How to Create an Affiliate Marketing Website in 11 Easy Steps

Creating a successful affiliate marketing website can feel like navigating a maze. With so many platforms, tools, and strategies to consider, it's easy to feel lost before you even begin. 

But here's the good news: building an affiliate marketing website doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or time-consuming.

In this guide, we’ll break down the entire process step-by-step. So whether you're a complete beginner or someone looking to optimize their existing site, you'll have everything you need to create an affiliate marketing website.

We’ll also show you how to ensure that the website not only looks professional but also drives traffic and generates income.

Let’s dive in.

Steps to Create an Affiliate Marketing Website

Creating an affiliate marketing website is easier than you think. Here are the steps you need to follow to set up your affiliate website.

[Note: You can literally build any website, including an affiliate marketing website, with Dorik in just 4 steps. However, to perfectly optimize and personalize your affiliate marketinge website, adhere to all the steps we discuss here.]

Let’s jump into the details of each step to learn how to create a professional-looking website.

Step 1: Choose A Suitable Niche

The first step of building an affiliate website is to pick a well-defined niche. 

Once you know what interests you and who your target customer is, it's much easier to create a successful website and marketing strategy for promoting your products or services.

To get started, consider doing a little research on the topic that interests you. Look online for articles, watch videos, or read books about the subject. 

Selecting the right niche is important for your affiliate website’s success. It will determine the type of content you create, the products you promote, and the audience you attract.

Here, I’m presenting some popular niche ideas that I personally like and worked with for affiliate marketing:

Tips for Selecting the Right Niche

Here are some tips that I personally follow when selecting a niche for an affiliate marketing website.

Step 2: Finalize a Website Type 

Once you have selected a suitable niche, you must decide on the website type. You can choose from several different types of websites, each with its advantages and disadvantages. You can consider the following options:

1. Blog

You can start a blog to attract audiences and establish the website as an authority in your selected niche. You can easily create a blog website with a website builder like Dorik and get going.

Blogs can be a great way to build trust with readers and naturally promote affiliate products. For example, you can post reviews, tutorials, buying guides, or comparisons and include affiliate links.

You can easily start your blogging journey with Dorik. Dorik offers blogging-focused features like a dedicated content management system, content categorization, post-scheduling, gated content with a membership feature, built-in SEO tools, and more.

2. Retail Listings

A retail listing website lists products from various retailers in a specific niche. It may resemble an eCommerce site. However, this type of website acts as a directory of products and allows visitors to find and compare different products from different retailers. 

You can earn commissions from multiple retailers if you choose this type of website design.

3. Product Review Site

A product review site provides reviews and ratings of products in a particular category. It can help customers make informed purchasing decisions and earn commissions from product sales. Therefore, it may serve as a great source of passive income.

I personally love blending product reviews with blogs because it not only engages readers but also improves SEO by providing valuable, diverse content that Google favors. 

4. Price Comparison Site

A price comparison site compares the prices of products from various retailers in a specific niche. Through these websites, customers can find the best product deals, and you can earn commissions from product sales.

5. Daily Deals Website

A daily deals website features limited-time offers and discounts on products in a particular section. This website promotes products that are on sale or offering discounts for a limited time.

After analyzing the above-mentioned types of websites, it is clear that each has its unique approach. Therefore, the best one for you will depend on your goals, audience, and niche. 

Step 3: Select a Domain Name and Hosting

Choosing a domain name is an essential step in creating your site because it will be the address of your website and will be used to promote your brand. 

Here are a few tips to help you select a good domain name.

To purchase your domain name, visit domain registrar websites like GoDaddy or Namecheap. Check the availability of your chosen name and secure it.

Selecting Hosting

When it comes to hosting for your affiliate marketing website, here’s what you should keep in mind:

With Dorik, many traditional hosting worries are minimized. Dorik takes care of uptime, storage limits, and technical management. Thus, it allows you to concentrate only on growing your affiliate marketing business.

Additionally, every Dorik site includes SSL certification for your website security, which is crucial for maintaining trust with your audience.

Choosing the right hosting and domain is critical to your affiliate marketing success. Dorik simplifies this process, providing a seamless experience so you can focus on what matters most—driving traffic and earning commissions.

