Free vs Paid Traffic: What Should You Start With? -

Free vs Paid Traffic: What Should You Start With? An age-old question that most marketers face at some time, but what is right

So you’re ready to bring people to your content.
That’s a huge step in affiliate marketing — and it’s where most people stall out.

You’re staring down the two big roads:

Free traffic (social media, SEO, YouTube, forums…)
Paid traffic (Facebook ads, Google ads, solo ads…)

You’re wondering:
Which one actually works?
Which one is right for you?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or hesitant to commit, you’re not alone. Choosing wrong can waste time — or money. And for beginners especially, both of those are in short supply.

Let’s break this down.

🚧 The Problem Most Beginners Face

Many affiliate marketers try to dabble in both — posting content for free while throwing $5 at a Facebook ad here and there.

The result?
No momentum Means No data. Thus no results.

They spread themselves too thin and never see traction in either direction.

That’s why this post exists — to help you choose one traffic strategy to focus on so you can build consistent results before branching out.

✅ What Is Free Traffic?

Free traffic is anything you don’t pay money for — you invest time instead.

Examples:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for your blog posts
YouTube videos with affiliate links
Facebook groups or Pages
Pinterest pins leading to your content
Reddit and Quora answers

💡 Pros of Free Traffic:

Low financial risk
Evergreen content keeps working long after it’s posted
Builds authority and brand reputation over time

⚠️ Cons of Free Traffic:

It takes time to build
Results aren’t instant
Needs consistent effort

Perfect for: New marketers with more time than money, and a willingness to create content regularly.

💰 What Is Paid Traffic?

Paid traffic is when you pay a platform to deliver your offer or content to specific people.

Examples:

Facebook and Instagram ads
Google search ads
Solo ads to email lists
Native ads or display networks

💡 Pros of Paid Traffic:

Fast results (traffic today, leads today)
Can be highly targeted
Easy to scale once it works

⚠️ Cons of Paid Traffic:

You can lose money quickly if you don’t know what you’re doing
Requires testing and tracking
It’s a skill — not a set-and-forget shortcut

Perfect for: Marketers who have a clear funnel and budget to test, or those who’ve already mastered one organic source.

🧭 So Which Should You Start With?

Here’s the honest truth:
If you’re just starting out, start with free traffic.

Why?

It forces you to clarify your message
It teaches you the habits of consistent marketing
It gives you space to experiment without financial risk

Think of it this way:
Free traffic builds your foundation.
Paid traffic scales your machine.

Don’t try to scale what hasn’t been tested.

🎯 Pick One and Stick With It

Whether you choose blogging with SEO, YouTube, Pinterest, or Facebook — the secret is sticking with one traffic source long enough to get good at it.

Trying to do everything at once is what kills momentum.

Start small. Learn the platform. Build content that connects.
Once you’re getting consistent clicks, then — and only then — consider adding paid ads to amplify what’s already working.

🚀 Want a Shortcut?

Learning traffic the hard way is… well, hard.

👉 That’s why Michael Cheney created Millionaire’s Apprentice — to take you behind the scenes and show you what actually works when it comes to affiliate traffic.

Inside, you’ll discover:

Which free platforms deliver the best results
How to structure your content to get clicks
What paid methods to avoid (and which ones convert)
How to avoid the “scattergun” mistake most beginners make

Whether you’re brand new or stuck in place, this program can give you the step-by-step clarity you need to finally generate traffic that turns into commissions.

👉 Join Michael Cheney’s Millionaire’s Apprentice today.