Choosing your affiliate program can often be easier said than done. There are simply far too many brands that rely on affiliate marketing, and it’s challenging to determine the best fit for you, especially when you’re a newcomer to this field.
To ensure that you choose the right program, you’ll need to consider several factors:
- Niche – it cannot be stressed enough how essential it is to find a program that fits your niche. Partner only with brands that make sense for you. Otherwise, your audiences won’t be very eager to use your affiliate links. If you’re a fitness influencer, partner with sports apparel companies, health and nutrition brands, or gyms. Don’t partner with fast-food restaurants. If you’re a tech blogger, go for software providers, apps, even games. Don’t choose vintage clothing retailers. Choose a brand that integrates well with your content and online persona.
- User experience – it’s always a good idea to read up on user reviews before joining an affiliate program. You’ll learn more about the ease of use, payment methods, and overall profitability of the program. Don’t just go by the testimonials on the company’s site. Look around the net to discover what users really think.
- Commission – naturally, the commission is the most critical factor that you’ll need to consider. Do you earn a percentage of the sale, or is there a flat rate? Does the commission improve with good performance? Are there any bonuses for new affiliates? Do different types of products earn a different commission? Find out as much as you can about how much you can expect to earn before joining a program.
- Payout – make sure to confirm in advance when you’ll get paid. Most programs will offer payout on a monthly basis, but that’s not always the case. Some will even require that you pass a certain threshold before you receive a payment (such as $50 or $100).
- Cookie lifetime policy – cookie lifetime refers to the length of time during which you can get a commission for a sale. Cookie lifetime starts when your customer first clicks on your affiliate link and ideally lasts until they make a purchase. However, different brands will have different cookie lifetime policies. Some will offer only a 1-day lifetime, while others will last as long as a year. As a general rule of thumb, the longer, the better.
Find a good affiliate program?
Finding a good affiliate program is a pretty straightforward process. You can start by identifying your niche and then looking up some of the top brands that would fit well with it. Keep in mind that you don’t have to limit yourself to only one specific niche. This means that you don’t have to limit yourself to only clothing and apparel companies if you’re in the fashion blogging sphere or partner only with detox tea companies if you’re a fitness influencer.
Broaden your horizons by joining affiliate networks that can connect you with countless brands across categories.
Many of the affiliate programs we’ve discussed are large networks that work with thousands of brands, delivering millions of unique products and services. Take Amazon Associates, for example. This program connects you with every single brand regardless of the type of products that they sell on Amazon – book publishers, smart home device manufacturers, arts and crafts suppliers, and more.
Awin can connect you with companies such as Aviva Car Insurance, Premier Inn, HP, AliExpress, and Etsy, to name just a few.
Of course, if networks aren’t your thing and you’d prefer to work with individual brands, you’ll still have plenty of options.
Identify the brands that you’d like to cooperate with, then do a quick Google search for brand name + affiliate program. If the company has an affiliate program, you’ll find all of the information you need to get started.
Visit your preferred brand’s page dedicated to affiliate marketing, and learn how you can earn money by promoting their products/services.
Every brand with an affiliate program will have clear instructions about what you need to do to become a marketer for them. Keep in mind that some will have criteria that you’ll need to meet before joining the program (such as a certain number of followers on social media or a certain number of monthly visitors to your blog).
If you meet their criteria, you’ll receive your unique affiliate link, and you can start using it to earn money.