How To Start Affiliate Marketing With Facebook Reels (Step-by-Step)

Facebook Reels was mostly empty when Alston recorded this tutorial — and that gap was the entire point. The platform had so little original short-form video that it was actively pulling clips over from Instagram just to fill the feed. That means a creator with a clear niche, posting three short clips a day, was competing against almost no one. The early-mover window that YouTube Shorts players caught in 2021 or TikTok runners caught in 2019 was sitting wide open on Facebook Reels at the time of this video — and plenty of that low-competition air is still there for newcomers willing to show up consistently.

This post walks through the exact step-by-step system Alston runs for affiliate marketing on Facebook Reels: how to pick a niche, how to pull 30 content ideas from one free tool in under an hour, which three filming formats work without a fancy camera setup, why “message me for details” outperforms any clickable link, and how a single DM conversation converts into an affiliate commission. If you have been putting off short-form video because TikTok feels oversaturated or YouTube Shorts feels too competitive, this is the platform and method worth testing right now.

What You’ll Walk Out With

A clear picture of why Facebook Reels has less competition than Instagram Reels or TikTok right now
The numbers Alston pulled comparing view counts across all three platforms for the same video
A proven system for generating 30 niche-specific content ideas using AnswerThePublic
Three filming formats you can use today without expensive gear (talking head, screen record, or Canva no-face)
The “message me for details” call-to-action strategy that turns viewers into warm DM leads
A step-by-step DM-to-commission conversion process including lead magnets and affiliate bonuses
A fast way to figure out which niche is right for you at finder.platformproof.com

Why Facebook Reels Has the Lowest Competition Right Now

The first thing Alston shows in the video is a real-time scroll through the Facebook Reels shelf. What stands out immediately is that a large portion of the content on the shelf is pulled from Instagram — you can see the small “meme.ig” or Instagram handle watermark in the bottom-left corner of the clip. Facebook itself confirms it is importing Instagram content because original Facebook Reels content is still thin.

That import is a signal, not just a trivia fact. It means the algorithm is hungry for native Facebook Reels creators. If you post directly to Facebook Reels rather than just cross-posting from Instagram, you are already playing in a less crowded lane. The platform wants to surface your content because it has few alternatives in most niches. That is an advantage that will shrink as more creators figure this out — which is exactly why the time to start is now rather than after the field fills up.

The Platform Comparison: Real View Counts from the Same Video

Alston does not just claim Facebook Reels is better — he pulls up his phone and shows the actual numbers side by side. He uploaded the same video to Facebook Reels, Instagram Reels, and TikTok at the same time. Here is what the view counts looked like:

Facebook Reels: The video uploaded the night before had accumulated 204 views. The one uploaded that same morning already had 37 views within an hour. Older reels in his library had reached 18,000 views and one hit 43,000 views.

Instagram Reels: The most recent video had zero views. The video before that had 11 views. One outlier reached 797 views, which Alston called “really good for me” — meaning the typical result on Instagram was well under that number.

TikTok: The video uploaded that morning had 17 views. The one from the night before had 108 views.

The comparison is not scientific — these are real numbers from one creator’s account during one window of time — but the pattern is consistent. Facebook Reels was outperforming the other two platforms on reach for the same content, with no extra effort. The only difference was where the video was posted.

Step 1 — Pick Your Niche

The good news about choosing a niche for Facebook Reels is that the bar for research is low right now. Because content is so sparse on the platform, almost any niche has room. Alston makes this point directly: even if you feel like you missed TikTok or YouTube Shorts, there is still space on Facebook Reels to be an early mover in your category.

The fastest path to a niche is to start with what you already know and enjoy. Alston offers two framings. The first is a personal brand approach: use things you already own or care about, film short demos or reviews, and link those to Amazon affiliate products. The second — and the one he recommends more strongly — is to pick a niche where you genuinely want to help people. His examples are “teaching people how to make money online” and “woodworking,” but the principle applies everywhere. When you like the subject, creating three videos a day does not feel like grinding through a job. It feels like sharing something you would talk about anyway.

One practical note Alston adds: if you are posting reels from your personal Facebook page, your friends and family will see them. If that feels uncomfortable, set up a separate Facebook business page and post your reels there. That way your content reaches the right audience without mixing your business presence into your personal feed.

