How BuzzFeed Cracked the Code to Affiliate Marketing Success

It often begins with a scroll-stopping headline on social media. Something quirky. Something that feels irresistible.

You click. I click. We all click.

And suddenly, we’re hooked, scrolling through lists of products we never planned to buy but now need.

That’s the magic of BuzzFeed’s affiliate marketing machine.

In this article, we’ll break down how BuzzFeed became a global powerhouse in affiliate marketing, fueling sales for mega-retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and H&M, while teaching us valuable lessons on how to craft content that sells without feeling like a hard sell.

A Quick Look at BuzzFeed

Founded in 2006 by Jonah Peretti and John S. Johnson III, BuzzFeed started as a viral content hub for millennials. Known for its humorous quizzes, “listicles,” and pop-culture-heavy news, the platform quickly attracted millions.

Today, BuzzFeed has a global audience of 520M+ and racks up 3+ billion monthly content views — making it an affiliate marketing juggernaut.

Its content style? Easy-to-digest, shareable, and addictive.

BuzzFeed’s Affiliate Marketing Blueprint

Affiliate marketing isn’t just a side hustle for BuzzFeed, it’s a major revenue driver.

• In 2019 alone, BuzzFeed drove $425M in purchases directly attributable to its content.

• 7 in 10 readers admit BuzzFeed influences their purchase decisions.

Instead of bombarding readers with banner ads, BuzzFeed cleverly weaves affiliate promotions into entertaining and value-packed content.

Their strategy focuses on: 

• Directly connecting consumers to brands 

• Bypassing expensive ad platforms (Google, Facebook) 

• Building content people want to read and share

  
  

Why BuzzFeed Content Converts Like Crazy

1. Informative but Entertaining

BuzzFeed doesn’t just drop affiliate links. They give readers something of value ... whether that’s a quirky quiz, a relatable meme, or a “Top 10 Must-Haves” article.

Example: Instead of boring readers with an article on “home loans,” they run features like:  “10 Ridiculously Simple Tricks to Save Money (Without Giving Up Coffee)” Naturally, a bank’s affiliate link is slipped inside.

2. Quizzes That Hook Audiences

BuzzFeed posts 8+ quizzes per day, and here’s the kicker: 96% of users finish them.

That’s a marketer’s dream. Inside these quizzes, affiliate products are recommended based on user responses — turning casual clicks into purchases.

3. Power of Partnerships

From Walmart’s Tasty recipes to Amazon Prime Day takeovers, BuzzFeed knows how to collaborate. Their dedicated Amazon storefront alone pulls massive traffic with categories like:

• “TikTok Made Me Buy It”

• “Cool Amazon Finds”

• Gift Guides for every occasion

The Secret Sauce: Social Proof

BuzzFeed has mastered using social proof to nudge readers into buying:

• Popular Products Lists at the top of shopping articles

• Verified Amazon reviews displayed under product descriptions

• Internal links to full reviews written by BuzzFeed staff

Why does this work? Because 88% of shoppers trust user reviews as much as personal recommendations. BuzzFeed leverages this psychology at every touchpoint.

Frictionless Shopping = More Sales

BuzzFeed makes it ridiculously easy to buy:

• Each item has a bright pink “Add to Wishlist” button

• Readers can save products in one place

• A simple “Get It” button takes users straight to checkout

And the funnel doesn’t stop there. At the end of every article, BuzzFeed prompts readers to join their newsletter, delivering curated product picks straight to inboxes.

The BuzzFeed Shopping Hub

BuzzFeed’s dedicated shopping page is built to sell:

• 🛍️ Editor’s Picks → Trusted recommendations

• 🛍️ Popular Products → Proof that “everyone’s buying this”

• 🛍️ Gift Guides → Seasonal buying triggers

This layout is no accident — it’s optimized to spark purchases at every level.

Global Expansion

BuzzFeed isn’t stopping at the U.S. Their affiliate empire has expanded to: 

🇯🇵 Japan

 🇬🇧 U.K. 

🇨🇦 Canada 

🇧🇷 Brazil 

🇲🇽 Mexico 

🇮🇳 India 

🇦🇺 Australia

By going global, BuzzFeed taps into new audiences and international partnerships, multiplying revenue streams.

Goldmine Secret Tips You Can Steal

• Bundle Affiliate Products into Themes BuzzFeed rarely promotes single products in isolation. Instead, they group them into “bundles” like “10 Kitchen Tools You Didn’t Know You Needed.” Readers end up buying multiple items, not just one.

• Use Relatable Language & Humor Dry product reviews bore people. BuzzFeed makes even a sponge sound fun to buy. Add humor and memes into your affiliate content to make it shareable.

• Leverage Email Follow-Ups BuzzFeed doesn’t rely only on website traffic. Their newsletters push affiliate products straight into inboxes, keeping the buying loop alive.

• Tap Into Urgency (Prime Day Playbook) Before Amazon Prime Day, BuzzFeed tested product types weeks in advance to see what performed best. On the big day, they only promoted proven winners. You can copy this by pre-testing your affiliate offers before running a big push.

  
  

Final Takeaways

BuzzFeed turned affiliate marketing into a revenue empire, growing affiliate sales from 9% → 21% of total revenue in just a few years.

Their secret isn’t complicated:

• Create fun, binge-worthy content

• Bake in social proof

• Remove friction from the buying journey

• Scale globally

If you’re struggling to boost affiliate sales, study BuzzFeed’s playbook: make buying entertaining, effortless, and trusted.