We’ll cover how to connect your custom domain with your website in the “Publish and Promote the Website” section.

Step 4: Choose a Website Building Platform

Selecting the best website builder for your affiliate website is one of the most crucial steps in your journey. Before choosing a platform, you should consider several factors. Here, I am highlighting the most significant ones. 

Blogging Capabilities

If you plan to use your website for blogging, look for a website builder that offers easy-to-use blogging features and customization options for your blog posts. Blogging is a vital affiliate channel, so make sure you have all the tools to run it effectively.

Ease of Use

Choose a platform that is easy to use and navigate. This will simplify the process of creating and managing your website. At the same time, it will make it more user-friendly for your visitors. Therefore, look for a platform with drag-and-drop functionality and a user-friendly interface. 

Freedom of Customization 

Customization options allow you to tailor your website to your specific needs and preferences. So, the builder you seek must facilitate a wide range of templates and customization options.

Affordable Pricing Plan

The price is one of the most crucial factors to consider when choosing a web platform. Try to find a platform that offers a range of pricing options to fit your budget. Remember that some builders may require additional costs for specific features or services.

Mobile Friendliness

In today’s world, you can’t imagine creating a money-making website that is not mobile-friendly. According to research conducted only in the US by Buildfire,

From the statistics, it is clear that the website builder you will use must have a fully responsive template so that your affiliate website performs well on all devices. 

SEO Friendliness

A good website builder should feature pre-built search engine optimization (SEO) features to boost your affiliate website organically. It should give you the freedom to customize the slug, add meta tags, add alt text to images, and many more. 

Analytics and Statistics

Without properly tracking your site's performance, it’s impossible to observe how it is going on. You can not see the traffic, conversion rates, site health score, etc. Therefore, select one that is equipped with analytics and statistics features. 

Third-party Integrations

The website builder must have the ability to integrate with other tools and platforms, such as email marketing services, social media platforms, payment, etc. 

Security

Website security protects your website from hacking and malware attacks. Choose a website builder that offers built-in security measures and regularly updates its security measures to keep your website secure.

Support System 

Access to a reliable support team can make a big difference in managing and maintaining your website. So, pick a builder with a dedicated support team to solve any problem. Be sure whether they provide email, phone, and live chat support.

So, take time to evaluate these factors. Choose a platform that will meet your needs and help you achieve your goals. 

👉 If you want to know more about the must-have features of a website builder, read the following blog Must-Have Features of a Website Builder.

Now that you know what to look for, let me introduce Dorik, the best AI website builder that offers them all. You can create a fully functional website within minutes with Dorik AI.

Dorik is the best website builder for affiliate marketing because it comes with exceptional features. Let’s see what it has got. 

Why We Have Chosen Dorik?

We have picked Dorik because it offers:

Step 5: Create the Website 

Are you wondering how to create a website for affiliate marketing? No worries because Dorik, a no-code website builder, has everything you need to create a website without any technical worries. 

For building your website, Dorik offers three no-code website creation methods:

1. Create a Website with AI

This method is perfect for affiliate marketers who want to establish a professional website with minimal effort. You can create a website with AI to save time and then spend that time on your affiliate marketing efforts.

If you lack design skills or are short on time, Dorik’s AI website builder is your best option.

Here’s how to create a stunning affiliate marketing website using Dorik AI:

1. Sign up or log in to your Dorik account.

2. Navigate to 'Sites' on your dashboard. Choose whether you want to create a CMS or a Static site.

Opting for CMS allows you to create a dynamic website with features like membership, blogs, team collaboration, Dorik collections, and more.

3. Click on "Create New Site with AI."

4. Enter your website name and write a detailed prompt describing your website requirements to get a customized result.

5. Click "Generate Your Website" and let Dorik AI work its magic.

​​For example, we created an affiliate marketing website using this prompt:

Prompt Example: "Build an affiliate marketing website for 'TechGear Reviews,' a site dedicated to reviewing and recommending the latest tech gadgets. The target audience includes tech enthusiasts and online shoppers looking for detailed product reviews and comparisons. The design should be sleek, modern, and user-friendly. Include sections for:

Home: Feature the latest tech reviews and top-rated products.