Step 2 — Build 30 Content Ideas with AnswerThePublic

Once the niche is chosen, the next move is content planning. Alston’s tool of choice is AnswerThePublic (answerthepublic.com), a free keyword research site that pulls real questions people type into search engines and organizes them by type: questions, prepositions, and comparisons.

He demonstrates this live using woodworking as the example niche. After typing “woodworking” and clicking search, the tool returns 80 questions — in one search. That is 80 potential video topics without brainstorming a single one from scratch. The question formats map perfectly to short-form video hooks: “Is woodworking router dangerous?” becomes a 25-second safety tip clip. “Can woodworking be a business?” becomes a quick earnings breakdown. “What is the difference between woodworking and carpentry?” becomes a side-by-side comparison.

Alston recommends picking 30 ideas from that list rather than trying to plan all 80 at once. Thirty gives you 10 days of content at three videos per day — enough to build momentum, test what resonates, and add new ideas before you run out. Starting with 80 can feel overwhelming and lead to paralysis. Starting with 30 means you ship the first batch fast and learn from actual data.

For a woodworking creator promoting the Ted’s Woodworking affiliate program, the content angles are obvious from the AnswerThePublic results: “how to find woodworking plans fast,” “best hand tools for beginners,” “how to build a shed from scratch,” “woodworking plans for shelves.” Each of those is a short video that naturally connects to a product or plan library. The content idea and the affiliate offer line up without forcing anything.

Step 3 — Create Your Videos (Three Formats That Work)

Alston shows three filming formats in the video, and all three require nothing more than a phone.

Talking head: This is what Alston does in most of his own content. He faces his phone camera, speaks directly to the viewer, and delivers the information. No fancy lighting, no professional setup. The directness builds a real connection with the audience faster than voiceover-only videos because viewers see a person they can message and follow.

Phone-to-screen: Point your phone at your desktop monitor and record what is on screen while you narrate. Alston shows this method for content that involves walking through websites, dashboards, or tools. It is the lowest-friction way to create tutorial or demonstration content. You do not need screen recording software or video editing skills — just film what is on the screen and explain what you are doing.

Canva no-face: For creators who are not comfortable on camera, Canva offers mobile video templates with the correct vertical dimensions for Reels. You can add text, images, and transitions without showing your face at all. Alston walks through this in the video: go to Canva, search “mobile video,” pick a template, delete the placeholder content, add your own text and visuals, then download to your phone and upload to Facebook. The whole process from blank template to finished clip takes under 10 minutes once you know the workflow.

Another free tool Alston mentions is CapCut, which he uses for quick edits on his own videos. CapCut is a free download that handles basic cuts, captions, and transitions — enough for Reels without requiring desktop editing software.

The 30-Second Limit and What It Means for Your Content

One platform-specific constraint Alston flags is the 30-second video limit on Facebook Reels at the time of recording. If you upload a video longer than 30 seconds, Facebook cuts off everything after the 30-second mark. The result can look strange or abrupt to viewers who see the truncated version.

This constraint is actually useful discipline for new creators. Thirty seconds is enough time to deliver one clear point — a tip, a comparison, a quick how-to step — and close with a call-to-action. Trying to cram too much into a short clip usually hurts retention anyway. Think of each video as answering exactly one question from your AnswerThePublic list and doing it completely within the time limit. That constraint forces focus, and focused clips tend to perform better than rambling ones that happen to be short.

Not sure which niche to build your Facebook Reels content around?

Answer a few quick questions and get a personalized recommendation at finder.platformproof.com.

Step 4 — Upload Three Per Day and Use “Message Me” as Your CTA

The posting pace Alston recommends is three videos per day. That volume sounds like a lot, but with 30 pre-planned ideas and a simple filming format, it becomes routine quickly. Three videos per day means 90 pieces of content in your first month — more than enough data to see which topics drive the most DMs and which fall flat.

The call-to-action is the most important structural difference between Facebook Reels and the other short-form platforms. On TikTok and Instagram, creators typically end a video with “link in bio” because the platform allows a clickable link in the profile. On Facebook Reels, there is no link to click during video playback. Viewers cannot tap a link mid-scroll. That limitation is actually a hidden advantage.

