Let’s start with the basics. Affiliate marketing is when you promote other people’s products, and you get paid a commission anytime someone buys through your link. That’s it. You didn’t create the product. You didn’t spend money to produce anything. You’re just the middleman with sense. And WhatsApp is the perfect battlefield for it.
How does WhatsApp come in? Here’s the thing: WhatsApp is the most powerful traffic and trust tool in Nigeria today. Why? Because people believe what they see on WhatsApp more than on any other platform. It feels personal. It feels like gist from a friend. It’s not like Instagram where everybody is forming. Or like Facebook where it feels crowded. WhatsApp is one-on-one. Or one-to-many — but with real trust.
If you say “Buy this course, it changed my life” on Instagram, people may scroll past.
But if you drop that same message with a short voice note or screenshot in a WhatsApp group or broadcast list, and you follow it up with real gist or a short story, people listen. They trust you. They buy.
That’s why WhatsApp + Affiliate Marketing is a deadly combo.
How to Start Affiliate Marketing on WhatsApp
STEP 1: Join an Affiliate Program
To make money from affiliate marketing, you first need to join a platform or program that gives you access to products and pays you commission.
Here are some legit affiliate platforms you can start with in Nigeria:
- Expertnaire (digital products)
- Stakecut
- Learnoflix
- Digistem
- Selar Affiliate (ebooks, courses)
- Amazon Associates (if you want to promote physical items internationally)
Each of these gives you your own affiliate link. That’s the link you’ll share. When someone clicks and buys through your link, you get paid. It could be 30%, 40%, or even 60% commission. Some products pay you ₦10,000 to ₦40,000 per sale!
If you don’t want to use these platforms, you can also:
- Reach out to ebook authors, coaches, or vendors on Instagram and ask if they offer commissions for referring customers.
- Or promote people’s businesses directly (like a skincare vendor, real estate agent, or online tutor) and collect your cut for every buyer you bring.
STEP 2: Pick a Product You Understand or Believe In
Don’t just pick anything because it has big commission. Pick a product you can comfortably talk about or promote. If you don’t believe in the product, or you don’t understand how it helps people, it’ll be hard to convince anyone to buy.
For instance, if you’re promoting a digital course titled “How to Start a Profitable Mini Importation Business in Nigeria” — you can read the sales page, understand the pain points, learn who it’s meant for, and then you’ll know how to present it. When you understand what you’re selling, the confidence will show in how you talk about it — and confidence sells.
STEP 3: Create a WhatsApp Group, Channel, or Broadcast List
Now you need a place to be talking to people regularly — where you’ll be dropping value, sharing posts, and introducing affiliate products in a subtle way.
Here are your options:
- WhatsApp Channel: Best for one-way communication. Nobody can reply. You post your content, and they read it like a blog.
- WhatsApp Group: Great if you want engagement and community. You can post polls, get feedback, and interact with followers.
- Broadcast List: If you want a private feel. You send messages to multiple people at once, but it looks like a personal chat.
Choose whichever you’re comfortable with. Some pros even run all three at once. The goal is to create a safe, trusted space where people look forward to what you drop every day.
STEP 4: Start Dropping Content That Attracts Your Target Audience
You can’t just be shouting “Buy, buy, buy!” every day. Nobody likes that. Instead, provide value related to the product you’re promoting. For example: If you’re promoting a “Crypto Trading Course”, you can:
- Share daily crypto updates
- Post tips like “3 reasons Nigerians lose money in crypto”
- Drop personal stories or success stories
- Use headlines like “How a jobless corper made ₦200k in 3 weeks from crypto”
Then at the end, you casually say:
“I learnt this from the XYZ course I took last month. Changed everything. If you want it, here’s the link: [affiliate link]”
That’s how you blend value with promotion.
How to Monetize Your WhatsApp Affiliate Marketing
Here are different proven ways to make money from WhatsApp affiliate marketing:
- Direct Product Recommendation with Soft Selling
This is when you promote a product directly, but you do it like a smart gist.
Example:
“Guys, this ₦10k course on digital products is fire. I used it to create my own ebook and made ₦70k in one week. If you’re serious about online money this year, grab it while it’s still available.” Then you drop your link.
The key here is:
- Don’t sound like you’re selling.
- Share stories. Share results.
- Use screenshots, reviews, and even voice notes if needed.
- Status-based Storytelling Strategy
Your WhatsApp status is gold. Run it like a movie. Start with:
- A personal story or confession
- Then transition into a lesson
- Then recommend the product
Let’s say you’re promoting a relationship ebook. You can do this:
- Status 1: “This time last year, I was in the worst talking stage of my life 💀”
- Status 2: “He told me I was too strong. That I needed to be ‘more soft.’”
- Status 3: “I was confused. Until I read this ebook that explained exactly how men think.”
- Status 4: “Ladies, you need this book if you don’t want to waste your emotions. Here’s the link: [affiliate link]”
That’s how to sell with vibe.
- Affiliate Funnels with WhatsApp Group
You create a mini funnel using WhatsApp.
Step-by-step:
- You run a mini ad or use status to say: “Free training on how to make ₦100k/month online — join this WhatsApp group.”
- People join.
- You drop value for 2–3 days.
- On Day 3, you promote your affiliate product as the next step.
- You say: “To go deeper and start making serious money, I recommend this course. This is what I used. Here’s the link.”
- Voice Note Selling
This one is underrated but powerful. Record a 2-minute voice note:
- Talk about a personal problem.
- Explain how the product helped.
- Talk like you’re gisting with a friend.
- End with “If you want the same thing I got, click this link.”
Drop it in your group or broadcast. The personal touch increases conversions.
How to Promote Your WhatsApp Affiliate Marketing
Now let’s be real — you need people before you can make money. So how do you grow your WhatsApp audience?
- Turn Your Status into a Magnet
Consistently post valuable content on your status. Talk about tips, share quotes, show testimonials, share free knowledge.
Then add call-to-action messages like:
“If you enjoy this kind of content, I run a daily group/blog/channel where I break things down. It’s free. Just send me ‘add me’.”
This alone can grow your list like wildfire.
- Join Facebook and Telegram Groups
There are hundreds of groups on Facebook and Telegram where people are already looking for opportunities to make money. Drop helpful posts there and include a CTA like:
“I share more insights on my WhatsApp group daily. DM me if you want in.”
Just don’t spam. Provide value first.
- Use TikTok, Threads or Reels to Drive Traffic
You can create a short video explaining a tip, then say:
“If you want me to mentor you for free or show you what I’m learning, join my WhatsApp group here.”
Link in bio. Short form content + WhatsApp funnel = massive audience.
- Referral Growth Hack
Tell your current followers:
“If you’ve learnt something from me, help me grow. Forward this message to 3 friends who also need it.”
Simple. Organic. Effective.
In conclusion, WhatsApp Affiliate Marketing is not just a hustle. It’s a full-blown business model. If you’re serious, consistent, and smart, you can go from ₦0 to ₦100,000, ₦200,000 or more per month — all from your WhatsApp. You don’t need a website. You don’t need capital. You don’t even need many followers to start.
Just:
- Join the right affiliate program
- Pick good products that solve real problems
- Start posting value every day on your WhatsApp
- Use soft selling, storytelling, and voice notes
- Grow your list and keep showing up
With time, one sale a day becomes 3. Then 5. Then you start earning passively, and people start trusting you to recommend more things.