Product Reviews: Provide in-depth reviews and comparisons of various tech gadgets.

Deals: Highlight exclusive discounts and deals on recommended products.

Contact: Offer a contact form and links to social media profiles for inquiries and collaborations."

Here’s the result:

2. Creating a Website Using a Template

Dorik offers dedicated templates tailored for healthcare professionals, including affiliate marketers. These templates provide several advantages:

To create your affiliate marketing website using a template:

1. Log in to your Dorik account and go to the dashboard.

2. Navigate to 'Sites' on your dashboard.

3. Click on “Create New Site”.

4. Now, select your affiliate marketing website template.

But before picking one, you must decide which type of template you prefer. As most affiliate sites focus on blogs, we are going for a blogging template. 

Scroll down the page to find your desired template. Once you have one, hit the Preview button to explore it. If you think it’s a perfect match, click the Create CMS Site button.

You can also use the filter option to find relevant templates for your niche. You’ll find many ready-made templates that you can use. Choose the one that fits your preference and style. 

If you want our recommendation, then we suggest you use the “GrowthFuse - Affiliate Marketing Template” as it can be used for any affiliate marketing niche.

5. Preview the templates, and if you like one, click "Create CMS Site" to start designing your website.

Dorik also allows you to easily customize each and every element of the template with 250+ UI blocks, 20+ website elements, and a drag-and-drop builder. It gives you complete design freedom to match your vision.

3. Create a Website from Scratch

If you prefer hands-on experience, designing a website from scratch is the best option for you. You can choose what elements and features you want to include in your website and avoid anything you dislike.

Building a website from scratch will require some extra time and effort compared to using AI or templates, but the experience can be equally rewarding. If you have time to spare, you should definitely try this approach.

Here’s how to start from scratch:

1. Log in to your Dorik account and go to the dashboard.

2. Navigate to 'Sites' on your dashboard and choose either CMS or Static.

3. Click on "Create New Site."

4. Click on “Create From Scratch.”

5. Familiarize yourself with the platform using the provided resources.

6. Click on “Add New Section” and use the drag-and-drop editor to add and edit sections and elements to reflect your services and brand.

7. Customize colors, fonts, and layouts to create a calming and professional environment.

Choose Dorik to create a standout affiliate marketing website that opens new doors for you to generate revenue.

Step 6: Customize the Website

Once you’ve created your website, you’ll be directed to the Dorik website builder, where you can customize every aspect of your site.

For this project, we’re using the template method and selecting the “GrowthFuse - Affiliate Marketing Template,” as it has all the necessary pages and elements for an affiliate marketing website.

After clicking the “Create CMS Site” button, you’ll see a pop-up form asking you to set a project name and a domain name for your website. You can set up a subdomain to publish your website as a subdomain of Dorik.

For this demonstration, we'll use a subdomain name while building the site with Dorik’s free trial.

After setting up, you’ll enter the website builder, the central hub for all your design activities. You can drag, move, edit, and delete existing elements or add new ones to the template. 

Hover over any block, and the options will become visible. Experiment with these options to familiarize yourself with the tools.

In the builder’s sidebar, you’ll find all the settings you need to customize your site. You can view all the pages in your template and add, remove, or modify them to fit your needs.

You can right-click on any sections or elements to duplicate or copy them along with the styling.

Changing text or images is simple. Click on the element you want to edit, and a pop-up card will appear with all the settings options. 

You can also set global styles in the sidebar, which will apply to all pages once set.

Additionally, you can explore the site settings and add integrations to enhance your website’s functionality and user experience.

For a quick introduction to the Dorik builder’s capabilities, you can read our guide on Dorik builder’s basic features.

Personalize Menus And Other Elements

After launching it, you can edit, add, drag and drop, and delete any element you want. You can hover your cursor over any specific part, and the builder will provide you with all the editing options.

For example, hover your mouse over the header area. Click on the Edit Element icon. You’ll see options to edit the default logo, links, buttons, and other elements of it.

To customize the Menus, click on the arrow icon beside the Links option. You’ll see all the customization options available. Make the necessary changes and hit Save.