Instead of directing people to a link, Alston closes every video with “message me for details” or “message me to learn more.” When a viewer is interested enough to send a DM, they have already raised their hand as a warm lead. They are not a passive click — they took a deliberate action to start a conversation. That self-selection makes the DM list far more valuable than a click stream from a bio link. The person on the other end of that message actually wants to hear more.

Facebook also makes this easy because you can follow creators and message them directly from the Reels feed. Alston shows this feature in the video: while watching a reel, you can tap the three dots, see options to follow the creator or message them, and start a conversation without leaving the app. That friction-free path from viewer to DM is what makes the “message me” CTA so effective on this platform specifically.

Step 5 — Convert DMs into Affiliate Commissions

When someone messages you after seeing your reel, the conversation has one goal: move them toward your affiliate offer in a way that serves them. Alston lays out the core conversion process clearly.

First, collect their email address. Do not send them directly to an affiliate link from the DM. An email address means you have a long-term communication channel that does not depend on Facebook’s algorithm deciding to show your content. One way to get the email is to offer a lead magnet — a free PDF, checklist, guide, or mini-course that relates directly to the niche. For a woodworking creator, that might be “10 free woodworking plans for beginners.” The lead magnet gives the prospect a reason to share their email and a positive first experience with your brand before they ever see the affiliate offer.

Second, offer a bonus for signing up through your affiliate link. A bonus is anything you can package alongside the main product: a private group, an extra tutorial, a one-on-one Q and A session, or a supplementary guide. The bonus answers the question “why should I buy through your link instead of going direct?” and gives the prospect a reason to use your affiliate URL rather than searching for the product themselves. This is legal and encouraged by most affiliate programs because it increases conversions for everyone.

Third, rinse and repeat. Alston’s exact words at the end of the tutorial are “rinse and repeat until you are satisfied and successful.” The system is the same regardless of the niche. Create content, get DMs, collect emails, send affiliate offers with bonuses, earn commissions. The variables that change are the niche, the product, and the lead magnet. The process stays the same.

The Full Workflow Step by Step

Here is the complete Facebook Reels affiliate marketing process from Alston’s tutorial in the order he recommends executing it:

Pick a niche. Start with something you enjoy and can create about consistently. Woodworking, personal finance, cooking, fitness, tech reviews — any niche with products to promote works.
Generate 30 content ideas. Go to answerthepublic.com, type your niche, and select 30 questions or comparison topics from the results. These become your first 30 videos.
Choose a filming format. Pick talking head, phone-to-screen, or Canva no-face based on your comfort level. All three require only a phone.
Create your videos. Use CapCut for editing if needed. Keep each video under 30 seconds. Answer one question per clip and close with your CTA.
Upload three per day. Post directly to Facebook Reels (not just cross-posted from Instagram) to get the native platform advantage.
Close every video with “message me for details.” This is your call-to-action. Do not direct people to a link — direct them to your DMs.
When DMs come in, collect the email first. Offer a lead magnet relevant to your niche in exchange for the email address.
Send your affiliate offer with a bonus. Present the affiliate product and include something extra for signing up through your link. Earn the commission when they buy.
Repeat. Keep creating content, keep generating DMs, keep converting. The process compounds over time as your reel library grows and more people find your content.

Honest Drawbacks to Know Before You Start

Three per day is a real commitment. Thirty videos in 10 days sounds manageable when laid out on paper, but filming, editing, and uploading three short clips every single day is a habit that takes a few weeks to feel automatic. If you miss a day, do not try to make up six videos the next day — just continue with three and move forward.

The 30-second limit changes your content style. You cannot do in-depth tutorials in 30 seconds. Every video needs to be a single, tight point. Creators who are used to long-form content sometimes find this constraint frustrating. Treat it as a writing exercise in clarity rather than a limitation.

The “message me” CTA requires manual DM management at the start. Unlike a link that sends people to a page automatically, DMs need a real response. When volume is low, you handle each one personally. When it picks up, you will want templates for common questions and eventually a simple email sequence that runs after someone opts in. Plan for that early so you are not scrambling when the DMs start coming in faster than you can type.

