You’ve signed up for an affiliate program, received your unique tracking link, and you’re ready to start earning. But now comes the real challenge: how to promote affiliate links in a way that actually works.

Dropping a random link into a blog post or social caption rarely works. To drive consistent clicks and commissions, you need a thoughtful strategy that aligns with how people discover, explore, and act on recommendations.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through twelve proven ways to promote affiliate links—complete with real examples, tactical tips, and smart placement strategies.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to optimize your approach, you’ll find actionable ideas to help you turn your content into a steady income stream. Let's get into it.

12 ideas on where to promote your affiliate links

Knowing where to share your affiliate links can make the difference between random clicks and steady commissions.

These 12 ideas will show you exactly how to promote affiliate links across content, platforms, and partnerships without sounding pushy or spammy:

1. Write in-depth blog posts

Creating thorough, high-quality blog posts is one of the most sustainable ways to promote affiliate links. Detailed content positions you as a trusted voice and improves your chances of ranking on Google. Here's how to do it:

Step-by-step: How to promote affiliate links through blog posts

Start by choosing a clear, specific topic your audience cares about, such as “How to automate onboarding without coding.” Structure your blog around a real solution. As you walk readers through the problem and its solution, embed affiliate links naturally where they fit the context, like recommending a tool they can use.

Best practices for affiliate blog posts

• Always disclose affiliate relationships clearly, preferably at the beginning.

For example, The DIY Nuts mentions this on their website:

• Add visual aids: screenshots, charts, or interactive demos for better engagement.
• Focus on solving a real pain point rather than just promoting a product.
• Keep the user experience first—don't overload posts with too many links.

When you combine problem-solving content with timely affiliate recommendations, your blog becomes a trust-building machine that quietly drives affiliate commissions day after day.

2. Create product tutorials and guides

Product tutorials and how-to guides offer an organic way to weave in affiliate links while delivering value upfront. Instead of pushing a product, you teach users how to achieve a result, naturally positioning your affiliate offer as the solution.

Step-by-step: How to use tutorials for affiliate promotion

Start by picking a common challenge your audience faces. For example, if you’re promoting Supademo, create a guide titled, “How to Build an Interactive Product Tour Without Coding.”

Walk readers through each step, from signing up to publishing a demo. Throughout the guide, place your affiliate link at logical points, such as when instructing readers to create their first project or explore premium features.

For example, this blog teaches how to start a blog. In one of the steps, the author has subtly added an affiliate link for Bluehost:

Best practices for product tutorials

• Focus on a real outcome or pain point, not just product features.
• Insert affiliate links after you demonstrate a clear win or benefit.
• Include screenshots, GIFs, or embedded Supademos to make instructions easier to follow.
• End the tutorial with a soft reminder to try the tool via your affiliate link.

Done right, tutorials can drive affiliate clicks by offering proof, clarity, and genuine help, without ever feeling pushy.

3. Share on niche forums and communities

Niche forums and online communities are goldmines for affiliates when approached the right way. These spaces gather highly targeted audiences looking for advice, recommendations, and peer experiences—perfect for inserting affiliate links without feeling intrusive.

Step-by-step: How to promote affiliate links in forums

First, research active communities relevant to your product. For example, if you’re promoting Supademo, join SaaS-focused forums, user onboarding groups, or affiliate marketing communities like Indie Hackers or Reddit’s r/SaaS.

Participate genuinely:

• Answer questions.
• Offer thoughtful insights.
• Share solutions based on real experiences.

When appropriate, mention the product you're affiliated with as part of your advice. A powerful method is to create a value-packed post, such as “How I cut demo creation time by 70% without hiring a video editor (Supademo inside).” Then, insert your affiliate link naturally as a helpful resource.

4. Promote through targeted email newsletters

Email newsletters offer a direct line to your audience, without relying on algorithms or platform changes. When done well, they’re a consistent way to educate readers and guide them toward affiliate products they actually need.

Unlike platforms with algorithms, email gives you full ownership over how you promote affiliate links, making it ideal for long-term affiliate success.

Step-by-step: How to use email for affiliate promotion

Start by understanding what your subscribers care about. Segment your list by interest or behavior (like past clicks or signup source), and tailor your email to solve a specific problem. For instance, if you’re targeting freelance writers, your email could be titled: “How I saved 5+ hours weekly on client onboarding.”

