How to Start Affiliate Marketing With No Website

Affiliate marketing is one of the fastest-growing ways to earn an income online. Traditionally, many people start with a blog or website, but what if you don’t have the budget or technical skills to set one up yet? The good news is you can absolutely begin affiliate marketing in South Africa without owning a website.

This guide will walk you through the steps, tools and strategies you can use to start promoting affiliate products and earning commissions right away.

How to Start Affiliate Marketing With No Website

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a business model where you promote someone else’s product or service and earn a commission whenever someone purchases through your referral link.

Example:

You join Takealot’s affiliate program.
You promote a laptop with your affiliate link on social media.
When someone clicks and buys, you earn a percentage of the sale.

No inventory, no shipping, no customer service — just promoting and earning.

Do You Need a Website?

No. A website is useful for building long-term authority, but it’s not required. Instead, you can use social platforms, email, or paid ads to share your affiliate links. Many South Africans start this way while testing different niches.

Step-by-Step: How to Start Without a Website

1. Choose a Profitable Niche

Pick a niche that balances passion and demand. Popular niches in South Africa:

Fitness & health (supplements, workout gear)
Beauty & fashion (skincare, clothing)
Tech & gadgets (phones, laptops, accessories)
Finance (trading apps, money tools)
Travel (flights, accommodation, gear)

👉 Focus on solving problems. If your niche is “fitness,” think: “How can I help beginners lose weight at home?”

2. Join Affiliate Programs in South Africa

You’ll need to sign up for affiliate networks/programs to get your links.

South African Affiliate Programs:

Takealot Affiliate Program – promote South Africa’s biggest online retailer.
Loot.co.za Affiliate Program – electronics, books and lifestyle.
Travelstart Affiliate Program – flights and travel bookings.
Yuppiechef Affiliates – kitchen and home goods.

International Programs (SA-friendly):

Amazon Associates – global products.
ClickBank, Digistore24, JVZoo – digital courses & products.
Impact, Awin, Rakuten – global affiliate networks.

3. Pick a Platform to Promote

Without a website, you’ll need to rely on other traffic sources:

TikTok & Instagram Reels – Create short, engaging videos reviewing or showcasing products.
YouTube – Tutorials, product reviews, unboxings.
Facebook Groups/Pages – Build a community around your niche.
Pinterest – Share pins that link to your affiliate offers.
Email Marketing – Build an email list with freebies (checklists, guides) and promote products directly.

💡 Tip: Avoid spamming links. Create helpful content that adds value.

4. Content is King (Even Without a Website)

Your job is to educate, entertain and recommend. Examples:

Record a “Top 5 Gadgets for Students” TikTok and drop your affiliate link in the bio.
Create a fitness guide PDF with affiliate links to supplements or workout gear.
Run a YouTube video reviewing a product and link it in the description.

5. Drive Traffic to Your Affiliate Links

Some methods include:

Organic traffic (free content on social media, YouTube, etc.).
Paid ads (Facebook, TikTok, or Google Ads — advanced but effective).
Email newsletters (your “owned audience” that you can monetize over time).

6. Stay Legal & Build Trust

Always disclose affiliate links (“This post contains affiliate links, I may earn a commission…”).
Focus on helping your audience first — don’t just push products.
Stick to legit programs (avoid scams promising instant riches).

Advantages of Starting Without a Website

✅ Low-cost entry (just social media or free tools).
✅ Fast setup — you can start today.
✅ Test multiple niches quickly.

Downsides (and How to Overcome Them)

❌ Less control over your brand → Build an email list to own your audience.
❌ Harder to rank on Google → Focus on platforms like TikTok and YouTube.
❌ Income may be slower → Stay consistent with content creation.

Final Thoughts

Affiliate marketing without a website is absolutely possible in South Africa. All you need is a niche, affiliate programs and a platform to share content. Many successful affiliate marketers actually start on TikTok, YouTube and email before moving to a website later for long-term growth.

Start small, test what works, and keep scaling. Your first sale is the hardest — but once you get it, you’ll know affiliate marketing is real.