This question pops up a lot in affiliate marketing circles. The short answer is:
Yes you do! …But not always.
Let me explain.
When you use the product or service you’re promoting, your credibility skyrockets. You can share your personal results, your frustrations, and your wins. That real-world experience builds trust because people know you’re not just parroting a sales page.
But here’s the twist: sometimes you don’t need to be the direct user at all.
Take dresses, for example. You don’t have to personally wear them to talk about quality, fit, or style. What matters is that you understand your audience, highlight the benefits they actually care about, and back up your claims with testimonials, reviews, or demonstrations.
The middle ground? Position yourself as the curator, the person who sorts through all the noise, does the research, and connects the right product to the right person. That’s often more valuable than just being a user.
👉 The real key is this: credibility doesn’t come only from usage, it comes from honesty, insight, and relatability.
So… do you have to use the product? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. What you must do is earn trust. That’s the non-negotiable.