, often called a tracking period.

With affiliate marketing, you don’t need to carry inventory, manage customer service, or handle product delivery. Instead, your focus is on promotion, making it an appealing way to earn income online without the overhead of traditional business ownership.

Alternatives to traditional websites include social media platforms, email marketing, and link-in-bio tools, which can prove highly effective for your affiliate link promotion campaigns.

For a deeper dive into affiliate marketing, check out my previous blog post: Affiliate Marketing Fundamentals: Your Road to Success

One of the best and most popular affiliate marketing strategies without a website is using what is commonly known as a Link-in-Bio tool. By using one of these tools, there would be no need to invest in a domain or web hosting. While this is typically an affordable investment for an online business foundation, skipping it allows you to keep that money in your pocket.

Additional savings come in the form of time. You’ve probably heard the saying, “time is money,” and that holds true here. With a Link-in-Bio tool, you can get your business up and running faster, avoiding the technical verification process that comes with owning a domain and website. Saving that time can pave a quicker path to income, depending on your actions.

Social media is free and a powerful tool for driving traffic to your offers. A link in the bio of your social media profiles enables you to quickly monetize your traffic, connect with your audience, and build a loyal customer base. Email marketing is another vital part of this journey. While not required, leaving it out would be a huge missed opportunity for your business.

Link-in-bio tools are among the most effective and most popular tools in digital marketing today. The reason for this is simple: typically, social social media platforms—most notably Instagram and TikTok, only allow you to include one link in the bio of your account - this is, of course, where the nomenclature of "Link-in-Bio comes from.

Effectively, these tools enable you to create a micro-website or storefront accessible via a single link. From there, you can showcase your offerings and provide additional information that appeals to your audience. Each item can be separately linked within your storefront, driving traffic anywhere you choose (as long as you abide by the platform's terms of service).

There are many link-in-bio tools available today. Here are three standout options designed to help you maximize your affiliate marketing efforts:

Stan.store is a popular tool for affiliate marketers looking to create a centralized hub for their offerings. With its drag-and-drop interface and beginner-friendly design, you can quickly set up a professional storefront to showcase your affiliate products, services, and other digital content. Additionally, here are some of its key features:

In addition to providing tremendous value with a beginner-friendly interface, complete with customizable options, Stan also has a 14-day tree trial, giving you plenty of time to learn the platform before committing. Start your Stan.store trial today! There's no time like the present!

Another excellent Link-in-Bio tool, SendOwl is a great choice for affiliate marketers who focus on selling digital products. This platform provides the tools you need to securely host and deliver products like eBooks, courses, and software while ensuring smooth transactions and tracking your sales performance. Here’s a quick overview of its core features:

SendOwl offers a flexible pricing system that scales with your business, starting at just $1/month for the first two months. With tiered options and low transaction fees, SendOwl makes it easy to get started without overcommitting. Try SendOwl today and see how it can simplify your digital product sales!

Systeme.io is included as an additional option, even though it is not strictly a Link-in-Bio tool. Designed as an all-in-one digital marketing suite, it offers a range of features tailored to beginners to affiliate marketing as well. This platform simplifies the process of promoting and selling affiliate products. One standout feature is its ability to create customized funnels, including a Link-in-Bio funnel template. The following are among the many features available on this platform:

As an alternative to a Link-in-Bio tool, Systeme.io offers a funnel with similar functionality. While its features and customization options are more limited in this specific area, the platform’s broader focus provides far more tools for those pursuing other aspects of online marketing. What truly sets Systeme.io apart is its completely FREE plan, available with no obligation or time limit to upgrade.

Get started with Systeme.io today and explore all its powerful tools for free—no commitment, no time limit. Sign up now and see how this all-in-one platform can transform your affiliate marketing journey!

Linktree earns an honorable mention as the original Link-in-Bio tool, launched in 2016 by Alex and Anthony Zaccaria with Nick Humphreys. Pioneering the use of social media to seamlessly connect users with businesses and audiences, Linktree remains a leading platform with over 50 million global users. Known for its affordability, Linktree offers four flexible plans, starting with a free option—no trial required. Upgrades are cost-effective, with the Pro plan at just $9/month, making it an excellent choice for boosting your online connectivity.

This section could easily expand into a future post in itself, but for now, we'll keep it concise and actionable. Social media continues to dominate the internet, offering a wealth of quality content alongside the inevitable criticism. It’s a space where people can learn, laugh, smile, or even shed a tear.

