Introduction.

Affiliate marketing can be a great way to earn passive income, but it’s not as easy as tossing up a few links and hoping for the best.

One powerful method to drive traffic and boost commissions is using Google Ads. If you’ve thought about it, you’re probably wondering: Is it worth it? Will I actually make money?

Let me break it down for you.

Using Google Ads for affiliate marketing can work — if you know how to do it right. But it’s also one of those things where one wrong move can cost you a lot of money, fast.

Google isn’t exactly forgiving if you mess up their ad rules, and if you’re not careful, you might end up spending more on clicks than you earn in commissions.

That’s why I’m writing this guide — to help you understand exactly how to run Google Ads for affiliate marketing in a smart, budget-friendly way that gives you the best shot at actually making profit.

What Is Affiliate Marketing (Quick Refresher)

Affiliate marketing is when you promote someone else’s product or service, and earn a commission every time someone buys through your unique link.

So let’s say you promote a fitness supplement on your blog, and someone clicks your affiliate link and makes a purchase — boom, you get paid.

Now imagine using Google Ads to get that link in front of thousands of people searching for “best protein powder for muscle gain.” That’s the magic combo.

Why Use Google Ads for Affiliate Marketing?

Here’s why people go for it:

Immediate traffic – No need to wait for SEO to kick in.
Targeted reach – You’re showing up for people already searching for what you’re promoting.
Scalability – You can scale winning campaigns fast.
Control – You set the budget, the keywords, the audience.

But again, it’s not a set-it-and-forget-it thing. Google has strict rules, and affiliate margins can be slim — so you’ve got to be smart.

The Big Problem: Google’s Policy on Affiliate Links

Google Ads does allow affiliate marketing, but there’s a catch.

You can’t just send people directly to an affiliate link. That’s a fast way to get your ad disapproved or worse — get your whole account suspended.

Here’s what Google says in their bridge page policy:

“We don’t allow ads that drive traffic to a website that contains little original content and is focused primarily on driving traffic to affiliate links.”

Translation: If your site is just a middleman, Google doesn’t like it. They want to see useful content, real value, and a reason to trust you.

So if you’re going to run Google Ads, you need to send traffic to your own landing page or blog — not straight to someone else’s product page.

How Do I Run Google Ads for Affiliate Marketing?

Let’s walk through the process, step by step.

1. Pick the Right Affiliate Offer

Choose offers that:

Have decent payouts (think $30+ per sale)
Come from trusted networks (like ShareASale, Impact, CJ, or PartnerStack)
Are proven sellers (check conversion rates if possible)

Pro tip: Tools like OfferVault and Affbank can help you find offers by niche and payout.

2. Build a Landing Page

This is key. Your landing page should:

Match the searcher’s intent
Be fast and mobile-friendly
Explain the product clearly
Include your affiliate link in a natural way
Have a strong call-to-action

You can use tools like:

Carrd (super cheap and fast)
Systeme.io
WordPress (for more control)

Make sure your page has real value — maybe a quick product review, comparison, or a short guide.

3. Set Up Conversion Tracking

You need to know what’s working. Use:

Google Tag Manager to set up events
Affiliate platforms’ tracking tools
Google Ads’ built-in conversion tracking

If you’re using ClickBank, Impact, or MaxBounty, they often give you a conversion pixel you can add to your “thank you” page (if you have one).

4. Do Keyword Research (This Makes or Breaks It)

Use tools like:

Google Keyword Planner
Ubersuggest
Keywords Everywhere

Start with buyer intent keywords, like:

“best protein powder for muscle gain”
“XYZ supplement review”
“cheap web hosting for bloggers”

Avoid broad terms like “protein” or “web hosting” — they’re expensive and not targeted enough.

5. Create a Google Ads Campaign

Inside Google Ads:

Choose “Search” campaign
Set a daily budget (start small — $10–$20)
Target exact match or phrase match keywords first
Write ad copy that speaks to what the searcher wants

Example Ad:

Headline: Best Protein Powder for Muscle Gain
Headline 2: Compare Top 5 Picks in 2025
Description: Find out which protein delivers real results. See top reviews & save now.

Link it to your landing page — NOT your raw affiliate link.

6. Test, Tweak, Repeat

Don’t expect to hit gold on Day 1.

Watch your:

Click-through rate (CTR)
Cost-per-click (CPC)
Conversions

Pause bad keywords, try new ad copy, and track everything. Once you find what works, scale it slowly.

What Not To Do (Mistakes To Avoid)

Don’t link directly to affiliate offers
Don’t copy-paste generic product descriptions
Don’t run ads without tracking
Don’t bid on branded terms (unless allowed)
Don’t ignore mobile (most clicks come from phones)

Is It Profitable?

Yes — if done right. Let’s look at a quick breakdown:

Let’s say:

Your product pays $50 per sale
You get clicks at $1 each
Your landing page converts at 5%

That means you need 20 clicks to make 1 sale ($20 spend → $50 payout = $30 profit). Not bad, right?

But if your clicks cost $2 and conversion drops to 2%, now it’s:

50 clicks → 1 sale ($100 spend → $50 payout = $50 loss)

This is why testing is everything.

FAQs

Can I use Google Ads for Amazon affiliate links?

Not directly. You need to send people to your own site first, then link to Amazon with your affiliate ID.

Is it okay to promote ClickBank products?

Yes — but only through your own landing page. Many affiliates use ClickBank successfully with Google Ads, especially in fitness, finance, and self-help.