Most people trying to promote ClickFunnels on YouTube go straight for the obvious: they type “ClickFunnels” into the search bar, see a wall of affiliate videos, and walk away thinking the opportunity is gone. It is not gone. The alphabet soup method, the Traffic Secrets angle, the share funnel play, and YouTube ads targeting are four separate doors into the same commission stream, and in this walkthrough I am going to open every single one of them for you.
ClickFunnels pays recurring commissions. That means every month a person you referred stays on their account, you get paid again. The goal Alston lays out in this video is $100 a day from those recurring commissions, and the path to get there starts with YouTube content that solves real problems for people who already need what ClickFunnels sells, whether they know the name ClickFunnels or not.
What You’ll Walk Out With
- A clear explanation of the ClickFunnels affiliate program and what makes it worth promoting on YouTube
- Step-by-step breakdown of the alphabet soup method for finding low-competition ClickFunnels content angles
- How to use the Traffic Secrets free book to enter audiences that have never heard of ClickFunnels
- How AnswerThePublic surfaces buyer-intent questions you can turn into videos today
- The share funnel strategy for photographers, real estate agents, and service businesses
- How to run YouTube and Facebook ads to ClickFunnels offers without using the brand name
- Honest drawbacks so you know what you are getting into before you film your first video
- Not sure which online income model fits your background? Find out at finder.platformproof.com
Why ClickFunnels Is Worth Promoting on YouTube
ClickFunnels is software that helps people start and grow an online business by building sales funnels instead of traditional websites. Because it covers so many business types, the number of content angles you can create is enormous. Real estate agents want funnels. Coaches want funnels. Photographers want funnels. Ecommerce sellers want funnels. Every one of those groups is already searching YouTube for solutions, and ClickFunnels sits at the center of almost every answer you could give them.
Beyond the software itself, ClickFunnels has a full product catalog that includes free books, courses, and premium memberships. That range matters because it gives you multiple price points to promote. The free-plus-shipping books like Traffic Secrets and Expert Secrets are especially powerful entry points because the zero price barrier gets people clicking, and once they are in the ClickFunnels world on your affiliate link, any future purchase they make while using that same email address can earn you a commission.
Method 1: The Alphabet Soup Method for ClickFunnels Content
The most direct way to start is to type “clickfunnels” into the YouTube search bar and then, one at a time, add a letter of the alphabet after it. This is called the alphabet soup method, and it works because YouTube autocomplete is showing you exactly what real people are typing right now.
When you type “clickfunnels a” you might get “clickfunnels alternatives.” When you type “clickfunnels r” you might get “clickfunnels for real estate.” Each one of those autocomplete suggestions is a real audience with a real problem, and a video that solves that problem can drop your affiliate link in the description for a two-week free ClickFunnels trial or a share funnel built specifically for that niche.
What Alston shows in the video is that when you search “clickfunnels for real estate,” you can already see people creating that content and generating leads and sales by sharing funnels built specifically for the real estate audience. “Clickfunnels for ecommerce,” “clickfunnels for insurance agents,” “clickfunnels for beginners,” and “clickfunnels for photographers” all work the same way. You could run through the entire alphabet and have content ideas for weeks or even months.
There is one honest caveat here. Because you are searching for “clickfunnels” directly, you are in the most competitive corner of this niche. Almost every person creating content around the ClickFunnels keyword is an affiliate and knows about the commission opportunity. That does not make it impossible, but it does mean you will be competing with established channels. The methods below are specifically designed to let you sidestep that competition entirely.
Method 2: Promote Traffic Secrets by Solving Traffic Problems
This is the angle that most ClickFunnels affiliates miss, and it is one of the most powerful ones in the video. Instead of targeting people who are already searching for ClickFunnels, you target people who are searching for traffic, leads, or customers, and then you recommend the Traffic Secrets book as your solution.
