How To Start Affiliate Marketing With No Audience

Let’s face it—starting affiliate marketing can feel a little intimidating, especially when you don’t have an audience yet.

We’ve all seen the success stories: content creators making passive income through affiliate links, earning while they sleep, sipping lattes on a beach somewhere. But what if you’re just starting and have zero followers? No blog traffic, no email list, no social media presence.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need a big audience to begin affiliate marketing.

Some of the most successful affiliate marketers started with nothing but curiosity, consistency, and the right strategy. You can do the same.

In this article, we’ll break down exactly how to start affiliate marketing with no audience, step-by-step.

Why Affiliate Marketing is Worth Starting (Even With Zero Followers)

Affiliate marketing is one of the most accessible online business models out there. You promote someone else’s product or service and earn a commission for every sale that comes through your unique referral link. It’s low-cost to start, flexible, and scalable.

But the real beauty of affiliate marketing? You don’t need to create your own product. That’s huge for beginners.

What you do need is a smart approach. And if you’re starting without an audience, the key is to build trust and visibility in creative ways. Spoiler: You don’t need to go viral on Instagram or rack up 100k YouTube subscribers to make it work.

How Do I Start Affiliate Marketing With No Audience?

1. Choose the Right Niche

Start by identifying a niche you’re genuinely interested in or already know something about. This will help you create content (even simple content) that feels natural and authentic.

Good questions to ask yourself:

• What do I love talking or learning about?
• What products or tools do I already use and recommend?
• Is this a niche where people are already spending money?

Popular affiliate niches include:

• Health and wellness
• Personal finance
• Tech and gadgets
• Online tools for businesses (like email marketing platforms!)
• Lifestyle and self-improvement

Tip: Don’t overthink it. Start with something you know and evolve over time.

2. Join Affiliate Programs

Once you’ve picked a niche, start joining affiliate programs. There are tons out there—some broad, some niche-specific.

Here are a few well-known ones to start with:

• Amazon Associates – Great for beginners, but lower commissions.
• ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, and Impact – Big networks with thousands of programs.
• Individual programs – Look up products/tools you like and see if they offer affiliate links. For example, MailDrip.io has its affiliate program, perfect for creators or marketers looking to promote a powerful, user-friendly email marketing solution.

When choosing products, pick ones that:

• You’d genuinely recommend
• Solve real problems for your target audience
• Offer decent commissions and recurring income (if possible)

3. Build a Simple Online Presence

You don’t need a fancy website or 100 blog posts. But you do need a home base where you can direct people to your affiliate links and build trust.

Here are a few beginner-friendly options:

• A one-page website (you can use tools like Carrd, Wix, or WordPress)
• A free blog on Medium or Substack
• A social media profile focused on your niche
• A simple email landing page (more on that below)

The goal here is just to have a place where your content and links live.

4. Create Helpful, Honest Content

You might be thinking, “But I don’t have followers to see my content.” That’s okay. You’re not creating for now—you’re building assets that can grow over time.

Some low-effort, high-impact content ideas:

• Product comparison guides
• How-to articles or tutorials
• Product reviews (written or short videos)
• Listicles (“Top 5 Tools for Freelancers”)
• Email guides (sent through simple drip sequences)

This is where MailDrip.io shines. You can build an email list early—even with no audience—by offering something helpful (like a free guide or checklist), then use automated email sequences to educate and share affiliate links over time.

5. Start Building an Email List (Even If It’s Just 10 People)

If you’re serious about affiliate marketing, don’t skip this step. Your email list is one of the only platforms you truly own. And it’s way easier to start than most people think.

Here’s how to do it:

• Offer a freebie in your niche (a checklist, quick guide, resource list)
• Use MailDrip.io to create a simple sign-up page and schedule emails
• Promote the freebie in forums, Reddit, Facebook groups, or in your Medium articles

Even if only a handful of people sign up at first, that’s a big win. With MailDrip’s Pay As You Go (PAYG) model, you won’t pay for subscribers you don’t have. It’s budget-friendly and grows with you.

Bonus: MailDrip has pre-built templates so you don’t have to start from scratch. Just plug in your content and hit send.

6. Promote Through Low-Cost Channels

If you don’t have a following, use platforms that already have traffic:

• Pinterest (great for evergreen blog posts and listicles)
• Quora or Reddit (answer questions and link back to helpful content)
• YouTube Shorts or TikTok (simple explainer videos with affiliate links in the bio)
• Medium (long-form content with embedded affiliate links)

The key here is to provide value first, not spam links. Be helpful, answer questions, share your experience—and you’ll start earning trust, clicks, and commissions.

FAQs

Can you really make money without followers?

Yes. You may not make $1,000 in your first month, but even small wins—like your first $5 or $10 commission—prove the system works. It’s all about building assets and staying consistent.

How long does it take to get results?

It varies. Some people see commissions in a few weeks, others take months. Focus on learning and building over time. The results will come if you stay consistent.

Is email marketing worth it for beginners?

Absolutely. Even with a small list, email lets you build relationships and follow up with people—something social media can’t guarantee. Tools like MailDrip.io make it super beginner-friendly and low-risk.

Final Thoughts.

Affiliate marketing without an audience isn’t just possible—it’s often the best way to learn as you grow. You’ll build real skills: writing persuasively, connecting with people, choosing good products, and creating valuable content.

And with tools like MailDrip.io, you don’t need to be tech-savvy or spend a ton of money to get started. Whether you’re building an email list, automating follow-ups, or testing affiliate offers, MailDrip gives you the flexibility to start small and grow smart.

Want to test it out? Try MailDrip.io for free and start sending your first emails today.

Your turn: What’s one product or niche you’d love to promote—but weren’t sure how to get started with?

Let us know in the comments or reply to this post—we’d love to help you brainstorm!