When you don’t sell products or services, affiliate marketing is a great method to earn money from your blog. By joining an affiliate program, you can gain exclusive access to new content and special deals for your audience, while also increasing your earnings.
What is an Affiliate Program?
An affiliate program involves a business paying a commission to another business or influencer (‘the affiliate’) for driving traffic and/or generating sales. This can be accomplished through various means such as web content, social media, or product integration.
In order to enhance our comprehension of affiliate programs, let’s examine a specific case. Wirecutter.com, a website owned by the New York Times, provides a compilation of product recommendations for consumers. Wirecutter primarily generates income by receiving commission through its affiliate agreements with various retailers.
Despite the publisher’s method of monetizing through affiliates, it is actually the opposite of what may lead one to question the authenticity of its recommendations.
Wirecutter’s earnings rely solely on reader purchases from affiliate retailers without returning the products. Consequently, Wirecutter lacks any motivation to endorse subpar products, as doing so would lead to reduced earnings and a loss of readership.
How do affiliates make money?
An affiliate receives a distinct link, known as an “affiliate link,” that is used to track clicks using cookies. Subsequently, the cookie tracks the user’s activity to determine if they make a purchase. If they do so within a specific timeframe, the affiliate will receive a commission.
The length or cookie life of each cookie determines the duration for which it will track the user’s online activity.
In order for you to receive payment, your referral must make a purchase within 30 days of clicking your affiliate link. If this does not happen, the lead will no longer be trackable.
If you wish to start an affiliate program, it is important to consider the different types available and select the one that is most suitable for your business. Therefore, let us now examine the various types of affiliate programs.
Our Picks
Liquid Web
Currently managing more than 1 million sites and serving 30,000 customers, Liquid Web is a web-hosting provider that offers managed, shared, and Enterprise hosting options to individuals and businesses.
Affiliates of the software’s program have the opportunity to earn more than $150 for each sign-up they refer, as they are rewarded with cash incentives for recommending the company’s services.
Liquid Web’s affiliate program provides you with:
- 150% of sales and an additional 50% bonus for any pre-paid plans through an affiliate link ($150 minimum commission rate for new customers).
- 90-day tracking cookie.
- Custom landing pages and marketing materials for free.
This is the way the minimum payout operates.
Even if someone clicks on your affiliate link and purchases a low-cost product such as a managed WordPress or WooCommerce site priced at approximately $15 per month, you will receive a minimum payout of $150, which is equal to 150% of the monthly hosting costs.
Expedia
Expedia, which has a quarter of a million properties and receives over 60 million unique visitors monthly, is widely recognized as one of the most popular travel booking websites globally.
The Expedia Affiliate program offers enthusiastic travelers the opportunity to share their travel advice with visitors to their website and receive a portion of the revenue from any sales made through their affiliate link.
Expedia provides you with its affiliate program, offering:
- A commission structure ranging from 2% – 6%.
- A “Cost Per Sale” affiliate model, so once a sale is completed, your affiliate account will be rewarded instantly.
- 30-day cookie policy.
In the program, there are numerous options available for you to utilize the Expedia brand; however, it is essential for you to have knowledge about certain terms and conditions.
Walmart
Walmart, which was established in Arkansas in 1969, holds the title of the largest company globally based on revenue. Presently valued at $560 billion, the empire employs 2.2 million Americans.
With an average of 250-350 million visits per month, the chain is a thriving e-commerce platform that is well-suited for websites selling various products such as clothing, electronics, and automotive goods due to its high popularity and successful affiliate program.
Walmart provides you with the following through its affiliate program:
- An average of 4% commission rate on sales generated.
- Commissions paid out monthly once the threshold reaches $50.
- Free access banners and text links to advertise products.
Throughout the year, the program offers additional opportunities such as sales contests for participants to increase their chances of earning commissions.
SEMrush
SEMrush, a suite of 45+ SEO tools, is used by over 7 million marketers globally for tasks such as keyword research, content tracking, email marketing, and social media interactions.
The software’s affiliate program, BeRush, offers fixed commissions for all affiliates who join, providing an opportunity to earn $200 for each SEMrush subscriber and $10 for every new trial activation.
SEMrush’s affiliate program provides you with:
- Between 20% and 40% commission rate from sales of SEMrush plans (Guru, Business, and Pro).
- 120-day tracking cookie with last-click attribution.
- Free promo materials like custom content, GIFs, images, and video ads offered in 7 different languages.
Since the program provides fixed commissions, you will only receive a payment for a monthly or yearly subscription once, excluding any incentives for reintroducing SEMrush users. Additionally, there are minimum payout requirements, meaning you must have a minimum account balance of $50 before receiving any funds.
Amazon Associates
If you’re searching to make a purchase, there is a high likelihood that you will discover the item on Amazon, which is widely recognized as one of the most well-liked internet shopping platforms.
Commissions for Amazon Associates range from 1% to 10% based on the category of the purchased product. Clothes and luxury beauty items are the most lucrative to promote, as they offer a 10% cut on the price.
Amazon affiliate marketing has several key benefits. Firstly, customers are already familiar with and have a positive attitude towards the company, making it relatively easy to promote products. Secondly, particularly during holiday seasons, the company experiences exceptionally high conversion rates. Lastly, due to its extensive product range, Amazon is suitable for various types of businesses.
If you discuss animals, you have the opportunity to advertise products such as cat treats or dog toys. Similarly, if your target audience is interested in cars, you can suggest jumper cables as a recommendation. Essentially, you can tailor your promotional suggestions based on the specific interests of your audience.
Even if a user ends up on Amazon through your link and purchases something different from what your content is promoting, you will still receive a commission on the entire cart. However, it is worth noting that certain categories like video games and electronics offer relatively low commissions.
eBay Partner Network
eBay’s affiliate program possesses many of the same advantages as Amazon’s, including a well-known brand, high conversion rates, and a diverse selection of products, with over one billion listings across various product categories.
Based on the product category, the revenue you earn from a purchase on eBay through the eBay Partner Network ranges from 1% to 4% in commission.
Under Parts & Accessories or Fashion, you have the opportunity to promote high-value items. You can find the full rate card for these items here. However, this program does have a limitation in that there is a maximum earning limit for each category, most of which are below $1,000. As a result, your potential to earn is restricted.
Rakuten Advertising
Rakuten, previously called Linkshare, is one of the longest-running affiliate networks. Its extensive experience in affiliate marketing has enabled it to form partnerships with renowned global brands such as Sephora, New Balance, and JetBlue.
Despite having an impressive list of partners, Rakuten’s number of partnerships with merchants is considerably lower compared to other competing networks, amounting to only around 1,000.
If you are a small business or new to affiliate marketing, it might be beneficial for you to join Rakuten. This way, you will have the opportunity to access affiliate offers from brands that your audience is familiar with.
Commission rates for affiliate networks fluctuate depending on the product and the merchant it originates from, similar to numerous other affiliate networks.
