How to Start Affiliate Marketing Without Followers (What I Learned)

Have you ever wanted to make money online, but felt stuck because you don’t have followers? I used to think you needed a big audience to start affiliate marketing. I thought only people with huge YouTube channels or tons of Instagram fans could do it.

But after learning from Jonathan Montoya’s guide on affiliate marketing with no followers, I found out that’s not true at all. You don’t need to be famous to start. You just need to understand how to help people, give value, and build trust one step at a time.

This post shares what I learned in simple words, so anyone—even without followers—can start.

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing means you share a product or service that you like. When someone buys it using your link, you earn a commission.

For example, if you tell your friend about a cool video tool and they buy it through your link, you earn money.

That’s it! You don’t have to make the product. You just help connect the person who needs it with the company that sells it.

Many people think they need a big audience for this. But the truth is: you only need the right people. Even a few clicks can lead to sales when you give real help.

Lesson 1: You Don’t Need Followers, You Need a System

In Jonathan Montoya’s 4 Phases to Freedom Roadmap, he says most beginners fail because they try random things instead of following a plan.

Having a plan or system matters more than having followers.

Here’s how it works:

1. Pick a niche — a small topic you care about (like fitness, pets, or online tools).
2. Find products you trust — things that actually solve problems.
3. Share value — create helpful content (even one post or short video).
4. Collect emails — build your list so you can talk directly to people.
5. Recommend products — when they trust you, they’ll click your links.

This process builds trust and income, even if you only reach a few people at first.

Lesson 2: Use Your Story, Not Your Fame

Montoya’s “Bridge Page Script” teaches that people buy from people they relate to—not big influencers.

That means your small story matters more than a big following.

For example, you can say:

“I used to feel lost trying to earn extra money online. I tried many things that didn’t work. Then I found affiliate marketing and learned to share helpful tools instead of chasing trends.”

When you share your real story, people feel connected. They think, “Hey, that sounds like me!”

You become a trusted friend instead of just another person selling something.

Action Step:
Write your short story (3–5 sentences). Say what you struggled with, what you learned, and how this product helped. Use it on your website, video, or social profile.

Lesson 3: Focus on Helping, Not Selling

Montoya’s Value-First Marketing idea really hit me. It means give value before asking for anything.

Here’s how you can do that:

• Teach one small tip you learned.
• Show a problem and how to fix it.
• Give a free resource (like a checklist or video).

When you help people first, they start to trust you. And when you recommend a product later, they’re more likely to buy because they already know you care.

For example, if you’re in the fitness niche, you could post:

“Here are 3 easy snacks that help me stay full while losing weight.”

Then at the end, you can say:

“I found these snacks using a free meal planner I love. You can check it out here.” (Then share your affiliate link.)

That’s simple value-first marketing—and it works.

Lesson 4: Make Simple Content That Solves Problems

You don’t need fancy videos or expensive cameras. Montoya’s Perfect YouTube Script Framework shows that simple videos can get views when they help people.

You can follow a short format like this:

1. Hook: Ask a question — “Want to make money online without followers?”
2. Problem: Talk about a common issue — “Most people think they need thousands of followers.”
3. Solution: Share your tip — “But you can start by making simple videos that help people solve real problems.”
4. Call to action: “If you want to see what I use, click the link below.”

You can use this same structure for blog posts, emails, or TikToks.

Tip: Use free tools like Canva for images, or CapCut for short videos.

Remember—one good post that helps someone is better than 50 posts that say nothing.

Lesson 5: Build an Email List (Even With No Followers)

This might be the most powerful lesson I learned – your email list is your biggest business asset.

Even if you don’t have followers, you can start collecting emails.

Here’s how:

1. Offer something free (like a guide, mini course, or checklist).
2. Ask people to sign up with their email to get it.
3. Send them short, friendly emails every few days.

Example:

• Email 1: “Hey, thanks for joining! Here’s your free guide.”
• Email 2: “Here’s a quick story about how I started.”
• Email 3: “This tool helped me a lot—you can try it too.”

This keeps people connected with you. You don’t need a big audience; your list becomes your community.

You can use tools like ConvertKit or MailerLite (they’re free for beginners).

Lesson 6: Use SEO to Get People to Find You

SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization.” It’s how you get your posts or videos found on Google or YouTube.

You don’t need followers when you use the right keywords—words people are already searching for.

Here’s how:

1. Go to YouTube or Google.
2. Type “how to [your topic].”
3. Look at what auto-fills in the search box.
4. Use those words in your titles.