Traffic Secrets is a book by Russell Brunson that teaches people how to drive traffic to any online business. It is free plus shipping, which means the customer pays only a few dollars to get a physical book delivered to their door. Because the price is so low, the barrier to clicking your link and ordering is almost nothing, and because it is a ClickFunnels product, you earn commissions on anything else they buy afterward.
The content play Alston walks through is to search YouTube for phrases like “how to get more traffic” and then look at who is already getting views. In the video, he pulls up “how to get more traffic to your Etsy shop” as an example and shows that the top result has 38,000 views from a channel with only 2,400 subscribers. The channel below it has 8,700 views and 20,000 subscribers. That tells you the video topic itself is the driver, not channel authority. You can step into that space, create a strong video, and recommend Traffic Secrets as the deep-dive resource.
The range of sub-niches you can enter this way is very wide. You could make videos about getting more traffic to an Etsy shop, a Pinterest account, a personal website, a local business, or a YouTube channel itself. Each of those videos ends with a natural recommendation to pick up the Traffic Secrets book for a more complete strategy, and every order goes through your affiliate link.
Method 3: Use AnswerThePublic to Find Buyer-Intent Questions
When you run out of content ideas, AnswerThePublic.com is the tool Alston recommends in this video. It pulls real search queries from across the internet and groups them by question type, so instead of guessing what people want to know, you are reading directly from what they are actually asking.
In the video, Alston types “how to start a coaching business” into AnswerThePublic and the tool returns 80 questions. Examples include “how to start a coaching business online,” “how can I start a coaching business,” “how do I start my own coaching business,” and “how much does it cost to start a coaching business.” Every single one of those is a potential video title, and every one of them connects to a person who is one step away from needing a funnel to sell their coaching.
The free version of AnswerThePublic limits you to two searches per day. Alston notes in the video that if you have a VPN you could potentially get around that limit, but even with two searches you can generate enough ideas to fill a full month of content. Pick your niche, run the search, and copy the questions directly into YouTube to check the existing competition before you film anything.
Method 4: Target the Coaching Niche With Expert Secrets
Expert Secrets is the second ClickFunnels free-plus-shipping book, and it is built specifically for people who want to package their knowledge into a coaching, consulting, or course business. That makes it a natural fit for content around starting a coaching business, building an online course, or turning expertise into income.
The same traffic logic applies here as it does with Traffic Secrets. You create content that helps someone get started with their coaching business, you answer real questions you found on AnswerThePublic or YouTube autocomplete, and then you recommend Expert Secrets as the resource that will show them exactly what to do. The book is free plus shipping, so the click-through rate on that recommendation tends to be high because there is almost no financial risk for the viewer.
Once a person orders Expert Secrets through your link, they enter the ClickFunnels email list. Any time they later upgrade to a ClickFunnels account or purchase another product using that same email address, your commission is attached to the transaction. This is the compounding side of the ClickFunnels affiliate model, and it is why building an audience of people interested in coaching and course creation is such a strong long-term play.
Method 5: Share Funnels as a Free Lead Magnet
Share funnels are a feature inside ClickFunnels that lets you share a pre-built funnel with anyone. When someone clicks your share funnel link and they do not have a ClickFunnels account, they are prompted to start a free two-week trial to import the funnel into their own account. If they stay on after the trial, you earn a recurring commission.
The strategy Alston outlines is to pick a specific profession or business type, build a funnel for them, and then create a YouTube video showing them how to use it. A wedding photographer who sees a video titled “How to Get More Wedding Clients With a Simple Funnel” and clicks through to get a free pre-built funnel has almost no reason to say no. You are solving an immediate problem and giving away a finished product, and the ClickFunnels trial is the natural next step to actually use what you are giving away.
This approach works across a wide range of service businesses: real estate agents who need a lead capture funnel, photographers who want to book more sessions, coaches who want to sell discovery calls, and local businesses that need a simple page to collect email addresses. Each niche gets its own video and its own share funnel, which means each video has a concrete deliverable that makes it easier for viewers to take action right away rather than just watching and moving on.
