How To Run Ads For Affiliate Marketing

If you’re an affiliate marketer—or thinking of becoming one—you already know how powerful online advertising can be.

Ads can help you go from no sales to consistent commissions almost overnight. But here’s the kicker: running ads without a solid plan can just as easily drain your wallet as it can fill it.

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based business. You earn money when people buy something through your special link.

But before that happens, they have to see your link, click on it, and trust the offer enough to buy. That’s where paid advertising comes in. It helps you get visibility faster than SEO, social media, or blogging. But only if done right.

So in this post, we’re going to walk through the complete playbook for running ads for affiliate marketing—whether you’re promoting SaaS tools, physical products, online courses, or anything in between.

We’ll also tackle common questions, pitfalls to avoid, and how platforms like MailDrip.io can help you boost conversions after someone clicks your ad.

Let’s dive in.

Why Run Ads for Affiliate Marketing?

Let’s start with the big question: Why even bother running ads when there are free options like content marketing or social media?

Simple. Speed and scale.

• SEO takes time—usually 3 to 6 months just to see traction.
• Social media requires constant effort—and the algorithms aren’t always in your favor.
• Paid ads get you traffic instantly—and you can scale winning campaigns quickly.

Running ads gives you control. You’re not waiting on Google rankings or hoping your Instagram Reel goes viral. You’re actively choosing who sees your offer, when they see it, and what they see.

Now, of course, paid traffic isn’t magic. You still need a good offer, a great landing page, and a conversion-focused strategy. But when used right, ads are a powerful accelerator.

What You’ll Need Before You Run Ads

Before jumping into Facebook Ads Manager or launching your first Google Ads campaign, make sure you have the essentials ready:

1. A High-Converting Offer

Not every affiliate offer is created equal. Choose products that:

• Solve a specific problem
• Pay decent commissions
• Have a proven sales track record
• Ideally offer recurring revenue (like SaaS)

2. A Custom Landing Page

Sending traffic directly to an affiliate link? That’s a rookie mistake. Not only does it limit your tracking, but most ad platforms (like Facebook) don’t like direct affiliate links.

Create your own landing page or bridge page where you can:

• Warm up your audience
• Collect email addresses (we’ll get to this!)
• Then redirect to the affiliate offer

3. An Email Follow-Up System (This is key!)

Most people don’t buy the first time they see an offer. That’s why email is your best friend.

With tools like MailDrip.io, you can create simple drip campaigns that automatically follow up with leads after they click your ad. This gives you a second (and third, and fourth…) chance to convert.

Plus, MailDrip’s Pay-As-You-Go pricing means you don’t have to commit to expensive monthly plans if you’re just getting started.

Best Platforms to Run Affiliate Ads

Not all traffic sources are equal—especially when it comes to affiliate marketing. Here are the top platforms worth considering:

Facebook & Instagram Ads

• Great targeting options (interests, behaviors, lookalikes)
• Visual, engaging ad formats
• Best for B2C and impulse-buy offers
• Can be tricky with affiliate links—use a landing page!

Google Ads (Search + YouTube)

• Intent-based traffic: People want what you’re selling
• Perfect for “best X tools” or “how to fix X” search terms
• YouTube is great for video reviews and tutorials

Native Ads (Taboola, Outbrain)

• Appear on news sites and blogs
• Great for storytelling-style content
• Best for health, finance, and lifestyle niches

X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, and Pinterest

• Less saturated but highly targeted
• Better for niche audiences
• Cheap clicks—but requires more testing

How Do I Set Up My First Affiliate Ad Campaign?

Let’s break down the step-by-step process to get your first ad live:

1. Choose Your Offer Wisely

Look for something with:

• A competitive edge
• Good visuals or demo videos
• Low refund rate

Try affiliate networks like:

• ShareASale
• PartnerStack
• Impact
• ClickBank (for digital products)
• Amazon Associates (for physical products)

2. Build a Simple Landing Page

Use tools like Carrd, Leadpages, or WordPress. Focus on:

• A catchy headline
• Quick benefits
• A call-to-action (CTA) that leads to your email form

You can even use MailDrip’s forms to collect leads and instantly add them to your email sequence.

3. Launch Your Drip Sequence

Once someone signs up on your page, it’s go time. Set up a drip campaign in MailDrip.io that:

• Welcomes them
• Introduces the affiliate offer
• Shares social proof, demos, or bonuses
• Includes multiple CTAs over a few days

This is how you build trust over time—even if they didn’t buy immediately.

4. Launch Your Ad

When you’re ready, run a small test budget ($10–$20/day). Focus on:

• Clear, curiosity-driven copy
• Eye-catching visuals
• A/B test multiple versions

Track everything—clicks, email sign-ups, sales—and scale what works.

FAQs

Can I run ads directly to affiliate links?

In most cases, no. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google dislike direct affiliate links. It’s much safer (and smarter) to use a landing page you control.

How much should I spend on ads?

Start small—$10–$20/day—until you find a winning combination of ad + landing page + email sequence. Then scale gradually.

What if I don’t get any sales?

That’s normal in the beginning. Use tracking tools like Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or UTM links to identify where the drop-off is happening (clicks but no opt-ins? Opt-ins but no clicks to offer?).

Why do I need email marketing if I’m running ads?

Because most people don’t buy right away. A good email sequence (like the ones you can automate with MailDrip.io) helps turn those clicks into actual revenue—often days or even weeks later.

Final Thoughts: Ads Work—When You Work Them Right

Running ads for affiliate marketing can feel like a gamble at first. But with the right strategy—smart targeting, solid landing pages, and automated email follow-ups—you can build a system that pays you consistently over time.

The truth is, most affiliate marketers fail because they stop too soon, or try to shortcut the process. But you’re not here for shortcuts. You’re here to build something sustainable.

And that’s where tools like MailDrip.io come in. With simple automation, no long-term contracts, and a pay-as-you-go model, you can nurture your leads without stress, and focus on what really matters: growing your commissions.

So, if you could turn every ad click into a long-term relationship, would your affiliate business look different a month from now?

Let’s find out.

Ready to start building your affiliate email funnel?

Try MailDrip.io today—no complicated setup, no bloated features, just clean automation that gets results.