Affiliate programs, which are sometimes referred to as associate programs, facilitate a third-party platform for individuals and brands to connect and collaborate. Both parties register on the platform, engage in discussions for potential collaboration, and initiate their partnership.
However, these affiliate programs are not just simple tools for merchants and affiliate companies; behind the scenes, they function as intricate systems that offer crucial services to both parties involved.
How Do Affiliate Programs Work
Individuals or businesses can create a profile on their platform and select the brand they desire to promote in order to make affiliate programs function effectively.
When individuals click on the unique link generated by the programs and make purchases from the brand, the affiliates earn a commission for their referrals. This link can be shared by affiliates with their site visitors, customers, and followers on social media.
Affiliate programs are utilized by companies to enhance their sales and rely on platforms equipped with tracking technology to monitor the affiliates.
What To Look For In A Good Affiliate Marketing Program
Ease Of Use
As a beginner in affiliate marketing, it is crucial to simplify your approach to ensure a smooth start. This involves opting for affiliate programs that are not only logical but also exhibit a perfect balance between efficient management and appealing design.
Making your life in affiliate marketing as easy as possible is the main objective for affiliate networks, unlike dealing with a complex interface in an affiliate program which could be a complete nightmare. Consequently, generating affiliate links or uploading banners becomes effortless within these networks.
If you are not generating passive income, it implies that neither they nor their clients are earning money. Therefore, there are numerous in-house affiliate programs that can be considered the Sistine Chapel of affiliate marketing.
However, the main idea we want to emphasize is that when selecting an affiliate program, it is important to consider the ease-of-use as a key factor. This may not be as significant when you are more invested in the program.
Point Of Contact
When problems arise, such as broken links or peculiar formatting in the sales report, it is during these moments that assistance from a committed affiliate manager becomes necessary.
When it comes to seeking assistance for a particular program, affiliate networks offer a slight edge due to the availability of both their support staff and the affiliate manager. However, it is important to remember that affiliate managers, much like in-person managers, can vary greatly in their competency and effectiveness.
Before signing up for any affiliate program, it is important to ensure that you inquire about the type of support you will receive. Having a dedicated affiliate manager is crucial, and receiving a response like “Jack the guy from IT takes care of that” is not satisfactory and should not be accepted.
Commission and Payments
Discover not just the payment amount offered by an affiliate program, but also the specific timeframe in which you will receive your payment. While the majority of affiliate programs operate on a Net 30 basis, meaning affiliates are paid 30 days after generating a sale, there are certain programs that operate on a Net 60 or Net 90 basis. In simpler terms, this implies that while most affiliates receive their payments after 30 days, others may have to wait for up to 90 days to receive their payments.
If you have bills to pay, waiting for your affiliate income for such a long time can be challenging.
Top Affiliate Marketing Programs That Are Suitable for Beginners
The Amazon Associates program remains unchanged in its structure and purpose.
Jeff Bezos, an incredibly intelligent individual, possesses an unimaginably vast fortune that mirrors his name converted into binary digits. This immense wealth can be attributed to his foresight, such as being an early adopter of online retail and pioneering the introduction of an affiliate program as far back as 1996.
In 1996, the Internet existed, albeit with the peculiar aspect that you could perceive its presence by listening to the sound it made when telephone calls were made. If you’re unfamiliar with this concept, feel free to inquire with your parents for clarification.
The Amazon Affiliate Program, also known as the Amazon Associates Program, has been in existence for a long time, making it one of the oldest affiliate programs available. It covers a wide range of products sold by Amazon, meaning that if you are able to locate an item on Amazon, you have the opportunity to sell it and receive a portion of the earnings.
Amazon’s affiliate marketing program is the go-to option for new affiliates due to its user-friendly interface, making it a convenient choice for creating your initial affiliate links. It covers a wide range of items, ranging from books to bullhorns and everything in between, catering to various target audiences.
CJ Affiliate remains the same.
CJ Affiliate, previously called Commission Junction, is among the most established affiliate networks. What sets them apart from Amazon is their focus on not just big brand names, but also smaller suppliers of products and services.
At present, they are affiliated with gigantic corporations like Zappos, Walgreens, Verizon, Under Armour, Trip Advisor, Staples, Sonos, Disney Shops, Sears, and Samsung, to name just a few. Additionally, they are associated with approximately 2,473 other affiliate marketing programs.
Besides offering a wide variety of brands and products, you are provided with all the essential tools required by accomplished affiliate marketers. These tools range from exceptional support to effortless creation of affiliate links, which saves a significant amount of time. With no uncertainty involved, you are able to strategically determine which affiliate programs to promote and estimate the approximate earnings per sale.
ShareASale is a platform that allows users to share links and earn commission from referrals.
ShareASale is likely disregarded by many as an affiliate network, partly due to its outdated interface that hasn’t been updated since I created my account a long time ago.