Not sure which online income model fits where you are right now?
Take the free quiz at finder.platformproof.com and get a specific recommendation based on your skills, schedule, and starting point.
Method 6: YouTube Ads and Facebook Ads for ClickFunnels Offers
The fifth method in the video is paid advertising, and it opens a completely different kind of targeting than organic content. With YouTube ads, you can place your video directly in front of someone who is about to watch a video that your target audience is already watching. They are already on YouTube, already in research mode, and your ad can step in before the video they chose even starts.
The key rule Alston mentions is that you cannot promote using the ClickFunnels brand name in your ads. You have to position around the problem, not the product. A YouTube ad about “the fastest way to build a funnel for your coaching business” or “how to get more leads for your local service business” can do exactly what a direct ClickFunnels ad would do without triggering any brand name restrictions.
Facebook ads work the same way. You create a video or image ad targeting business owners, coaches, or service providers, and you drive them to a landing page or directly to your YouTube video where you walk them through the recommendation. Alston notes that the Facebook ads training is outside the scope of the YouTube promotion video, but the targeting logic is the same: find the audience that already needs what ClickFunnels solves, and meet them where they are with a message built around their problem, not the product name.
Honest Drawbacks to Know Before You Film Your First Video
The alphabet soup method is the most straightforward entry point but also the most competitive. When you are searching directly for “clickfunnels,” you are in the same pool as every other affiliate who has been doing this for years. If you are starting a brand new channel with zero subscribers, ranking against established affiliates on direct ClickFunnels keywords is going to take time and consistent output.
The indirect methods, like Traffic Secrets and Expert Secrets content, are less competitive but require more setup. You have to actually understand the book well enough to create genuine content around it, and you have to be willing to create videos that do not mention ClickFunnels at all until you make your recommendation. Some people find that uncomfortable because it feels like a longer path, but it is a more defensible position once you build it.
The paid ads route requires a budget and some trial and error before you find a combination of audience, hook, and offer that performs. Alston points to his additional YouTube ads training for anyone who wants to go deeper on that approach. Running ads to a brand new affiliate offer without testing your message and targeting first is a fast way to spend money without results.
Finally, AnswerThePublic is limited to two free searches per day. That is enough to get started, but if you want to do serious research across multiple niches you will eventually hit that ceiling. The paid version removes the limit, but that is an additional cost to factor in.
A Simple Decision Framework for Choosing Your First Method
If you already have a YouTube channel with some subscribers and you want the fastest path to commissions, start with the alphabet soup method. You know the game, you have some authority, and you can compete on direct ClickFunnels searches.
If you are starting from zero and you want to build without fighting the most competitive keywords on day one, go to the Traffic Secrets or Expert Secrets angle. Pick one sub-niche like Etsy sellers, coaches, or local service businesses, create content that solves a real problem for that group, and add your free book recommendation at the end of each video.
If you have a budget and you want faster results without waiting for organic ranking, look into YouTube pre-roll ads. You can target by interest and by the specific videos your audience is already watching. Keep your messaging around the problem your audience has, not the ClickFunnels brand name, and test small before scaling.
If you have skills in a specific profession, like real estate, photography, or coaching, the share funnel method gives you a head start because you already understand the audience’s problem. Build the funnel, film the walkthrough video, and give the funnel away for free. The ClickFunnels trial is the natural conversion point.
Find Your X
ClickFunnels affiliate marketing on YouTube is one specific path to online income, but it is not the only one and it may not be the best fit for where you are starting from. The right model depends on what you already know, how much time you have, and what kind of work you are willing to do consistently. Take the free quiz at finder.platformproof.com to find out which income model matches your actual situation, not just the one that sounds best in a video.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does ClickFunnels pay in affiliate commissions?
