Affiliate marketing is a type of online marketing that allows businesses to promote their products and services through affiliates. Affiliates are third-party advertisers that agree to promote a company in exchange for a commission on sales made from their efforts. If you want to earn more money with less effort, joining an affiliate marketing program may be the perfect endeavor for you.
There are many benefits to using affiliate marketing programs, including the ability to reach a broad audience, build brand awareness, and generate more wealth. Additionally, affiliate marketing programs are easy to get started with and can be very profitable.
But what is the best affiliate marketing platform? In this guide, I’ll walk you through the basics of affiliate marketing and share my list of the best affiliate marketing platforms available today. Let’s dive in!
What Is Affiliate Marketing?
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Affiliate marketing is when companies partner with website owners and online influencers (affiliates) to promote their products or services. In exchange for doing so, the company pays the affiliate a commission. Also check my 100K Tribe.
Most affiliate marketing programs use cookies to track referrals, allowing the merchant to identify the affiliate who referred the customer and credit them with the lead. Affiliates can earn commissions on sales or clicks, typically paid by the merchant monthly or per sale. Some programs pay affiliates for successful referrals, while PPC affiliate programs pay per click generated.
If you’re interested in earning money online, affiliate marketing can be an effective way to reach new customers and grow your business. However, it’s essential to choose the right affiliates and to make sure they are ethically promoting your products or services. On the flip side, you can earn a lot of money as an affiliate, but you need to find a reputable platform to work with. That’s where affiliate marketing programs come in.
If you’re looking to get started in affiliate marketing, there are a few key features to look for in a platform. Below are the vital program qualities to consider when doing your research:
While you might know what to look for in an affiliate program, how do you know which program to join? In the next section, I’ll take you through the different types of affiliate marketing platforms and give recommendations for each category.
Best Affiliate Marketing Platforms
There are many affiliate marketing programs available for a wide variety of affiliates and businesses. Some are geared towards beginners, while others require previous experience to join via an application process. Additionally, while many programs are free, others charge a small fee to join. Below are the most popular types of affiliate marketing programs:
Now that you have a better idea about the subcategories of affiliate programs, I’ll take you through the best options for each branch of affiliate marketing listed above.
Best Affiliate Marketing Platforms For Beginners
Many affiliate programs are available for beginners, but not all are created equal. Some platforms are more user-friendly than others, and some have higher commission rates than others. If you’re just starting affiliate marketing, here are a few programs worth considering.
Amazon Associates
If you’re looking to start earning money through affiliate marketing, the Amazon Associates program is a great place to start. When it comes to affiliate marketing platforms, Amazon Associates is one of the largest and most well-known online programs. And best of all, it’s super easy to get started with!
The Amazon Associates program allows website owners and bloggers to earn a commission on qualifying sales by promoting products from Amazon. After signing up, you’ll add custom links to Amazon products on your website or blog. When a visitor clicks on one of these links and makes a purchase on Amazon, you’ll earn up to a 10% commission on the sale.
Sounds interesting? Check out my article on Amazon affiliate marketing for more tips and tricks regarding this platform.Commission Junction
Commission Junction (also known as CJ) is a popular platform for affiliate marketing. Commission Junction is easy to use and navigate, and has a wide variety of merchants available, so you can find products and services to promote that fit your niche.
Additionally, Commission Junction offers competitive commission rates, so you can potentially earn a lot of money from each sale. They also provide detailed reports to track your progress and see how much money you make. You can also take advantage of their dedicated support team to help you with any questions or problems, making it an excellent option for beginners.
Awin
Awin is a global affiliate marketing network with over 21,000 active advertisers and 241,000 publishers. Awin has many features and benefits that make it an ideal platform for both beginners and experienced affiliate marketers.
Some of the critical features of Awin include an intuitive interface, extensive tracking and reporting capabilities, reliable payments, and a large selection of advertiser programs. Awin also offers many benefits for its publishers, including high commission rates, exclusive deals, and access to a dedicated account manager.
Best Affiliate Marketing Programs For Bloggers
If you already have a blog, incorporating affiliate marketing is a fantastic way to make more money. Whatever your niche, there are plenty of outstanding programs you can connect with that will make it easier than ever to advertise on your existing platform. Let’s take a look at some of the best affiliate marketing programs for bloggers, so you’ll have a better idea of how to make money without a job.