No matter your niche or topic, consistently sharing engaging, value-driven content is an evergreen strategy that yields positive results. By aligning your content with a specific subject, you not only hold viewers’ attention but also nurture trust, encourage deeper engagement, and guide them toward becoming loyal followers.

Many tools can help you create and edit quality content, including Canva. Start with a free account to hone your skills, and upgrade to the affordable Pro plan for access to thousands of templates.

An important step in streamlining your digital marketing processes with social media is establishing a consistent routine that you can stick to. The more consistent your content, the more dependable your brand becomes, helping your audience know when to expect your posts. This consistency builds a loyal following that will eventually drive conversions and strengthen your brand over time.

When it comes to the management of your social media accounts, having a tool to help maintain that schedule is crucial for increasing exposure and building brand recognition in the marketplace.

The best tool I personally recommend to handle your social media management is SocialPilot. Highly rated by users on G2 for its user-friendly design, this is the best tool to organize and plan your social media schedule effectively. Start now with your 14-day FREE trail!

In today’s shifting social media landscape, emerging platforms like Bluesky and Lemon8 are creating fresh opportunities for entrepreneurs. These platforms offer alternatives to established options, making them ideal for those looking to connect with audiences in innovative and less-saturated spaces.

Bluesky is a direct competitor to X (formerly Twitter), offering a nearly identical user experience and design. Created by Twitter’s co-founder Jack Dorsey, Bluesky aims to be a decentralized alternative for users seeking a platform that better aligns with their needs in today’s shifting social media landscape. Recent events have ignited a vast migration to Bluesky, from X, offering entrepreneurs new opportunities to connect with their current and new audiences alike.

Lemon8 is owned by ByteDance, the same company behind TikTok. With the recent U.S. ban on TikTok currently approved, users and creators of this popular platform are understandably uncertain about its future. Although TikTok plans to challenge the ban in court, the outcome remains uncertain and could take months to resolve. Lemon8 presents a viable alternative for those considering a switch, offering new entrepreneurs opportunities to compete in a less saturated market.

With all of these Link-in-Bio tools mentioned, you also have the ability to capture email address as potential leads, leading to customers. Email marketing is one of the best investments any business can make to build their brand, foster loyalty, build communication and trust with your audience. Automation tools like segmentation and workflows help to target your audience more surgically, increasing conversions within your business.

E-mail marketing works differently for each of these platforms. Here are three recommended platforms, along with an honorable mention, that you can integrate with them, including a quick overview of each tool's compatibilities with each aforementioned Link-in-Bio tool:

Kit is a beginner-friendly platform ideal for creators who want to set up automated email sequences and landing pages. Compatible with: Stan.store, SendOwl.

Moosend offers robust email automation and is a cost-effective option for those looking to scale. Compatible with: Stan.store.

GetResponse stands out for its all-in-one capabilities, including webinars, landing pages, and advanced automation. Compatible with: Systeme.io.

Mailchimp is inclued as an honorable mentions and one of the most widely recognized email marketing platforms, offering a free plan for basic features. Compatible with: SendOwl, Stan.store.

For a deeper dive into email strategies and methods to build your business with increased brand awareness and automation techniques, check out my previous post: Email Marketing Essentials

An essential step in email marketing is sending emails from a custom domain (e.g., yourname@yourbusiness.com) rather than personal email providers like Gmail or Yahoo. Not only does this build credibility with your audience, but it’s now a requirement for email authentication under DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) and SPF protocols, ensuring your emails are delivered effectively and stay out of spam folders.

Fortunately, purchasing a domain is both low-cost and simple—domains can be registered for as little as $10-15/year through providers like A2 Hosting. As a bonus, you don’t need a website to do this; you can use your domain exclusively for email campaigns. Investing in a custom domain is a small yet impactful step toward building a professional brand and improving your email marketing success.

Whether you’re looking for hosting services or simply need a domain to establish your brand’s identity, A2 Hosting has you covered. Take the first step toward building your brand identity today and save up to 76% with A2 Hosting's Holiday Sale!

Affiliate marketing without a website is not only possible—it’s effective when approached with the right tools and strategies. By leveraging social media platforms with consistent planning and valuable, quality content, there are countless opportunities to reach your audience and build a thriving business.

Consistency is key to success: by staying active, engaged, and adaptive to the evolving digital marketing landscape, you can set yourself apart from the competition. Whether you’re connecting with your audience on TikTok, leveraging Reddit for niche communities, or streamlining your campaigns with SocialPilot, the possibilities are endless.

Take the first step today by exploring one of the tools or strategies discussed in this post. Remember, you don’t need a website to succeed in affiliate marketing—you just need the right approach and the commitment to see it through.