If you need more navigational links, click the “+ Add New” button and customize it. In the same way, you can modify the CTA (Call to action) button.

If you need to add any section, hover your mouse over a specific section, and you will see a button labeled “Add New Section.” Click on it. A new section will be added, and you can fill it out with your preferred elements.

Customize Pages and Global Styles

The builder's left-side editing panel gives you easy access to control your site. Top of the bar, you will see the Pages option. You can edit, add, and remove them depending on your necessity. 

Next comes Global Styles, which permits you to change the Background Style, color, Typography, fonts, etc., of your whole website.

Configure Site Settings & SEO Tools 

Site Settings & SEO hold a significant role in an affiliate marketing website. So, you should configure them carefully.

You’ll get important website settings like website language, integrations, site map, robots.txt, etc., in the Site Settings option.

Click the Site Settings gear icon from the editing panel on the left side of the builder, just like we showed you in the previous step. 

Set your site’s language, Favicon, and Social Media image under the GENERAL tab.

Now, click on the INTEGRATIONS tab. Add Google Analytics ID and Google Tag Manager ID to track your website. You can even integrate different MARKETING tools (Email, Zapier, Integromat, and Pabbly Connect) to organize and collect your lead.

You can also connect payment gateways to your website.

Create a New Blog Post

This is vital as we are creating the site depending on blogs. So, go to the Dorik CMS dashboard and write a new blog post from the CMS dashboard. 

Add all the mandatory fields such as slug, excerpt, author, category, thumbnail image, keywords, etc. At last, click the Publish icon. Your blog will be published.

Check out the published blog to see if all the styling and formatting are working perfectly or not.

With Dorik, building and customizing your affiliate marketing website is a breeze. Thanks to its AI-powered design tools, you can easily create a professional-looking website that perfectly reflects your brand and niche. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re promoting fashion, tech, or any other affiliate products, as Dorik can help you design a site for any niche that’s both visually appealing and functional.

Need eye-catching visuals? Dorik’s AI image generator lets you generate custom graphics and high-quality images that elevate your website’s look. Plus, if you’re still searching for the perfect logo, Dorik can help you design one that captures your brand’s identity effortlessly.

But that’s not all. Dorik comes equipped with built-in SEO tools so you can ensure your affiliate website is optimized for search engines. It’ll help you reach more potential customers. 

On top of that, every Dorik website is automatically mobile-responsive since mobile browsing is on the rise.

Step 7: Prepare the Must-Have Documents for Your Affiliate Business 

Creating documents and pages for your affiliate marketing business is another staircase to creating a professional and trustworthy website. 

There are no set rules to determine how many documents and pages your website should have. It entirely depends on your needs. The following are some examples that you can include. 

Affiliate Marketing Agreement

An affiliate marketing agreement outlines the terms and conditions of your relationship with your affiliates, including commission rates, payment terms, and marketing guidelines. This document protects you and your affiliates from misunderstandings or disputes.

Privacy Policy

It’s a legal document that indicates how you collect, use, and protect the personal information of your visitors and customers. It helps build trust with your audience and comply with legal regulations.

Copyright Notice

A copyright notice is a statement that informs others that copyright laws protect your content. It would be best if you prominently displayed this notice on your website and in your marketing materials to protect your rights as a content creator.

Affiliate Marketing Disclosure

An affiliate marketing disclosure is a statement that informs visitors that you may receive commissions from the products or services that you promote on your website. It helps to build transparency and trust with your audience.

Terms of Use and Disclaimer

Terms of use and disclaimer are legal documents describing your website's terms and conditions. It includes information about your liability, warranties, and other important information that visitors should be aware of when using your website.

Step 8: Develop a Killer Content Strategy

Creating killer content is essential for any affiliate marketing website. The goal of your content should be to provide valuable information to your audience while promoting your affiliate products. 

You can generate different types of content, such as blog posts, videos, images, and more. Among them, blogging can be the best way to create content for your affiliate website. So, you should master the ways to start a blog. 

Now, what kind of content should you cover in your blogs? In the following section, we present some ideas. 

What Types of Content Should You Create for Your Affiliate Marketing Blog?

