I Was Doing Everything Right… but No One Was Clicking
When I started sharing affiliate links, I genuinely believed people would click.
I was recommending tools I personally loved. I shared them on my Instagram, WhatsApp, and even in my Telegram group.
But days passed… and I barely saw any clicks.
It wasn’t that I was promoting the wrong products. The issue was:
I had no clue where I was going wrong.
No data. No feedback. Just links being ignored.
Until I stumbled upon this one small tool — completely free — that changed everything.
The ₹0 Tool That Turned My Links Around
That tool was Bitly — yeah, the simple link shortener.
I’d heard of it before but thought it was just for making links “short and clean.”
But what I didn’t realize was how much it could help me actually understand my clicks.
Once I started using it the right way, my affiliate clicks didn’t just go up…
They multiplied — 5x more within a week.
And I didn’t spend a single rupee.
Here’s Exactly What I Did (No Fancy Tricks)
1. I Made Different Links for Different Platforms
Instead of using the same affiliate link everywhere, I created separate Bitly links for Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
So now I could tell:
- Where my audience was most active
- Which platform brought the most clicks
- What wasn’t working (and why)
To my surprise, my WhatsApp story link performed better than my Instagram one. I would’ve never known this without Bitly.
2. I Learned the Best Time to Post
Bitly also showed when people clicked.
Turns out, most clicks were happening between 8 PM and 10 PM.
So I started sharing my stories and link-based posts in that time window.
No more guessing — just small tweaks with big results.
3. I Branded My Links for Trust
Long affiliate links look messy and sometimes even feel shady.
So instead of this:
randomsite.com/product/affid=XYZ98398&tag=123abc
I started using this:
bit.ly/canvaresumetemplate
It looked clean. People clicked without hesitation. And it made me look more genuine and professional — even though I was doing all this from my bedroom.
4. I Used QR Codes to Go Offline (Yes, Really!)
Bitly also lets you create QR codes for any link.
I printed out a little flyer saying:
“Loved this free resume template? Scan here to get it.”
I placed it near a study café where students hang out.
I expected nothing — but that week, I got 12 offline clicks. For free.
That’s 12 real people I wouldn’t have reached online.
Why This Tiny Change Worked So Well
What I realized is: people won’t click your links just because you post them.
They click when they trust you, when it’s clear what they’re clicking, and when it’s the right time for them.
Bitly helped me do all that, without needing:
- A website
- A sales funnel
- Any investment
All I needed was one small tool, a little awareness, and the willingness to improve.
How You Can Start Today (No Tech Required)
If you’re already sharing affiliate links but not seeing clicks, do this:
- Go to bitly.com (create a free account)
- Paste your affiliate link and shorten it
- Customize the link with something clear and trustworthy
- Create different links for Instagram, WhatsApp, etc.
- Share those links and check back in 2–3 days to see which one performs best
That’s it.
It takes less than 5 minutes, but the results can be huge.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Just Drop Links. Tell Stories.
Here’s what really worked for me:
I stopped just pasting links. I started telling people why I loved something.
For example:
“I made this resume using a free Canva template — literally got a callback within two days. Let me know if you want the link.”
And then I’d send them my Bitly link.
People trust stories. They connect with honesty. They click when they feel it’s real.
You don’t need a course. Or money. Or a full-time schedule.
You just need a smarter way to share what you already love.