ClickFunnels pays recurring commissions on their software subscriptions, meaning you get paid every month a customer stays on the platform. The exact commission rate depends on the product and tier. For specific current rates, check the official ClickFunnels affiliate program documentation, since those numbers change over time.
Do I need a big YouTube channel to make money promoting ClickFunnels?
No. The example Alston shows in the video is a channel with 2,400 subscribers that earned 38,000 views on a single video about getting Etsy traffic. Subscriber count matters less than whether your video actually answers the question someone is searching. A small channel with a well-targeted video in a low-competition niche can outperform a large channel that is going after highly competitive keywords.
What is the alphabet soup method and how do I use it?
The alphabet soup method means typing your main keyword into the YouTube search bar and then adding each letter of the alphabet one at a time to see what autocomplete suggestions appear. For ClickFunnels, you type “clickfunnels a,” “clickfunnels b,” and so on. Each autocomplete result is a real search phrase that real people are using, which gives you a list of video topics with built-in demand.
What is a share funnel and how does it help me earn commissions?
A share funnel is a pre-built funnel inside ClickFunnels that you can share with a unique link. When someone clicks your share funnel link without a ClickFunnels account, they are prompted to start a free two-week trial to import it. If they keep the account after the trial ends, you earn a recurring commission. The share funnel strategy works because you are giving away something immediately useful, which makes the conversion feel natural rather than like a hard sell.
Can I run YouTube ads to promote ClickFunnels?
Yes, but you cannot use the ClickFunnels brand name in your ads. You have to frame your message around the problem your audience has, such as getting more leads or building a coaching business, without directly naming ClickFunnels in the ad itself. Once they click through to your video or landing page, you can make the recommendation there. Alston mentions that he has separate YouTube ads training for anyone who wants to go deeper on this approach.
What is AnswerThePublic and how is it useful for ClickFunnels content?
AnswerThePublic is a keyword research tool that pulls real questions people are asking online about any topic. You type in a phrase like “how to start a coaching business” and it returns a list of related questions organized by type: who, what, where, when, why, and how. In the video, Alston shows it returning 80 questions for that single phrase. Each question is a potential YouTube video topic that connects to an audience who could benefit from Expert Secrets or ClickFunnels. The free version limits you to two searches per day.
Is promoting ClickFunnels on YouTube still worth it in 2024?
The indirect methods, like targeting traffic problems with the Traffic Secrets book or targeting coaching seekers with Expert Secrets, are more durable than direct ClickFunnels keyword targeting because they are not dependent on ClickFunnels staying popular as a search term. As long as people want more leads, more traffic, and more clients, those videos stay relevant. Direct ClickFunnels searches are competitive but still active, especially in specific niches like real estate and ecommerce.
How do I get started with no experience in ClickFunnels or YouTube?
Start by picking one sub-niche where you have some background knowledge. If you understand real estate, build a share funnel for real estate agents and film a walkthrough. If you understand Etsy, create a video about getting more Etsy traffic and recommend Traffic Secrets at the end. You do not need to be a ClickFunnels expert to get started. You need to understand your audience’s problem well enough to make a helpful video, and the ClickFunnels product recommendation is the natural next step you point them toward.
Read Next
YouTube is one channel for ClickFunnels affiliate promotion, but it is not the only one. If you want to see how the same products perform on a different platform, the breakdown below covers a similar approach adapted for a completely different audience and discovery mechanism.
How To Promote ClickFunnels On Facebook: 5 Ways to Make $100 Per Day
Sources
- Alston Godbolt, “How To Promote Clickfunnels On YouTube 2021,” YouTube, https://youtu.be/-VHrQPEgIHU
- ClickFunnels affiliate program: clickfunnels.com/affiliates
- Traffic Secrets by Russell Brunson, available at trafficsecrets.com
- Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson, available at expertsecrets.com
- AnswerThePublic keyword research tool: answerthepublic.com
Related Reading
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Helping 1 million working adults make their first $3,000 online with the skills they already have. Alston Godbolt, Platform Proof.