How to Get Traffic to Affiliate Links (Beginner Guide)
One of the biggest frustrations beginners have with affiliate marketing is this:
“I joined an affiliate program… I have my links… but nobody is clicking them.”
That’s because affiliate links don’t make money on their own.
They only work when real people see them.
That’s what traffic is — people.
In this guide, you’ll learn what traffic really means, where it comes from, and how beginners can start getting it without spamming or feeling overwhelmed.
What “Traffic” Means in Affiliate Marketing
In affiliate marketing, traffic simply means people visiting your content.
No visitors = no clicks
No clicks = no sales
It doesn’t matter how good your affiliate program is if no one sees your links.
This is how affiliate marketing actually works from start to finish — traffic is the engine that makes everything move.
Why Most Beginners Get No Traffic
Most beginners fail to get traffic because they do things like:
- Posting raw affiliate links on social media
- Sending links to friends and family
- Spamming Facebook groups
- Running ads without knowing what they’re doing
None of that builds a real business.
This is how beginners actually earn their first affiliate commission — by creating content that attracts people who are already searching for solutions.
The 3 Main Ways to Get Traffic
There are three primary ways to get people to your affiliate links.
1. Search engines (Google & YouTube)
People go to Google and YouTube when they have questions.
If you create helpful content that answers those questions, your pages and videos can show up in search results — bringing in traffic every day.
This is one of the best long-term traffic sources.
2. Social media
Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest can send traffic fast — but it’s short-lived.
You don’t own your audience.
The platform controls who sees your posts.
Social media works best when it’s combined with something you own, like a website or email list.
3. Paid ads
You can pay for traffic using Facebook ads, Google ads, or YouTube ads.
This can work — but only if you already know what you’re doing. Most beginners lose money here.
The Best Free Traffic Method for Beginners
The best long-term, beginner-friendly traffic source is search traffic.
That means:
- Writing blog posts
- Creating helpful tutorials
- Publishing reviews
- Ranking on Google
Once a page ranks, it can send you traffic for months or even years without extra work.
Here’s how long it usually takes for affiliate marketing to start working, so you know what to expect.
How Content Turns Into Affiliate Sales
Here’s the simple flow:
- Someone searches a query on Google
- They find your article
- You help them
- You recommend a product
- They click your affiliate link
- You earn a commission
This is what an affiliate link actually does — it tracks who came from you and gives you credit for the sale.
This is why content matters so much. You’re not chasing people. They come to you.
Why You Need a Platform (Not Just Social Media)
Social media can help, but it’s not stable.
Your account can be:
- Banned
- Shadowbanned
- Or lose reach overnight
A website, on the other hand, is something you own. It’s where your content, traffic, and affiliate links live long-term.
That’s how you build something that lasts.
How Beginners Should Really Start Getting Traffic
The easiest way to get traffic is to use a platform that gives you:
- Training on how traffic works
- A website to publish content
- Tools to optimize for search engines
- Support when you get stuck
Instead of guessing, you follow a proven system.
If you want to see how this works in a beginner-friendly platform, this is what I recommend. It gives you the training, the tools, and the affiliate programs in one place.
👉 Start Here with Wealthy Affiliate