Finally, the view counts Alston showed are real — but they are also from his account with an existing audience and posting history. A brand new account starting from zero will see lower numbers at first. That is expected and normal. The platform advantage of Facebook Reels still applies; it just shows up over weeks of consistent posting rather than on the first day.

Find Your X

The niche question is often where people get stuck before they even start. If you have been going back and forth between three or four ideas and cannot pick one, the fastest way to get unstuck is to answer a few direct questions about your skills, interests, and what you already know well. That is exactly what the Finder tool at Platform Proof does — it takes your answers and points you toward the content category most likely to convert for someone with your background.

Go to finder.platformproof.com, spend a few minutes with the questions, and walk out with a clear direction. Once the niche is decided, the rest of the system — AnswerThePublic, three videos a day, message-me CTA — falls into place quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Facebook business page to run affiliate marketing on Reels?

Not technically, but it is the better choice for most people. Posting from a personal page means your friends and family will see your content, which can feel awkward if you are promoting products or teaching people how to make money. A business page keeps your content separate from your personal life and gives you access to Facebook’s business tools like page insights and ad options down the road.

What affiliate programs work well with Facebook Reels?

Any affiliate program can work as long as the product fits your niche. Alston mentions Ted’s Woodworking for a woodworking niche and general Amazon affiliate links for product-review content. Programs with mid-range commissions and broad consumer appeal tend to convert well through DMs because the buying decision is not huge. High-ticket offers can work too, but they usually require more follow-up conversations before someone commits.

How long does it take to start getting DMs from Facebook Reels?

It depends on the niche, the quality of the content, and how consistently you post. Alston’s numbers show that some reels pick up thousands of views within a few days. For a new account starting from zero, expect the first few weeks to be slow while the algorithm learns what your content is about and who to show it to. Most creators who stick with three videos per day for 30 days start seeing meaningful DM activity by the end of the first month.

Can I repurpose content I already made for TikTok or Instagram on Facebook Reels?

Yes, and this is one of the fastest ways to get started if you already have a library of short-form videos. Upload the same clips natively to Facebook Reels rather than just sharing a TikTok link — Facebook’s algorithm gives preference to videos uploaded directly rather than imported from other platforms. If your TikTok clips have watermarks, remove them first using CapCut or a similar tool before uploading to Facebook.

What if someone messages me but I do not know what affiliate product to recommend yet?

Be honest with them. Tell them you are still putting together your recommended resources list and ask what specifically they are looking for help with. That question gives you useful information about what your audience actually wants to buy, which helps you pick the right affiliate program. In the meantime, point them to free resources in your niche while you finish setting up the full offer.

Is the “message me for details” CTA against Facebook’s rules?

No. Directing viewers to message you is a completely standard social media strategy and does not violate Facebook’s terms of service. Where creators get into trouble is by making false income claims (“I made $5,000 in one day doing this”) or promoting products that violate Facebook’s advertising policies. Keep your content factual, do not make guarantees, and promote legitimate products through legitimate affiliate programs and you will not have issues.

How is this different from Facebook Groups for affiliate marketing?

Facebook Groups rely on community engagement within a closed or open group where members post and interact. Reels are a discovery format — people who have never heard of you can see your videos on the Reels shelf without following you or joining anything. Reels reach strangers; Groups serve an existing community. Both work for affiliate marketing, but Reels is the better starting point if you do not have an audience yet because you are not dependent on people already knowing you exist.

Do I need to show my face to succeed with Facebook Reels?

No. Alston shows three valid filming formats in the tutorial, and the Canva no-face format is specifically designed for creators who do not want to be on camera. That said, talking head videos tend to build a stronger personal connection with viewers faster, which can lead to more DMs from people who feel they already “know” you. If camera comfort is a concern, start with no-face content and experiment with talking head later once you are comfortable with the workflow.

Sources

Alston Godbolt, “How To Start Affiliate Marketing With Facebook Reels 2022,” YouTube, youtu.be/xBakT1N2UZU
AnswerThePublic — keyword and question research tool, answerthepublic.com
Canva — free design and video creation tool, canva.com
CapCut — free mobile video editing app