Example:
If you type “how to lose belly fat,” you’ll see ideas like “how to lose belly fat at home” or “without equipment.” Those are real searches you can use.

When you post something using those keywords, people searching for that answer can find you, even if they’ve never heard of you before.

That’s how you win without followers—by being discoverable.

Lesson 7: Pick Good Affiliate Programs

Montoya’s Complete Affiliate Marketing System says the best programs are ones that pay well, offer real value, and last a long time.

There are three main kinds:

1. High-ticket offers — pay big commissions ($500+ per sale).
2. Recurring offers — pay you monthly (like software subscriptions).
3. Digital products — courses, eBooks, or templates that solve problems.

For beginners, digital and recurring programs are great because they’re easy to promote and build steady income.

You can find programs on:

• ClickBank
• Digistore24
• Impact
• PartnerStack
• Individual company websites

Important: Always use products you trust. Never promote something just for money.

Lesson 8: Make a Simple Funnel (Your Mini Website)

Jonathan talks about using bridge pages and funnels to turn visitors into buyers.

A funnel is just a path people follow:

1. See your post or video.
2. Click your link.
3. Enter their email.
4. Visit your product page.

The middle step—where you collect emails—is your bridge page.

It’s called that because it bridges the gap between “I don’t know you” and “I trust you.”

You can build a simple one with:

• Systeme.io (free)
• ConvertKit
• ClickFunnels

Your bridge page should:

• Have your story or a quick video.
• Tell what the product helps with.
• Invite them to learn more.

This step alone can double or triple your sales.

Lesson 9: Be Patient and Track Progress

Most people quit too early. Montoya’s students usually see results after 3–6 months of consistent work.

If you only post once or twice and give up, you’ll miss your momentum.

Here’s what to track each week:

• How many people visit your page.
• How many join your email list.
• How many click your affiliate link.

You don’t have to check numbers every day—just track your growth. When you see small wins, celebrate them!

Even one sale means your system is working.

Lesson 10: Turn Content Into a Habit

My Traffic Generation Mastery shows how to create a simple content rhythm.

Here’s a plan you can copy:

• 1 Long post (like this blog) each week.
• 3 short videos sharing quick tips.
• 1 email to your list each week.

That’s only a few hours weekly, but it builds your traffic like a snowball over time.

Lesson 11: Stack Small Wins

Affiliate marketing isn’t about one big win. It’s about stacking small ones.

Each piece of content, each email, and each product you share adds up.

Imagine this:

• You make $5 from one small tool.
• Then $10 from another.
• Then one day $100 from a new subscriber.

That’s how it grows—slow at first, then faster as your system runs.

Lesson 12: Believe You Can Do It (Mindset Matters)

Jonathan always says mindset is the first step in his 4 Phases to Freedom.

You don’t need to be perfect or tech-savvy. You just need to believe that your small steps matter.

When you start thinking like a creator, not a consumer, everything changes.

Instead of scrolling for hours, you’ll be building something that can change your future.

Quick Recap — What I Learned About Affiliate Marketing With No Followers

1. You don’t need followers—just a system.
2. Your story matters more than being famous.
3. Help first, sell second.
4. Create simple, helpful content.
5. Build an email list early.
6. Use SEO so people can find you.
7. Pick products that really help people.
8. Make a simple bridge page funnel.
9. Be patient and track small wins.
10. Stay consistent and positive.

Your 7-Day Starter Plan

Here’s a simple plan you can follow starting today:

Day 1: Pick your niche (something you like).
Day 2: Find one affiliate program to join.
Day 3: Create your bridge page using Systeme.io or ConvertKit.
Day 4: Write your short story and share it online.
Day 5: Make a short video or post that helps someone in your niche.
Day 6: Invite people to get your free guide or email list.
Day 7: Send your first email introducing yourself.

That’s it! In one week, you’ll have a real system running—even without followers.

Final Thoughts

I started learning affiliate marketing because I wanted more freedom and less stress about money. Reading Jonathan Montoya’s guide helped me see it’s not about being popular—it’s about helping people and staying consistent.

If you don’t have followers yet, that’s okay. Everyone starts somewhere. What matters most is that you start.

Focus on helping, learning, and sharing value. The followers—and the income—will come later.

Your dreams first. One step at a time. You’ve got this.

💫 You were never given a dream without also being given the power to make it come true.

— Napoleon Russ

askRuss@NapoleonRuss.com