Let’s bust a big myth today.
If you’ve ever Googled “how to start affiliate marketing,” you’ve probably come across advice like:
👉 Step 1: Build a website
👉 Step 2: Write 20 blog posts
👉 Step 3: Wait for Google to magically send you traffic
Sound familiar?
That’s exactly what I believed when I first stumbled into affiliate marketing. I thought that once I had a website—a little patch of internet real estate—I’d just need to sprinkle in my affiliate links, sit back, and let Google do its thing.
In fact, my very first website was all about Karate. I poured my heart into writing blog posts, thinking traffic would just happen. But to be honest, I had no clue what “traffic” really meant in this space.
To me, “traffic” meant the daily grind—bumper-to-bumper cars on my commute to and from my day job. I didn’t realize that, in affiliate marketing, traffic means people. Real, curious, action-taking people landing on your pages.
And I had none of that.
No readers. No clicks. Just a nice-looking site… and crickets.
It didn’t take long to realize that having a website wasn’t enough. Without people actually visiting it, reading it, and clicking on your links—nothing happens.
That was a wake-up call.
Yes, traffic is vital in affiliate marketing. But here’s the twist:
A website alone won’t get you that traffic.
And that’s where the overwhelm kicks in.
No wonder so many beginners feel stuck before they even get started. Buying a domain, setting up hosting, figuring out WordPress, learning SEO—it’s overwhelming!
But here’s the part no one tells you:
You do not need a website to start affiliate marketing.
Yep, I said it.
Let me explain.
What You Actually Need
To make money in affiliate marketing, you need just two things:
- A way to get people’s attention (like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, email, etc.)
- A way to guide them to a valuable offer (like a landing page, bridge page, or email sequence)
That’s it.
Not a full-blown blog.
Not a fancy e-commerce site.
Not 50 pieces of content written by an AI bot with zero soul.
If you’ve got a simple system that captures attention and guides people to an offer that helps them? You’re in business.
Funnels Beat Websites (For Beginners)
I made this mistake early on too—I thought I needed to “build authority” with a blog, post weekly, and wait months for Google to show me some love.
But the game changed when I discovered how to use a funnel instead.
So, what exactly is a funnel in affiliate marketing?
Think of it as a guided path that takes a visitor from Point A (curious stranger) to Point B (informed buyer).
A funnel usually includes a few simple, focused pages:
- Landing Page – Where you capture someone’s name and email address
- Bridge Page – Where you warm them up and introduce the offer
- Offer Page – Where they land to check out the actual product you’re promoting
That’s it! It’s not a whole website. It’s a straight line designed to do one thing: convert attention into action.
Funnels are fast, focused, and built for results.
There’s no sidebar. No distractions. Just one clear path from “curious click” to “happy buyer.”
The best part? You don’t even have to build the funnel yourself.
Inside the program I recommend—The Quick Start Challenge—you get a done-for-you system that’s already proven to convert. Just plug it in, personalize it, and go.
Want an example? My newsletter subscription funnel. See for yourself! 😉
So… Is a Website Ever Useful?
Absolutely.
Once you’ve got momentum, a website can help:
- Build long-term trust (great for people who love writing or blogging like I am; my blog is to build relationships and make Fans!😀)
- Attract organic traffic (with smart SEO provided you climbed the learning curve)
- Host your own brand content (like lead magnets, bonuses, blog posts, etc.)
But don’t let the “website thing” stop you from starting.
Start with a funnel. Build your list. Learn the game.
Then you can decide if you want to build a full site later.
Here’s What I’d Do If I Were Starting From Scratch Today
I wouldn’t build a website first.
I’d focus on:
✅ One social platform to grow an audience
✅ One simple funnel that captures leads and promotes a solid offer
✅ Sending consistent traffic to that funnel (even with 1–2 hours a day)
That’s exactly what Dean Holland, my mentor, help his audience do inside The Quick Start Challenge. It’s beginner-friendly, proven, and designed to remove all the tech stress and overwhelm.
Final Thoughts
Affiliate marketing doesn’t reward the person with the prettiest website.
It rewards the person who takes action and solves real problems.
So don’t wait until everything’s perfect (see my previous post).
Don’t get stuck in “I need a site” paralysis.
You’ve got everything you need to start right now.
👉 Click here to check out The Quick Start Challenge—and see how simple this can be.
Talk soon,
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