In the body:

• Tell a short, relatable story.
• Offer a helpful tip or strategy.
• Mention the tool you use, with your affiliate link embedded in a call-to-action like “See how I set it up.”

For example, Lex Roman includes affiliate links in her newsletter by recommending tools she already uses, like Senja. Instead of pushing products, she explains how they fit into her workflow. Because the tools are framed as practical solutions, readers are more likely to trust the suggestion and click through, making it a smart, soft-sell approach to affiliate marketing.

Best practices for email affiliate links

• Keep your CTA focused and above the fold.
• Include an affiliate disclaimer if required.
• And most importantly, never send a promo email unless the content itself is genuinely useful—trust comes first.

5. Add links to YouTube video descriptions

YouTube isn’t just a content platform—it’s a search engine. In fact, it's the second largest after Google. Adding affiliate links in your video descriptions gives you a way to monetize views, especially on videos that stay relevant for months or even years.

Step-by-step: How to promote affiliate links on YouTube

Start by creating videos around keywords that show high purchase intent, like tutorials, comparisons, or “best tools for X” roundups. For example, a video titled “Top 5 No-Code Tools for Building SaaS Products” can naturally include affiliate links to each tool in the description.

In the description box:

• Add your affiliate links with a clear call-to-action (e.g., “Try ToolName free – [affiliate link]”).
• Use timestamps and headings so links are easy to find.
• Include disclaimers if you're using affiliate links.

For example, YouTuber Justin Brown from Primal Video frequently adds affiliate links to gear and software in his descriptions, along with a disclaimer.

Best practices for YouTube affiliate promotion

• Pin a comment with your affiliate link to increase visibility.
• Mention the link during the video itself to drive clicks.
• Keep the description organized with helpful context, not just a list of links.

Affiliate links in descriptions work best when the video itself delivers real value, giving viewers a reason to trust and take action.

6. Leverage Instagram Stories, Reels, and Highlights

Instagram is still one of the best platforms for affiliate marketing, especially when it comes to visual, everyday storytelling. With over 500 million people using Stories daily, it’s a natural place to recommend products in an informal, trust-based way.

If you're focused on how to promote affiliate links on social media, Instagram’s Stories and Highlights are a great starting point for soft, high-visibility placements.

Step-by-step: How to promote affiliate links on Instagram

Start by creating short, casual content that shows how you use the product in real life. For example, film a Reel walking through how a tool saves you time, or use Stories to show quick tips. If you have link access, add your affiliate URL using the sticker feature in Stories.

To extend reach and visibility, save your affiliate content to a dedicated Highlight. Label it clearly (e.g., “Tools I Use” or “My Workflow”). This way, your link doesn’t disappear after 24 hours.

For example, Creator @muskanrawat uses Instagram Highlights to curate affiliate links for products she’s recommended in past Stories. Her “links” highlight organizes them neatly, giving her followers easy access to products she’s already used.

Best practices for Instagram affiliate links

• Keep it authentic.
• Add a quick voiceover or captions for context.
• And always disclose when you’re using affiliate links, either with “affiliate” or “ad” in the caption or overlay.

Instagram works best when your promotion feels like a natural extension of your routine, not an ad drop.

7. Pin posts on Twitter/X and LinkedIn

Pinning posts gives your affiliate link maximum visibility, especially to new profile visitors. It's a subtle yet powerful way to keep your best content working for you, long after it's published.

Step-by-step: How to promote affiliate links with pinned posts

Write a post that adds standalone value. Share a tip, tell a short story, or summarize a guide that ties into the product you’re recommending. Then, include your affiliate link with a clear call to action like “Try the tool I use here” or “Sign up for free.”

Once published, pin the post to your profile. This locks it to the top, making it the first thing people see, especially useful if you're active on these platforms and your other posts push affiliate content down the feed.

Best practices for pinned affiliate posts

• Focus on clarity.
• Keep the post concise, use plain visuals or screenshots if needed, and refresh the pin every few months to reflect new content or offers.

8. Create Pinterest pins and boards

Pinterest is a powerful search engine disguised as a visual platform. With users actively searching for solutions, tools, and inspiration, affiliate links, when paired with helpful content, can perform well over the long term.

