Can I do affiliate marketing with only social media?

Some programs allow it and some do not. Amazon Associates, for example, lists social media user-generated content as an eligible site, while other programs require a website. Check each program's terms.

Which program rules matter most without a website?

Allowed traffic sources, link formats, rules on paid ads and disclosure requirements. Each program sets these for itself.

Do I still need a disclosure without a website?

Yes. The FTC expects a clear disclosure on social media, video and audio, placed where your audience will see or hear it.

Is a link-in-bio page treated as a website?

It depends on the program. Some reviewers treat it like a website during approval, so check the terms or ask the program's support team.

Strategy

Affiliate Marketing Without a Website: Does It Work?

Affindly editorial team · Published 10/14/2026 · 5 min read

Yes, some affiliate programs accept promotion without your own website, for example through social media, video, newsletters or podcasts. Whether it is allowed depends on the individual program, because each program sets its own rules for traffic sources and channels.

So the real question is not "website or no website?" It is "what does this program allow?"

Which channels work without a website?

Four common channels are social media, video, newsletters and podcasts.

Channel	How affiliate links are used	Watch out for
Social media	Links in posts, bios, captions or platform shopping features	Platform link rules and the program's social media policy
YouTube or other video	Links in the description or pinned comment, plus a spoken disclosure	Disclosure must be in the video itself
Newsletter	Links in emails to subscribers who opted in	Email consent and unsubscribe rules, program email policy
Podcast	Spoken recommendation plus a link in the show notes	Spoken disclosure and program rules for audio

Link-in-bio pages and landing pages from third-party tools are also used. Some programs treat these like a website and review them during approval.

Who decides what is allowed?

Each program does. There is no general rule that applies to all of them. A merchant or network decides which traffic sources it accepts, which it restricts and which it bans.

Typical points in program terms include:

Which kinds of sites, apps or accounts are accepted.
Whether links may be shared on social media, in email or in paid ads.
Whether you may bid on brand keywords or use the merchant's name in your account name.
Whether cloaked or shortened links are allowed.

Breaking these terms can lead to unpaid commissions or removal from the program.

What do official terms say?

Official terms differ a lot, so two examples help.

Amazon. Amazon's Associates Operating Agreement defines an eligible "Site" as a website, social media user-generated content, an online software application or an Alexa skill. So Amazon does allow promotion through social media content. Links must use the special tagged link formats Amazon provides, and the required disclosure sentence applies: "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."

Amazon's Influencer Program Policy adds that influencers must meet qualitative and quantitative thresholds. They must also give Amazon access to data about their social media presence during registration. See the Amazon Associates overview.

TikTok Shop. According to TikTok's Seller University, TikTok Shop has an affiliate program in which creators promote sellers' products and earn a commission on resulting sales. TikTok sets the requirements for creators, so read them in TikTok's official help pages. See our TikTok Shop program page for an overview, and confirm current requirements on TikTok's own site before you apply.

One more tip: programs can differ on how they treat apps and in-app browsers, since a click inside a social app may not behave like a click in a desktop browser. If tracking matters to you, test a link yourself and check that the click appears in the program dashboard.

What are the pros and cons of skipping a website?

You trade a quick start for less control.

Faster start: you can use an audience you already have instead of building a site first.
Platform dependence: the platform can change its link rules, reach or account status at any time.
Less control: you cannot easily collect your own data or keep a permanent library of recommendations.
Program limits: some programs ask for a website during approval, so your options may be narrower.

Do you still need a disclosure?

Yes. The FTC says disclosures should sit where the audience cannot miss them. Here is what that means by format:

Social media: in the post itself, not only in the bio.
Video: in the video, spoken or on screen.
Live streams: repeat it.
Podcasts: say it out loud near the recommendation.

Read more in our guide on affiliate disclosure and the FTC.

What should you check before you join?

Run through this list for every program:

Read the program terms on allowed channels, link types and paid traffic.
Check whether your account type and audience size meet any stated requirements.
Confirm how the program tracks clicks from apps and in-app browsers.
Check the attribution window, payout threshold and payment method.
Save a copy of the terms with the date you accepted them.
Prepare your disclosure wording for each channel.

If you are still choosing programs, start with our list of affiliate programs for beginners.

A website can still be useful later. You control it, and it is not tied to one platform's rules. But it is not required for every program.

Sources

TikTok Shop Affiliate, TikTok Shop Seller University (retrieved 10/14/2026)
Amazon Associates Program Policies, Operating Agreement, Amazon (retrieved 10/14/2026)
Amazon Associates Program Policies, Amazon (retrieved 10/14/2026)
Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers, Federal Trade Commission (retrieved 10/14/2026)
The FTC's Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking, Federal Trade Commission (retrieved 10/14/2026)