There are many different types of content that you can develop for your affiliate website. 

Product Reviews

‘Product reviews’ are a great way to provide valuable information to your audience while promoting your affiliate products. They can help to inform your audience about the features and benefits of the products you are promoting.

While writing product reviews, make sure you don’t just compile information from other sources. Try to share your unique take after using the product if you want more organic traffic from Google.

With Google's Reviews update released in November 2023, the focus is on original insights and thorough analysis. Google now rewards content that offers genuine expertise and unique perspectives over aggregated information.

Product Comparisons

‘Product comparisons’ can help to inform your audience about the similarities and differences between different products. This can effectively promote your affiliate products while providing valuable information to your audience. 

Comparing different products may push your audience to make a purchase.

Best-of Articles

You can educate your audience about the best products in a specific category through the ‘Best-of’ articles. In this type of article, you must list several products, including their advantages and disadvantages. 

You should always provide honest opinions so that the customers get accurate information. 

Here, I am providing some examples of ‘best-of’ type articles for a better understanding. 

‘How-to’ Manuals

‘How-to’ manuals can provide valuable information to your audience by teaching them how to use a product or service. 

Here, I am providing some examples of ‘how-to’ type articles for your convenience: 

Tips for Creating High-Quality Content

Related Read: How to Write a Blog Post That People Canot Ignore

Step 9: Find And Join The Best Affiliate Programs

According to a report published by 99firms, there are about 11,400 affiliate programs in the US alone. So, finding the right affiliate program can be a bit of a challenge, but there are several ways to do it. Here are some ways to find the highest-paying affiliate website:

Once you have found an affiliate network you are interested in, sign up and try it. See how it works for you and if it's a good fit for your audience.

👉 If you find it challenging to find the best affiliate platforms, here we have made a list of the Best Recurring Affiliate Programs for you. You can easily choose any of them depending on your preference. 

What Should You Consider to Choose the Best Affiliate Program

When choosing an affiliate program, there are several factors to consider:

If you ask for our suggestion on choosing a highly profitable affiliate program, we suggest you join the Dorik Affiliate program. 

Here’s why:

So, you’re getting a higher commission rate coupled with a lifetime recurring commission with the Dorik affiliate program. It doesn’t get better than this.

Step 10: Publish and Promote the Website

Once you're satisfied with your website, preview it to ensure everything is in place. You can preview your site to see if everything looks perfect by clicking the "Arrowhead Icon."

If everything seems perfect, connect your custom domain and publish the site.

However, as mentioned earlier, you need to opt-in for a premium plan to add a custom domain to your website. Dorik offers very budget-friendly plans. After purchasing a plan, go to the CMS dashboard.

You can add a custom domain from the Advanced Configurations settings. You’ll see the Custom Domain button. When you click on it, you’ll see a pop-up asking for your domain information.

You can also watch this video tutorial to learn how to add a custom domain on Dorik.

After connecting your custom domain, it's time to publish your website.

Hit that Save button to save your changes first, and then hit the Publish button and make your website live for the world to see.

Congratulations! Your affiliate marketing website is now live. But wait, your job’s not done yet. You need to promote your website to maximize your affiliate earning potential. Let’s promote!

How to Promote the Website

You can promote your website in various ways. Here are some of them: 

Work on SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

SEO is a crucial component of website promotion as it can significantly impact the visibility of your website in search engines. A study by Search Engine Journal indicates organic search is responsible for over 64% of website traffic.

To improve your website's SEO, you can start by researching keywords related to your industry and incorporating them into your website content, optimizing your website's meta tags and images, and building backlinks from other high-quality websites.

Utilize Social Media

Social media is one of the most indispensable tools for promoting your website and reaching a larger audience. A study by Hootsuite found that 69% of adults in the US use at least one social media platform, and the average person spends approximately 2 hours and 22 minutes on social media daily. 

Using social media platforms to promote your website can effectively reach a large audience and increase your online presence. You can make social media accounts for your brand, share relevant and engaging content, interact with your followers, and promote your website on your social media pages.

Guest Posting and Backlinking

Guest posting and backlinking are essential components of website promotion, as they can help improve your website's search engine ranking and visibility.

