Affiliate marketing is a process where an affiliate earns a commission for promoting another company. The affiliate promotes a product or service on their website and/or social media and earns a cut of the profit from each sale they make.
When a company hires an affiliate, they usually send them a sample of what they’re selling. Then the affiliate creates sponsored content to promote the product or service to their followers.
Affiliate marketing has its own jargon. If you don’t know the difference between an affiliate program and an affiliate network, this is the place to start before you read more.
The company selling the product or service promoted by the affiliates.
The person or company promoting the product.
The unique URL that tracks purchases made from the affiliate’s sponsored content.
An action taken by the customer that the merchant deems payable to the affiliate. It’s usually a purchase or a lead.
A customer, client, or lead who takes an action from the affiliate link.
A middleman between merchants and affiliates. Once an affiliate joins the network, they can look through programs that are part of it and join them all in one place.
The number of clicks compared to the number of impressions.
The percentage of clicks that converted.
A commission model where merchants only pay affiliates for conversions.
A commission model where the merchant pays the affiliates for clicks. Typically used for banner ads.
A URL used for server-side conversion tracking.
A piece of code that tracks online activity for advertising purposes.
The text embedded in the affiliate link used to track conversions.
When the affiliate’s branding appears on a merchant’s website.
The page an affiliate link leads to when users click on it.
The process of determining which affiliates are generating the conversions.
When an affiliate’s commission is revoked because the conversion was invalid.
Information stored on a web browser for advertising purposes. In affiliate marketing, cookies are used to track clicks and conversions.
Cleaning up a link so it’s shorter and doesn't stand out as much.
Here’s a quick step by step to becoming an affiliate marketer.
The first step to becoming an affiliate marketer is to choose a niche of products and services to promote. It should be something that you are interested in and know a lot about. Some popular niches include:
Whether you’re a blogger, YouTuber, Instagram influencer, or anything in between, it’s best to start creating content before you make any affiliate deals. Keep your content:
That way your target audience will value what you have to say before you start selling them stuff.
The bigger and more captive your audience, the more money you’ll make later on. This starts with good content, but needs a little digital marketing strategy to get the right eyes on it. This strategy may include:
Some platforms don’t allow content monetization until you’ve reached a big enough audience.
Once you have content and an audience that can prove your worthiness as a potential affiliate, sign up for programs. Your choices should consider
A website with a custom domain makes any online business look more legitimate and professional. This matters to affiliates because building an audience that trusts your recommendations is what makes your business go ‘round. Starting a website may sound intimidating, but with the right website builder, it’s easy and affordable. Be sure to choose one with good marketing tools and plugins related to your niche.
Affiliates are required by law to disclose that they earn a commission on products purchased through their links.
Not all programs have the same goal. There are five main types:
Search affiliates improve the search engine optimization of the client businesses.
Bloggers and influencers are the most common type of affiliates. This is because they have niches that usually correspond with products and services. Beauty influencers promote makeup and skincare products in their tutorials. Food bloggers promote kitchen tools in their recipe posts.
For products and services that customers research before buying, review sites are the affiliates to court. These sites usually work by getting samples and writing honest product reviews.
Companies that are new to the market often start off using coupon sites as affiliates. The discounts are effective at getting first-time buyers to check out their products.
Email marketing affiliates are most effective in small doses and with specific targeting.
Affiliate commission is the cut you make from each purchase using your affiliate link. The higher that rate, the more affiliate income you earn. Retail programs tend to have lower commission rates than other niches because the cost of the items is lower. A good general percentage range to look for is 5-30%.
The more money customers spend on a merchant’s products, the better for you to cash out.
Affiliate programs use cookies to track users who click the affiliate link to see if they made a purchase. The cookie duration, also known as the cookie length or cookie duration, defines how long the cookie tracks the user’s activity. If a cookie has a 30-day life, you’ll get credit if they make a purchase 30 days after that first click.
Before you endorse an affiliate product, be sure it’s something you would actually use and can accurately describe. This will set you up for success and enjoyment of your affiliate business.
What's popular and profitable today may not be profitable next year. That's why it's important to regularly research what’s trending in your niche. This could be in your social media communities or other relevant forums.
A legitimate affiliate program will not ask affiliates to pay membership fees. If you find one that does, run the other way.
Here are some of the best affiliate marketing programs by niche. The focus is high commission and long cookie duration.