Step-by-step: How to use Pinterest for affiliate promotion

Start by identifying keywords your audience searches for (e.g., “best tools for course creators” or “how to create interactive product tours”). Then, design visually appealing pins that link either directly to your affiliate offer or to blog posts that include your affiliate links.

• You can use tools like Canva to create branded, vertical pins.
• Add clear headlines, a short benefit, and overlay your logo or handle.
• Pin these to topic-specific boards—for example, “SaaS Tools I Recommend” or “Online Business Resources.”
• Use keyword-rich descriptions and add your affiliate link in the URL field or on the landing page you direct traffic to.

For example, Nadalie Bardo, creator of It’s All You Boo, uses Pinterest to drive consistent traffic to her affiliate-rich blog posts. She designs eye-catching pins for content like “Best Work-from-Home Tools” or “Top Productivity Planners,” which rank for high-intent search terms.

Best practices for affiliate pins

• Use rich keywords in titles and descriptions.
• Always disclose affiliate links if linking directly.
• And experiment with multiple pin designs to see which gains traction.

Pinterest rewards consistency and visual clarity.

9. Add links to resource/tool pages on your website

A resource page is your digital shelf—a curated list of tools, products, and platforms you personally use or recommend. Unlike temporary content, these pages have long shelf lives and can passively generate clicks and commissions.

Step-by-step: How to promote affiliate links on resource pages

Create a dedicated “Tools I Use” or “Recommended Resources” page. Group tools by category (e.g., Email, Onboarding, Productivity) to help users scan quickly. For each item, write 2–3 sentences explaining why you use it, what makes it useful, and who it’s best for. Include your affiliate link within a clear CTA like “Try this tool” or “Sign up for free.”

For example, Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income has a longstanding Tools page where he lists affiliate links to platforms like ConvertKit, Teachable, and Bluehost. He offers context for each tool, making it feel like a trusted recommendation, not a random link drop.

Best practices for affiliate resource pages

• Keep it updated.
• Include disclosures.
• Avoid clutter. Your goal is clarity and credibility, not overwhelming your visitors with options.
• Focus on the tools you genuinely stand behind.

10. Use interactive demos

Interactive demos give potential users a hands-on experience before they commit. Instead of just reading about a product, they can click through it—see how it works, explore its features, and get to the “aha” moment in under a minute.

Step-by-step: How to promote affiliate links using demos

Start by identifying a product you’re promoting that benefits from hands-on context, especially tools that are visual, workflow-based, or require onboarding.

Using a tool like Supademo, record a guided walkthrough of how the product solves a specific problem.

• Keep it short (under 2 minutes), and structure it like a mini-tutorial.
• Strategically embed your affiliate link within the demo using call-to-action buttons such as “Try it now” or “Start for free.”
• You can also share the demo on your blog, newsletter, or link it in your social media posts.

When users engage with the demo and find it useful, they’re far more likely to convert.

For example, the Newsletter platform Beehiiv integrated interactive demos on their main demo page. The result? A 20% demo-to-signup conversion rate and a 50% higher free-to-paid upgrade rate compared to their site-wide average.

That kind of engagement speaks directly to the power of product-led storytelling. And you can easily leverage this for affiliate marketing as well.

Best practices for demo-based affiliate links

• Focus on a single feature or use case per demo.
• Add annotations to guide users.
• Keep visuals clean, clickable, and mobile-friendly.
• And always end with a clear CTA tied to your affiliate offer.

11. Add affiliate links to free eBooks, guides, or downloads

Free content assets like eBooks, PDFs, and templates are excellent containers for affiliate links. They’re easy to distribute, shareable, and often saved or referenced multiple times, giving your links long-term visibility and recurring click potential.

Step-by-step: How to use downloads for affiliate promotion

Choose a topic that aligns with the product you’re promoting. For instance, if you're targeting SaaS founders or marketers, create a downloadable guide titled “5 Tools to Simplify Your Product Onboarding.”

In each section, explain the problem, show how the tool helps, and include your affiliate link with a simple CTA like “Try it here.”

• Make sure your links are placed contextually, not stuffed.
• Add a note at the beginning or end disclosing your affiliate relationship, and make it easy for readers to take action by using clickable buttons or bolded text with the link.
• Distribute the asset via email, Twitter/X, your blog, or a pinned post on LinkedIn.
• You can also offer it as a content upgrade to build your list.