According to a study by Moz, backlinks are the most critical ranking factor for Google, making up 50-60% of the ranking algorithm. 

Guest posting is also a great way to reach a new audience, as you can publish articles on other websites in your industry and include a link back to your website.

Paid Advertising

Running paid advertising campaigns, such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads, may effectively promote your website and reach a larger audience.

According to a study by WordStream, "the average CTR across all industries in Google Ads is 1.91% on the search network and 0.35% on the display network."

Paid advertising campaigns allow you to target specific demographics and locations. It will help you to reach your audience. 

Video Marketing

Another significant method to promote your affiliate sites is video marketing. Create engaging content on various topics depending on your niche. Nowadays, people enjoy watching videos. So, drive them to your website utilizing this technique.

Step 11: Maintain the Website

After building your website, you must update it regularly.

Tips for Beginners to Become a Successful Affiliate Marketer 

Here are some tips for beginners looking to start affiliate marketing. Follow these marketing strategies to be more efficient.

A Case Study of a Successfully Built Affiliate Marketing Website

I have researched a lot to find this successful affiliate marketing website for you.

The website's name is The Wirecutter. The site was started in 2011 by Brian Lam, a former editor at Gizmodo, as a way to recommend technology products to his friends. 

He began by writing product reviews and linking to the products on Amazon through Amazon affiliate links. As the site grew in popularity, Lam was able to generate significant revenue from the affiliate commissions he earned. 

In 2016, The Wirecutter was acquired by The New York Times for over $30 million. The site continues to operate as a standalone brand and still earns most of its revenue from affiliate marketing.  

Wirecutter has built a loyal audience that trusts its recommendations and is more likely to purchase through one of its affiliate links. This has helped the site become one of the most successful examples of affiliate marketing.

4 Examples of Affiliate Marketing Websites

If you are eager to know more about how to make a website for affiliate marketing, look at the below affiliate marketing website examples for inspiration. They will give you some idea of how your affiliate marketing website should look.

1. Everyday Carry - Earns $1000+ Everyday

Everyday Carry is one of the best affiliate marketing websites. It promotes products for everyday use. You can gather ideas from this website.

2. Giftlab - Earns $500,000 Per Year

Giftlab is another example of a successful affiliate site. You will find numerous gift items in different categories, such as Birthday, Wedding, Anniversary, Graduation, Housewarming, and Retirement.

3. AdamEnfroy - Earns $100,000+ Per Month

AdamEnfroy is mainly a blogging website. It generates huge traffic by creating useful content. If you want to go with blogging, this website can be a great source of inspiration.

4. Hunting Gear Deals - Earns $7,500+ Per Month

Hunting Gear Deals provides reliable reviews on different products. It has created strong trust among the audience.

How Does Affiliate Marketing Work?

In affiliate marketing, affiliates receive a commission based on performance for promoting the goods or services of other businesses. 

The process works as follows:

How Much Money Can You Make as an Affiliate Marketer?

As an affiliate marketer, your income potential is mainly dependent on several factors, including:

It is common for successful affiliate marketers to earn a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars per month. However, some affiliate marketers have been known to make six or seven-figure incomes through their efforts.

Ultimately, your earnings as an affiliate marketer will depend on your dedication, effort, and ability to generate sales.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid as an Affiliate Marketer?

Here are some mistakes to avoid as an affiliate marketer:

If you avoid these mistakes, you can improve your affiliate marketing efforts and achieve greater success in promoting products and earning commissions.

Can I Start Affiliate Marketing Without Money?

Yes, you can start affiliate marketing without money. But for better output, you must invest. There are several ways to do this, such as:

Wrapping Up

You know, creating affiliate websites that make money is a challenging task. You need a solid plan, dedication, effort, and market strategy to be successful. 

We have talked about 11 easy steps on how to create affiliate marketing websites in this blog. Plus, our tips and tricks are strong enough to make you a Pro in affiliate marketing. We hope this guide will smoothen your journey.

You can build your affiliate website with Dorik. Plus, you can join its affiliate program to create a passive income channel and earn big bucks.

Good Reads