Affiliate programs for web hosting are great for affiliate sites that are focused on tech and business.
Commission: $65 per sale
Cookie Life: 45 days
Commission: $50 for one sale, up to $100 for six sales
Cookie life: 30 days
Commission: 150%
Cookie Life: 90 days
Commission: Up to $500
Cookie Life: 60 days
Where would we be without online shopping? These programs are broad and can work with a variety of different products. Keep in mind that commission rates for retail affiliates are lower than other programs.
Commission: 1-10% depending on the product category
Cookie life: 24 hours
Commission: 1-8% depending on the product category
Cookie Life: 7 days
Commission: 1-4% depending on the product category
Cookie Life: 24 hours
Commission: 20% per Bronze subscriber, 25% per Silver subscriber, 30% per Gold subscriber
Cookie Life: 90 days
Affiliate networks are a solid option for beginners. They make it easy to apply for multiple programs and allow you to promote your content across them. Keep in mind that commission rates vary depending on the individual merchant.
Commission: Varies depending on the merchant
Cookie Life: Varies depending on the merchant
Commission: Varies depending on the merchant
Cookie Life: Varies depending on the merchant
Commission: 50-70%
Cookie Life: Varies depending on the merchant
Commission: Varies depending on the merchant
Cookie Life: Varies depending on the merchant
If you’re a travel blogger, these programs just might pay for your next flight.
Commission: Minimum 50% per booking
Cookie Life: 14 days
Commission: Up to 80%
Cookie Life: 30 days
Travelpayouts is a travel-specific affiliate network.
Commission: 3-5%
Cookie Life: 45 days
Commission: 4%
Cookie Life: 60 days
People are always looking for financial advice and products that make managing their money easier. If you have a knack for money yourself, these programs let you cash in on it.
Commission: $10-40 per purchase
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Commission: 7%
Cookie Duration: 45 days
Commission: $20 per purchase
Cookie Duration: 45 days
Commission: $10 per qualified lead
Cookie Life: 30 days
Commission: 7% per sale and $5 per free trial
Cookie Life: 30 days
Commission: 50%
Cookie Life: 365 days
Fitness and sports come with a lot of equipment. If you’re a gym rat yourself with a lot of gym rat followers, why not cash out on recommendations from these companies?
Commission: 8%
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Commission: 8%
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Commission: 8-11%
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Commission: 8%
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Commission: 9%
Cookie Duration: 365 days
Here are the best partnerships for the fashionistas of the internet.
Commission: 7%
Cookie Duration: 45 days
Commission: 18%
Cookie Duration: 60 days
Commission: 20%
Cookie Duration: 45 days
Commission: $20
Cookie Duration: 30 days
Commission: 8%
Cookie Life: 60 days
The rise of e-sports, Twitch, and gaming influencers, the video game and gaming accessories market is ripe for promotions. Partner with these companies if you’re a passionate gamer.
Commission: 5%
Cookie Life: 90 days
Commission: 10-20% on software, 3% on other products
Cookie Life: 30 days
Commission: $15 per trial sign-up, 5% per new game, 10% per used game
Cookie Life: 30 days
Marketing and business software is a profitable affiliate niche. Prospects are often looking to build long-term relationships with these companies. That means they’re doing a lot of research and paying a lot of money. Here are some particularly good ones to partner with.
Commission: $5 for each free trial referral, $105 when a referral pays for their account
Cookie life: 120 days
Commission: 15% recurring or 100% of the first month’s revenue
Cookie life: 90 days
Commission: 20% of recurring revenue for every customer referred
Cookie Life: 90 days
Commission: 20% upfront and 20% recurring
Cookie Life: 30 days
Commission: $100 for every sale referred or 33% of recurring subscriptions
Cookie life: 120 days
Commission: $200 per subscription, $10 per free trial, $0.01 per new sign up
Cookie Life: 10 Years
Commission: 30% recurring
Cookie life: 90 days
Commission: 10-45%
Cookie Life: 30 days
Commission: 15% recurring
Cookie Life: 90 days
Commission: 15% recurring
Cookie Life: 90 days
Commission: 30% recurring
Cookie Life: 30 days
Commission: 30% recurring, up to 50% through monthly bonuses
Cookie Life: 90 days
Commission: 30% recurring
Cookie Life: One year
Conversion: 30% recurring
Cookie life: 30 days
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