Some new affiliate marketers are discouraged by the absence of a “Wow” element.
However, I must emphasize that ShareASale offers exceptional affiliate programs, which some of my friends can attest to. These programs offer commission rates ranging from $300 to $350 per sale, and it is important to note that they are not related to any controversial products, such as “enlargement” items, or similar offerings.
The truth is, these represent approximately 5,000 affiliate programs, prioritizing smaller yet lucrative companies rather than solely prominent brands. Although the affiliate marketing dashboard is simple, it serves its purpose well, and sometimes the absence of complexity turns out to be advantageous.
It is highly recommended that you consider signing up for ShareASale, as it is an impressive network.
4. ClickBank
ClickBank, which has been active since 1998, is classified as a “grandparent” affiliate network. Its humble origins as a small venture launched by friends in a garage have remarkably led to its current annual sales of US$3 billion.
Instead of following the path of other affiliate programs, ClickBank revolutionized the industry by prioritizing the sale of digital products and finding ways to generate profits without the need to ship physical goods.
This implied immediate delivery, minimal expenses, and the opportunity for them to collaborate directly with creators. Despite never envisioning social media’s existence, their line of products can also effectively cater to those audiences.
All of their products can be found in the ClickBank Marketplace, however, nowadays they also showcase some physical products. Despite its functionality, the Marketplace interface appears unchanged since 1998. It’s a small complaint, but it’s well past time for an update.
5. eBay Partner Network
The eBay Partner Network is where you can enroll to become an eBay affiliate, taking advantage of one of the most lucrative affiliate programs available online. Commissions offered range from 50% to 70%. eBay equips affiliates with convenient tools for promoting their products effortlessly. Regardless of your preferred marketing strategy, eBay’s affiliate program can still be effectively utilized.
In contrast to other affiliate marketing programs mentioned here, as an eBay affiliate, you will directly collaborate with eBay and promote their products. Your main focus will be maintaining a relationship with eBay, although you will also assist sellers to a certain extent.
Similar to Amazon, you will have the chance to collaborate with a highly desirable platform for businesses to sell their products on. eBay dropshipping presents incredible potential for growth. Furthermore, unlike Amazon, eBay does not mandate exclusive partnership, so you can also explore other merchants and programs to earn supplementary income as an eBay affiliate.
To begin, you will have to submit an application to join its affiliate program, which typically takes around five minutes. Without a doubt, it is one of the simplest application procedures.
6. GiddyUp
GiddyUp is ideal for newcomers as it provides an affiliate manager and useful tools to support you in various aspects of its program.
GiddyUp’s affiliates have the exclusive opportunity to collaborate with more than 150 DTC brands spanning various industries such as travel, electronics, health and wellness, and more.
In addition, the company offers a creative library to support your digital marketing efforts, along with comprehensive tracking and up-to-date data that enables you to evaluate your month-to-month performance. By monitoring your performance, you can pinpoint areas for enhancement and increase your future commission potential.
7. Impact
Impact is known for being one of the limited amount of affiliate marketing programs that links individuals with esteemed brands such as Airbnb, Uber, Adidas, and various others. Its reputation lies in its assortment of automation tools aimed at facilitating your campaigns and boosting sales.
At no cost, you have the opportunity to form and oversee collaborations with these companies. The assortment of brands covers various sectors such as beauty, travel, retail, fitness, and more. Following your registration with Impact, you will gain entry to a marketplace where you can locate leading brands and establish direct communication with their affiliate managers.
You will typically receive payment based on a CPA (cost-per-action) model with Impact, meaning you will earn a commission when your audience makes a purchase using your affiliate link.
8. Awin
One more excellent affiliate program suitable for beginners is Awin. You can join this program without needing a website by utilizing any of your social media profiles, for instance, Instagram, Pinterest, or YouTube.
When joining the Awin program, all affiliates are subjected to a compliance check to verify their information. Additionally, a $5 deposit is required, but will be refunded by Awin once the affiliate reaches their initial payment threshold.
At Awin, you have the opportunity to explore more than 21,200 renowned brands, encompassing both top-tier and well-known household names. Whether you opt to browse through the company’s advertiser directory to find programs of your interest, or directly communicate with brand representatives to explore collaboration possibilities, the choice is yours.
Rakuten Affiliate, the ninth in rank.
The Rakuten affiliate publisher program comes last, but it still holds the third-largest market share of affiliate networks, accounting for 7.25%. With over 2,500 retail brands in connection, Rakuten offers a wide range of products. Choose the most appropriate item and merchant for you, and proceed by clicking on the Apply button.
If you are not a good fit, do not be surprised if most of the companies involved in the Rakuten affiliate program reject your application as they heavily participate in the affiliate screening process, which is one of the program’s distinctive features.
After receiving approval, you can easily proceed with the remaining steps. Locate the appropriate offer for your content or advertisement, create your unique link, and commence earning money as an affiliate.
