TLDR;
I’ve been doing Facebook affiliate marketing for a while now and I can say it doesn’t mean you have to go posting your affiliate links all over the place or even cold messaging strangers.
A better approach, especially if you are starting out is to create useful content around the product or subject you are promoting. A good way of doing this is to create a combination of posts, images and reels to attract attention. You can then direct anyone who shows interest to the link in your profile.
I would also suggest that you do not try to sell in every post you make. Aim to use your content to generate interest and give people a natural next step.
How I Use Facebook for Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a form of performance-based marketing, where an affiliate can receive a commission for generating a sale, signup or other agreed action.
When I use Facebook for affiliate marketing, it’s not in the way some people may expect.
Being somewhat of an introvert, I’ve always hated the idea of direct messaging people or DMs as some call it in order to sell something. Nor do I go posting affiliate links all over Facebook.
What I prefer to do instead is to use my Facebook profile to create useful content around the things I’m promoting.
Some posts I make may be educational. Others might be about something I’ve tried myself. Sometimes I’ll simply ask a question, or I may create a post designed to start a conversation.
I also create both Reels and short videos.
You might be thinking you need particularly complicated graphics – that’s not the case. I find Canva can create some nice designs, good enough for what I need.
AI can also be used to help you create posts and images, although I think it’s important to edit any AI-generated content before publishing it.
Try to add your own flavour or style to your wording and opinions. Otherwise, it can quickly start looking like everything else in someone’s Facebook feed.
The idea is quite simple.
Create useful content → generate interest → give people somewhere to go next.
If you’re completely new to this, I’ve also put together a simple guide explaining what affiliate marketing actually involves and how the process works for beginners.
Create a Consistent Style People Recognise
You may notice with my Facebook posts is that many of them have a similar appearance.
That happens to be deliberate.
Don’t think you need an expensive brand designer or complicated templates. Just by using similar fonts, layouts and colours you can gradually make your content more recognisable.
Someone casually scrolling through Facebook may eventually recognise one of your posts before they’ve even noticed your name.
I feel that must be better than creating something completely different every time you make a post.
Don’t Make Every Post an Affiliate Promotion
This is probably one of the biggest differences between my approach and some methods of affiliate marketing on Facebook that I see others doing.
Normally I don’t put an affiliate link directly into each post. In fact, I try to avoid this at all costs. I’ve done it in the past and never had a post flagged, but I know others who have.
Instead, I tend to finish with a simple call to action such as:
“If you’re curious, check out the link in my profile.”
Someone who wants to know more can then visit my profile and continue from there.
Why I Prefer This Approach
My aim isn’t necessarily to make a sale from somebody seeing one of my Facebook posts.
What I am trying is to create a simple journey:
Facebook content → profile → useful resource → email list or offer.
That means the post itself can concentrate on being useful or interesting rather than constantly trying to sell something.
Engagement Can Help Your Content Reach More People
Creating the post is only part of the job.
People still need to see it.
Comments, shares and reactions can all help to give a post additional exposure, so I try to create content that gives people a reason to respond.
What can work well are questions, opinions, personal experiences and posts where people naturally want to add their own point of view.
Sometimes I will also share suitable posts to relevant Facebook groups where that type of content is allowed. The main point here is that I’m not just joining groups to dump affiliate links.
Turning Facebook Attention Into Affiliate Marketing
As with any kind of affiliate marketing, eventually you will need an offer.
One of the programs I’ve personally been using is OLSP Academy. Sometimes I will use Facebook content as part of the way I introduce people to it.
But the principle isn’t limited to OLSP.
Whatever affiliate product you decide to promote, you still need a reason for someone to pay attention to you before they’re likely to click a link or consider buying something.
That’s why I always believe content comes first.
Create something useful. Get somebody interested. Then give them an easy way to discover the next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you do affiliate marketing on Facebook?
Yes, you can and I do this all the time myself. Facebook can be used to create content around the products, services or subjects you’re promoting and direct interested people towards additional information. Be a little careful though as there are certain rules on the type of content you can post as well as promoting links.
Do I need to cold message people?
No. In fact cold messaging is not a requirement. Personally, I prefer creating public content and allowing people who are interested to find out more themselves.
Should I put affiliate links directly in Facebook posts?
I would not advise doing this. Facebook likes to keep you on the platform. A better way is to make the post and add a link as the first comment. Try to cloak the link using services such as Bitly or Pretty Links. Alternatively, in the post you can direct interested readers towards the link in your profile or another useful resource.
What should I post for Facebook affiliate marketing?
I aim for a mix of educational posts, personal experiences, questions, short videos, Reels and simple image posts. The important thing is that the content is related to the audience you are trying to attract.
Can Facebook affiliate marketing work without paid ads?
Yes. Keep in mind that using organic Facebook content to build an audience and getting consistent reach normally takes time.
The approach I prefer is simple: create useful content, build interest and give people somewhere useful to go next.
This way there is no chasing and no messaging dozens of strangers. There is also absolutely no need to turn every Facebook post into a sales pitch.