For example, Ana, the creator behind The She Approach, offers a free eBook titled Make Your First 3 Amazon Affiliate Sales. This guide provides actionable strategies for beginners to achieve their initial affiliate sales. Within the eBook, Ana includes affiliate links to tools and resources she recommends, such as Amazon products and blogging tools.

Best practices for affiliate-rich downloads

• Keep the design clean and scannable.
• Use hyperlinks naturally, not in every other sentence.
• And make sure your CTAs feel helpful, not salesy.

A well-structured freebie can quietly drive conversions for months, even years.

12. Collaborate with micro-influencers or complementary brands

Micro-influencers—those with 1K to 50K followers often have higher engagement rates and stronger community trust than larger creators. When paired with complementary brands, these collaborations can help you distribute your affiliate links to an audience that already trusts the messenger.

Step-by-step: How to use collaborations for affiliate promotion

Identify influencers or creators in your niche whose content aligns with the product you’re promoting. If you're targeting SaaS users, this might include creators reviewing tools, newsletter writers, or productivity experts.

Pitch a simple collaboration, such as a co-hosted live session, newsletter feature, or shoutout in their product roundup. You can also offer a done-for-you asset (like a Supademo walkthrough or downloadable guide) that they can easily plug into their content.

• Make sure your affiliate link is embedded in the content they share and offer them a cut of commissions if needed to sweeten the deal.
• Alternatively, partner with another creator or solopreneur who serves your audience with a different product.
• Add each other’s affiliate links to resource pages, thank-you emails, or gated content.

For example, Meg Burrage, a digital strategist known for helping Kajabi creators, has partnered with complementary brands to promote affiliate offers. One example is her ConvertBox Jumpstart mini-course, which demonstrates how to integrate ConvertBox with ThriveCart in a real-world workflow.

These collaborations are clearly disclosed, intentionally designed to serve her audience, and structured around genuine use cases, leading to affiliate conversions without aggressive sales tactics.

Best practices for affiliate collaborations

• Start small.
• Prioritize creators who already use or like the product.
• Keep the value exchange clear, and don’t treat it like a sponsorship; make it about mutual trust and helpfulness.

The right partnership can expose your affiliate link to an audience you wouldn’t reach on your own.

What is an affiliate link?

An affiliate link is a unique tracking URL assigned to you when you join an affiliate program. It lets a company know that a visitor came from your content, and if that visitor makes a purchase or signs up, you earn a commission. Think of it as a digital referral slip with your name on it.

Best practices for new affiliate marketers

Getting started with affiliate marketing is simple. But turning it into a reliable income stream requires consistency, trust, and a user-first approach. Below are eight foundational practices to keep your strategy clean, clear, and conversion-focused:

• Start with products you actually use: Authenticity builds trust. Promoting tools you genuinely rely on, like Supademo for demo creation or Notion for documentation, helps your content sound natural and credible. If you're not a user, your pitch will always feel secondhand.
• Focus on helping, not selling: Affiliate marketing works best when it’s framed around solving a problem. Instead of saying “Here’s a great tool,” say “Here’s how I solved X using this tool,” and let your affiliate link be the logical next step.
• Disclose your links transparently: Most programs, including Amazon Associates and Supademo, require disclosures. A simple note like “This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you click and buy” goes a long way in maintaining integrity.
• Use CTAs intentionally: Don’t bury your affiliate links in long paragraphs. Use short CTAs (“Try it here,” “Start your free trial”) after you've delivered value, especially after a tutorial, case study, or key insight.
• Track your performance: Use UTM parameters or affiliate dashboards to see what links and platforms are converting. Focus your efforts on what’s working and prune what’s not.
• Keep links updated: Outdated links or expired offers frustrate readers and kill credibility. Review your affiliate content regularly—especially blog posts and resource pages.
• Avoid cluttering your content: One or two strong, well-placed affiliate links perform better than five scattered links. Prioritize clarity over quantity.
• Experiment with content formats: Demos, guides, videos, carousels—test different ways to present your affiliate offer. For example, embedding an interactive Supademo walkthrough into a blog post can lift conversions without feeling promotional.

Great affiliate marketing doesn’t feel like marketing—it feels like a helpful recommendation at the right time.

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