How to Start Affiliate Marketing With No Money

Yes, you can start affiliate marketing with no money. Most affiliate programs are free to join, free traffic only costs your time, and you can get beginner training without paying a cent. What you invest at first is time and consistency.

I wish I'd known that sooner. I spent a lot of money over the years on programs with big buy-ins and hoops to qualify, and most of it never came back. Starting free is not only possible, it's smarter. You find out what works before you spend anything.

Disclosure: I'm an independent OLSP affiliate and may earn a commission if you join through my links. Results vary and aren't guaranteed.

• Join affiliate programs. Most charge nothing to sign up.
• Get traffic. Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram cost nothing but time.
• Learn. Free training exists, and some of it is genuinely good. Look for training that includes live help, not just videos.
• Build relationships. Conversations, comments and helpful posts are free and they're where most commissions start.

1. Claim free training with live help. I recommend the free Affiliate Launchpad pass. No card needed, and it walks you through two guided weeks.
2. Pick one free platform. Use the one you already spend time on.
3. Post one helpful thing a day. What you're learning, a mistake you made, a question you have.
4. Start real conversations. Reply to comments. Message people who engage. Ask about their goals.
5. Share your link only when it helps. When someone is looking for what you found, that's when your link fits.

Free gets you started. A few small costs can speed things up once you're ready:

• A low-cost offer to promote. The OLSP MegaLink is $7, with a 14-day money-back guarantee, and gives you a link with done-for-you products behind it.
• An email tool and capture page. So you can follow up instead of losing every visitor after one look.
• Paid traffic, only after you know what works for free.

I break the $7 route down in How to Start Affiliate Marketing for $7.

• Big buy-ins promising fast money. If you have to pay a lot to qualify for commissions, be careful.
• Courses with no live help. Videos alone left me stuck for years.
• Spamming your link. It's free, but it costs you your reputation and gets you banned from groups.

New to all of this? Start with my step-by-step guide for beginners.

Want company while you start? Join my free Facebook group, Beyond The Paycheck.

Talk soon,
Mark Dayton