Skimlinks
Skimlinks is a simple yet effective way to monetize your blog or website. All you need to do is sign up for a free account and install a small piece of code on your site. Once you’re set up, Skimlinks will automatically convert specific keywords on your site into affiliate links.
So why do I recommend Skimlinks as one of the best blogging platforms for affiliate marketing? For one, it’s an easy way to make money from your blog without worrying about things like product reviews or banner ads. Skimlinks has an excellent reputation in the affiliate marketing world – they’re known for being reliable and paying their affiliates on time, making it perfect for bloggers.
Etsy
If you work in the eCommerce world, you’ve likely heard of Etsy, but did you know they have an affiliate program? There is no contract with the program, so it’s easy to sign up for, and you can get started quickly promoting products from Etsy, making it a contender for the best blogging platform for affiliate marketing.
Working as a blogger affiliate for Etsy will give you access to banner ads, tracked links, and curated pages with suggestions for what type of products to promote, making it perfect for bloggers with a specific vision. You’ll also receive affiliates-only extra Etsy content and data reports to track your progress.
eBay Partner Network
If you’re looking to get started in affiliate marketing as a blogger, the eBay Partner Network is a fantastic place to start. With a diverse variety of products and services to promote, you can find something that interests you and start earning commissions.
eBay’s affiliate program is fantastic because it offers a chance to work with one of the leading global eCommerce giants. The platform has tons of perks, including earning higher commissions depending on your success, comprehensive reports, and easy integration with mobile and social media platforms.
Best Affiliate Programs For Social Media Marketing
As the marketing world continues to evolve, so do the strategies for successful selling. Social media marketing is one of the most effective ways to connect with customers and promote products or services. And affiliate programs are a great way to earn commission on sales. Especially if you don’t have a blog, social media marketing can be a fantastic way to do affiliate marketing without a website.
There are many affiliate programs available, but not all are created equal. Some are more effective than others when it comes to social media marketing. Here are three of the best affiliate programs for social media marketing:
Social Pilot
SocialPilot is a social media marketing tool that works to improve social media automation and management. They offer an affiliate program with a 20% commission incentive for each referral you bring in, making it a contender for the best social media platform for affiliate marketing. The company also offers pre-made promotional materials to make advertising easy and extra incentive opportunities as an affiliate so you can earn even more monthly.
SocialOomph
SocialOomph offers tools to help social media marketers automate their tasks and save time. Additionally, it offers a generous affiliate program that pays 40% commission on all sales for all referrals—and it’s free to sign up for! So if you’re connected with other social media marketers and want to refer them to an incredible resource (while earning a commission in the meantime), SocialOomph is the perfect solution.
Crowdfire
Crowdfire is a social media marketing affiliate program that helps businesses grow their social media presence. The program offers tools to help businesses with tasks such as scheduling posts, analyzing social media analytics, and finding new followers. The program also offers an affiliate program that pays a 35% commission for referrals with unlimited earning potential and comprehensive tracking software. It’s high paying and easy to sign up for, so it might be a good fit if you’re involved in social media marketing.
Free Affiliate Marketing Platforms
Just getting your foot in the door and don’t want to commit to spending money on your affiliate marketing endeavors? The good news is that there are tons of free programs! Below is my list of additional free affiliate marketing platforms to check out.
And if you feel like you’ve gotten the hang of affiliate marketing and want to make even more profit, make sure to check out my article on high ticket affiliate marketing programs.
FAQ: Top Affiliate Marketing Platforms
The answer depends on a few factors, including what your niche is (social media, blogging, etc.) and who your target audience is. I’ve listed the best programs for each category above. If you’re just getting started, one of the most highly recommended programs is Amazon Associates due to its ease of use and reliability.
There are tons of awesome affiliate marketing platforms, but here are my suggestions for some of the best website platforms for affiliate marketing:
Best Website Platform For Affiliate Marketing: Final Thoughts
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Affiliate marketing is an extensive field, with tons of opportunities for everyone, from beginner entrepreneurs to marketers who work as affiliates full-time. If you’re just starting out, I recommend trying one of the many free programs to get a feel for how affiliate marketing works. For more experienced bloggers and social media influencers, it’s worth applying to more prestigious programs that have an application process to earn a higher commission. You might also want to check out my article on how super affiliates make money if you’re ready to take affiliate marketing to the next level.
Whatever platform you choose, take advantage of the tips and tricks in this article to maximize your earnings. And for more hacks on making money fast, check out my book, The Lazy Man’s Guide To Living The Good Life. Good luck!